"An Invitation from the Chair"

On November 10th, at 6:30 the Walton County Democratic Party will hold its final quarterly meeting of 2009 at the Coastal Library Meeting Room.

As with the previous meetings of the party this year, our program promises to be informative and, I hope, energizing to our membership.

David Pleat, our candidate for the House District 7 seat now occupied by Republican, Marti Coley,
will update us on his campaign and provide us with an insight into the political theater surrounding the next drilling bill being pushed by Texas oil interests. The byzantine nature of the political machinations surrounding this effort to drill in Florida waters is both fascinating and frightening. David will let you know what he has learned about this process and how his campaign will oppose these efforts in any form they might take.

Dave Rauschkolb will then take us to the grassroots efforts he is spearheading called Hands Across the Sand. His idea, born at David Pleat's first Meet and Greet at Bud and Alley's restaurant, just weeks ago, has gained significant traction around the state, has generated bipartisan support and national notoriety. His efforts are at the forefront of a popular uprising that could defeat the moneyed oil interests' plan to invade Florida waters.

Additionally, we will have news of the Walton County Democratic Party's award of a “Golden Gavel” by the Florida Democratic Party in recognition of our efforts since we reorganized in March. Along with Martin County, Walton County was one of only two small counties in the state to win this award.

More importantly, we will have news of the interest of two new candidates for local positions. At least one of these candidates will formally announce a run for office at this meeting.

Please do your best to attend on November 10th. The meeting will give you a picture of the future of our party and how you can become a moving force in it.
 

(SEA)GRASSROOTS EFFORT STARTS AGAINST DRILLING

By JOHN KENNEDY
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Oct. 26, 2009......A Seaside restaurateur said Monday he wants thousands of Floridians to hit the beaches to fight offshore oil-drilling along the state’s Gulf coast.

Dave Rauschkolb, owner of Bud and Alley’s and two other beachside restaurants in the Panhandle resort town, has launched an effort dubbed Hands Across the Sand, which is emerging as the first grassroots opposition to the oil-drilling effort led by Florida Energy Associates, a group of independent oil producers.

Rauschkolb’s goal is to get Floridians to hold hands and literally form a line in the sand to oppose drilling.

The demonstration is planned for Feb. 13 – the Saturday of Presidents’ Day weekend. Rauschkolb said the event will be accelerated if a special legislative session includes drilling before lawmakers are scheduled to convene in March.

Among the early supporters is former Sen. Jack Latvala, a Republican looking to return to the chamber he left through term limits in 2002. Latvala has promised to organize the Pinellas County protest in February.

“We’ve got 26 miles of beaches in Pinellas County,” Latvala said. “We don’t have a lot of money to hire PR firms or spread it around Florida. But we’re going to have a lot of bodies on the beaches, and I think that’ll say something.”

“I think it will send a very strong visual message,” said Rauschkolb. “I don’t believe that a majority of Floridians want to have oil rigs off our coast. If we get people out, it will show that.”

Rauschkolb developed a website - www.handsacrossthesand.com - to get word out about the event.

Florida Energy Associates has drawn support in the House for drilling, where a measure was approved 70-43 last spring that could allow drilling as close as three miles offshore.

But the Senate refused to take up the proposal, which would have given the governor and Cabinet authority to lift the current ban on offshore drilling in exchange for Florida getting a share of future royalties from below the Gulf floor.

The Senate remains a tough sell. Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, has said he is uncertain about taking up the issue at all next spring – although the House is expected to push hard for action.

Future House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, is leading the drilling drive, helping galvanize House Republicans behind the idea. But a rising number of Gulf Coast cities, counties and local chambers of commerce recently have approved resolutions opposing drilling.

Florida Energy Associates currently has enlisted 31 lobbyists and spent $234,000 on its push last spring, according to lobbyist disclosure reports. Since then, the Daytona Beach-based organization has steered $40,000 to the Florida Republican Party and $30,000 to Florida Democrats, campaign finance reports show.

The pro-drilling side says the money drawn from leases is desperately needed to replace the billions of dollars in federal stimulus money that has sustained Florida’s recession-ravaged budget, but which is on track to disappear next year.

Supporters also point out that drilling has been going on off neighboring Gulf states since the 1940s, mostly without serious accidents.

“There is a vocal minority out there opposed to oil exploration in the Gulf,” said Barney Bishop, president of Associated Industries of Florida, the influential business organization helping spearhead support for drilling. “The opposition is certainly entitled to be heard. But they’re not entitled to overrule the majority,” he added.

Rauschkolb’s organizing effort, though, shows that many along the usually politically conservative Panhandle are wary of steps that could threaten the region’s economy, which is anchored by tourism and military interests. Elements of both sectors have voiced concerns about the threat drilling poses to area beaches.

Dave Pleat, a Democrat challenging Republican Rep. Marti Coley of Marianna, who supported drilling legislation last spring, helped prompt Rauschkolb’s activism after the pair spoke earlier this month at a campaign event.

“It’s bad for our economy and bad for our environment,” Pleat said. “There’s no upside to oil-drilling – and I’m a pretty conservative businessman.”

Executive Committee Agenda - November 10th

I.     Call to Order

II.    Pledge of Allegiance 

III.   Attendance Report and quorum determination

IV.  Program

         (a)  David Pleat:  Update on Campaign & the next drilling bill

         (b)  Dave Rauschkolb: Hands Across the Sand

V.    Recognition of volunteers

VI.   Reports on Club Activities

VII.  Chair's Report on Activities of DEC

        (a)  Golden Gavel Award

        (b)  Candidate Recruitment

        (c)  Issue Development - HCR/Drilling resolutions

VIII.  Unfinished Business

IX.   New Business

        (a)  Treasurer's Report and Minutes of the last meeting

        (b)  Referral of HCR and Drilling Resolutions to a joint public steering/advisory committee meeting

X.   Introduction of Candidates

XI.  Motion to Adjourn