YOUR VOTE MATTERS
BY FELICIA BRUCE
RC 43 VICE PRESIDENT
How many times have you heard "This election is important"? Have you watched so many ads that you are sick of hearing from all the candidates?
You are not alone. BUT that doesn't change the fact that the election is important. AND YOUR VOTE MATTERS....more than you know! Elections can be close with only a few votes separating the winner from the loser, promoting progress or stopping it.... Voters can be complacent, ignoring their civic responsibility and change the outcomes of elections by their apathy.
That is why I am reaching out to you. To remind you to vote. Because it matters. YOUR VOTE MATTERS.
YOUR VOTE MATTERS...to the future of public education, to your Social Security and Medicare earned benefits, to the environment, and to your neighbors' FRS pension benefits...
Besides the President (Hillary Clinton has the endorsement of ALL unions and virtually ALL the newspapers), there are many 'down ballot' races that will matter to you and your neighbors.
There are Congressional seats throughout the state of Florida on the ballot. There are 7 candidates running to be the next Senator from Florida. Five are virtually unknown and one stands with Donald Trump, favors reducing Social Security benefits, privatizing it, vouchering Medicaid and expanding charter schools. Because PATRICK MURPHY is opposed to those policies, he has the endorsement of all teachers' unions.
Many of the state representatives are up for re-election. In the past, all but two representatives have voted along party lines on reducing and/or privatizing the Florida Retirement System (the Republican position). All the Democrats and the two Republicans from Sarasota, Steube and Pilon, voted to preserve the FRS.
Due to redistricting all of the state senators, except those term limited, are up for election. ALL the Democrats voted to keep FRS without changes and a few Republicans went against party lines to join them (Dean of Inverness, Diaz and Flores of Miami, Evers of Pensacola, Grimsley of Sebring, Latvala of Clearwater, Lee of Brandon and Detert of Venice). The votes to expand charter schools in Florida fell along the same party lines with the same exceptions.
PLEASE show your support by casting votes for the candidates that support public education and are friends to labor. To learn more about the amendments, the judges and the candidates in your area, you can go to THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS for nonpartisan information and explanations. If you are interested in union endorsements, you can go the AFL-CIO website
Early voting starts Monday. Vote by Mail Ballots can be returned any time PRIOR to the election or you can wait until Nov 8 and vote in person.
YOUR VOTE MATTERS...to public education, to your Social Security and Medicare earned benefits, to the environment, and to your neighbors' FRS pension...