Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Issue: The Collier County Democratic Party continues to support the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and urges all citizens to contact their representatives requesting their support of the ERA.

Thirty-two years after the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment by the United States Congress, the state of Florida still has yet to ratify the amendment. To those who have never read the amendment, it would be only natural to assume that given such a long delay in ratification that the text of this amendment must contain some controversial language. The actual text could not be more to the contrary. It states the following:

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

There have been tremendous strides taken to end discrimination in this country from the Civil Rights Act of 1963 up to, and including, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed by President Obama in 2009. The Supreme Court’s decision last year regarding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Prop  8 were huge steps in addressing discrimination based on sexual orientation. All of these laws and rulings have been passed with an implied intent of full-filling the founding ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit  of happiness professed as self-evident nearly 240 years ago. Given the enormous strides taken over the past 50 years, it is illogical and absurd to refuse to ratify an amendment as straightforward and self- evident as the ERA.

Approved by the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee September 11, 2014

STAND YOUR GROUND

Issue Statement: The Stand Your Ground law has expanded the use of deadly force beyond the traditional reasoning of self-defense. It is no longer required that a person attempt to retreat, but he or she can use deadly force in any place where he or she have a right to be and believe it is necessary to prevent death or bodily harm.

Against a backdrop of increasing public outrage about gun control, Florida’s Stand Your Ground law has increased the use of deadly force. Before its creation, a person had to “reasonably believe that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other’s imminent use of unlawful force.” Fla. Stat. 776.012. A person under attack had to attempt to retreat until it was no longer possible. The one claiming self-defense had to use all reasonable means to avoid the aggressor and to prevent taking his or her life. The only place these guidelines did not apply was in your own home. You did not have a duty to avoid the aggressor if you were being attacked in your home by a trespasser.

The Stand Your Ground law changed that. A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be, has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony. Fla. Stat. 776.013.

The law increased the rights of individuals to use deadly force even when it could have been avoided and provided a defense for excessive force. Under Stand Your Ground, a person is believed to have a reasonable fear for their life or bodily harm when using deadly force if they had reason to believe an unlawful act was taking place. The law changed the game. Individuals no longer had to attempt to retreat and they could use deadly force even if the aggressor was retreating. In its essence, the law devalues life. It provides almost insurmountable ammunition to the defendant who claims self-defense. An altercation that could have been defused or avoided by one party retreating can now legally escalate the altercation up to homicide, and it is justifiable in the eyes of the law. It appears as though the State has legalized murder.

The Stand Your Ground law goes too far and it increases the self-defense doctrine to create an excuse for the use of deadly force in situations where it is not warranted. Now it is easier for someone to prevail in court if they are charged with murder. They can use the law to justify their “reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm” in just about any situation where violence or the threat thereof is involved.

Expanding on the traditional self-defense laws was never necessary. We need to repeal Stand Your Ground and delete it because it does more harm than good. The last thing our laws should do is give people another defense for taking a life.

Approved by the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee September 11, 2014

Florida Education

Issue: In light of Governor Scott’s most recent statements outlining his supposed commitment to education, The Collier County Democratic Executive Committee will illustrate that his priorities are not in line with his comments. The DEC will continue to highlight Governor Scott’s “Priorities” with regard to education by outlining his record while in office.

Governor Scott’s attempt to erase his deplorable record on education with a budget proposal that is the “highest in Florida History”, blatantly disregards the facts. Add Governor Scott’s supposed raise of $2,500 for teachers last legislative session, which was equally disingenuous, provides an interesting test case to see if four years of bad education policy can be hidden with timely political pandering. There is one point that is clear; Governor Scott will continue to hype his recent actions as his commitment to education. The facts are not on his side. Below is a recap of the Governor’s record on Education.

• Slashed Education Budget in 2011 by $1.35 Billion Dollars¹
• Reduce teacher pay by requiring them to contribute 3% towards their pension plans
• Advocated for a “Parent Trigger” Law, continuing his on-going assault on public education in favor of “Charter” schools many of which are disguised for-profit organizations
• Promoted the eligibility of religious schools for state-funded vouchers
• Raised standards on Florida’s Bright Future Scholarship, reducing the number of qualifying applicants by 50%; disproportionately affecting minorities²

Governor Scott’s repeated assertion that one of his top priorities is education is at best, disingenuous, and at worst, a bold-face lie. Governor Scott has cut funding for all forms of education; K-12 as well as Collegiate funding, while forcing teachers to pick up some of the cuts through pension requirements. He has reduced the number of scholarships awarded, dramatically strangling the most disadvantaged applicants. His most recent 2014 budget proposal lags behind 2007-08 funding regarding per-pupil spending³, placing us near the bottom of states in that department. The governor’s record on education is a telling example of his priorities and illustrates the stark differences between the Republican and Democratic visions. His priority is getting re-elected and he will say just about anything to do it, even distort the truth.

• $837 million dollars were from Federal funding that expired.
• According to Editorial by Sun Sentinel published on April 14, 2013
• According to PoliticFact Florida / Tampa Bay Times published on February 2, 2014

Approved by the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee March 6, 2014

WEBSITE PROBLEMS REPRESENT A DOUBLE STANDARD

Issue: The state of Florida has unilaterally developed its own website to facilitate applications and maintenance of unemployment benefits. Four months after the implementation of the website, it continues to be dysfunctional and thousands of Floridians are unable to receive their just benefits.

Problems persist into February, 2014 with the Florida website “CONNECT” which is intended to facilitate applications for unemployment benefits. Launched on Oct. 15, 2013 at a cost of $63,000,000, the website has failed to function correctly leaving thousands of Floridians without earned income to which they are legally entitled. The continued failure of Governor Rick Scott’s administration to resolve the problem, and the callous responses made by associated state agencies have led the Federal government to step in to help resolve the problem.

While the Republicans have been quick to condemn President Obama and the Democrats for problems with the Affordable Care Act(ACA) website, there has been little outcry in Florida about the failure of Governor Rick Scott’s new website. The ACA website was designed to serve virtually every adult citizen in the United States. The ACA website was extremely difficult to develop due to the complexity of resolving issues inherent in the role-out of any new government program. During this developmental period every possible obstruction was placed in the way by Republicans in congress. In the case of the unemployment website, the target population was much smaller and the program being served had been in existence for years.

As Democrats we are appalled by the double standard being demonstrated here. Virtually nothing has appeared in the local press regarding the failures of Florida’s website and there have been no letters to the editor of the paper about this problem from those same individuals who have vociferously attacked the ACA website malfunctions. We recognize mistakes are made by governmental agencies, but believe transparency and equal accountability should be applied in the spirit of fairness and the good of the citizenry being served.

Approved by the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee March 6, 2014

 DEC ISSUES COMMITTEE COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA Issue: Gun Violence and Access to Guns

The purpose of this paper is to focus on those deaths involving multiple victims at one event. First, let’s admit that these multiple death events are multi-causal. It is unlikely that one single decision or action will effect a cure. Just as a disease like cancer has many forms and can be treated by prevention, surgery, chemo-therapy and alternative medicine, we need a wide range of solutions for the inexplicable killing of multiple individuals in one event. These Individuals are often unknown by the killer and are not directly related to the motives which drive the killer. Let us assume that issues of mental health, violent media, glorification of gangsters, abdication of parental responsibilities and other troubling value issues are all involved in the genesis of gun violence. This does not mean that we shouldn’t address the availability of firearms, particularly powerful, rapid fire weapons.

Background:    According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research

More than 31,000 people a year in the United States die from gunshot wounds. Because victims are disproportionately young, gun violence is one of the leading causes of premature mortality in the U.S. In addition to these deaths, in 2010, there were an estimated 337,960 nonfatal violent crimes committed with guns,2 and 73,505 persons treated in hospital emergency departments for non-fatal gunshot wounds. Gun violence in the United States is unusually high for a nation of such wealth. Although there is little difference in the overall crime rates between the United States and other high income countries, the homicide rate in the U.S. is seven times higher than the combined homicide rate of 22 other high-income countries. This is because the firearm homicide rate in the U.S. is twenty times greater than in these other high-income countries. The higher prevalence of gun ownership and much less restrictive gun laws are important reasons why violent crime in the U.S. is so much more lethal than in countries of similar income levels. (www.JHSPH.edu/Gun Policy, October, 2012)

The present level of protection provided to our citizens from gun violence is a disgrace. The effort to bring meaningful corrective action to address these tragedies, gun control legislation, has been blocked by powerful gun lobbies. These forces are armed with large contributions to politicians and worn out clichés. Weapons manufacturers, lobbyists, and the organizations they represent pretend that their cause is patriotic.

Many feel that this thinking is, at best, wrong, and at worst, dangerous. Patriotism manifests itself in many ways and there is no implication that patriotism requires the ownership or utilization of weapons.

The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America is being used as a cloak to provide excessive access to guns. The Founders of this nation would be amazed to see the Second Amendment being used in this way. It is not the intent of this paper to argue the merits of the various interpretations favored by opposing groups. However, it is clear that the framers of the Constitution did not anticipate the widely-reported, irrational fears that are promoted by special interest groups to generate the proliferation of guns. The stock-piling of assault weapons and their continued sale without background checks is illogical, counter-intuitive and fraught with danger.

The Second Amendment reads: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Of the first Ten Amendments, this is the only one that contains a rationale for what it requires. The Bill of Rights is the law of the land, clearly stated. Guarantees of religion, speech, assembly, and the press are “natural rights”, inherent to the human condition. However, the right to bear arms is granted only in the context of a well-regulated militia and thus the security of a free state. Escalating gun violence which continues to threaten our security makes it abundantly clear that gun ownership must be regulated.

The relationship between the right to bear arms and militia service is used by those who favor gun control while those who oppose gun control support the idea that the phrase was intended only to provide a historical context rather than serve as a restriction. Recent U. S Supreme Court cases, from Lewis V United States (1980) to District of Columbia V Heller (2008) and McDonald V Chicago (2010) show that while the current position refutes a restrictive link with the militia, that the court is not unified in its position as illustrated by the dissenting positions taken. As is commonly known, the law evolves and the law of the land is what a majority of the U. S. Supreme Court Justices say it is today. The U. S. Supreme Court has historically shown that current events and social/economic changes influence its positions. The control of weapons is not just a matter of isolated constitutional law. Restrictions on the ownership of guns do not infringe on the right to bear arms any more than preventing the unjustified yelling “fire” in a crowded movie theatre infringes on the right to free speech.

Florida lawmakers passed a “stand your ground” law that protects gun owners who defend themselves with deadly force. They also voted to allow workers to carry guns to work as long as they were locked in their vehicles, and banned doctors from talking to their patients about gun ownership.

With people still mourning over the slaughter in Newtown, Conn., there will never be a better time to initiate comprehensive reforms that will begin to lessen this stain from our society; the stain of lacking the moral courage to provide a safe environment for our citizens against gun violence. Let us acknowledge that there is a difference between the right to bear arms for legitimate purposes and the right to own weapons with rapid fire and high capacity clips. High capacity rifles are created for the sole purpose of killing many people at once. There is no need for these weapons to be on our streets, in our homes or in our schools.

Making the needed reforms will require planning and action by all levels of government: federal, state and local. Areas to be covered must include:

• Enforcing gun laws already in existence.
• Banning the sale or fabrication of any gun designed for rapid fire along with accompanying high- capacity (more than 10 rounds) magazines.
• Conducting thorough background checks for the purchase of a gun with severe penalties for failure to do so.
• Closing the loophole of being able to purchase a gun at a trade show with no background check.
• Requiring trigger locks be sold in conjunction with guns and the use of trigger locks and/or gun safes for all guns when not in immediate use by owners.
• Requiring that all guns be registered with the state.
• Requiring that all lost or stolen guns be reported immediately.
• Requiring a gun ownership database to enhance our ability to react immediately if mental illness or violent behavior is identified.
• Allowing physicians to speak to their patients about the dangers of guns in the home.
• Utilizing any technological innovations which will prevent anyone but a weapon’s owner from being able to utilize the weapon and then only when the owner is not intoxicated.
• Eliminating the Stand Your Ground legislation in Florida.
• Creating and enforcing strict penalties for those who sell or provide guns to individuals who may not qualify for ownership.

Recommendation: The Issues Committee of the Democratic Party of Collier County recommends supporting local, state and federal measures that address the above bullet-points. Furthermore, the Issues committee requests that the Collier County Democrats initiate a petition to be signed by the citizens of Florida and presented to the Florida Legislature and Governor Rick Scott.

Approved by the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee March 7, 2013

Marriage Equality

Our Purpose: Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Windsor, finding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, the Collier County Democratic Party applauds the ruling and will continue to advocate for state recognition of marriage equality within the state of Florida.

The Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Windsor that a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional finding that it “violates basic due process and equal protection principles applicable to the Federal Government.” The landmark ruling allows for same-sex married couples to be recognized by the federal government and to be eligible for federal benefits such as Social Security survivor benefits and family leave.

The court’s decision reflects the country’s shift in attitudes regarding same-sex marriage. In 1996, the year DOMA was passed, a Gallop Poll found that 68% of Americans opposed same-sex marriage. Outlooks have changed; a 2013 poll by the Pew Forum found that 50% of Americans support same-sex marriage. Another example of America’s shift in public opinion is the amicus brief presented to the court, signed by many prominent Republican’s, calling for DOMA to be declared unconstitutional. America’s change in attitude over the last two decades was vindicated with the court’s ruling.

The decision, while a major victory for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community, does not invalidate state laws restricting same-sex marriage; nor does it outlaw states from passing laws banning same-sex marriage. Those laws and constitutional changes, like Florida’s Amendment 2 in 2008, remain in effect. The Collier County Democratic Party will continue to fight for state recognition of same-sex marriage, to end discriminatory practices and provide basic protections. We encourage all citizens to join the Democratic Party in this effort.

Approved by the Steering Committee of the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee September 18, 2013

Voting Rights Act

Our Purpose: Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder, the Collier County Democratic Party joins President Obama and other civil rights leaders and organizations in calling on Congress to pass legislation to “ensure every American has equal voting access.”

The U.S. Supreme Court’s flawed decision in the Shelby County v. Holder case found Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 unconstitutional, as amended (VRA), and therefore halts the enforcement of Section 5, the advance approval requirement, until Congress takes action to determine a new formula for coverage.

Racial and language minorities still face significant voting discrimination across this country including Florida. Voters and all residents of Florida have benefited from the coverage of Collier County and four other counties under Section 5 of the VRA. It was a powerful tool following attempts to implement controversial and discriminatory voting changes that the Florida Legislature approved and Governor Scott signed in 2011. Both the courts and the Department of Justice were involved in the review.

The Collier County Democratic Party encourages all citizens to register, vote and stand up for the rights of all to do the same.

Approved by the Steering Committee of the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee September 18, 2013

 TALKING POINTS IMMIGRATION REFORM

Our Purpose: That the current bill, be supported with the possible addition of the identified improvements so that the United States can continue to promote diversity and truly live up to the spirit of Emma Lazarus’s Poem:

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” The current immigration bill being considered by the Senate:

• It includes a pathway to citizenship for the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in America
• It increases efforts to secure the border (including more fencing)
• It creates a mandated employer verification, “E-verify,” system and harsher punishments for employers who hire undocumented workers
• It modernizes our visa system to ensure that immigrants coming to the U.S. on a visa don’t stay past its expiration date
• It creates a new visa program for low-skilled workers (workers in jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree)
• It proposes increased immigration opportunities for highly skilled workers in high demand occupations

The criticisms are:

• Some Republicans say the bill “falls far short” of ending the problem of illegal immigration, will take away jobs from current citizens, and is unlikely to secure the border
• There are uncertainties about the impact on social support systems in absorbing the current undocumented immigrants into full citizenship

Possible improvements to the bill:

• Requiring that candidates for citizenship have no criminal record in the United States
• Requiring that candidates for citizenship complete training to be eligible for a median wage occupation
• Requiring that candidates for citizenship complete functional workplace English literacy training
• Requiring that candidates for citizenship meet a time limit to complete the above requirements based on age and experience

Approved by the Steering Committee of the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee September 18, 2013

Update on the Affordable Care Act in Florida

Our Purpose: In an effort to highlight Governor Rick Scott and the Republican Party’s continuing effort to undermine the Affordable Care Act (also referred to as Obamacare), the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) has identified actions made for solely political purposes.

It is becoming increasingly evident that Governor Scott engaged in an act of bold political pandering in supporting the expansion of Medicaid in Florida. While opposing Obamacare, Scott (a former CEO of a healthcare enterprise which incurred the largest fine ever for Medicare fraud), was opposed to accepting federal funds in any guise. Suddenly, he “saw the light” and urged the legislature to accept the $51 billion in federal grants. Critics point out that this appears to be in aid of his re-election campaign.

The cynical reversal is made more odious by the Governor’s knowledge that the Legislature was certain to oppose the expansion.

The Republicans “slow-walked” the debates in the House and the Senate so that the legislative session would end with no resolution of the Medicaid expansion question. This abdication renders a “perfect” outcome for Republicans. It compromises Obamacare, leaves some 900,000 Floridians with no healthcare insurance and hurts hospitals which will be forced to carry out their emergency mandate with no grants or subsidies.

On another note, the Governor signed into law an act that suspends the Florida Insurance Commission’s review of rates for two years—to make certain that any rate increases are blamed on Obamacare. This measure will reward rate collusion among insurers and encourage them to thwart the purpose of insurance exchanges. This is another example of a partisan disregard for the health of Floridians.

Obamacare is Working Posted on May 31, 2013 at 5:30 pm by JM Ashby From the White House blog.

Today, the Medicare Trustees reported some good news for seniors and taxpayers: The Medicare program will be solvent through 2026, nearly a decade longer than projected at the time of passage of the Affordable Care Act. This is 2 years longer than projected last year. Their annual report also shows that the long run actuarial deficit in the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund – a measure of its long-term fiscal health – has been cut by more than 70 percent since enactment of the health care law. The long-run Medicare deficit has fallen from 3.88 percent of taxable payroll in the 2009 Trustees Report to 1.11 percent in this report.

The trustees also reported that 32 million senior citizens have accessed free preventive care under the Affordable Care Act, while 6 million seniors have saved at least $700 on prescription drug costs by closing the infamous Donut Hole. A Donut Hole, I hasten to remind you, Paul Ryan proposed reopening in his latest budget proposal.

While Obamacare is reducing the cost of healthcare and greatly extending the solvency of Medicare, Senator Macro Rubio, the Republican party’s “savior,” pledged to “really focus” on repealing Obamacare.

The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land. The DEC encourages all Florida citizens to abide by its statutes and fight for the expansion of Medicaid in Florida.

Approved by the Steering Committee of the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee September 18, 2013

Hydraulic Fracturing

Estero’s own representative, Representative Ray Rodriguez, has introduced a bill in the Florida House which would require drilling companies to report the chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking. The bill has passed each of its sub-committee reviews with ease with Representative Rodriguez being praised in the process for his foresight on the issue. The bill’s intent is to lay some of the legal groundwork which will be necessary if hydraulic fracturing comes to our state in earnest. This attempt, however, also begs an implicit question – Should we allow hydraulic fracturing in the first place?

Across the country, many states and municipalities are battling with the effects of hydraulic fracturing on a daily basis leading the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin to investigate. The EPA has identified five locations – two cities in Pennsylvania, and one city each in Colorado, Texas, and North Dakota – in which case studies will be conducted to determine if ground water contamination has occurred due to hydraulic fracturing. Findings from an earlier three-year EPA study of ground water contamination in Pavillion, Wyoming stated, “The draft report indicates that ground water in the aquifer contains compounds likely associated with gas production practices, including hydraulic fracturing.” The risks to our health and to the environment are uncertain enough for the State of New York to place a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, awaiting further research before allowing the practice to begin. Florida should do the same.

Our environment is the bedrock of our economy. The beaches, oceans, fishing, and wildlife draw visitors to our shores and new residents into our communities. Southwest Florida in particular, relies greatly on our climate and environs to attract new residents and businesses. Fracturing analysts have identified SW Florida as one of two areas within the state with substantial amounts of natural gas. With all the evidence of a potential link between Hydraulic Fracturing and ground water pollution, our representatives do not see any problem with allowing these practices to happen within sight of a national treasurer, the Everglades: THE EVERGLADES. Is economic growth at all costs the only factor worth considering? Is patience, in response to potential environmental hazards, a trivial nuisance to be brushed aside?

We must not submit meekly to the pressure of the moment – sacrificing the core of Florida’s economy for short term monetary gains. As the EPA’s testing suggests, the water is literally too murky. Florida should chart its course on a prudent path, one that does not jeopardize our future prosperity. Inform your representative of your views and keep Florida’s environment free of Hydraulic Fracturing.

April 2013

Fire District Consolidation

Our Position: With the rapid growth of Collier County in the past two decades, the system of separate, independent fire districts is inadequate and antiquated. The Collier County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) will advocate for the consolidation of all fire districts to eliminate waste, improve administrative efficiencies, maximize purchasing power, and provide better service to Collier County residents.

A Model for Consolidation

In recent months, the East Naples and Golden Gate Fire Districts entered into a binding Inter-local Agreement taking the first important step towards consolidation of the five independent and two dependent fire districts in Collier County. The agreement provides a compelling example for consolidation grounded in the needs of both the Fire Districts themselves, and what is best for the residents of East Naples and Golden Gate.

The opportunity for East Naples and Golden Gate began with the need to fill vacant positions in each district. Each position and its duties, whether in Golden Gate or East Naples, could be subsumed under the corresponding position in the other district. So, instead of hiring a new Fire Chief in Golden Gate, East Naples’s Fire Chief took over the Fire Chief’s responsibilities in both districts. Instead of hiring a new Assistant Fire Chief in East Naples, the Golden Gate Assistant Fire Chief assumed those same responsibilities in both districts. Major purchases, such as new trucks or tankers needed for responsible preparedness, could be forgone by utilizing each district’s equipment, saving each district valuable funds. As a result of this Inter-local Agreement and the two districts working together, many more redundancies are being addressed daily within these two fire districts.

The need for consolidation has been discussed for more than 5 years now, with very little progress towards actual consolidation. In 2010, Collier County residents overwhelmingly supported a non-binding referendum which stated,

“Would you support consolidation of the five independent fire districts and two dependent fire districts into one independent fire district for unincorporated Collier County provided that the consolidation will improve efficiency and promote a more cost-effective use of tax dollars?”

More than 70% of voters agreed with this referendum, and they should. Who wouldn’t be for better performance and more cost effective use of tax dollars? The argument against consolidation is that it would weaken performance and be less cost effective than our current independent fire districts.

The East Naples / Golden Gate inter-local agreement illustrates the obvious benefits to residents. They are as follows:

• Elimination of duplicative positions in Administration and Management reducing overhead and saving taxpayer funds.
• Reduction of equipment purchases by utilizing each district’s assets reducing overhead and saving taxpayer funds.
• Utilization of Central Offices reducing overall overhead costs and increasing communication between all departments.
• Elimination of ambiguous boundaries and improved response times to emergencies by better communication and clearer expectations.
• Increased purchasing power for day-to-day operations (i.e. Fuel, Office Supplies, etc.) further reducing overhead costs and saving money.

Over the past 40 years, Collier County has seen its population grow from a minute 38,951 residents in 1970 swelling to 8 times that size by 2011 with a population of 328,134 according to US Census data. Our system of 7 Fire Districts (5 Independent and 2 Dependent) was designed to meet the needs of smaller communities that were geographically separated. Now is the time to begin the transition from inefficient independence to an integrated consolidated district capable of meeting the needs of our expanding metropolitan area. The East Naples / Golden Gate model is the responsible approach to this transition and Collier County residents should join the Collier County DEC in support of this initiative.

Approved by the Steering Committee of the Collier County Democratic Executive Committee September 18, 2013

The CCDEC is primarily composed of Precinct Committeewomen and Committeemen, elected to represent their precincts for the Democratic Party in Collier County. These women and men are elected to 4-year terms by residents in their precincts at scheduled county elections and become members of the CCDEC. Each precinct may have one man and one woman or, if there are more than 1,000 registered voters in a precinct, it may have two men and two women. In the years of presidential races, these positions are included on the ballot. Positions not filled in these general elections may be filled by majority vote of current DEC members at official meetings.

The CCDEC is primarily composed of Precinct Committeewomen and Committeemen, elected to represent their precincts for the Democratic Party in Collier County. These women and men are elected to 4-year terms by residents in their precincts at scheduled county elections and become members of the CCDEC. Each precinct may have one man and one woman or, if there are more than 1,000 registered voters in a precinct, it may have two men and two women. In the years of presidential races, these positions are included on the ballot. Positions not filled in these general elections may be filled by majority vote of current DEC members at official meetings.