January 2025
Letter from the Chair
Welcome, Democrats, to 2025!
As we step into this new year, let us remember the power we hold when we stand united and speak out for what matters. Together, we can create a brighter, fairer future for Collier County and beyond. Some may say it’s naive and useless to believe that speaking out will change anything. But I believe it’s even more naive to stay silent and expect a better future to come without a fight.
The challenges ahead may be daunting, but we are not powerless. Every voice raised, every action taken, and every moment of persistence brings us closer to the progress we seek. This is the year to continue pushing for accountability, fairness, and the protection of our democratic values.
Collier County is our home, and together we can make it a place where opportunity, equality, and justice thrive. By working side by side, we will turn our shared vision into reality.
Change has never been easy, and it’s never come quickly. But it’s only when people refuse to give up that real progress happens. Let’s remind our elected officials that they work for us—and together, we can make sure they never forget it.
We will prevail—not because it’s easy, but because we are determined. Let’s make 2025 a year of progress, resilience, and hope.
Let’s stand together. Let’s use our voices. And let’s make a difference.
Here’s to a transformative 2025!
NEW Collier County DEC Officers and Committeepersons
FRONT left to right: Judy Freiberg, Marlene Gargan. BACK left to right: Adam Molny, Greg Gargan, Rick Newton, Jane Schlechtweg, Sandy Ussia, Anne Chernin.
CONGRATULATIONS to our 2025-26 DEC Officers elected at the December 4th DEC meeting:
Chair: Jane Schlechtweg
Vice Chair: Rick Newton
Secretary: Judy Freiberg
Treasurer: Sandy Ussia
And more CONGRATULATIONS to our State Committeepersons elected for a 4-year term:
Judy Freiberg, Anne Chernin, Marlene Gargan, Greg Gargan, and Adam Molny
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REPRESENTING US ALL!
The Collier County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) will meet
JANUARY 8, 2025 – 5:30 PM Meet & Greet, 6:30 PM Meeting
We’re taking our show on the road in 2025!
The January location will be at the
Collier County Education Association
6710 Lone Oak Blvd, Naples, FL 34109
The DEC is the local official arm of the Florida Democratic Party and is comprised of elected Committeemen and Women. Official meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM. We will hold a public Meet & Greet beginning at 5:30 PM. Please join us! ALL DEMOCRATS WELCOME!
All registered Democrats may attend and observe as guests, and all attendees must register ahead of time. Only DEC members may vote and participate in the meeting. Attendees are encouraged to join 10 minutes early to get settled before the meeting begins.
The Collier County Democratic Club (CCDC) will meet
JANUARY 13, 2025 – 6:00-7:30 PM
at Collier County Education Association
6710 Lone Oak Blvd, Naples, FL 34109
ENHANCED JUVENILE JUSTICE THROUGH THE CIVIL CITATION PROGRAM
This month we will host Libbie Bramson and Nancy Garfien from the Juvenile Justice Committee of the League of Women Voters of Collier County.
The Civil Citation program is an alternative to arrest for eligible minors who have committed first-time, low level misdemeanor offenses. It is an opportunity for a successful future with a recidivism rate of 4-5%.
Civil Citation is one of the most valuable tools available to combat juvenile delinquency. Collier County is one of the leaders in Florida but there is opportunity to expand the program.
All Democrats Welcome. Please Join us!
The Democratic Women‘s Club of Marco (DWC Marco) will meet
JANUARY 14, 2025
5:00 – 6:30 PM in person at
Mackle Park Community Center
1361 Andalusia Terrace
Be a part of the discussion as we decide on the mission and goals of DWCMarco for 2025. Learn more about upcoming events and our community outreach initiatives taking place this season.
Please Join Us! Doors open for sign in at 4:45pm, and the meeting will begin promptly at 5:00pm. Please be on time.
The Collier County Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida
(CCDECF) is asking everyone to sign the NEW Right to Clean Water ballot petition, for inclusion on the 2026 ballot.
This is a new initiative and requires that we all sign, as the one you signed for 2024 is no longer valid.
To get your pre-printed petition, sign up to receive it via email, or via snail mail if you do not have a printer. Click here to order your pre-filled petition.
Then print, sign, date and mail it.
Once again, here’s the link: https://bit.ly/FRTCW-petition.
JOIN THE COLLIER COUNTY DECF AND THE STATE DECF!
Click the link below to join the state DECF for $10 per year. Then follow the prompts to join the Collier County DECF for $15 per year: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/decfmembership
Engage In Your Community!
Collier County Board of County Commissioners hold public meetings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 9:00am in the BCC Chambers on the 3rd floor of the Government Center. Agendas and minutes are available here. Other Collier County committee meetings are listed on their calendar.
The Collier County School Board normally holds public meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 9:00am at the Dr Martin Luther King Administrative Center (5775 Osceola Trail, Naples), unless noted otherwise. Here are links to view agendas and minutes. School Board seats for Districts 1, 3, and 5 will be open in the November 2026 election. If you are interested in running to serve the children of Collier County, now is the time to begin preparing. Please contact Carrie Stewart for information.
Naples City Council normally holds its regular public meetings on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 8:30am in the City Hall Council Chambers at 735 8th Street South. You can view agendas and minutes, and watch the meetings live online using the foregoing link. There is no meeting on January 1, so there will only be one City Council meeting in January.
The Marco Island City Council normally holds public meetings on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 5:30pm in the Dr. Fay and Bedford Biles Community Room, 51 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island. Agendas and minutes are available here. In January, the 2nd meeting date will be Tuesday January 21, due to Martin Luther King Day on the 20th.
If you know of other local government meetings and events we should list here, please email Sandy Ussia at sandy.ussia303@gmail.com
The Collier County Democratic Executive Committee (CCDEC) is the official, local county arm of the Florida Democratic Party. The CCDEC has oversight over all Democratic Party activities within Collier County. LEARN MORE
The Collier County Democratic Party is an all-volunteer, entirely donor-funded organization. Our local party can not exist without volunteers and donors like you.