November 2025
Letter from the Chair
No Kings: Turning Inspiration Into Action
The October 18 “No Kings” rally reminded us that democracy is not a spectator sport. Standing together for freedom, fairness, and accountability was powerful—but real change begins after the signs are put away.
Now is the time to turn inspiration into action. First, protect your vote. Every Florida voter must renew their Vote-by-Mail request for 2026. Visit CollierVotes.gov to renew and check your registration at registertovoteflorida.gov. Spread the word, help friends and neighbors do the same.
Second, get involved locally. Volunteer with the Collier County Democratic Party—canvass, phone bank, or host a meet and greet. Sign up at CollierDems.org/volunteer. Grassroots energy wins elections.
Third, support the movement. Our headquarters and voter outreach programs depend on grassroots donors. Give what you can at CollierDems.org/donate.
Fourth, spread the truth. Talk with your family, friends, and community about threats to democracy like Project 2025. Share credible information and show up at local meetings—our school boards and county commissions need to see us engaged.
Spend with intention. Support local, ethical, and pro-democracy businesses. Avoid those that fund extremist agendas. Use tools like ProgressiveShopper.com or GoodsUniteUs to align your dollars with your values.
Finally, consider running for office. We need candidates who will serve the will of the people—especially in HD 80, 81, 82; SD 28; County Commission Districts 2 and 4; and School Board District 3.
Together, we can make “No Kings” more than a rallying cry—we can make it a movement.
To get involved, email info@collierdems.org.
In solidarity,
Jane Schlechtweg
Chair, Collier County Democratic Party
You’re invited to join us for the next meeting of the
Collier County Democratic Executive Committee
on Wednesday, November 5
at the Collier County Education Association building
6710 Lone Oak Blvd, Naples 34109
Social Hour: 5:30 PM – Come early, enjoy light refreshments, and get to know your fellow Democrats.
Business Meeting: 6:30 PM – We’ll cover important updates and upcoming initiatives.
Our guest speakers this month will be a coalition of community members seeking the DEC’s support in the upcoming February 2026 Naples city elections. This will be an important conversation about how we can work together to elect local leaders who share our values.
Your participation keeps our movement strong. We look forward to seeing you there!
Please RSVP here
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 6:30 meeting begins.
The Collier County Democratic Club (CCDC) will meet
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2025 – 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Veterans Community Park
1895 Veterans Park Dr
Naples, FL 34109
Come join the fun welcoming back our liberal “snowbirds”. The club provides the entree of chicken and burgers. You bring the side dish or dessert. We look forward to gathering under the large pavilion in Veterans Community Park (take the first right after the firehouse and the pavilion is beyond the pickleball courts across the parking lot from the tennis courts). We hope to see you there rain or shine. Register now!
The Democratic Women’s Club of Marco (DWCM) will meet
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10 – 5:00 – 6:30 PM
in person at Mackle Park Community Center
1361 Andalusia Terrace
Please join us for a special Veterans Day Presentation!
Our guest speakers include:
Former Marine F-4 Aviator pilot Jim Askins, who will share his reflections on how the U.S. military has evolved to integrate women as pilots alongside men—and why he believes this progress strengthens our armed forces.
Marco Island Councilor Rene Champagne who will share his experiences as a Vietnam Vet, as well as update us on the new Vietnam Veterans Memorial which will be unveiled in 2026.
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)
The Collier County Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida is working with a bi-partisan coalition called RedBlue4Green to sponsor a Naples City Council Environmental Candidate Forum, ahead of the February 3 Naples City Council election.
The forum will be held on Thursday December 11, 2025, 4-6 PM at the Norris Center, 755 8th Ave S, Naples FL 34102
City of Naples voters can register for this event on the RedBlue4Green website. CLICK HERE!
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.
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.
If you know of other local government meetings and events we should list here, please email Sandy Ussia at sandy.ussia303@gmail.com
Did you miss the October 13 Town Hall with Florida Gubernatorial candidate David Jolly?
We’ve got you covered!
Yurina Gil
MEET OUR CANDIDATES!
In this newsletter segment, we’ll introduce Florida Democratic candidates to you. We ask each candidate some questions, and publish the answers here, so you can get to know them!
First up is Yurina Gil, who is running against Republican Incumbent Mario Diaz-Balart for US Congressional District 26.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born in Havana, Cuba, and came to the U.S. at age 18 after my father won the visa lottery. I earned my CPA and master’s in accounting while supporting myself, eventually joining PwC (PriceWaterhouseCoopers) and EY (Ernst & Young) before returning to Miami in 2019. Today, I serve as Director of Client Relations at FirstService Residential, helping communities with their financial reporting needs.
2. Tell us what key issue(s) made you decide to run and why.
I decided to run because I realized no one is coming to save us—we must be the change we seek. A new wave of leadership gives me hope that we can finally pass policies that uplift working families. I’m running to ensure our government works for the people, not just corporations.
3. If elected, how can you have the biggest impact on the lives of voters?
My mission is to restore the American Dream by fighting for fair wages and economic justice. I will champion legislation that ties executive pay to worker compensation and ensures everyone earns enough to live with dignity. I believe prosperity should be shared, not hoarded.
4. What impact (if any) do you hope to have on national issues?
I want to decentralize our supply chain to reduce dependency on China and strengthen ties with Latin America, boosting resilience and regional prosperity. I’ll push for climate accountability, requiring corporations to report emissions and contribute to disaster recovery funds. I also support gun safety reforms that hold irresponsible gun owners and lax states accountable.
5. What do you see as the biggest threat to Floridians/Collier County residents?
The biggest threat is declining quality of life due to unaffordable healthcare, stagnant wages, and climate-driven costs. I will fight to make healthcare accessible, revive the middle class, and shift the burden of climate change to those responsible. Our people drive 70% of our GDP—it’s time we prioritize them over corporate profits.
NOTICE: Our “Meet the Candidate” series is meant to introduce Democratic candidates to voters. This is not an endorsement of any candidate.
FEATURED EDITORIAL
THE KILLING OF OUR DEMOCRACY – WITH ONE BIG BLOW AFTER ANOTHER
AND TOTAL DISREGARD FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND THE COMMON GOOD
A Nation at Risk: When Power Replaces Principle
The image of a crane tearing down the East Wing of the People’s White House was more than symbolic. It was prophetic. It captured an administration intent on bulldozing democracy, dismissing the rule of law, and replacing accountability with unchecked power.
It began in February with the new Trump administration’s “DOGE Team” purge, led by Elon Musk. That was a reckless sweep that removed thousands of career public servants from their jobs with no analysis, hearings, or due process. It was power for power’s sake, signaling that government itself could be dismantled at the command of one man rather than the will of the people.
The Assault on Democracy
What followed has been a calculated campaign to erode every pillar of democratic life, a blueprint drawn from Project 2025 designed for executive domination and the suppression of dissent.
Key targets include:
- Higher Education: Research funding gutted, universities coerced, academic freedom replaced by ideology.
- Public Schools: Curriculums censored, funding weaponized, programs for minorities and the disabled dismantled.
- Civil and Voting Rights: Diversity and inclusion erased, protections for women and minorities weakened, civic institutions silenced.
- Freedom of the Press: Journalists harassed, licenses threatened, even comedians warned for “disrespect.”
- Healthcare and Environment: Medicaid, Obamacare, and SNAP undermined; science ignored, climate safeguards shredded.
Each move serves one purpose, to silence opposition by destroying independent institutions, restricting speech, and curbing the right to vote. Meanwhile, economic elites are freed from regulation, enriching themselves at the expense of public health, fairness, and opportunity.
Even the judiciary and Congress – the Constitution’s checks on executive power – are being sidelined. Judges are discredited, rulings dismissed, and Congress reduced to political theater by a compliant GOP leadership unwilling to challenge the president they serve.
Rise of a New Power Elite
Behind this drift toward autocracy stands a new oligarchy, this a fusion of tech magnates, crypto billionaires, and media barons. Their alliance with political power isn’t about innovation; it’s about control of markets, money, and minds.
The Fight for America’s Democracy and Future
But this story isn’t finished. Its ending depends on us citizens who still believe in democracy, the rule of law, and the shared decency of a free people.
The defense of democracy now rests on:
- Voter Engagement – Turn outrage into turnout.
- Independent Institutions – Defend due process and constitutional limits.
- Election Integrity – Protect every ballot, every voice.
- Judicial Courage – Support courts that enforce justice without fear.
- Free Media – Stand with journalists who refuse silence.
- Moral Leadership – Demand public servants who serve the people, not the powerful.
Now Is the Moment to Stand for Liberty and Equality
America’s founding vision – liberty, equality, and justice – has survived wars, depressions, and demagogues. It can survive this too, but only if we rise together.
Let this be the moment we choose courage over comfort, truth over propaganda, country over cult. Organize. Speak out. March. Donate. Volunteer. Vote not once, but in every election, at every level.
Democracy doesn’t die in one blow. It dies when citizens look away.
The time to stand up, speak out, and fight for America’s future is not tomorrow, it’s NOW!
LA MATANZA DE NUESTRA DEMOCRACIA
CON GOLPE TRAS GOLPE Y UN TOTAL DESPRECIO POR NUESTRA CONSTITUCIÓN Y EL BIEN COMÚN
Una Nación en Riesgo: Cuando el Poder Reemplaza al Principio
La imagen de una grúa demoliendo el Ala Este de la Casa Blanca del Pueblo Norteamericano fue más que simbólica. Fue profética. Capturó a una administración decidida a arrasar con la democracia, despreciar el estado de derecho y reemplazar la rendición de cuentas con un poder sin control.
Todo comenzó en febrero con la “purga del Equipo DOGE” del nuevo gobierno de Trump, dirigida por Elon Musk. Fue una barrida atrevida que eliminó a miles de servidores públicos de carrera de sus cargos sin análisis, audiencias ni debido proceso. Era poder por el simple hecho de ejercer poder, una señal de que el propio gobierno podía ser desmantelado por orden de un solo hombre en lugar de la voluntad del pueblo.
El Asalto a la Democracia
Lo que siguió fue una campaña calculada para debilitar cada pilar de la vida democrática, un plan derivado del Proyecto 2025 de los Republicanos MAGA, diseñado para la dominación ejecutiva y la supresión de la disidencia.
Los principales tiros al blanco incluyen:
- Educación Superior: Recortes drásticos al fondeo estatal para la investigación, coaccionar universidades a controles estatales y la libertad académica reemplazada por la ideología.
- Escuelas Públicas: Censura a los planes de estudio, usar la disminución de apoyo gubernamental financiero como arma y desmantelar programas para minorías y personas con discapacidades.
- Derechos Civiles y Electorales: Eliminar políticas de diversidad e inclusión, debilitar las protecciones para mujeres y minorías, y silenciar instituciones cívicas.
- Libertad de Prensa: Periodistas acosados, licencias amenazadas e incluso comediantes advertidos por “falta de respeto”.
- Salud y Medioambiente: Debilitar Medicaid, Obamacare y SNAP; ignorar la ciencia y destruir las protecciones climáticas.
Cada medida tiene un solo propósito: silenciar la oposición destruyendo instituciones independientes, restringiendo la libertad de expresión y limitando el derecho al voto. Mientras tanto, las élites económicas son liberadas de la regulación, enriqueciéndose a costa de la salud pública, la equidad y las oportunidades.
Incluso el poder judicial y el Congreso – los controles constitucionales sobre el poder ejecutivo, están siendo marginados. Los jueces son desacreditados, los fallos desestimados y el Congreso reducido a teatro político por un liderazgo republicano complaciente que se niega a desafiar al presidente al que sirven.
El Surgimiento de una Nueva Élite del Poder
Detrás de esta deriva hacia la autocracia se alza una nueva oligarquía, una fusión de magnates tecnológicos, multimillonarios de las criptomonedas y barones de los medios. Su alianza con el poder político no se trata de innovación; se trata de controlar los mercados, el dinero y las mentes.
La Lucha por la Democracia y el Futuro de América
Pero esta historia no ha terminado. Su desenlace depende de nosotros, los ciudadanos que aún creemos en la democracia, el estado de derecho y la decencia compartida de un pueblo libre.
La defensa de la democracia depende ahora de:
- Participación Electoral – Convertir la indignación en votos.
- Instituciones Independientes – Defender el debido proceso y los límites constitucionales.
- Integridad Electoral – Proteger cada voto, cada voz.
- Coraje Judicial – Apoyar a los tribunales que aplican justicia sin temor.
- Prensa Libre – Apoyar a los periodistas que se niegan a callar.
- Liderazgo Moral – Exigir servidores públicos que sirvan al pueblo, no a los poderosos.
Ahora es el Momento de Defender la Libertad y la Igualdad
La visión fundadora de Estados Unidos, libertad, igualdad y justicia, ha sobrevivido a guerras, depresiones y demagogos. También puede sobrevivir a esto, pero solo si nos levantamos juntos.
Que este sea el momento en que elijamos el valor sobre la comodidad, la verdad sobre la propaganda, el país sobre el culto. Organízate. Alza la voz. Marcha. Dona. Sé voluntario. Vota no solo una vez, sino en cada elección, en cada nivel.
La democracia no muere de un solo golpe. Muere cuando los ciudadanos apartan la mirada. El momento de levantarse, expresarse y luchar por el futuro de los Estados Unidos no es mañana, ¡es AHORA!
Your Voice. Your Future. Your Power.
Now more than ever, young people are changing the world—and Florida Young Democrats is where that momentum begins.
We’re building a movement of bold, diverse leaders ready to make real change. By joining Florida Young Democrats, you’re not just standing up for your future—you’re stepping into your power. Together, we amplify youth voices in the political process, fight for legislation that benefits our generation, and elect Young Democrats who reflect our values and our vision.
Whether you’re passionate about justice, climate, education, housing, or voting rights—this is your place to turn that passion into action.
Trusted News Sources!
Have you had enough of watching the news on TV, or reading national newspapers? If so, we can recommend some alternative news sources!
We’ve added a new web page listing local and national progressive information sources, as well as trusted blogs and social media commentary. Want to suggest other sources for this page? Contact Us!
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.