March 2026
Letter from the Chair
Be the Change: Volunteer in Collier County
Last month, over 300 community members joined the Collier County Democratic Party open house, showing the energy and commitment our community has for local democracy. From School Board to Congress, candidates shared their visions and solutions—and now it’s our turn to act.
Attending rallies and boycotting is just the start. Resistance is easy. Showing up on social media, sharing memes, or venting frustrations takes little effort. But getting Democrats elected takes commitment, time, and work.
That’s why we need passionate volunteers to keep our headquarters open, make calls, write letters, assist with mailings, and support candidates in School Board, Florida House (Districts 81 & 82), and Congress (Districts 19 & 26). Every hour, every action, moves us closer to a stronger, more representative local government.
Want to make an even bigger impact? Consider running for office yourself—opportunities exist on the County Commission, Florida House, and Florida Senate. Leadership starts with people willing to step up.
Right now, our headquarters is open Monday afternoons and Wednesdays, staffed with an officer. As more volunteers join, we’ll expand hours and visibility—but we need you to make it happen.
Change doesn’t wait. Your skills, your time, your energy—these are the tools that help candidates win and our democracy thrive.
This is your invitation: join us. Volunteer, donate, or step up to run. Together, we will keep our headquarters buzzing, support our candidates, and build momentum that wins. Collier County’s future depends on it—and it begins with you.
Be the change. Step in. Make a difference.
The Collier County Democratic Executive Committee Meeting
Wednesday, March 4th
6:00 – 9:00 pm
at 5010 9th Street North, Naples, FL 34103
(in the Heritage Court plaza)
We’re excited to welcome a very special guest: Melissa Blazier, Supervisor of Elections for Collier County. With over 20 years of experience overseeing fair and free elections, Melissa will provide insight into our local election process and answer your questions about what’s happening in elections at both the state and national level.
Click here for more information!
Social time begins at 6:00 pm. Business meeting begins at 6:30 pm
The Collier County Democratic Executive Committee Meeting
Click here for more information!
Social time begins at 5:30 pm. Business meeting begins at 6:30 pm
The Collier County Democratic Club will meet on
Monday, March 16 from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
at the
Collier County Education Association
6710 Lone Oak Blvd
Naples, FL 34109
Robyn Cicero, recently retired after 30 years as an aviation specialist with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and four years with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be the guest speaker.
Democratic Women’s Club of Marco (DWCM)
The next meeting of DWC Marco will take place on
Tuesday, March 24
5:00 pm- 6:30 pm in person
at Mackle Park Community Center
1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island
Our feature presenter will be Melissa Blazier, the Collier County Supervisor of Elections, who will be speaking about the transparency of our local voting systems and about changes in Florida voting laws, including vote-by-mail restrictions and mid-decade redistricting.
Join Us! Doors open for sign in at 4:45pm, and the meeting will begin promptly at 5:00pm. Please be on time.
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We extend our sincere gratitude to all individuals who contributed to the success of the Naples City Council elections on February 3, 2026. Your active participation played a pivotal role in ensuring that the community of River Park East will benefit from essential resiliency infrastructure upgrades initiated by the Naples City Council. Furthermore, your involvement helped us maintain the council’s commitment to representing the citizens of Naples rather than catering to special interests. Click here to join the DECF and our chapter, and be sure to receive our newsletters to learn more about our 2026 election activities. Become a Member – Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida |
Any questions, feel free to contact: Judy Freiberg President, CCDECF – judyfreiberg@sbcglobal.net
VOTER PROTECTION VOLUNTEERS – URGENTLY NEEDED
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Volunteering to join the Voter Protection Team is one of the most meaningful ways to safeguard our democracy and support our candidates. At its core, voter protection is about ensuring that every eligible voter can cast their ballot freely, safely, and with confidence that it will be counted. By stepping up as a volunteer, you become part of the front line in protecting that fundamental right. We are currently seeking dedicated volunteers to serve as poll greeters and poll watchers during early voting and on Election Day. Poll greeters play a vital role in welcoming voters, answering basic questions, and helping create a calm, positive environment at polling locations. Often, a friendly face can ease anxiety and encourage participation. Poll watchers, on the other hand, are trained to observe the voting process, ensuring that procedures are followed correctly and that any issues are documented and addressed appropriately. This is a unique opportunity to directly support Democratic candidates while also strengthening the integrity of our voting system. Your presence helps deter misinformation, identify potential problems, and reassure voters that the process is fair and transparent. No matter your level of experience, there is a place for you on the Voter Protection Team. Training and guidance are provided so you feel confident in your role. Whether you can give a few hours or a full day, your contribution makes a real difference. Democracy works best when we all participate—not just by voting, but by protecting the vote. Volunteering for voter protection is a powerful way to stand up for your community and ensure that every voice is heard. |
IMMIGRATION: DEMOCRATIC PARTY POSITION:
A Balanced Approach for Security, Legal Consistency and Our Economic Health
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Strong border security and enforcement of immigration laws are essential to maintaining national sovereignty, public safety, and confidence in our legal system. The United States must have secure borders, efficient processing, and clear rules that are consistently applied. At the same time, immigration reform must be practical, humane, and economically smart. Policies should protect naturalized citizens, Dreamers, support legal refugees, and address root causes of migration in Latin America and other unstable regions. It must also provide: 1) pathways to legal status and citizenship and 2) address workforce shortages, by increasing the number of employment-based and family-sponsored visas. Most fundamental, is recognition that immigrants are vital to the health of the U.S. economy and its unique rich and successful culture of diverse ethnic backgrounds. • REPUBLICANS IN FLORIDA: Republican immigration policy is currently focused on very strong border security and large-scale detention of illegal immigrants nationwide. In 2025 these policies have been facilitated by the enactment of the GOP driven legislation called the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” which allocates over $170 billion to $185 billion in funding for immigration enforcement and border security over four years. Additional proposals currently favored by them focus on further tightening entry criteria, suspending or banning visas for specific countries, reducing certain visa programs (like H-1B for professionals), increasing enforcement capacity, and adding significant procedural hurdles and / or costs to immigration processes. These efforts reflect a broad trend toward more restrictive immigration and visa policies. Florida Context In 2023, Florida’s GOP governor and legislative majorityenacted SB 1718, expanding enforcement measures including mandatory E-Verify for many employers, invalidation of certain out-of-state driver’s licenses, and increased penalties related to undocumented status. Supporters emphasize deterrence and enforcement. Critics argue the law has contributed to labor shortages in key industries. Why Immigration Matters to America Immigrants are vital to the U.S. economy and culture: • Strengthening the Workforce: Immigrants offset aging demographics and support economic growth. • Filling Critical Jobs: 54% of farm laborers 40% of home health aides 30% of construction workers 27% of physicians and surgeons • Driving Innovation: Immigrants start businesses at higher rates and contribute significantly to patents and entrepreneurship. • Supporting Public Finances: Immigrants pay billions in taxes and contribute to Social Security and Medicare. Research also shows that both legal and undocumented immigrants have lower crime conviction rates per capita than U.S.-born citizens. Conclusion – The Bottom Line America’s immigration policy must do three things at once: 1) Secure the border 2) Uphold our Constitution and laws and 3) Treat immigrants and refugees humanely and economically smart; while recognizing that immigrants strengthen our economy, enrich our culture, and fuel long-term growth. |
INMIGRACIÓN: POSICIÓN DEL PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA:Un Enfoque Equilibrado – Necesario Para la Seguridad, La Coherencia Jurídica y Nuestra Salud EconómicaUna sólida seguridad fronteriza, garantizar nuestra seguridad pública, mejorar la salud económica de nuestra nación y el cumplimiento de las disposiciones de nuestra Constitución y sistema legal deben ser los cuatro pilares fundamentales de nuestras leyes y procesos de inmigración. 1) Seguridad fronteriza: esto incluye infraestructura de calidad, personal calificado y suficiente, y tecnología eficiente que utilizamos para controlar y monitorear quién y qué entra o sale de nuestro territorio a través de: 1) puntos de entrada oficiales y 2) nuestras extensas fronteras terrestres y marítimas. Estos recursos se utilizan para disuadir la entrada ilegal de personas y bienes a Estados Unidos. 2) Seguridad pública: abarca medidas diseñadas para proteger a nuestras comunidades y residentes de personas extranjeras no autorizadas, en particular aquellas con afiliaciones criminales y terroristas fuera o dentro de Estados Unidos. Estas medidas incluyen la verificación de visas y refugiados, la verificación de antecedentes en los puntos de entrada y la aprehensión y detención de personas condenadas por delitos violentos o graves o consideradas de alto riesgo debido a sus afiliaciones. 3) Nuestra salud económica: los inmigrantes son vitales para la economía y la cultura de Estados Unidos. Los inmigrantes representan una parte significativa (20%) de la fuerza laboral estadounidense, desempeñando roles importantes en la agricultura (54%), la construcción (30%), la atención médica (20%), la hostelería (31%), la tecnología y las pequeñas empresas. Están representados de manera desproporcionada tanto entre los profesionales altamente calificados (ingenieros, médicos) como entre los trabajadores esenciales de primera línea. La historia y la experiencia reciente siguen demostrando que los inmigrantes fortalecen nuestra economía, enriquecen nuestra cultura y contribuyen al crecimiento económico a largo plazo, impulsando también el emprendimiento empresarial y la innovación tecnológica. Son importantes contribuyentes fiscales que sustentan las finanzas públicas. Los inmigrantes pagan miles de millones en impuestos y contribuyen significativamente a los ingresos del Seguro Social y Medicare. 4) Cumplimiento de las disposiciones de nuestra Constitución y sistema legal: la ley vigente exige que se brinde el debido proceso a todos los ciudadanos, residentes y visitantes de Estados Unidos que estén detenidos o busquen refugio. Las disposiciones legales actuales no se han aplicado de manera uniforme para todos los detenidos y muchos residentes, en particular para aquellos clasificados como Dreamers. Bajo la ley actual, este grupo carece de certeza sobre su futuro estatus legal, a pesar de haber residido en Estados Unidos durante casi toda su vida. Las investigaciones también muestran que tanto los inmigrantes legales como los indocumentados tienen tasas de condenas por delitos per cápita más bajas que los ciudadanos nacidos en Estados Unidos. POLÍTICAS Y PROPUESTAS REPUBLICANAS: La política migratoria republicana se centra actualmente en una seguridad fronteriza muy estricta y la detención a gran escala de inmigrantes ilegales en todo el país. En 2025, estas políticas se han visto facilitadas por la promulgación de la legislación impulsada por el Partido Republicano, denominada “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, que asigna más de 170 mil millones de dólares en fondos para la aplicación de la ley migratoria y la seguridad fronteriza durante cuatro años. Otras propuestas, actualmente respaldadas por los republicanos, se centran en restringir aún más la emisión de visas de trabajo, los criterios de entrada, la suspensión o prohibición de visas para países específicos, la reducción de ciertos programas de visas (como la H-1B para profesionales), el aumento de la capacidad de aplicación de la ley y la adición de importantes obstáculos procesales y/o costos a los procesos de inmigración. Estos esfuerzos reflejan un énfasis político en políticas de inmigración y visas aún más restrictivas, las cuales obstaculizan el prometedor futuro económico de nuestra nación. Contexto de Florida En 2023, el gobernador republicano de Florida y la mayoría legislativa promulgaron la ley SB 1718. Esta ley estatal amplió las medidas de cumplimiento, incluyendo la obligatoriedad del sistema E-Verify para muchos empleadores, la invalidación de ciertas licencias de conducir de otros estados y el aumento de las sanciones relacionadas con la situación de indocumentado. Si bien quienes apoyan la ley enfatizan sus beneficios disuasorios y de cumplimiento, sus críticos argumentan que ha contribuido a la escasez de mano de obra en industrias clave de Florida, como la agricultura, la construcción y la hostelería. Conclusión: En resumen La política migratoria estadounidense debe lograr cuatro objetivos a la vez: 1) Asegurar la frontera 2) Garantizar la seguridad pública 3) Tratar a los inmigrantes y refugiados con humanidad y de manera económicamente racional; ya que los inmigrantes fortalecen nuestra economía y finanzas públicas, enriquecen nuestra cultura e impulsan el crecimiento a largo plazo. 4) Defender nuestra Constitución, cumplir con las leyes estadounidenses y brindar el debido proceso legal a todos los ciudadanos, residentes, visitantes y refugiados legales. |
Engage in Your Community! |
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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 County Commission seats for Districts 2 and 4 will be on the ballot in the August 18, 2026 Primary election. If you’re interested in shaping the future of Collier County, now is the time to consider stepping forward and running for County Commissioner. Please call (239) 434-7754 for more information. 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. Agendas and minutes are available here (click on Meetings at the top). School Board seats for Districts 1, 3, and 5 will be open in the August 18, 2026 Primary 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 |
If you know of other local government meetings and events we should list here, please email Sandy Ussia at sandy.ussia303@gmail.com
Join the “No Kings” Rally—a peaceful, volunteer-organized gathering dedicated to civic engagement, democratic values, and community voice.The Collier County Democratic Party encourages residents of all backgrounds and beliefs to stand united for the principles that strengthen our democracy. What to Expect Bring your friends, your family, and your commitment to civic engagement. Together, we show that democracy works best when everyone shows up. Location: Collier County Courthouse, 3315 Tamiami Trail E, Naples 34112 We look forward to standing with you. |
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.
Join the Collier County Chapter of the Florida Young Democrats.
Be heard. Be seen. Be the difference.
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.