A Message From Our Chair
Hello Pinellas Democrats,
September has been a whirlwind month for us, filled with community support, outreach, and gearing up for a transformative season ahead.
First and foremost, our hearts go out to the Pinellas residents of Shore Acres and Madeira Beach, as well as all the others who were in Hurricane Idalia’s path. Shore Acres and Madeira Beach faced unprecedented challenges due to the devastating flooding from the storm. I am immensely proud of how we collaborated with Congresswoman Kathy Castor, State Representative Lindsay Cross and the City of St. Petersburg. Together, we reached out to aid our neighbors during this challenging time, embodying the values that make us strong as a community.
Labor Day offered a perfect time for us to reflect upon the significance of workers’ rights and the critical roles laborers play in our society. We celebrated the Labor Day weekend with fantastic events at both the North Pinellas Democratic Club and the St. Petersburg Democratic Club. The spirit of unity was undeniable.
Next up was the Ruth’s List statewide conference. It was inspiring to hear from our fantastic Florida Female Leaders. Three of Pinellas’ brightest paneled at the event: State Representative Michele Rayner, State Representative Lindsay Cross and Pinellas County School Board Member, Caprice Edmond. Their resilience, dedication, and leadership serve as motivation for all of us.
On National Voter Registration Day, we hosted two ‘Decaf Before Democracy’ events. Every vote counts, and these events are a testament to our commitment to ensuring every voice is heard in our democratic process, no matter how hard the Republican legislature tries to make it for us. For every volunteer who came out, we thank you!
The campaign season is getting into gear! The candidate kick-offs are coming in fast, reminding us of the significance and impact of the upcoming elections. Keep your eyes on all your favorites to see when and where you can show your support.
Now, for some exciting announcements:
I’m thrilled to introduce a new partnership with Mr. Kurt Loft, an esteemed journalist who writes stories and essays for a number of publications and organizations, including Florida Trend, the Daily Beast, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida, The Florida Orchestra, the Straz Center, and Creative Pinellas Arts Coast Journal. Before retiring to focus on freelance projects, he spent 27 years as a reporter for The Tampa Tribune and 13 years as a senior writer for PricewaterhouseCoopers. He lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Cindy, a court stenographer. We’re over-the-moon to have our very own resident journalist. You can dig into his first entry below!
We’re thrilled to welcome State Attorney Andrew Warren as our distinguished keynote speaker this month! Please note, we’ve moved the meeting date to Tuesday, September 26th, in observance of Yom Kippur. You can register for the meeting via our Mobilize link here.
Save the Date!! Our Truth & Justice Fundraiser will be held on Sunday, November 5th at the Hilton Carillon. More information will be coming soon, and you won’t want to miss it!
In closing, it’s been another monumental month for us, and it’s all thanks to our dedicated members and supporters. Together, we are making a difference and shaping a brighter future for Pinellas County. Let’s continue this momentum and, as always, stand united for Pinellas!
Warm regards,
Jennifer Griffith
Chair, Pinellas County Democratic Party
