Attorney General hopeul Dave Aronberg among speakers at June PBCYD meeting at Brogues

The June meeting of the Palm Beach County Young Democrats had several guest speakers who were present to energize them, and they included legislative candidates Lori Berman, Carole Kaye, Sheldon Klasfield, Ed Tautiva and School Board Candidate Marcia Andrews. The evening’s speakers were concluded with the entry of Attorney General hopeful and State Senator Dave Aronberg. The meeting was held at Brogue’s on the Avenue in Lake Worth.
Young Democrat President Matt McWatters began the evening by talking about the Governor Charlie Crist’s high-profile announcement about running for Senate 16 Seat as an independent, and how many Democrats were considering voting for him because of some of Crist’s recent decisions such as vetoing bills for merit pay and for ultrasound. That, however, said McWatters, was not enough to sway him to vote for Crist whose voting record, despite the recent positive votes, still indicated that he was a hard-line Republican and still would likely caucus with the Republicans, and not the Democrats.
“The person who has been trying to get me to vote for him is Charlie Crist,” said McWatters. “He’s told me some things and vetoed some bills that I would like to have vetoed but he’s a Republican through and through. I don’t care who you ask. In the last thirty years, he has been a hard line Republican. I think we should support our Democratic nominee and chat up anyone who is suggesting we support Charlie Crist. I know there is a whisper campaign saying that he will caucus with the Democrats but an opportunist like Crist will caucus with the Republicans.”
Both Carole Kaye and Lori Berman, who are running for District 86, spoke after McWatters. Kaye spoke of how the diverse nature of District 86 and how she looked forward to representing differing populations in that District. As an immigration attorney, Kaye also spoke of an incident that had occurred last October when customs and border patrol officers entered a tri-rail train and asked some travelers for proof of residency. Not satisfied with what they saw, the people were taken off the train and sent out of the country. Kaye, as a Jew, said she was horrified and decided she needed to do something and that was when she threw her hat in the race to run.
“What happened in Arizona has made this process more crucial,” said Kaye. “I believe that someone from the Republican party wants to bring this to the floor of the legislature. I want to fight this. I want to lead that fight. I need your support.”
Lori Berman, also a candidate for 86, spoke about how the State, for too long, had depended on two revenue streams, tourism and agriculture, and how that attitude needed to change to benefit Florida’s future. Agencies were looking at trying to harness solar power and wind, and these notions were long overdue, she said, and they would benefit a state, that like others, was trying to move out of this horrible recession. Education was key to training people in new technologies, and the State never lead in educating people.
“In order to have this, you need an educated workforce,” she said. “We are falling far short. Our graduation rate is pitiful.”
She also spoke about her opposition to oil drilling, and the importance of that opposition in the fact of the recent catastrophe off of the Gulf Coast.
“When I spoke to you before,” she said, “I indicated that I was opposed to oil drilling. I am concerned about our environment. I will never support oil drilling off our shores.”
Sheldon Klasfield, who was running for Senate Seat 90, that had been vacated by then-Senator Ted Deutch who was serving in Congress, said he wanted to change that seat for the better. As a single parent, he also spoke about the need for parents from all walks of life, and it did not matter what their sexual orientation was, but all that mattered was that they were good parents.
“As a single parent, I respect the rights of loving parents,” he said. “You can be gay or straight. I started a private high school ten years ago and every nine seconds, a kid drops out of high school. Send Klassy to Tallahassee.”
School Board Candidate Marcia Andrews spoke about the number of years she had spent working in the schools in Palm Beach County, and how she wanted to serve once again on the School Board. She spoke of her history, which included working in Bear Lakes Middle School and also at Polo Park Middle School, as well as the School District office, and how she had worked under five superintendents.
“Testing is not teaching,” she said. “I want teachers who care about teaching. I want high graduation rates. We don’t need all the drop outs. We have to keep them in school. You are going to have me in Tallahassee because we are going to get what we need for all of our children.”
Aronberg, who spoke near the end of the evening, promised that he would fight hard for Floridians if elected to the Attorney General slot, and also that he was someone who came from that office, when then-Attorney General Bob Butterworth, worked there. Aronberg also spoke about legislation, which he had supported, that had been crafted to stop pill mills in their tracks, and also about the fact that the State has a “welcome mat” out for those who want to commit consumer fraud. As far as the current Attorney General’s priorities, Aronberg said, they seemed to be focused on making it harder to sue BP and on trying to prevent gays and lesbians from adopting children. Aronberg also felt he could win in November because he was used to fighting in Districts that were mixed with both Republicans and Democrats, and Seat 27, where he served as a Senator, was very much a “mixed bag” as far as representation.
“I can win in November,” said Aronberg. “Our District is 39% Democratic. I represent Southwest Florida and Ft. Myers where Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp is from. We had 150 people turn out for a fundraiser in Ft. Myers. I have seen tough races. They have swift boated me. They have smeared me. I am still standing here. I am a Democrat who fights back. If I am elected Attorney General, I will be the first Attorney General based here in Palm Beach County. The office will be right here on Flagler. If you want to get rid of the whole corruption county label, put the Attorney General’s office in Palm Beach County. If you want to shake up the state and the status quo, put a Young Democrat in the Florida Cabinet.”
For more information about the Palm Beach County Young Democrats, contact President Matt McWatters at (561) 315-8788.