Broward County Democratic activist Ron Mills was elected Area Nine Leader for the Broward Democratic Executive Committee at the DEC’s Bi annual elections on Feb. 20.

Mills, an eight-year DEC member and past vice president and current board member of the Dolphin Democrats, will represent all of Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach as well as Precincts 7Z, 31Z, 34Z, 62Z and 73Z in unincorporated Broward.

Mills has a strong commitment to progressive politics, including equal rights for the GLBT community, and has worked on numerous Democratic campaigns in various capacities, including state co-chair of Howard Dean for President. He also is a member of the National Stonewall Democrats and the Florida GLBT Caucus, co-founder of Progressive Democrats of America and founder of the Broward chapter of Democracy for America.

A firm believer in grassroots politics and party-building, Mills has been an outspoken advocate for running Democratic candidates in every race in Broward and holding elected Democrats who support Republican candidates accountable.

During his two-year term as Area Nine Leader, he will focus on building and strengthening the local Democratic Party’s grass roots to help lay the foundation for successful elections in 2008.

“As an Area, we need to grow our precinct representation and give District and Precinct leaders the tools necessary to be successful leaders in their Areas,” Mills said.

His goals include:

- Ensuring that every precinct in the area has a male and female leader.
- Conducting two boot camps per year to train leaders in Get Out the Vote efforts, phone banking, and voter contact.
- Providing training in and encouraging the use of the Florida Voter Access Network (VAN) voter file.
- Improving communications with the Broward Democratic Executive Committee and Florida Democratic Party.

Before taking on his new position, Mills saluted his predecessor, fellow Dolphin Democrat Alan Silva.

“I will have very big shoes to fill,” Mills said. “Alan contributed vast time, talent and treasure to this endeavor resulting in many successes, which I can only hope to attain.”

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STATEMENT FROM FREEDOM DEMOCRATS, MIAMI, FL.

Miami Dade Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus

RE: Mr. Tim Hardaway's Anti-Gay Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miami, Florida (February 15, 2007) - Freedom Democrats, the Miami Dade Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus, categorically, and with great concern, denounce the recent comments of Mr. Tim Hardaway. Mr. Hardaway's insensitive and bigoted comments once again show that many people in the United States have a long way to go before affording the same respect and rights that they expect for themselves.

For those who do not know, Mr. Hardaway was an accomplished professional athlete who is a hero to many people. He retired for the NBA at the end of the 2003 season. He reached 5,000 points and 2,500 assists faster than any NBA player in history, but for the legend Oscar Robertson. He was a five time NBA All-Star, Miami Heat Guard, from 1996-2001, all time assist leader for the Miami Heat and was drafted 14^th in the 1989 NBA draft out of the University of Texas, El Paso.

Freedom Democrats respect and embrace the rights of each citizen of the United States of America to free speech. We are also aware of the fact that many citizens unfortunately still cannot live side by side with each other and embrace the uniqueness of each person. We, as an organization that representing the civil and human rights of all people, denounce and hold accountable any person that uses any forum to advance hatred and bigotry to the detriment of other citizens of the United States (See www.FreedomDems.org.)

Through his comments, Mr. Hardoway feeds the fires of insidious intolerance that pervades our society. Mr. Hardaway seems to have forgotten the history of struggles so many minorities have suffered through to gain basic human and civil rights throughout the world. Freedom Democrats believes that this type of rhetoric creates an atmosphere and environment that allows for the ongoing harassment of young GLBT peoples in our schools, discrimination in the workplace and in housing, and the lack of laws which would protect the civil and human rights of GLBT peoples throughout Miami-Dade County, Florida, and The United States of America.

Mr. Hardaway is a respected citizen and celebrity of Miami, a respected businessman and a 5 time NBA All Star. He makes money off of his appearances and his celebrity recognition has presumably been good for his two businesses he owns in Miami. Furthermore, Mr. Hardaway has spoken at many schools and has been a role model and hero for many kids and young adults with his on-the-court grit and excellence. He now gives those same kids and young adults the power, excuse, and platform through his words and example, to practice bigotry and oppress a group of people who he chooses to "hate" (his own word).

His remarks show people and our leaders that great work still needs to be done to overcome learned prejudices in order to move our society to a more open, loving, and tolerant place that respects all people for whom they are as American citizens and not pariahs to be cast out of our society.

The Freedom Democrats call on Miami Dade County, and all of those citizens and people who respect and embrace diversity, to not patronize Mr. Hardway's business at Tim Hardaway US1 Car Wash, 3501 S. Dixie Highway, Miami, Florida, 305-447-9998, until that time that Mr. Hardaway makes a public apology to the citizens of Miami Dade, in a public news conference, for fueling bigotry, hatred and intolerance and engages in practices that would justify any citizen patronizing his business.

*****************************************************************

Chip Arndt

President, Freedom Democrats

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ASSOCIATED PRESS




TALLAHASSEE -- The Republican Party of Florida shouldn't continue financially supporting an effort to put a gay marriage ban into the state constitution, Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday.

The party contributed $300,000 to Florida4Marriage.org last year, the group that tried to place a question on the November ballot that would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The group failed to gather enough signatures and is now aiming for the 2008 ballot. The state Republican Party's contributions account for nearly three-fourths of what the group has raised so far.

Crist said the party "probably" shouldn't continue to spend money on the effort.

"It can be better spent on other things that may be more pressing, like elections," Crist said. "I think that the people care about issues like insurance premiums. They care about property taxes. They care about public safety, and I think it's important that not only those of us in government, but the party focus on those issues, too."

John Stemberger, who is organizing the ballot effort said his group would continue to look to Republicans for support.

"We were happy to get it and we'll ask for more form the Republicans, the Democrats, the Libertarians and anyone else that will give us support," Stemberger said. "The governor has expressed his view and that's fine."

Stemberger pointed out that Crist signed the petition to place the question on the ballot and has endorsed the amendment. Stemberger supported Crist's opponent, Tom Gallagher, in the Republican primary last year because Gallagher had stronger stances on conservative social issues.

Crist's statement was welcomed by the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Democratic Caucus.

"The marriage amendment is nothing but a get-out-the-vote effort from the far right. We all welcome the governor's comments on trying to swat it down once and for all," said GLBT spokesman Stephen Gaskill. "There are real issues that Floridians care about, and pushing a marriage amendment just further divides the state."

On Monday, Jim Greer, the newly elected chairman of the state Republican Party, said he supports the amendment but was unsure if the party would continue contributing to the effort.

Because of new restrictions passed by voters last November, the amendment will need support from 60 percent of voters, which puts more pressure on Florida4Marriage.org to campaign for its passage.

"We're going to mount the most robust and well-funded campaign that has ever been conducted in any of the states," Stemberger said. "We obviously have a 60-percent hurdle, and we're ready to face it."
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