Democratic leaders in Broward and Palm Beach counties have formally picked political activist and Broward realtor Linda Bird for a place on the November ballot, in hopes of unseating Republican incumbent and incoming Senate President Jeff Atwater, according to a statement released Sunday night by the Florida Democratic Party.
Earlier this month, Democratic leaders announced that Bird was the preferred candidate to take over for former Democratic challenger Walter "Skip" Campbell, who abandoned his high-profile challenge to Atwater, a North Palm Beach Republican, for health reasons.
And now that members of the Democratic Executive Committees in both counties have officially approved Bird's candidacy, her name will be submitted to the Department of State so it can be placed on the November ballot.
In the race to challenge presumed incoming Senate President Jeff Atwater, the Palm Beach and Broward County Democratic Executive Committees tonight have endorsed the candidacy of prominent community leader and established South Florida businesswoman Lind Bird.
Bird, a Realtor who was recently inducted into the Broward County Women's Hall of Fame, will step forward to fill the void left by the departure of former Senator Skip Campbell, who abandoned his bid for the Senate last week due to health reasons.
Now that Bird has been approved by the two County Executive Committees, her name will be submitted to the Department of State to be placed on the ballot.
"I look forward to hitting the campaign trail and listening to the needs of the good people of Palm Beach and Broward Counties," said Bird. "Voters are frustrated with the typical politics-as-usual that we've seen from Tallahassee insiders. Florida is at a crossroads and voters are eager for change. I will be the candidate of change."
While Jeff Atwater is part of the Tallahassee establishment, Linda Bird is a fresh candidate who will bring a much-needed bipartisan approach to addressing Florida's challenges. While this election will be her first run for office, Bird brings decades of South Florida experience to the voters of Senate District 25. As owner of Bird Realty for 22-years, Linda has an impeccable record in the community and has helped countless Florida families realize the American dream of home ownership.
Additionally, Linda has been heavily involved in community activities. She was instrumental in establishing The Friends of OUR House, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to assisting children from broken homes, and currently serves as the President of its Board of Directors. Recently, Linda was recognized by the American Cancer Society as Woman of the Year.
"Florida Democrats are excited about Linda's candidacy," declared Senator Al Lawson, who as Democratic Leader-Designate will oversee this year's senate elections. "Linda is a strong candidate who will win in November.
"I've had the privilege of working with Linda in the past, and she is a hard-working, driven individual who will elevate this race to new heights," added Senator Nan Rich, who worked with Linda in past campaigns. "Linda fights for the issues important to South Florida like caring for our children and maintaining our quality of life. I look forward to joining Linda on the campaign trail so she may in turn join us in the Florida Senate."
Lawson concluded, "While I have disagreed with him on policy and feel he's led Florida in the wrong direction, I have always personally liked Jeff Atwater. That's why I will miss him next year."
For News And Commentary:
Broward News And Politics
For Florida Election News See:
No comments:
Post a Comment