Weekly Dispatch - August 3
Early voting starts TODAY, Monday August 3 and goes through August 15. Polls are open from 8:30 AM to 5 PM
During Early Voting, voters who are registered to vote in Monroe County can vote at ANY of the five Early Voting locations for elections that contain state and/or federal races:
Monroe County Elections Office - 5200 College Rd. Key West
Monroe County Elections Office Branch – 10015 Overseas Hwy. (MM 52.5), Marathon
Monroe County Elections Office Branch - Murray Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Hwy. #137 (MM 102), Key Largo
Big Pine Key Community Park - 31009 Atlantis Dr. - End of Sands Road (MM 31), Big Pine Key
Plantation Key Community Center (old courthouse) - 88820 Overseas Hwy., Plantation Key
LOCAL CANDIDATES NEED OUR HELP!
BE A VOLUNTEER THIS ELECTION!
From Sam Kaufman for City of Key West Mayor
We have had some amazing campaign moments in these past couple weeks, not the least of which is hearing from Voters who have submitted their Votes for Sam for Mayor!!!
To date, TEAM SAM has identified 2,880 Sam Supporters! Our canvassers, phone bankers, and targeted outreach teams are still working really hard to find more supporters. It takes approx 30-40 mins to train someone and get them ready to use the software. One-on-One trainings are available, just ask! Phone bankers are especially needed if you have an hour here or there to make calls. Please join these efforts if you can… EMAIL campaignmanager@kaufmanforkeywest.com
Our Next BIG Challenge is: GETTING THE PEOPLE TO THE VOTE! Can you help?
1-RIDES TO VOTE:
Volunteers have offered to give rides to voters who need transportation to Early Voting at the Supervisor of Elections Office on Stock Island. Anyone who can give a ride or needs one, please let me know, and I will add them to the schedule.
2-SIGN HOLDERS NEEDED:
We figure it will be best to have sign holders during morning and evening rush hours for all of Early Voting, Aug 3-15, or as much as possible during those days. On Election Day, we will have a full day of Sign Holders in force from 7am to 7pm Aug.18.
If you or anyone you know can hold a sign for any of these shifts, please let me know. We have identified 12 locations at major KW intersections. Please sign up early (pun intended! lol) so I can create a solid plan!
Thank you so much for your enduring support for TEAM SAM!!! We cannot overstate how appreciative we are that you share our vision of Key West and are so committed to making it happen. Together we Rise. Let's Go, TEAM!
3- BICYCLE CARAVAN AWARENESS RIDES:
The idea is to create awareness of Early Voting Dates and to encourage Voters to go Vote!
Decorated Bicycles, Sam shirts and swag, Lots of Signage! Big Energy!
1) Signage that gives voters the proper dates for Early Voting: Aug 3-15 (8:30am-5pm) & Election Day: Aug 18, 7am-7pm;
2) Signage that identifies the correct location for early voting: SOE (5200 College Rd.).
3) Signage that lets Voters know we offer RIDES to VOTE; and
4) Vote for Sam signage!
From Monroe County School Board Member, Sue Woltanski -
FLDems Take Back Local is having a night of action, chasing local democrat's VBM ballots. This should help boost turnout across the ballot:
My re-election campaign has been selected to participate in the Take Back Local program, an initiative that provides additional organizing support to competitive local campaigns. As part of that effort, the Florida Keys Democratic Party is hosting a Take Back Local Night of Action to help our campaign contact Monroe County voters who have requested Vote-by-Mail ballots.
By participating, you'll help increase Democratic voter turnout throughout the Keys—supporting not only my campaign, but Democrats up and down the ballot.
Tuesday, August 4, 6:00–8:00 PM
Success in August elections depends on voter turnout, and this is one of the most effective ways you can help our campaign during these final weeks. No experience is necessary. Training and a script will be provided. Volunteers will make phone calls to Monroe County voters, reminding them to return their Vote-by-Mail ballots and participate in this important countywide election.
If you've been wondering, "How can I help?"—this is it.
Sign up here: https://stech.floridadems.org/take-back-local-night-of-action-lee-monroe-palm-beach
Thank you for everything you've done to support this campaign. Whether you've displayed a yard sign, talked with neighbors, made a contribution, or shared a post, I'm incredibly grateful. If you can spare two hours on August 4, I'd truly appreciate your help as we work to finish this campaign strong. Together, let's keep a strong, experienced voice for public education on the Monroe County School Board.
From Chris Massicotte for Key West City Commissioner District 5
District
Wide Canvass
Saturday, August 8 & Sunday, August 9
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
We'll be knocking only on the doors of voters we've identified as supporting the campaign—or those who are very likely to support me—who have not yet voted. It's simply a friendly reminder to make a plan to vote.
No experience is necessary. We'll provide everything you need, along with water and snacks while we're out.
After each canvass, everyone is invited back to my house for cocktails and some pool time.
Final Door Hanger Drop
Sunday, August 16
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
On the Sunday before Election Day, we'll deliver door hangers only to supporters and likely supporters who still haven't voted.
We'll finish the evening with drinks and snacks back at my house.
Text, Call, or Message Voters
Not everyone has time to canvass, and that's okay! One of the most effective things you can do is personally reach out to voters who support our campaign but haven't yet voted. You can text, call, email, send a Facebook message, or reach out however you're most comfortable. A simple reminder to make a voting plan can make all the difference.
If you'd like to help, just let me know and I'll send you a list of people to contact. You can do this whenever it's convenient for you during the final days of the campaign.
Election Day Sign Holders
Tuesday, August 18
We're looking for volunteers to hold signs at each of our three District 5 polling locations.
Three-hour shifts are available:
7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
We're hoping to fill all 12 shifts so every polling place is covered throughout Election Day.
If you can help with any of these opportunities, please email chris.massicaotte@gmail.com and let him know:
Which event(s) you can help with
Which day and time(s) work best for you
This campaign has always been powered by neighbors—not special interests—and these final volunteer efforts will make all the difference.
Thank you for believing in this campaign, for believing that we can restore trust to City Hall, and for everything you've already done to help us get here.
Let's finish strong!
August 2026 Keys Dems Meetings - Please join us!
Lower Keys Dems will meet on Monday, August 10 at 5:30pm at El Siboney on Stock Island in the back room. Our guest speakers will be Mayor Michelle Lincoln and Florida Keys Mosquito Control District Board Member, Phil Goodman
Upper Keys Dems will meet on Wednesday, August 19th at 5:30 pm – Location To Be Announced
Middle Keys Dems will meet on Wednesday, August 26 @ 5:30 pm in the Marathon Public Library
Local Meetings to attend in the Keys This Week (Aug 3 – Aug 9)
City of Key West: http://keywest.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Thurs – Aug 6
Key West City Commission meets at 9:00 am in City Hall - 1300 White Street, Key West
Thurs – Aug 6
Caroline Street Corridor and Bahama Village Community Redevelopment Agency will meet immediately following the City Commission Meeting in City Hall – 1300 White Street, Key West
Thurs – Aug 6
Board of Adjustment meeting will be held immediately following the Caroline Street Corridor and Bahama Village Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting in City Hall – 1300 White Street, Key West
Monroe County Board of County Commissioners https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/
Mon – Aug 3
Monroe County Historic Preservation Commission Meeting will be held at the Marathon Govt Center BOCC - 2798 Overseas Hwy 2nd Floor, Marathon and via Zoom https://mcbocc.zoom.us/j/88142895938
Tues - Aug 4
National Night Out - They will occur from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 4, 2026:
• The Key Largo event will be at Key Largo Community Park
• The Islamorada event will be held at Founder’s Park in Islamorada
• The Marathon event will be held at the Sheriff’s Office Aviation Hangar at the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport
• The Lower Keys/Key West event will be at the Truman Waterfront in Key West
The goal of National Night Out is to bring the community together to discuss how we can all make our neighborhoods cleaner, safer, and more secure. Community members will learn how to heighten their crime prevention awareness.
Village of Islamorada Council
https://www.islamorada.fl.us/Calendar.aspx
Mon – Aug 3
Workforce / Affordable Housing Citizens Advisory Committee will meet at 5:00 p.m. at the Islamorada Administrative Center and Public Safety Headquarters, 86800 Overseas Highway, Third Floor Conference Room, Islamorada
Tues- Aug 4
The Village Council will meet for the First Budget Workshop for Fiscal
Year 2026-2027 at 3:00 p.m. at the Founders Park Community Center, 87000 Overseas Highway, Islamorada
Wed – Aug 5
The Land Acquisition Citizens Advisory Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Islamorada Administrative Center & Public Safety Headquarters, 86800 Overseas Hwy, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Islamorada
Wed – Aug 5
The Village Council will meet for the Second Budget Workshop for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 at 3:00 p.m. at the Founders Park Community Center, 87000 Overseas Highway, Islamorada
Thurs – Aug 6
The Village Council will meet for the Third Budget Workshop for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 at 3:00 p.m. at the Founders Park Community Center, 87000 Overseas Highway, Islamorada
Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority:
https://www.fkaa.com/agendacenter
Tues - Aug 4 @ 11:00 a.m.
FKAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING will meet at 1100 Kennedy Drive Key West,
Big Pine Key has a weekly protest every Thursday @4:30 pm at First Horizon Bank Big Pine.
MARATHON's ICE protests continue! Sombrero Road and Overseas Hwy @ 4:30pm today - See you there!