Weekly Dispatch - July 13, 2026

Make Your Plan to Vote on or before August 18th!

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The Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Office is seeking additional Election Workers!
Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies is encouraging anyone interested in serving their community and participating in the democratic process to join the Election Worker team.
They are currently looking for 5–10 additional Election Workers in each office:
Middle Keys Office
Call 305-289-6017 and ask for Rachel
Upper Keys Office
Call 305-453-8740 and ask for Belinda
If you have never participated in this critically important part of our democracy, this is a great opportunity to get involved, meet members of your community, and help ensure fair and accurate elections. Don't miss the chance to be part of this important civic service!

Additionally, the Keys Dems are seeking more volunteers to be Poll Watchers on August 18th.  We’d like to have at least one in each of the Precincts!  If you are interested in becoming a poll watcher, Bert will be providing a training via Zoom.   I must complete a form that is due to the Supervisor of Elections before July 20th so that you can be issued your credentials.  Please email me at chair@keysdems.com if you would like to be a Poll watcher on August 18th.  Use Poll Watcher in the subject line of your email.  Thank you!

Sam Kaufman’s team is looking for Canvassers for the last six weeks of this election season!  If you are able to help, please email a good time for us to meet for one-on-one training to Jai Somers campaignmanager@kaufmanforkeywest.com  Thank you!

LOCAL CANDIDATE EVENTS
Monday - July 13th - THIS AFTERNOON!!!
Hometown August 18th Election Forum at Tennessee Williams Theater.  This is an in-person, live event at 5901 College Road, Key West.
SCHEDULE
4:00 pm – Voter Meet & Greet
4:30 pm – County Forum
6:00 pm – Break
6:15 pm – Lower Keys/KW Utility Bd & City Forum
7:45 pm – Program concludes

July 22 – 6-8 pm
Keys Weekly Candidate Forum in Marathon!
Attend in person at the Marathon Govt Center on the 2nd floor 2798 Overseas Hwy or watch on Comcast Channel 76 or AT&T UVerse Channel 99
Monroe County Board of Commission District 2 candidates, Monroe County School Board Districts 1 & 5 candidates, and Mosquito Control Board District 2 candidates

July 2026 Keys Dems Meetings - Please join us!
Upper Keys Dems will meet on Wednesday, July 15th at Island Grill beginning at 5:30pm.  The acoustics aren’t the greatest in this space but we will make due with Monroe County Mayor, Michelle Lincoln as our guest speaker. 

NOTE:  This is a change to what was previously shared.  Middle Keys Dems will meet on Wednesday, July 29 at 5:30pm in the Marathon Public Library.  This date was changed due to the Marathon Chamber Forum on the night of July 22nd.

Local Meetings to attend in the Keys This Week (July 13 – July 19)

City of Key West: http://keywest.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Mon - Jul 13
Bahama Village Redevelopment Advisory Committee meets at 5:30 pm in City Hall

Wed – Jul 15
Key West Bight Management District Board meets at 4:00 pm in City Hall

Thurs – Jul 16
Planning Board meets at 5:00 pm in City Hall

Monroe County Board of County Commissioners https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/

Tues – Jul 14
Special BOCC Meeting FY 2027 Budget Discussion. Announcement of Proposed Millage Rates and dates, times, and places for public hearings. Approval to advise the Property Appraiser of proposed millage rates. 10:00 A.M. Marathon Gvt Center 2798 Overseas Hwy.
2nd Floor

Wed – Jul 15 
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
BOCC & Land Authority Regularly Scheduled Meeting Marathon Gvt Center 2798 Overseas Hwy.
2nd Floor

Wed – Jul 15
The Water Quality Protection Program Steering Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, July 15, from 9 a.m. to noon.  Please register in advance at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7471365584702662486. Webinar ID: 272-756-843. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the webinar. The agenda and additional meeting information are available at: https://gis.myfwc.com/FKNMS_WQPP/steering.htm

City of Key Colony Beach:https://keycolonybeach.net/citydocs-1/
Mon – Jul 13
City Commission Budget Workshop 10:00 AM
At the Temporary Meeting Place for the City of Key Colony Beach at The Inn, Back Patio, 700 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida & via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85247375295?pwd=wgCwylXAVMk3LzhU5WodbrVdexe72R.1
Passcode:041378

Thurs – Jul 16
City Commission Regular Meeting 10:05 AM, or at the Conclusion of the Public Hearing
At the temporary meeting place for the City of Key Colony Beach
The Inn – Back Patio, 700 W. Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, Florida & via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84187148751?pwd=Phbi5QMsS8bnWADf85tlU4QJKUvV5N.1
Passcode:498726

City of Marathon: https://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/meetings

Tues – Jul 14
City Council Meeting at 5:30 pm at 9805 Overseas Hwy., Marathon

Village of Islamorada Council https://www.islamorada.fl.us/Calendar.aspx

Wed – Jul 15
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting at 10:00 am Administrative Center 86800 Overseas Highway, Islamorada

Wed – Jul 15
Evaluation Committee Meeting RFP 26-07 Council Chamber Audio/Visual Hardware Refresh at 1 p.m. at Administrative Center 86800 Overseas Highway, Islamorada

Wed – Jul 15

RON LEVY AQUATIC CENTER HISTORY & RECORDS
WALL TASK FORCE MEETING 2:30 pm at the Founders Park Community Center, 87000 Overseas Highway, Islamorada

MARATHON's ICE protests continue! Sombrero Road and Overseas Hwy @ 4:30pm today - See you there!

Big Pine Key has a weekly protest every Thursday @4:30 pm at First Horizon Bank Big Pine.

From KWNOW - REMINDER  The application submission deadline for the 2026 Connie Gilbert Scholarships is this Wednesday, July 15th. Open to Florida Keys women, a total of $10,000 will be awarded to assist in educational opportunities. Contact the Key West Chapter of NOW for qualifications/applications. kwnowinfo@gmail.com.  Note: it must be at least the second year of college.

Crypto is a Ponzi Scheme for Fraudsters and Scammers to Fleece Your Money

• Write your Senators to stop the big bad CLARITY ACT.  Email, call, text to stop the Senate from passing the OPPOSE the CLARITY Act Tell Dems to stop supporting Crypto https://act.indivisible.org/sign/urge-democrats-oppose-and-stop-trumps-crypto-corruption/