Core Beliefs

For Our Families, Our Future, Our Community

VOTING RIGHTS

Our Democracy, as well as individual freedoms and opportunities, depend upon free and equitable access to voting for all citizens.

  • Restoration of full representation for all Lee County voters, by replacing countywide districts with single member districts
  • No-cost restoration of voting rights for eligible, formerly incarcerated individuals
  • Fair and equitable redistricting based on new census, not gerrymandering
  • Distribution of polling locations, equipment and drop-off boxes based on voter population
  • Easy voter registration
  • Expanded access to early voting
  • No-excuse vote by mail
  • Safe & convenient access to voting regardless of physical ability and language limitations

The Lee County Democratic Party stands for fair, compassionate, and constitutional immigration policies that honor our values, protect families, and uphold the dignity of all people in our community. We support:

  • Lawful and humane immigration policies that reflect our American values.
  • The dignity and safety of our immigrant neighbors and reject fear-based raids and intimidation in our communities
  • The constitutional right to due process for all individuals, including immigrants and naturalized citizens.
  • The fair and humane treatment of asylum seekers and their right to seek refuge.
  • Respectful, fact-based dialogue on immigration and reject xenophobic rhetoric and misuse of laws like the Alien Enemies Act.
  • Keeping families together and treating all people—regardless of status—with humanity and respect.

Public education is the backbone for achieving the American Dream and advancing the US economy. We believe a safe, evenly-funded, and inclusive system, regardless of zip code, background, or identity, ensures our people and nation reach their greatest potential.  We work to:

  • Keep public money in public schools by supporting Title IX funds for high-needs schools, funding free universal Pre-K and community college, and opposing private school vouchers.
  • Increase safety by reducing gun violence, increasing mental health programs, and strengthening civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ and students of color.
  • Protect kids online, strengthening data privacy, harnessing and managing risks of AI.
  • Restore climate change science, the full scope of American history, the humanities and arts education.
  • Improve working conditions and living wages for teachers, plus strengthen and diversify the teacher pipeline so students of every background can see themselves in education careers.
  • Offer rebates for school districts that purchase electric school buses—an idea grounded in research on the harms of students’ exposure to toxins.

We are all safer when the Justice system is fair and equitable.

  • Expose and eliminate police violence and aggressive behavior to our communities of color
  • End over-policing of minority communities
  • End inappropriate arrests and excessive sentences for the same offenses (sentences are 18% longer for Black people, 12% for Hispanic people)
  • Reform the cash bail system
  • End the school-to-prison pipeline
  • Strengthen, or implement where needed, the authority and process of Citizen Review Boards
  • Decriminalize minor offenses

Our community and our economy are stronger when everyone has equal access to affordable, quality healthcare, including mental health services.

  • Everyone has an equal right to healthcare services; the current system provides abundant opportunities for some, but denies even basic access for too many
  • Medical treatment should be equal, regardless of race or gender
  • No one should face bankruptcy or death because of lack of health insurance
  • Medicaid should be expanded in Florida
  • Decisions about access should not be dictated by the insurance industry, lobbyists, campaign donors or personal beliefs
  • Access to COVID vaccines and testing should be administered by non-partisan partnership

Science and Technology are the backbones of a healthy, thriving society.

  • Lee County has a longstanding history of science and technology, from Thomas Edison to the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium.
  • Science and the scientific method are essential subject in education, from pre-school to college.
  • Scientific and technological research are critical to protect Lee County’s rich environment, economy, and tourism industry – all of which are intertwined.
  • Guidelines, recommendations and best practice policies from scientific experts should be supported by elected officials, and utilized to serve the public.
  • Technology is an important instrument to create and support transparency and accountability in government.

When everyone has equal access to education, good jobs, living wage, and affordable housing, we all enjoy better economic opportunities.

  • Access to economic opportunity must be inclusive, regardless of race, gender or economic circumstances
  • Economic opportunities depend on free and fair markets, private enterprise, banking and mortgage equality
  • Wages for equal work must be equal and independent of sex, race, or sexual orientation
  • Government must ensure everyone has safe and fair access to America’s world class services

Our lives and livelihoods require clean water at our beaches and in our rivers, canals, lakes, and homes.

  • Our livelihoods depend on our tourism-based economy, which employs 1 in every 5 people
  • Clean water is a basic human need; our lives depend on it for drinking, household use, and recreation
  • Polluters must be held responsible and accountable
  • Responsible development and investment must protect our aquifers, lakes, rivers, coastline, and water infrastructure, now and for the future
  • Full enforcement of regulations is crucial to maintain responsibly managed water resources