Dave Patlak is a 25-year veteran of the Coast Guard and he is running for Congress in District 18 of Florida against entrenched Bush-Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. She incited the riots in Miami that stopped the recounts of 2000.
He retired last year and planned on joining the Peace Corps but decided our community and our country needed him more. Dave has been outspoken in defending reproductive rights for women. He believes in equal rights for all and upholding the Constitution. His campaign has garnered support from people of all parties, races, ethnicities. He has been the most vocal candidate opposing the new travel restrictions for Cuba, insisting they are un-American, unjust and inhumane.These restrictions have divided the Cuban-American community and for the first time their vote is not a solid block for the Republicans.
Dave wants our government to be smarter and more efficient. He wants to see an end to the scorched earth, winner-take-all mentality of Washington. As many of you know you, Ros-Lehtinen has been featured on television this week alleging a connection between Castro and Theresa Heinz Kerry's Foundation. (via the Tides Foundation). The irony is that by flooding the airwaves with such propaganda she is doing what she opposes most within the Communist run Cuba.
Ros-Lehtinen finds it easier to attack, than to run on the issues. Dave is not only taking on Ileana. He is running against Mario Diaz Balart, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and the entire Cuban Exile Republican machine.
Instead of misleading voters with false propaganda, Dave Patlak will fight for what our district needs:
-Affordable health coverage for the uninsured,
-Federal funding for education that, at the very least, meets the national average, and
-Port security that keeps America safe.
Dave was endorsed by the Miami Herald last week but he needs our help.Please donate to democracy and help us fund our sling shot. www.patlak.org