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Kendrick Meek urges Floridians to mobilize, vote early in wake of Nov. 2 Election

Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate will protect the state from Tea Party movement

MIAMI – While in the Florida Legislature, Kendrick Meek walked through precincts and neighborhood parks and led automobile caravans to remind Floridians to get the polls. He championed the “Arrive with Five” campaign model that now is utilized across the country.

Now as candidate for U.S. Senate, Congressman Kendrick Meek knows the importance of getting out the vote, and voting early. He urges Floridians cast their ballots beginning Oct. 18 and remind their friends to do the same even before Election Day.

“The right to vote is one of our treasured traditions. Some black Floridians remember the problems they encountered at the precincts in November 2000,” Meek said. “Voting early can help lessen the likelihood of a similar catastrophe.”
Meek, known as a fighter and champion for the middle class, is campaigning for an open U.S. Senate seat. He is known for his longstanding support of progressive causes that benefit working people.

He also hopes to become the first black person to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate. Meek has strong support from President Obama, Vice President Biden and U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings, Debbie Wasserman Shultz and Corrine Brown.

Meek served in the Florida House from 1995 to 1998 and in the Senate from 1999 to 2002.
He is the clear choice for protecting Floridians from the influence of the Tea Party movement that threatens to send this country back to the pre-civil rights era. Meek has a history of taking principled stands.

In 2000, while in the Florida Senate, Meek led a 25-hour-long sit-in outside the governor’s office to protest the governor’s plan to roll back state policies that made sure all Floridians had equal educational and workplace opportunities. The sit-in, along with three town hall meetings attended by state residents, placed sufficient pressure on the Governor—he was forced to cancel his executive order in favor of a more-balanced measure passed in the Legislature. “The incident galvanized one of the largest civil-rights marches on the state capital in history and prompted a massive voter-mobilization effort,” The Miami Herald wrote.

As U.S. Senator, Meek will continue to support and push policies that help working people. Currently, he is the candidate who applauds Bank of America for suspending home foreclosures and urges other lending institutions to also suspend foreclosures until procedures that may have caused families to unnecessarily lose their homes can be reviewed and fixed.

“It is ridiculous that some homeowners may have been removed from their homes because of inaccurate paperwork,” said Kendrick. “We need more people in homes, not less. Investigations are currently underway to see if homeowners were unfairly removed, and I applaud Bank of America for taking this step that is necessary for those families facing or at risk of foreclosure.”

Meek is married to the former Leslie Dixon of Brooklyn, New York, whom he calls “my backbone throughout all of my adversities and achievements.” On this newest journey, the couple and their two children campaign door-to-door, and take part in service projects, such as handing out book bags stuffed with school supplies for underprivileged youths.

“All in all, there’s nothing like the joy that comes from helping others in need. Public service is a legacy I learned from my mom, and I hope to pass on to my own kids,” Meek said. “Whether it’s making sure students can learn or reworking mortgages to keep families in their homes, it’s my privilege to fight for the people of Florida, and it’s a fight I look forward to continuing in the United States Senate.”

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