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Ari Porth

Democrats quietly line up in Crist’s corner

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You may never have heard of Peggy Land, unless you’re a Tampa Democratic political insider. She’s a proverbial little old lady in tennis shoes, but along with her late husband John, she has also been a faithful Democratic political donor – some $20,000 to the party and its candidates over the last decade or so, plus more from fundraisers in their home, and none to Republicans. So who is Land backing in the U.S. Senate race? Gov. Charlie Crist, a former Republican…

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Democrats quietly line up in Charlie Crist’s corner

in Statewide/The Bay and the 'Burg by

You may never have heard of Peggy Land, unless you’re a Tampa Democratic political insider. She’s a proverbial little old lady in tennis shoes, but along with her late husband John, she has also been a faithful Democratic political donor – some $20,000 to the party and its candidates over the last decade or so, plus more from fundraisers in their home, and none to Republicans. So who is Land backing in the U.S. Senate race? Gov. Charlie Crist, a former Republican…

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Prominent elected Broward Democrats helping Charlie Crist raise money

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Two elected Broward Democrats – Property Appraiser Lori Parrish and state Rep. Ari Porth – are the main hosts of a fundraiser next week for Republican-turned-no party Senate candidate Charlie Crist. By helping the governor raise money, they’re spurning their own party’s leading candidates, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami and Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene. Both Democrats praised the governor Friday, and said their fundraising help comes with endorsements of Crist, who will face the winner of the Aug.…

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Florida House adds homeless to hate crimes law

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From the 13th Juror: Despite one state representative calling the homeless “bums,” the Florida House has passed a bill that would add the homeless to the state’s hate crime law. Sponsored by Rep. Ari Porth, D-Coral Springs, the measure (HB 11) passed 80-28. “Nobody is more vulnerable,” Porth said. “If the sole reason you beat them was because they were homeless and sleeping on a bench then that deserves extra protection.” Referring to the homeless as “bums,” Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda,…

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Florida Legislature takes steps to add the homeless to hate-crimes law

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Prompted by the 2006 homeless attack in Fort Lauderdale that gained worldwide notoriety, the Florida Legislature is moving to add the homeless as a protected class under state hate crimes laws. Senate and House committees approved legislation that would make prejudice-driven attacks against the homeless a hate crime, meaning longer jail sentences for offenders. The issue will get more consideration during the legislative session, which starts March 2. Florida has led the nation for four consecutive years in violent attacks…

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