When my daughter grows up and asks, "Mommy, what did you do during the Trump War?" standing for election will be the modern, peaceful equivalent of the WW2 vets who say say, "Yes, I was in the first wave of the Normandy beach landings."
I had always planned on running for office, but thought it better to wait until my daughter was older. Let me just say, raising a toddler and running for state legislature, while also working two jobs and running a goat farm- isn’t for the faint of heart. Try doing it during a deadly pandemic, surrounded by Trump supporters in a deep red District. It’s been a wild ride for sure.
It started when Janelle Christensen, President of the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida, began to recruit candidates, working with Dr. William F. "Fergie" Reid and 90for90.org, to leave no Republican unchallenged in Florida state legislature. The ultimate goal? To get more people to the polls by having Dems up and down the ballot. To flip Florida blue. Something that hasn’t happened in over 20 years.
Just by filing, all 141 of us, we have made history.
Starting out just a week before the filing deadline and with five months until Election Day, this former alligator wrestler and firefighter, jumped into this grassroots campaign with a shoestring budget- hoping to make positive change for my neighborhood, my community, my state.
Many of us are first timers to campaigning, so there has definitely been a steep learning curve. From my small, rural area we have several woman who have not only decided to run for something- we have formed a coalition, sharing resources, advice, providing moral support during weekly phone calls or zoom meetings.
I am a low-income, single working mom, and like I said- we’re in the middle of a pandemic, in the global epicenter- thanks DeSantis..... with only $100 of my own money to kick it all off. Just the filing fee was nearly $1,800- which is equivalent to two months rent and utilities for me.
Meanwhile my opponent, Spencer Roach, a radical Republican endorsed by the NRA spent over $120,000 before his primary....
Anyhow... A dear friend of mine, who’s background has been in politics and campaigns for years, recently quit her paying job with another campaign- to become my campaign manager. She had been helping me here and there, when she could—- but made a decision..... because she believed in me and my mission to improve the quality of life for so many... she took a giant leap of faith.
Next week, Sierra Moen, dear friend and superhero to democracy, is moving down here, away from her family in Minnesota- to help me win this election. We hope to raise enough funding to pay her $10/hr for 40/wk... (but she’s working 65-80 hours a week and is worth so much more than that.)
There it is- there’s my plea for any donation you can make.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MY COMMERCIAL AND DONATE
Also, since I am a dairy goat farmer- we are holding a Virtual Cheesemaking Fundraiser!
Does our current political climate have you feeling BLEU? Scared of the MUNSTERS representing us in Tallahassee? Please join Danika Fornear, goat farmer, cheesemaker, single mom, and candidate for House District 79, for a virtual fundraising cheesemaking class! We’ll have a BRIE-lliant time making cheese and learning more about Danika. This is a GRATE way to show your support and learn a new (yummy!) skill.
This VIRTUAL fundraiser will take place on Sunday, September 20th, from 2-3:30 EST.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE AND MAKE CHEESE!
Please reach out to Sierra at (863) 777-9024 or fornearforhd79@gmail.com with any questions/comments/compliments.
