Yesterday, I was in Dixie County at the annual Red Belly Days event.

We have 9 days left in this short contest for the State Senate, and I am excited. I have been campaigning hard during the last 48 hours, and I can feel the support continuing to build. I am grateful for all of the many people who have been willing to walk precincts, put a yard sign up, and talk to their friends and neighbors at church, at their Rotary Club, and at their local grocery store. I know that there is no way that we can win next Tuesday on June 5th and keep District 3 in Republican hands unless there is a broad-based grassroots effort.

Yesterday, I was in Dixie County at the annual Red Belly Days event. For one brief moment, I thought about skipping the vote next week and challenging my opponent Charlie Dean to a belly-buster contest in the Suwannee River, but my campaign aides suggested that might not be a good idea. I am not known for being skinny and felt pretty good about the size of my splash, but Charlie Dean is a pretty big guy. I guess I will just wait for the vote next week.

After that, I spent some time in Dunnellon on a radio show and then walked precincts all day. I always like walking precincts. It gives you the chance to meet people in their homes and hear their concerns face to face. I can assure you that I will maintain that same availability as your State Senator in Tallahassee.

This morning, I attended three church services – Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ocala, St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Lecanto, and Blessed Trinity in Ocala. Afterward, I went down to Tampa to speak at the National Federation for the Blind in Tampa. My son Jeffrey is visually impaired, and I am very conscious of the need for advocates in the legislature for the physically disabled. I plan to continue to be that advocate in the State Senate.

If you haven't been able to volunteer yet, I could use your help on the team. Please call 352-620-9293 if you need information on how to participate on the campaign. If you are interested in checking out where I stand on the issues or would like to make a donation, please go to www.dennisbaxley.org.

Tomorrow, we are going to honor the people who have made the ultimate sacrifice to give us the freedoms that we enjoy. On Memorial Day, it is a solemn but necessary occasion to stop for a moment and think of what has been done to make America what it is today. Too often, we take for granted that we can vote on our elected leaders, worship in the way that we choose, own a small business, own a home, or hold the kind of job that we like and want to do. We forget sometimes that this freedom has been paid for by the blood and sacrifice of countless veterans and support personnel who have committed themselves and their very lives to defend what we believe God has given every person on the globe: the right to be free. Take time to honor our veterans tomorrow, and keep in mind that even now, there are soldiers putting themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. Please join me and Ginette in remembering them and their families in our thoughts and prayers.

May God bless you all,

Dennis
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Dunnellon — Today, Rep. Dennis Baxley, Speaker Pro Tem of the Florida House and Candidate for Senate District 3, issued the following statement on remembering our veterans during Memorial Day:

"When we drive to the store, attend church, work at our jobs, or simply hang out with our family and friends, we do so in a country that has the most freedom of any place on the planet. Too often, we take that freedom for granted, and it is on Memorial Day that we get a chance to honor those patriots who paid for this freedom with their sacrifice, with their blood, and with their tears.

"Those patriots made those sacrifices because they believed, as we do, that freedom is worth dying for. Even now, there are soldiers putting themselves in harm's way to allow us to live in safely and in freedom. While you are taking time to be with friends and family during this Memorial Day, please take a moment to join Ginette and me as we keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers."

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BAXLEY WINS FIRST VOTES



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2007 Contact: Corinne Mixon
Phone: (850) 766-5795

Tallahassee — Long time Tallahassee resident Christi Griner was the first person to vote in Leon County's opening day of early voting for the State Senate District 3 special Republican primary. She voted for Dennis Baxley.

"I have watched Dennis Baxley’s career from the perspective of mother, conservative, and Republican, and I can tell you that the choice was easy," said Christi Griner. "If you want a leader who is going to stand up for our values and not be afraid of the liberal special interests in Tallahassee, you will do just like I did and vote for Dennis Baxley."

Leon County's turnout rate in primary elections is typically one of the highest in State Senate District 3. This first vote cast is symbolic of Baxley's broad-based support and is part of a drive to turn out the vote for Baxley in the primary.

"Christi is a good friend and a Reagan Republican," said Baxley. "I am grateful for her vote and am committed to working hard for her in the Florida Senate."


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