You have all seen the press – first it was The Villages has the highest STD rate in the state (not true, never was true, easily debunked)
Then the man in the golf cart with his fist raised shouting White Power (true, and came minutes after the end of a George Floyd vigil)
And most recently, the four “double dipping” voters who apparently chose to vote for Trump in the 2020 election both in FL and in their home states. (Allegedly, and all)
I participate in nationwide Facebook groups with a decided Democrat lean and what I read over and over again is that people are crossing Florida off their retirement lists or more specifically The Villages. A few people ask for names of retirement communities in blue sections of Florida.
You should move to The Villages. Let me tell you why:
1. We have the largest Democratic Club in the entire State of Florida (by A LOT) and that is where you will make your friends. We have 1,200 – 1,500 paid members each year and about another 1,000 regulars who haven’t joined but pop in for a particular speaker or topic or event. You can easily golf with only Democrats, enjoy restaurants with only Democrats, play games with only Democrats, dance with only Democrats and virtually anything else you enjoy, with only Democrats.
2. We are activists. In 2016 we turned out about 72% of the Democratic vote, in 2018 we turned out just under 78% of the Democratic vote and in 2020 we turned out just over 86% of the Democratic vote. Is that enough to make a difference in local elections? No, not without your help. But we add thousands and thousands of votes to the state-wide total for Democrats and to be certain that we remove DeSantis from office, we need you to move here and vote as well.
3. We have a lot of fun. There are over 3,000 different groups and clubs in the Villages, more than 50 golf courses, 100 Recreation Centers and at least that many pools.
4. It doesn’t snow here.
We have hosted some pretty impressive people over the years through the Democratic Club, including Caroline Kennedy, Steny Hoyer, Pam Keith, Andrew Gillum (who enjoyed us so much he frequently would mention us on CNN and MSNBC), Charlie Crist, Nikki Fried, David Jolly, Gwen Graham, Val Demings and more. We explore issues, meet candidates, and host other activists. Joe Biden even stopped here for ice cream in 2008!
If you are looking for a warm retirement with plenty to keep you active The Villages should be on your list. If you are looking for your Democratic vote to really make a difference, The Villages should be on your list. If you want the largest social circle of your life, of all Democrats, The Villages should be on your list. If saving Democracy by removing Ron DeSantis is important to you, The Villages should be on your list. And I can hook you up with a Democratic Realtor, too!
Chris Stanley
2nd generation Villager
Democrat
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisStanleySez/