Mary taught elementary school for 30 years in Michigan. She was an officer and a member of local and state education associations. She moved to Florida in 1996 and worked at the Lady Lake Public Library for 12 years. Though active in politics in Michigan, she just started getting involved in Florida about 15 years ago. Past President of Lake County Democratic Women’s Club (DWC) and current Vice President. She was one of four co-chairs for the DWCF 2025 Legislation Team and received 2025 Legislative Advocacy Award at the DWCF Convention. She loves to read, travel and be with friends. When overwhelmed with state and national shenanigans, she goes to her art area where she cuts, glue, paint, work on Zentangle (a meditative art form that involves creating intricate designs using repetitive patterns) loses all sense of time, and makes a therapeutic mess.
Post Legislative Session Review: Mary will review both good and bad bills that passed and that failed to pass in the 2025 legislative session (and may reappear in a future legislative session). She will also discuss legislative priorities by Florida’s out-of-touch legislative leaders who aren’t doing what you elected them to do. Floridians didn’t elect their legislators to rename the Gulf of Mexico or increase costs by siding with greedy insurance. They didn’t elect their legislators to take away services you worked hard to earn and rely on to cut taxes for multinational corporations and the ultrawealthy. This legislative session was a missed opportunity to deliver for hardworking families and seniors who deserve leadership focused on lowering costs, raising wages, and building a brighter future for all Floridians, not their own political ambitions.
Natasha is the Deputy Director of Florida Watch, a non-profit hub for message development, digital communications, and research. She recently served as official spokesperson and Senior Communications Advisor to Yes on 4, Florida’s 2024 abortion rights ballot initiative campaign. Natasha serves the local community as Commissioner on the Tallahassee-Leon Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. With years of experience in communications and political advocacy, her mission is to drive meaningful change through strategic messaging and campaign leadership. She partners with diverse organizations, along with grassroots and elected leaders, to strategize and build consensus around initiatives that shift the political landscape towards improving the lives of all Floridians, no matter their background. A graduate of Florida State University, first generation American, former educator, and military spouse, Natasha has been working in state politics since 2017.
Florida Watch is a communications and research organization with a digital-first lens. Re-launched in the spring of 2020, we serve as the progressive community’s in-state hub for message development, digital communications, and research.
Lunch Out After the Meeting
After the meeting, please join us for lunch. It’s always fun and a great way to meet members you do not know. Location to be announced at the meeting.
HANDOUT: Assault on Voting: Then & Now