Dave Patlak for US Representative 18th Congressional District of

Background:

25-YEAR COAST GUARD VETERAN

The oldest of 8 children, Dave Patlak raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. His mother is a retired teacher and his father, a WWII veteran, went on to become a renowned psychiatrist and physician. After graduating high school, he had his first exposure to progressive, grassroots politics volunteering on the congressional campaign for Abner Mikva and the Presidential campaign for Senator George McGovern. He then went on to successfully get President Carter elected and Congressman Mikva re-elected for a second term in the same district once held by Donald Rumsfeld.

Dave then answered the call to service and joined the United States Coast Guard. He served with distinction as a Presidential Honor Guard and Search and Rescue Air Crewman. In 1983 he became a Commissioned Officer and his shipboard responsibilities shifted to maritime law enforcement --including a 35-ton drug bust off the coast of the Bahamas. He retired, a Chief Warrant Officer 4, in 2003, after more than 24-years active duty service, 10 of which were spent protecting the shores of South Florida.

He met his wife, artist, Maryanne while stationed in Puerto Rico. They live in the South Pointe community of Miami Beach. Dave and Maryanne have two children, five grandchildren and mentored a high-school student from Little Haiti.

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
Whether it's spearheading food drives for the hungry, building homes for the homeless, or cleaning up the coastlines and preserving sensitive eco-systems, Dave has always given back to the community, no matter where he has lived. As District Commander of the American Legion and a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Dave is a constant presence visiting veterans in their homes, the Miami VA Hospital and local rehabilitation centers.

Since January 2005, Dave worked for Best Buddies, the nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendship programs in Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies and Jobs. Dave served as the Citizens Program Manager and as a Citizen Buddy Volunteer, Dave has a Buddy with intellectual disability that he spends time with each week.

He helped lead the Coast Guard volunteers at the United Way's Big Hearts in Little Haiti clean-up project along MLK, Jr. Blvd, All over Haulover beach project and his team did construction and landscaping at Allapattah Elementary School. Dave recently helped lead the Hands On Miami Day project to beautify Jose Marti Park on the Miami River as part of the Miami Mangrove Forest, a volunteer-driven public art project designed by Artist Xavier Cortada, painting concrete columns beneath Interstate Highway I-95. He was a member of Liga Ecologica del Noroeste de Puerto Rico and created the first curbside recycling program in the Commonwealth.

Dave and Maryanne, both members of the Florida National Parks and Monuments Association which supports the Biscayne Bay, Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, are also members of the Tropical Audubon and Florida Native Plant Societies.

Goals:

I've Had Enough!!

I'm Big Dave Patlak, a 24-year Coast Guard veteran and the Democratic Congressional Challenger in the 18th District of Florida. The present seat is held by Bush Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen who voted with Tom Delay's culture of corruption 92% of the time. With your endorsement, I will replace this career politician with a Veteran Leader who will fight for the Democratic vision.

Issues:

We must end this war and bring our troops home.

We will fight for Real Security that protects Americans at home and leads the world by telling the truth to our troops, our citizens, and our allies. We must scan 100% of cargo containers that enter our Ports. Fedex can track every package in the world yet we have no idea what is in 97% of the containers 2 minutes from Downtown Miami. In the Coast Guard, we proposed transponder technology, like the Sunpass, that can monitor every vessel that enters our waterways. It was cut from the budget by Republicans in Congress.

We will fight for an affordable Healthcare system that works for everyone. As a federal employee I had the same Health Care plan as members of Congress… competitive, affordable coverage that used the market to provide better benefits and lower costs. In the wealthiest, most powerful nation on earth, no one should have to choose between taking their child to a doctor or paying the rent. I am committed to making sure every single American has access to affordable, effective health care coverage that leaves decisions about health care to patients and doctors, keeping the government and insurance companies out. I will not stop fighting this battle until every single American has access to affordable health care.

We will end the Republican culture of corruption and restore a government as good as the people it serves. I will fight for an honest and ethical government which requires constant vigilance and a continuous dedication to reform, not a rubber stamp for the Bush administration with no accountability. I will fight for reform principles that preserve the people's trust in government.

Grassroots Support:

I will depend on the grassroots to help me get my message out and connect with the community. Campaigns are not won by the candidate alone... they are won by the actions of committed volunteers fighting for Veteran leaders with the experience to bring change together.

Members of my staff have been and will be trained by DFA and Camp Wellstone (including the DFA Miami training schedule for the end of April 2006).

DFA Values:

I was named 2005 "Friend of Persons with Disabilities" by the City of Miami. DFA Miami-Dade chose me as their "Local Activist of the Year" for 2006.

I was elected as Outreach Vice Chair for the Miami-Dade County Democratic Party and serve on the Florida Democratic Party Clubs and Caucuses Committee. I am President of the Miami Beach Democratic Club and Vice Chair of the South Florida Region Progressive Democrats.

I have earned these honors for my progressive vision and commitment to our community.

In the Coast Guard, I managed millions of dollars in government contracts using Zero Based Budgeting. Starting the budget each year at Zero requires a thorough review and justification for all spending. I will use my experiences to fight for a balanced budget that is fiscally sound and responsible.