I’m a patriot by birth and by blood. My father, a retired Air Force Captain, served our country during Vietnam, and my grandfather defended our country in WWII as a Fighting Navy SeaBee. I was born a Floridian, and I gave birth to my daughter here. I’ve spent my life working to make my community stronger, and, after being recruited to run for office, I knew this was the next step in my journey. I’m a former alligator wrestler, firefighter, journalist, and single mom. I make just above minimum wage, I’ve been uninsured and food insecure. I’m running for Florida House of Representatives in District 79.
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I will fight for safe and healthy schools, accessible healthcare (including increased access to rural hospitals and mental health services), to legalize marijuana, for clean water, and no toll roads. You will be as welcome in my office as you are in your own home, as you should be, because I will be a true public servant. Serving in office is a privilege, not a right, and not a career.
After wrestling alligators and fighting fires, I started thinking there’s nothing I couldn’t tackle — and, after this weekend’s People Powered Eco-Regatta to support the Biden/Harris ticket, I think I was right!
Just before Labor Day weekend, the news was filled with stories about “Trump-Tillas”, and the “largest Trump Boat parade ever!” Rumors began circulating about the 5,000, no 7,000, no 12,000 boats that would gather in North Fort Myers. Pollution, the spreading of hate, and a lack of representation: it was all weighing heavily on me. So, I organized a SHIP for Brains People Powered Eco-Regatta. While I run a 98% positive campaign, we do make an exception for puns.
We brought our couple dozens kayaks, canoes, and stand up paddleboards to send a message to the 12,000 Trump-supporting motor boats and yachts: we are not afraid. There are PLENTY of Republican, Independent, and Democratic voters in SWFL who support public education, affordable healthcare, and a culture of respect: they will be voting for me, Danika Fornear, and they’ll be voting for Biden-Harris.
The night before the regatta, I received several ranting phone calls and social media comments, from people who did not want us to hold our event.
One man, who kept insisting I knew who he was- I didn’t, first called pretending to be interested in borrowing a canoe from us for the regatta. He asked why I would organize something like this. I told him I just wanted to make sure we were visible for other Biden supporters. He quickly became loud and irate, asked me why I would want to get “physical” and started yelling and screaming. After explaining I had said “visible”, yet that he seemed to be jumping on things “getting physical” - I hung up.
He called back and left the following voicemail:
“Hey Diane, [That isn’t my name] I think we got disconnected but no, I didn't say that there was going to be any physical anything. We all have the right to be out there to exercise the right to free speech. I just hope to that you guys could you know actually get a group together to support somebody with dementia and I can't wait to see you guys out there tomorrow, you know, like you said there's going to be a couple thousand people out there supporting Trump not only in Cape Coral but in Naples and Marco Island, so your total small get-together of Biden Harris supporters is going to be kind of cute and I would love to you know, maybe, you know do some video and and interact with you guys and I ask you some questions as far as why you support somebody with dementia who doesn't even know where the [expletive] he is half the time, you know, he gaps every single day and wage. Oh you guys suffer from Trump derangement syndrome. So I I totally get you know, what's happening with the election in 2020. But you know, I give you guys props for at least I'm trying and coming out, you know, and especially for you running for congress, [I’m running for State House, not Congress] but you know, I'm a big Byron Donald supporter. I I supported him one hundred percent throughout the whole primary. He's a strong very strong black man who is going to represent a district 19 and I know you guys don't like that because we're taking a little bit of the thunder away from your uh political, you know. Identity politics that you like to run with, you know, we don't need another old white woman [I am a 41-year-old, half-Thai woman] trying to tell us what we need to do as citizens of Cape Coral or wage Lee County. So I think by McDonald's is going to be a great representative and I I I'm looking forward to seeing you guys out there tomorrow with your paddle boards and your kayaks. It's going to be quite entertaining. So I'm glad that week news is going to be out there and I hope they capture the the small Congregation of the miniscule Democrats that think that they actually have a chance to win something in 2020. So I look forward to it tomorrow and I'll see you guys out there tomorrow and God bless you. God Bless America and God bless mother-[expletive] Donald Trump.”
Anyhow, despite the calls and texts, we arrived at Horton Park with our American flags and Biden-Harris signs and were immediately greeted by two women on a park bench who chanted, “Socialists! Socialists!” I am not a socialist. I am a Democrat who believes in helping those in need.
“Fat [expletive] like you deserve to [expletive] die! Keep wearing a mask [expletive], so you [expletive] suffocate, you [expletive]!” yelled a group of men standing along the shore wearing MAGA hats and t-shirts.
We decorated and launched our kayaks into the Caloosahatchee, as the yelling of insults and expletives streamed on.
“You’re a ugly, disgusting pig! Hope someone just [expletive] runs you over and puts you out of your [expletive] misery,” one man said as he waved a large Trump flag.
“You Dems are right, all lives don’t matter! Hope you [expletive] drown out there. Hope someone [expletive] takes you out!” The Trump supporters were relentless with their vile comments and threats.
At one point, I heard from the shore, “Funny you Biden supporters would come here, when you know we all pack heat 24-7,” a man said, while tapping his hip. I asked him what made him assume I wasn’t also “packing” and he laughed.
I not only stood my ground (in my kayak), I paddled up to him, and we began to discuss mass shootings, school shootings, and my stance on gun control. I explained that I was a “Second Amendment Democrat” and a survivor of severe domestic violence. I know firsthand how important personal protection can be, and will always advocate for us to retain those rights. I also told him I am an avid hunter and fisherwomen. Eventually, we got to talking about a shared interest and profession: firefighting. Our conversation ended with him saying, “I refuse to vote for Biden, but I will vote for you. What has Spencer Roach (the radical Repbulican incumbent) ever done for us around here anyways?” He took a campaign flyer to share with his family and left, smiling and waving as he went.
As the Trump-tilla disappeared into the distance, the shoreline slowly emptied. We stopped to help the two ladies that had been yelling at us earlier. We gave them cold water, loaded their chairs and walkers into their car, and assisted as they reversed out of their parking spot.
I glanced down at my phone and saw a barrage of insulting texts, voicemail, and comments on social media.
I sighed, and we loaded our American flags and Biden-Harris signs, picked up my daughter from the grandparent’s house, and returned home.
We accomplished what I hoped and when I wake up on November 4th, I will know that I did every possible thing in my power to fight for the future of our country and our democracy.
Now, I am asking for your help. Please share my story, donate to my campaign, and VOTE FORNEAR on November 3rd! We are in this together, and I’m looking forward to representing YOU in Tallahassee. CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT HER CAMPAIGN
-Danika Fornear is a former alligator wrestler, wildlife rescuer, and firefighter who is running for State House in Florida's 79th District, which includes eastern & northern Lee County. She is the mother of a precocious toddler and a journalist. Her family has called Lehigh Acres home for over 20 years, and she is deeply invested in her community.