Pinellas County Charter Amendment, Local Charter Amendments and US Congressional Races too!!!
I'm throwing in some tension at the end of what would otherwise be a straight forward charter ballot issue post by introducing US Congressional races into the mix! Whoo hoo! We are talking high end excitement now.
So let's get right to it!
Pinellas County Charter: Shall the Pinellas County Charter be amended to designate certain County-owned lands as environmental lands, and to require approval by a majority vote of the electors to remove the environmental lands designation, or to convey any fee simple interest in designated County-owned environmental lands, or to lease or license any interest in designated County-owned environmental lands for a period longer than ten years?
The Question at Stake: Do you want the County Commission to put it to a vote when they want to do anything with lands that have been designated as having environmental protection. It's kind of that simple. *cough* Booker Creek *cough*.
Some people are going to want the commission to be able to act on their own according to what they feel is the best course of action on a given piece of land. (Doing so in public meetings and with input) while others want to have that approval in the lands of the voters.
What do *you* want? Well that's what you need to decide.
***
There's a city ordinance that is on the ballot in Clearwater, Largo, Indian Rock Beach, Oldsmar, Kenneth City and Safety Harbor. (*note edit: I had originally assumed that Kenneth City was doing it a little differently but rechecking their plan I realized it was the same plan with a slightly different focus on the wording. Same outcome though. My apologies.)
Shall section (your city's sectin here) of the City Charter be amended as provided in (your city's Ordinance here) to provide that the Pinellas County Canvassing Board shall serve as the City of (your city here)'s canvassing board, unless otherwise provided by ordinance?
The overwhelming reason for this one is budget. The city's don't have it (thanks voters in the last major election for your support for slightly lower property taxes! Yay!!!*g*) and now have to figure out what they want to do with certain services. Wherever they are duplicated they want to be able to combine them. In this case the county already has their own canvasing boards, so why not use them?
People have asked me what a canvassing board is and I'll simplify them in a way that most people who barely follow politics will recall. Remember the hanging chads in the 2000 election and those people who had to go through all those ballots to determine which ones were eligible and which to throw out? That's a canvassing board. (Sure there's more to it in a lot of places, but that's how most people would know them)
Some folks are quite passionate about the idea that these folks need to live in the community and these should be "home rule" based decisions. Others are just as convinced that the way to go is a unified system run by the county that insures that everyone does everything the same exact way, and saves some money in the process by contracting the work out rather than paying all the personnel costs directly.
***
Now because you've been so good I'm throwing in the Congressional races for the US Congress in this area and my opinions on the candidates!!! You're welcome.*g*
I am going to be controversial and only talk about the two "major party candidates" for these though. Just warning you ahead of time. Yes I know there are several people running for each position. So if you are someone who would rather support one of them I'll try to find out what information I can find on them. But for now I'm just covering the two "in the mainstream".
Congressional District 9
Gus Bilirakis (R) v Bill Mitchell (D) - Bilirakis is the incumbent and the son of the man who had the job before him, He broke ranks and voted against the Economic Stimulus package and has been a supporter of increased funding for Pell Grants. Other than that reading his issues packet is pretty much a straight up and down "I am a Republican".
Mitchell is a vet who's running on the straight up and down "I am a Democrat". I'm sure they were there but I didn't see much of a difference between his platform and others running for office from that party.
On a personal note - Bilirakis has always kind of annoyed me. Which has nothing to do with politics, but I thought I would share!!!*g*
Congressional District 10
CW Bill Young (R) v Bob Hackworth (D?) - Yes, the question mark is editorial comment. Hackworth is the former mayor of Dunedin and a Republican who jumped ship to run as a Democrat. Is he a true convert or is he just trying to ride the wave of anti-GOP sentiment?
I wouldn't even think this going to be a race if I didn't get a letter form Sam Gibbons, one of the most respected Democratic leaders in the history of Florida urging me to support Bill Young.
This is Young's district to lose. He brings home more "pork projects" than just about anyone in the country. (***full disclosure I work in a building that is named after him because he helped get the money for the project) His major issue, sometimes it seems his only issue is Veterans Affairs. (his wife was the one thrown out of the Presidential Address for wearing the t-shirt)
Democrats in general have always run a token candidate in this district because there was no chance in beating Young in one of the "safest seats in the country". This time apparently they decided to run another Republican!!!*g*
Congressional District 11
Eddie Adams Jr (R) v Kathy Castor(D) - Castor is the incumbent. Not really sure what there is to say about this particular election. If you are looking for one to phone in this is probably it. Republicans are going to love what Adams have to say and Democrats are going to love Castor.
The only real issue is if you like the Castors! (her mother is the former Secretary of Education, former USF President and Senate candidate and has her detractors, some of which her daughter has inherited) It's Adam's first shot at public office but for an African American Republican in Tampa he's doing quite well for himself. (Full disclosure: one of my oldest friends is the son of another well known African American Republican who's ran for office several times in the last couple of years. So I can say that it's an uphill battle but Adams is doing pretty good for himself.)
So let's get right to it!
Pinellas County Charter: Shall the Pinellas County Charter be amended to designate certain County-owned lands as environmental lands, and to require approval by a majority vote of the electors to remove the environmental lands designation, or to convey any fee simple interest in designated County-owned environmental lands, or to lease or license any interest in designated County-owned environmental lands for a period longer than ten years?
The Question at Stake: Do you want the County Commission to put it to a vote when they want to do anything with lands that have been designated as having environmental protection. It's kind of that simple. *cough* Booker Creek *cough*.
Some people are going to want the commission to be able to act on their own according to what they feel is the best course of action on a given piece of land. (Doing so in public meetings and with input) while others want to have that approval in the lands of the voters.
What do *you* want? Well that's what you need to decide.
***
There's a city ordinance that is on the ballot in Clearwater, Largo, Indian Rock Beach, Oldsmar, Kenneth City and Safety Harbor. (*note edit: I had originally assumed that Kenneth City was doing it a little differently but rechecking their plan I realized it was the same plan with a slightly different focus on the wording. Same outcome though. My apologies.)
Shall section (your city's sectin here) of the City Charter be amended as provided in (your city's Ordinance here) to provide that the Pinellas County Canvassing Board shall serve as the City of (your city here)'s canvassing board, unless otherwise provided by ordinance?
The overwhelming reason for this one is budget. The city's don't have it (thanks voters in the last major election for your support for slightly lower property taxes! Yay!!!*g*) and now have to figure out what they want to do with certain services. Wherever they are duplicated they want to be able to combine them. In this case the county already has their own canvasing boards, so why not use them?
People have asked me what a canvassing board is and I'll simplify them in a way that most people who barely follow politics will recall. Remember the hanging chads in the 2000 election and those people who had to go through all those ballots to determine which ones were eligible and which to throw out? That's a canvassing board. (Sure there's more to it in a lot of places, but that's how most people would know them)
Some folks are quite passionate about the idea that these folks need to live in the community and these should be "home rule" based decisions. Others are just as convinced that the way to go is a unified system run by the county that insures that everyone does everything the same exact way, and saves some money in the process by contracting the work out rather than paying all the personnel costs directly.
***
Now because you've been so good I'm throwing in the Congressional races for the US Congress in this area and my opinions on the candidates!!! You're welcome.*g*
I am going to be controversial and only talk about the two "major party candidates" for these though. Just warning you ahead of time. Yes I know there are several people running for each position. So if you are someone who would rather support one of them I'll try to find out what information I can find on them. But for now I'm just covering the two "in the mainstream".
Congressional District 9
Gus Bilirakis (R) v Bill Mitchell (D) - Bilirakis is the incumbent and the son of the man who had the job before him, He broke ranks and voted against the Economic Stimulus package and has been a supporter of increased funding for Pell Grants. Other than that reading his issues packet is pretty much a straight up and down "I am a Republican".
Mitchell is a vet who's running on the straight up and down "I am a Democrat". I'm sure they were there but I didn't see much of a difference between his platform and others running for office from that party.
On a personal note - Bilirakis has always kind of annoyed me. Which has nothing to do with politics, but I thought I would share!!!*g*
Congressional District 10
CW Bill Young (R) v Bob Hackworth (D?) - Yes, the question mark is editorial comment. Hackworth is the former mayor of Dunedin and a Republican who jumped ship to run as a Democrat. Is he a true convert or is he just trying to ride the wave of anti-GOP sentiment?
I wouldn't even think this going to be a race if I didn't get a letter form Sam Gibbons, one of the most respected Democratic leaders in the history of Florida urging me to support Bill Young.
This is Young's district to lose. He brings home more "pork projects" than just about anyone in the country. (***full disclosure I work in a building that is named after him because he helped get the money for the project) His major issue, sometimes it seems his only issue is Veterans Affairs. (his wife was the one thrown out of the Presidential Address for wearing the t-shirt)
Democrats in general have always run a token candidate in this district because there was no chance in beating Young in one of the "safest seats in the country". This time apparently they decided to run another Republican!!!*g*
Congressional District 11
Eddie Adams Jr (R) v Kathy Castor(D) - Castor is the incumbent. Not really sure what there is to say about this particular election. If you are looking for one to phone in this is probably it. Republicans are going to love what Adams have to say and Democrats are going to love Castor.
The only real issue is if you like the Castors! (her mother is the former Secretary of Education, former USF President and Senate candidate and has her detractors, some of which her daughter has inherited) It's Adam's first shot at public office but for an African American Republican in Tampa he's doing quite well for himself. (Full disclosure: one of my oldest friends is the son of another well known African American Republican who's ran for office several times in the last couple of years. So I can say that it's an uphill battle but Adams is doing pretty good for himself.)