Leon County Florida, General Election, November Ballot 2016

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After many hours of work and late nights staying up writing this blog it was accidently deleted and I can't figure out how to get it back.

I apologize for the lack of in depth research but below is a quick synopsis of how I plan to vote without all of the previous detail, except in a few races.

Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

Difficult choice but I give the edge to Gwen.
Gwen Marshall - DEM - (My Pick) has been working for the Clerks of the Circuit Court and Comptrollers for 17 years.
Franklin Ayetin - NPA - Assistant General Counsel for the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Sheriff

After 2 years being the county with the highest violent crime rate in the state it is time for a change.
Charlie Strickland - REP - (A close second) -
Walt McNeil - DEM - Former Police Chief, would also make a good choice.
Tommy Mills - NPA -
Mike Woods - NPA - (My Pick) Current Sheriff, based on inside info, has helped to greatly improve moral at the office.

Property Appraiser

Akin Akinyemi - former county commissioner. My favorite quote from him. "I am a very humble man, but I have done more for this county in 3 years than anyone." He should not be allowed to hold any public office.
Greg Lane - (My Pick) Has been in real estate and doing property appraisals for many years.

Superintendent of Schools

View the WCTV debate HERE
Forrest Van Camp - REP - (My Pick) Former Leon County School Board member and long-time school administrator. He is against the common core curriculum.
Jackie Pons - DEM - Current Superintendent, Time for someone new.
Rocky Hanna - NPA - Worked as Assistant Principal and Principal of Leon High, worked with Special Sites and Programs for Dept. of Juvenile Justice.
Patricia Ann Sunday - NPA - No chance of winning not enough people know who she is.

Justice of the Supreme Court

(Yes) Charles T. Canady - one of only 2 conservatives on the court
(No) Jorge Labaraga
(Yes) Ricky L. Polston - the other conservative.

District Court of Appeal

(Yes) Ross Bilbrey
(Yes) Susan Kelsey
(Yes) Lori S. Rowe
(Yes) Kent Wetherell
(Yes) Bo Winokur
(No) Jim Wolf

Supervisor of Elections

Mark S. Earley - (MY PICK) 22 year employee of the elections office, currently Voting systems manager. Endorsed by Ion Sancho. Clearly has the most experience.
Alan Williams - Former Democrat State Representative looking for another government job.

County Commissioner - District 2

Jimbo Jackson - Has served as Administrator at Fort Braden School for past 12 years. Seems OK but I'll give the edge to Manny.
Manny Joanos - (My Pick) Divisional Director for the Leon County School District. Endorsed by NEBA (pro business group), based on his platform he seems more pro business which is something Leon county needs.

County Commissioner At Large, Group 1

David T. Hawkins - (My Pick) Works at Florida Department of Revenue Warehouse. Fiscal conservative, emphasis on limiting county spending.
Mary Ann Lindley - Current County Commissioner, former Tallahassee Democrat and Miami Herald employee and Hillary Clinton supporter.

Leon County Soil and Water Conservation District 1

Unpaid position
Brooke Bustle - (My Pick) Works for Strategic Management Office of the DMV. Has worked for Steve Southerland and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation.
Lorin Pratt - Current Supervisor of the Leon County Soil and Water Conservation District. Public Information Specialist.

Leon County Soil and Water Conservation District 3

Unpaid position
Tabitha Frazier - Runs website "leontrees.org" a website dedicated to Leon County's trees. Current supervisor, Leon Soil and Water Conservation District. Not bad.
Bill Helmich - (My Pick) BA Military History. Owns local business consulting firm. Has worked for City Water Utilities and Underground Utilities Departments. Previous supervisor, Leon Soil and Water Conservation District

Capital Region Community Development District, Seat 2

Brian Kelley - Regional Sales Director for IT company.
Carl Mikyska - (My Pick) Executive Director of the Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. Worked for FDOT. He has the most experience.

Amendments

In general if you don't understand an amendment it is better to vote NO. Our Florida constitution is muddied up with way too many things that should have been left to legislation by the house and senate, and not put forever in the constitution.
Amendment 1 - Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice
this has been pushed by the Florida Utility companies, and should not be in the Constitution, but through legislation.
(No)

Amendment 2 - Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions
I am actually for the Medical use of Marijuana or its derivative, but this should not be in the constitution.
(No)

Amendment 3 - Tax Exemption for Totally and Permanently Disabled First Responders
For this to happen, needs to be through amendment.
(Yes)

Amendment 5 - Homestead Tax Exemption for Certain Senior, Low-income, Long-Term Residents; Determination of Just Value.
This is a revision of a previous amendment and must be handled by another amendment
(Yes)

Leon County Florida, Primary Ballot August 2016

Leon County, Florida Primary Ballot Blog (Republican Party)

Don't forget to vote August 30, 2016

This is my take and observations on the candidates on my ballot. I include links where I can but really this is an exercise to help ME decide who to vote for. Hope it helps those others out there researching

 

United States Senator

Carlos Beruff - A businessman with some experience on local government boards, appears to be a strong conservative. I would consider voting for him if Rubio were not running.

Ernie Rivera - Former pastor from Puerto Rico. Has done a lot of missions work and a little bit of Puerto Rican politics. Appears to be a constitutional conservative.

Marco Rubio -  (MY PICK) You should know him by now. He is not perfect, but I like him and think he will continue to do a great job as senator.

Dwight Mark Anthony Young - Born in Jamaica, former army, currently a Sheriff's Deputy, very little experience. Should try to be a little more active in the community first.

 

Representative in Congress District 2

These are all good candidates I just like Ken better.

Neal Dunn - Served in the army for 10 years.  Currently a Urologist in Panama City.  Locally active in community groups charity boards and the boy scouts.  Supported by Steve Southerland (a plus). Strong conservative, I would vote for him if not for Ken running.

Ken Sukhia - (MY PICK) A lawyer that served as a clerk for the Florida Supreme Court for many years and now owns his own law firm.  Politically conservative.  I know personal stories about Ken, that let me know he is a man of great character. This is one of the most important traits a politician can have.

Mary Thomas - Born to Indian parents after migrating to US.  A lawyer that currently serves as the General Counsel at the Department of Elder Affairs. A strong conservative in a tough race.
 

 State Committeewoman (for Leon County)

What is a State Committeewoman you ask?  It is an unpaid, vague position designated by each political party.   It is basically an elected party leader, who is to support the party (Republican" for me), and only has "power" within the party itself, and is in charge of overseeing Republican organizations and clubs throughout the state.
Dorothy Lee "Dotty" McPherson - retired, former Legislative Aide and Legislative Analyst, locally active in Navy League, American Legion, and the Republican Party. Not a bad pick.
Caitlin Murray - (MY PICK) Director of Government Affairs at Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, former finance consultant for CMM strategies, Chief Legislative Assistant, Campaign Manager for State Senate.  To be so young she has a lot of experience and appears to be very ambitious. 

 

County Judge Seat 2

Monique Richardson - Endorsed by NOW, 15 years as an attorney for the State Attorney's office and the Public Defender's office.  I just can't get over her being proud to be endorsed by NOW.

Layne Smith -  (MY PICK) He is the current judge. Worked in private practice for 24 years. Also worked as a Special Assistant Prosecutor and as a Special Assistant Public Defender.  Also has a lot of local community involvement, teaching and doing law stuff. I don't know much about his judgements so this is not a strong endorsement.
 

Supervisor of Elections

Mark S. Early - (MY PICK) 22 year employee of the elections office, currently Voting systems manager. Endorsed by Ion Sancho. Clearly has the most experience.

Tena M. Pate - Served for a long time on the Parol Commission, been on a lot of state public safety boards.  Served under last 4 governors.

Alan Williams - Former Democrat State Representative looking for another government job. Huge partisan progressive, I would never vote for him.
 

School Board District 4

For the Tallahassee Democrat Debate video click HERE

Patrick Cannon - political science grad, currently works on the Florida Rehabilitation Council, which is part of the Department of Education, and assists people with disabilities as they leave high school.

Tallie Gainer III - (My uncertain Pick) former teacher and assistant principal at Capital City Public Charter High School. Served as youth pastor at St. John Cathedral, current Christian radio host.

DeeDee Rasmussen - Current chair of the Leon County School Board, has been on board for 8 years. Has 15 years experience in higher education (whatever that means), and was a senior staff member in Florida's legislative and executive branch.  There have been several issues, like bathroom choice and no bid contracts that the school board could have done better.  She is also endorsed by the Teachers Union, which is a negative for me.

 

Tallahassee City Commission Seat 1

This is a Pick of the least bad.

For the WFSU Debate video click HERE

Gary Gayle - Group manager at LegalShield,  did not respond to multiple local debate requests, Not a serious candidate

Luther Lee - (My Reluctant Pick) degree in Information Systems, currently working in management for FL Department of Revenue, formerly worked as a sales manager. New to politics. Based on his answers to candidate surveys and in debate, he is not great but is the least bad.

Scott Maddox - Ugghh, Former mayor of Tallahassee. Former chair of the Democratic party. Big progressive, Not my favorite

Dr. Bruce W. Stouble Jr - Community organizer, big into social justice, well spoken, just graduated in 2015, affiliated with left leaning alarmist media group "People Over Politics", can anyone say Obama

 

Tallahassee City Commission Seat 2

For the WFSU Debate video click HERE

Dr. Steven Hougland - (My Pick) Retired police officer, and former professor. Supports a change of policy to make it illegal for vendors to donate to campaigns. The best thing about Steven, is that he is not Curtis.

Curtis Richardson - Current City Commissioner, a progressive, pushed for 27% city tax hike, voted to approve contracts for city vendors that had recently donated to his campaign and did not excuse himself from voting.

 

No. 4 Constitutional Amendment, Article VII, Sections 3 and 4, Article XII, Section 34

I'm voting (YES). If a property owner adds solar to their home or business, when the property value is assessed for taxes, this bill would make it so the addition of solar does not add to the property owners taxes.

 

A good article is HERE

This is very different from the Solar Amendment that will be on the November ballot, which you should vote NO.