Leon County, Florida General Election Ballot November 2020
Don't forget to vote November 3, 2020
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. Feel free to comment and/or provide additional information you know about the candidates.
A few additional resources I like.
ivoter guide - simple non-partisan summary based on your zip code (make sure you click the 2020 general election button on the right.
The Democrat Guide is OK but you can only view it a couple of times before they make you pay for it.
Representative to Congress, District 2
Neal Dunn (REP) - (my pick) running unopposed he has been a good representative, I like him.
Representative to Congress, District 5 (includes northern Leon Co all the way to Jacksonville)
Gary Adler (REP) - (my pick) Based in Jacksonville, a business owner who is new to politics. Would not be my first choice but probably better than Lawson.
Al Lawson (DEM) - The incumbent. Has been state legislature for 28 years. Active insurance agent. Owner of a marketing firm. Current focus is on health care. Not a socialist, but tends to vote for bigger government and higher taxes.
State Senator, District 3
Marva Harris Preston (REP) - (my pick) Graduated from Wakulla High but has worked for 26 years as a police officer for the city of Miami, ordained ministry for Christ Church Anglican in Crawfordville, Florida, Endorsed by Gov Desantis. Not a lot of political experience, but appears to be a strong conservative.
Loranne Ausley (DEM) - Incumbent. Career politician, in the Florida house from 2000-2008 and 2016-present. I regretfully once voted for her thinking she was a moderate, but she is not and has proven herself to be far left big government type.
State Representative, District 9
Jim Kallinger (REP) - (my pick) Moderate conservative. Past State Representative 2001 to 2004. Past chair of the Florida Faith & Freedom Coalition. Current senior strategist for Front Lines Strategies, a marketing firm.
Allison Tant (DEM) - Moderate progressive. Self proclaimed community organizer, has focused on support for disabled children in education (good cause). Very non-committal in many of her comments and answers. State chair for Democratic party.
Superintendent of Schools
Pam Hightower (DEM) - (my reluctant pick) 40 years of educational experience. Former principal for 3 different schools, and District Director of Title 1 and Special Services. I'm willing to give someone else a chance.
Rocky Hanna (NPA) - Incumbent, actually a DEM. Remember the school bussing fiasco last year? He will not allow teachers to participate in Florida's armed teacher program. Has a weird relationship to some LLC's registered in Las Vegas used to support local campaigns.
Justice of the Supreme Court (Retain ?)
(Yes) Retain Justice Carlos G. Muniz - recent appointment by Ron DeSantis in 2019. Formerly served as lawyer for the US dept. of Education, served as deputy attorney general and chief of staff to the Florida Attorney General.
District Court of Appeal (Retain ?)
(Yes) Retain Judge Joseph Lewis Jr. - Incumbent since 2001. Office of the Attorney General 1995-2000. appointed by Jeb Bush.
(Yes) Retain Judge Scott Makar - Incumbent since 2012. Appointed by Rick Scott. Solicitor General, State of Florida 2007-2011. General Counsel City of Jacksonville 2001-2007.
(Yes) Retain Judge Rachel Norby - recent appointment by Ron DeSantis in 2019. Served as Senior Deputy Solicitor General for the Florida Attorney General. Also was a partner at Tallahassee law firm.
(Yes) Retain Judge Tim Osterhause - Incumbent since 2013. Appointed by Rick Scott. I have met him and casually knew their family. Good people.
(Yes) Retain Judge Clay Roberts - Incumbent since 2007. Appointed by Charlie Crist. Deputy Attorney General 2003-2007. Adjunct law professor 2004-2013.
(Yes) Retain Judge Adam S. Tanenbaum - Recently appointed by Ron DeSantis in 2019. Lawyer for FL House of Representatives 2016-2019, FL Dept of State 2015-2016. Back and forth as Assistant public defender and private attorney between 1997-2014.
Circuit Judge, 2nd Judicial Circuit, Group 4
Tiffany Baker - young attorney worked past 7 years as a criminal defense, personal injury and family law attorney. Young but actually spoke about upholding the constitution in interview.
Amanda P. Wall - (my pick), 31 Years in law practice as both a private attorney and as a prosecutor. appears to have a greater variety of types law practice which I think is a plus for a judge.
Board of County Commissioners at Large, Group 1
Carolyn Cummings - (my pick) An attorney with over 35 years of experience in government and general practice law. Main concerns are crime and affordable housing. Supports Children's Services Council. This is a close one, although I don't agree with her on everything she seems fairly moderate and willing to work with the business community.
Kelly Otte - served as the executive director at the PACE Center for Girls for more than a decade. Columnist of the Tallahassee Democrat. Has had a variety of jobs. Lots of volunteer works. Main concerns economic growth, crime and poverty.
Board of County Commissioners, District 4
Bryan Desloge - (my reluctant pick) Former IBM employee and former owner of a medical device firm. Former chair of city Chamber of Commerce. A rare republican (possibly the only one) on the county commission. Can be a hot head at times, and I don't always agree, but he is more conservative than most of the others on the commission.
Brian Welch - Chiles High teacher, Main issues, getting additional parks for the NE Tallahassee and limiting development. I agree with many of his positions, I just agree more with Desloge.
City Commissioner, Seat 2
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.
Bill Schack - (my pick) Tallahassee business owner. Food service director for Tallahassee homeless shelter and Guardian ad litem volunteer. Strong law enforcement supporter.
Leon Soil and Water Conservation District Seat 5 (very little info on either candidate)
James R. Billingsley - (my pick) Former member of Canopy Roads Citizens Committee and employee of the Florida House and Senate, whatever that means. Pick only due to experience on CRCC.
Kyle Frost - Software engineer. Is active in the local environmental community.
Capital Region Community Development District, Seat 4
Carl Mikyska - (my pick) Incumbent. Executive Director of the Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. Worked for FDOT.
Andrew Wiggins - Could not find any information about him.
Establishment of Children's Services Council of Leon County
This creates a new county bureaucracy that would have their own taxing power and will not be able to be removed until 12 years after being established. Children services are already covered under the county's budget, with lots of different programs. There is no written plan or budget for this new initiative. You're expected to vote for it before you can see what it will do. Additional Children's Services and budgets should be addressed through the existing mostly transparent county commission and not a new unaccountable committee.
(No)
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.No. 1 - Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections
Requires Florida residents to be citizens to vote. This is kinda redundant, but is an attempt to clarify the language in the law. This is an issue that cannot be addressed by the Legislature.
(Yes)
No. 2 - Raising Florida's Minimum Wage
Raises Florida's Minimum Wage to $15. This is a job and small business killer. Small businesses like restaurants already struggling to stay alive will be forced to fire people and/or shut down. The only companies able to absorb the costs will be large corporations like Target. For a great summary explaining why this is a bad idea go HERE.
(NO NO NO.......)
No. 3 - All Voters Vote in Primary Elections for State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet
This would make Florida's Primaries "Open" which means REP can vote for DEMs in the primary and visa versa. I don't like this idea as it makes it possible for either party to sabotage the other party's primary by voting against the other party's stronger candidate.
(No)
No. 4 - Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments
Requires Florida Constitutional amendments to pass voter approval twice. Currently I think Florida's constitution is changed too easily. This will help make sure that amendments are looked at more closely. Since a different set of voters tend to vote every 2 years it makes since to have each weight in.
(Yes)
No. 5 - Limitations on Homestead Property Tax Assessments:
Extends the homestead tax exemption (Save-Our-Homes) from 2 to 3 years. Gives homeowners a time exemption for those that take a long time to build a home, which has been happening a lot lately with the recent hurricane issues.
This is an issue that cannot be addressed by the Legislature.
(Yes)
No. 6 - Homestead Property Tax Discount for Surviving Spouses of Deceased Veterans
Does what it sounds like. It is only for veterans with combat related disabilities. I think this makes sense.
This is an issue that cannot be addressed by the Legislature.
(Yes)
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