If you live in Florida, this is a guide to the Nov 3 ballot - it's Lake County specific for the local races.
Once again it's election time, and it's no exaggeration to say this is the most consequential in our history.
I'm not here to try to persuade anyone as we are just too polarised, but hopefully this will give some guidance on the races and politicians
not many of us know about.
There is a lot of noise out there, and you need fact based information to make an informed choice. And a couple of opinions!
If you find this useful, feel free to pass it on.
US Senate
Ashley Moody - R - MAGA - website notable for its lack of anything concrete she would do for working people, I mean nothing.
Angie Nixon - D - from her website - Angie Nixon is running to lower costs, raise wages, and build a people-powered government that puts working families first, not greedy billionaires.
And - Neil Gillespe - NPA - ran for US President in 2024! Website is incoherent. Wacko.
US Congress - 6th District [North Lake Co.]
Randy Fine - R - ultra MAGA - Our Trump endorsed Congressman. A website with absolutely minimal content.
Eric Yonce - D - working class from Ocala, business owner and big box store manager. He's young, some good policies for real people.
US Congress 11th District [South Lake Co.]
Joe Strada - R - standard Republican talking points in his website, but notably no mention of helping working families.
James Pericola - D - an insider, but with some good priorities on his list
Ralph Groves - Libertarian - some interesting issues, but he looks old.
Governor
Byron Donalds - R - Ultra MAGA - The chyron on his website says it all - Endorsed by Trump, Musk, Charlie Kirk etc.
David Jolly - D - a centrist Democrat with some policies for real people
Scott Jewett - Libertarian - wants to eliminate property taxes and gut local government, with no explanation of how this would work.
And the rest......
Charles Burkett - https://burkettforgov.com - Mayor of Surfside FL - all Miami focused.
Frank Russo - https://russo2026.com/en - "the people's party".....but not much for the people!
Moe Dimanche - https://nomoecorruption.com
Dean Abrams - https://www.deanabrams.com/
"Dr Jeff" Datto - https://www.instagram.com/
Attorney general
James Uthmeier - R - was DeSantis's Chief of Staff, got promoted
https://jamesforfl.com - bare bones website
https://jasongarcia.substack.
https://jasongarcia.substack.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/
Jose Rodriguez - D - extensive public service - Tagline - "Taking on the corrupt and powerful"
Chief Financial Officer
Blaise Ingoglia - R - ultra MAGA - tagline - Conservative Pitbull - "proudly responsible for FL Immigration laws"
https://jasongarcia.substack.
Annette Taddeo - D - the first Latina State Senator - tagline - "And as CFO, she will hold the corrupt accountable — starting on day one."
Commissioner of Agriculture
Wilton Simpson - R - Endorsed by Trump, DeSantis etc. The ultimate insider.
Awash in campaign contributions from Big Sugar, Publix, cattle ranchers, FPL, gunmakers, Seminole Tribe [gaming] and many more
Joey Atkins - D - from his website - "Like most other Floridians, I’ve had to deal with the cost of living skyrocketing out of control, from rent and home insurance, to food, gas and utility bills - and the corrupt multimillionaire politician I’m running against, Wilton Simpson, has played a key role in driving up all of those costs. Wilt rakes in millions from the same special interests hiking up our prices, while bankrupting farmers, tearing farm worker families apart and letting his donors destroy our land and water".
State Representative District 26 - Leesburg/Eustis/Mount Dora
Nan Cobb - R - MAGA - priorities on her site are every divisive issue there is.
Robyn Lawrence - D - Affordability, healthcare her priorities
She is also the first trans woman to run for the FL House - it's on her website so no doubt she will be attacked by MAGA for being trans.
If this matters to you, vote MAGA.
If not, she has some very good ideas.
Lake County Commission District 4
Leslie Campione - the controversial Commission head. Under heavy fire on social media for being pro development.
Her website says she isn't, but just last week she approved the huge Panther Run development in Clermont.
Egor Emery - site has images of some unspoiled parts of Lake Co. worth protecting from development.
Tagline - "not owned by big business, I will stand up to developers and help preserve our Lake County way of life
Retain FL Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz
Yes, or No
He became Chief Justice thanks to Pam Bondi and the Federalist Society, he leads an ultra conservative Supreme Court that was appointed by
Ron DeSantis, and the Court regularly does whatever he and the Republican Party wants.
They are supposed to be non-partisan, but they aren't. They and Justice Muniz are blatantly political.
Retain Judge John Harris, 5th District Court of Appeal
Yes, or No
Nothing controversial found
Retain Judge Scott Makar, 5th District Court of Appeal
Yes, or No
Nothing controversial found
Retain Judge Rand Wallis, 5th District Court of Appeal
Yes, or No
Independent thinker? Nothing controversial found
Eustis City Council District Seat 2
Maria Aliberti - her only campaign site is on Facebook, and it says nothing. She's retired.
Christine Cruz - responsible growth, and she's also young!
Mount Dora City Council - At Large
Mike Garcia - 30 years in Law Enforcement, including the MD Police Department. Now running a security company.
Full disclosure - I have known Mike and his family for many years, and consider him to be a man of integrity and very competent.
I think he would make an excellent addition to the MD City Council.
Charity McClary - not much on this website.
Bailey Stack - he's 27 years old, minimal information on this website about any experience.
Tavares City Council - Seat 3
Amir Asghar - interesting. He's young [under 30], his job listed is a crypto trader. Looks smart.
Walter Price - A realtor in Tavares, has been on the City Council for many years. No website found, but there was this below.
Yes, consider the source, but it looks true.
What are the three Amendments?
The analysis is from Florida Taxwatch, non partisan, non profit.
Constitutional Amendment #1 - increase the "Rainy Day" fund reserves for hurricanes etc.
If you trust the Florida Legislature to spend this money properly, vote yas. [sarcasm]
Yes, or No
Constitutional Amendment #2 - Agricultural Tax breaks
If you think Big Sugar, huge Agribusinesses, large landowning corporations and big cattle ranchers need a tax break, vote yes. [sarcasm]
Yes, or No
Constitutional Amendment #3 - increase the Homestead exemption to $250k.
Yes, or No
A dispassionate fact based look at this amendment from Florida Taxwatch
An analysis of the probable effects of this Amendment from the non-partisan, not for profit FloridaPolicy.org
My opinion - Amendment is deceptively written, deceptively promoted as the elimination of property taxes which is not true.
Blatantly unfair to renters, will cripple local government services, probable rise in the sales tax and many fees to compensate, which would then be given back to local governments according to the whims of Tallahassee politicians.
It's also a political ploy, as if it passes DeSantis will use it in his campaign in 2028.
This is a NO NO NO.
(Vote For 1)
This was a tough one to research, but it's adding a 1 millage point for school safety and If you live in Florida, this is a guide to the Nov 3 ballot - it's Lake County specific for the local races.
Once again it's election time, and it's no exaggeration to say this is the most consequential in our history.
I'm not here to try to persuade anyone as we are just too polarised, but hopefully this will give some guidance on the races and politicians
not many of us know about.
There is a lot of noise out there, and you need fact based information to make an informed choice. And a couple of opinions!
If you find this useful, feel free to pass it on.
(Vote For 1) - Do you like having hospitals in Lake County? Vote yes.
Yes, or No
The North Lake County Hospital District is an independent special taxing district in Florida that requires voter approval every 10 years to continue its operations. [1,
Key Details on Continuation and Operations
- Voter Reauthorization: The district's charter includes a provision for automatic dissolution unless reauthorized by voters via a referendum every decade. It was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2016 for a 10-year period, setting up subsequent continuation milestones. [1, 2]
- Purpose: Created by the Florida Legislature, the district pays for medical and indigent care (healthcare for low-income or uninsured residents) delivered by local facilities and clinics like AdventHealth Waterman, UF Health Leesburg, and LifeStream. [1, 2]
- Taxing Authority: The district can levy an ad valorem property tax (up to one mill) to fund its annual budget for indigent care. [1, 2, 3]
- Governance: An elected, unpaid 6-member board manages the district, with members restricted to serving a maximum of two 4-year
