Primary Election Aug. 30th - Recommended Candidates
I am listing the candidates and profiles based on their published material for Lake County offices in the Democratic primary ballot,, and giving a common sense recommendation for you.....
All of these positions up for your votes are taken from a mail-in ballot for Mount Dora in the order of presentation, and because of redistricting there are some changes and names you won't recognize.
All of the quotes under the candidates names are from their websites or other social media....
All of the quotes under the candidates names are from their websites or other social media....
Note - the Democratic ballot has the same following offices as the Republican one as they are either non-partisan or not contested:
Lake County Commission - District 1
School Board - District 2
School Board - District 4
Lake County Judge - Group 2
Constitutional Amendment - Solar
Here are our Aug. 30 Democratic primary recommendations:
US Senator - Patrick Murphy
Congress District 6 - Dwayne Taylor
County Commission District 1 - Timothy Loucks
Water Authority District 1 - Peggy Cox
County Court Judge Group 2 - Cary Rada or Judy StewartSchool Board District 2 - Kristi Burns
School Board District 4 - Joan Rintelmann
Solar Constitutional Amendment - YES
Here is the detail for all 8 races on the Democratic primary ballot:
1/ Florida - US Senator
Here is a great and in parts amusing story about the Senate race, focusing on Grayson and Murphy....
Quote - "Three other candidates — lawyer and former Navy officer Pamela Keith, real estate investor Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, and lawyer Reginald Luster — are in the race, but have gained little attention."
Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente - the [D] equivalent to Trump, a real estate billionaire who ran for the Democratic Presidential nomination and now wants to be Senator....ego driven....
Alan Grayson - as of this point he's blown it.....I love this guy from the time he said the Republican health care plan was "don't get sick, and if you do die quickly", but between his ex-wife's abuse allegations and ethics questions about his hedge funds he's losing badly to Murphy....
Pam Keith - endorsed by the Miami Herald as a fresh face in Florida politics, maybe someone to watch....but not much of a chance....
Here is follow up info....
Reginald Luster - lawyer, candidacy will be good for business....
Reginald Luster is the founder and owner of Reginald Luster, P.A., a civil law firm in Jacksonville, Florida, and Radiant Lands Corporation, a real estate investment and management corporation. Reginald was admitted to the Florida Bar in May 1988 and is licensed to practice law in the state courts in Florida and in the three United States District Courts in Florida. On June 11, 2004, Reginald made history when he was sworn in as president of the Jacksonville Bar Association, the first African-American lawyer to be voted to that position.
Reginald was born on February 11, 1964 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His father, Willie Frank Luster of Americus, Georgia, worked as a cook and dishwasher at the Yankee Clipper Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. His mother, Mae Bynes Luster, was a homemaker. After the untimely death of his father, his mother moved him and his three siblings to her birth city, Jacksonville.
Patrick Murphy - defeated the right wing crazy Allan West in 2012, now running for Senate as the establishment Dem.....he's a threat to Rubio, as the SuperPacs are already attacking him.
Endorsed by the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
We recommend Patrick Murphy for [D] US Senate
2/ Congress District 6
Bill McCullough - businessman, no experience....
His commercial is the first thing on his website.....he is also running this same ad on Facebook, which is smart....
Hometown: De Leon Springs, Fla.
Age: 61
What is your political or civic experience?
Led Salvation Army Capital Campaign, Police Athletic League Coach and Treasurer, State Representative for Church Organization and Board Member of Church Foundation.
Jay McGovern - retired Navy Captain....Congress might be a new hobby for him....
Instead of horse riding, McGovern has hobbies of his own, including one that hearkens to his days of being in the air as a helicopter pilot: he’s building an airplane.
While at sea on the U.S.S. Nimitz, he bought the needed pieces on-line for the Q2 plane and when he gets a few hours he’ll grab the tools and work on it.
“It’s always something I wanted to do,” he said. “I always say it’s about 80 percent complete, but it really is about 80 percent done.”
He’d like to have it complete by election time with the hope that if he’s elected he could fly it back-and-forth to Washington, D.C. on trips to Congress.
George Pappas - lawyer with a campaign slogan of being a "moderate Democrat".....is that a DINO?
He is a moderate Democrat, a fiscal conservative, and will work to find real solutions to our real challenges as a country and a community.
Dwayne Taylor - Desantis the likely Republican opponent for this seat has been attacking him, which is a good sign....
Dwayne Taylor, a proven winner in Volusia County from his time in the state House and the Daytona Beach City Commission, is running for the Democratic nod. Businessman Bill McCullough, dark horse Jay McGovern and attorney George Pappas are also running. The GOP starts as the favorite to keep this seat but the Democrats could flip it if they have a big enough wave in November but it would have to be a near-perfect storm.
We recommend Dwayne Taylor for [D] Congress District 6
3/ Water Authority District 1
Peggy Cox - Good grief, she has actually been on the Lake County Water Board and chaired it for 2 years....
Andrew Thompson - a Merchandise Host at Disney....in his picture he looks about 12....but he's 29....
We recommend Peggy Cox
4/ Lake County Commission District 1
Timothy Sullivan - this is the sitting commissioner who doesn't live in his district, and lies about it.
Lauren Ritchie column from February....this issue is still unresolved, and he probably thinks it will just go away....
Consider that Sullivan took part in a coordinated media attack last week on Conner, who is seeking his third term in the district where Sullivan actually lives. He whined during an interview with a reporter about Conner voting against him when it was his "turn" to be commission chairman. (Actually, there is no "turn" — commissioners simply trade the title among themselves as a matter of custom.) Sullivan described Conner as a power-hungry bully who tries to get his way by "ramrodding" pet issues through the commission.
Seriously? Sullivan has the audacity to snipe from the sidelines at the commissioner against whom he should, by law, be running? Against the commissioner he doesn't have the courage to take on? Where, oh, where, does one find the hubris to do such things in public?
Tim Sullivan FB page....
Tim Sullivan was cleared this week by the State Attorneys office, so no charges will be filed on his residency status....legally he's clear, but ethically?
Michael Philip Levine - from his website.....wants you to remember his name [sarcasm]....
As a kid, Mike Levine’s dream was to own his own business. After 20 years living the dream Mike is looking for a different challenge. Mike is asking Lake County voters to support his campaign to become the County Commissioner from District 1. There is no greater honor than to be elected by one’s peers to public service. Mike will serve Lake County well by dedicating all of his talent, energy and experience to the job. Mike Levine will be grateful for your vote. If you are casting an absentee ballot, please vote for Mike Levine. If you are voting early, please vote for Mike Levine. Please vote for Mike Levine on August 30th, election-day.
Timothy M. Loucks - current Mayor of Groveland.....read the Sentinel profile - seems qualified.....
I was born in Fort Meade, Maryland; my family moved to Florida when I was two months old. I was raised in West Orange County. I’m married with two successful adult daughters and two grandchildren. My wife Susan and I moved to Lake County in 2007, and currently reside in the city of Groveland. Unlike one of my competitors, my permanent residence is within the boundaries of the Lake County Commissions District 1.
I was appointed Mayor of the City of Groveland in 2013 and won re-election in 2014. During my service as Mayor, I chaired the design and implementation team for Groveland’s Commercial Economic Development and Common Sense Incentives Plan. This plan resulted in over $9 million in new and retained commercial growth in Groveland for 2014-15 alone, with a minimal investment of less than $200,000 (cash and waived fees). This city-wide initiative set a new record with less than a 10-year return on invested dollars.
Under my administration, the City of Groveland ranked number one in 2014-15-16 as the fastest growing city in Lake County, experiencing a combined growth rate of 51.3%. The City of Groveland maintained the second lowest municipal property tax rate in Lake County while I have proudly served as Mayor.
In 2015, I retired from Reedy Creek Energy Service Water Resource Division at Walt Disney World after 27 years of service.
We recommend Timothy Loucks
5/ County Court Judge - Group 2
Ben Boylston - 33 years old, father was a Lake County judge.....
Boylston, 33, founded the law firm of Stuart, Mount, Bleakley, and Boylston in May of 2013 and works in the practice’s Tavares office. His career began while in law school at Florida State University, prosecuting cases in Monticello, a small town near Tallahassee. After graduating and passing the Bar exam in 2005 at the age of 23, he became an associate with the Tavares law firm of Graves & Spivey, P.A. He later worked at Stone & Gerken, P.A. in Mount Dora, practicing civil litigation, contracts, and municipal law.
Jonathan Olson - experienced prosecutor, works as a ASA....
Jonathan accepted a position as Assistant County Attorney in Mahnomen County where he prosecuted juvenile and misdemeanor cases. He was also in charge of child dependence cases, working with social workers to protect those unable to protect themselves.
Jonathan next worked in the Mower County Attorney’s Office where he was promoted from Assistant to Chief Assistant County Attorney.
Jonathan’s duties included prosecution of all types of crimes, legal counsel for the Sheriff’s Office, legal counsel for the Department of Social Services and legal counsel for the County Commissioners.
Mower County was also where Jonathan and SaraJane were blessed with their children PaulJon and Elizabeth.
At the request of his family (and their desire to see the grandkids more often), the Olson’s moved to Florida in 2004. Jonathan and SaraJane were offered positions in Mr. Brad King’s Office as Assistant State Attorneys.
Cary Rada - has a criminal defense practice in Lake County....
He graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1994, and a year later he began work as Lake County’s state prosecutor in Judge Donna Miller’s courtroom. He worked as a prosecutor until 2003.
Then he opened his own law criminal law practice.
Practicing law in Lake County for more than 20 years, Rada is a board certified criminal trial attorney.
Rada said he admired Miller and would emulate her by “addressing the needs of each individual and treating everyone in the courtroom with dignity and respect.”
“I would not apply a rigid sentencing structure," he said. "Instead I would be flexible in my sentencing."
Further, Rada said he would be in favor of creative sentencing.
“If the legislation allows it, I would be in favor of having an individual provide community service to the community if they are unable to pay off a fine,” he said. “We can maintain that individual’s license and they would give back to the community and remain a productive member of the community.”
If elected, Rada, 48, said he would like to see the newly implemented veterans court be established in county court, as opposed to strictly in circuit court.
Rada said the role of judge is an important one and does not take it lightly.
Judy A. Stewart - has a law practice in Lake County - and the cleverest yard sign....with the different size fonts you see "Judge Judy" in red....
LEVEL-HEADEDNESS:
- Judy is vastly thorough and extremely levelheaded;
- Faced with legal opponents and matters within the system, she remains calm and effective;
- She carries herself with quiet dignity; strength and diligence;
- With knowledge and experience on her side, her quiet demeanor is highly effective.
- She gets the job done with honest, firm control and no fanfare.
Judy herself states: “Through my life and legal experiences, I have obtained professional responsibility and strive to carry that rationale in my daily life. I am sensible, realistic, even-tempered as well as reliable and practical.”
Brian Welke - has an estate planning practice in Mount Dora.....
Brian has been practicing law in Lake County since 1997 with his first job working as an assistant county attorney for Lake County. But in 1998 Brian opened his own office in Mt. Dora. Since 1998 he has represented dozens of homeowners and renters associations in Lake County but now his practice is limited to the area of estate planning, probate, family law, and adoption law. He is a member of the Florida Adoption Council and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. In 2012 Brian opened Florida Adoption Services, a full service adoption agency.
A tough one as they are all qualified, but we recommend Judy Stewart or Cary Rada
6/ School Board - District 2
Kristi Burns - an actual teacher, with a PHD....knows the problems, and has solutions
Pernell Mitchell - a man with a mission, not quite sure what
Sandi Wells Moore - another politician with great ideas for the School Board
We recommend Kristi Burns
7/ School Board - District 4
Lou Buigas - [she] a "business leader" for the board will make it all better - yeah right.
Sandy Gamble - [he] basically blank FB page
James Myers - a real estate attorney....just what the School Board needs...
Joan Rintelmann - an experienced teacher, sensible and levelheaded.....
We recommend Joan Rintelmann
8 - Constitutional Amendment - Solar
A third consumer-friendly, solar-power amendment proposal bubbled up from the Legislature this year, a surprise given the history of lawmaker support for utilities. Yet legislators voted unanimously to ask voters in the Aug. 30 primary to approve a sensible and practical pathway to promoting solar power. The measure repeals personal property taxes for solar equipment and exempts real estate taxes on the devices for two decades.
The amendment proposal's objective is growing the solar market by lowering the initial costs to lease and set up the equipment as well as boost the cost effectiveness gradually and make the shift to clean and sustainable energy more appealing.
Voters should support this sensible start to a bona fide consumer- and business-oriented state solar policy. In fact, this legislative proposal targeted commercial enterprises and enjoys the backing of the business community.
Vote YES on this....this is the "good" amendment....
No comments:
Post a Comment