Vote Local

[John F]

The last day or so, me and a friend have been talking cynically about elections... Sullying the race-to-the-middle in the Presidential campaigns and also how the local campaigns work... But then we got into talking about failings of the local campaigns to make themselves more visible.

...and the failure of Voters to do homework and find out about candidates themselves and public offices they will be voting for come November 4th (just look at Janet Zink's article today in the Times about Buddy Johnson and random people downtown having no clue about him being up for re-election or his opponent).

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I came across two pages on Facebook that were related to each other and active campaigns to promote the local campaigns (State Rep, State senate, County Commission, etc)... Or at least some of them (I think this is partisan but I haven't asked or done my homework (oh, sweet irony, you saucy minx! -- and after further review -- it is partisan as these candidates seem all to be Democrats).

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...id=36932098791 -- Vote local pinellas

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/#/grou...id=40572701270 -- vote local Hillsborough

it would be grander if this was being partaken in a non partisan way -- presenting both choices side by side and giving their records or credentials -- along with not being on facebook... But is a chance to see some of the candidates (well, unless they are already carpet bombing you with advertisements. I haven't seen many except for incumbents where I live).

[HARTride 2012]

Oh, I agree. I have no clue what local elections are going on. Except for that of Brian Blair, whom I will not re-elect.

[JBrisco]

Kevin Beckner is for mass transit, end of discussion. Vote for him not Brian Blair

[John F]

That's the thing, there is more than just Blair / Beckner and Obama / McCain out there. And it's important to brush up on this stuff and actually participate as these elections matter so much (the local government vote).

The local Republicans have done this through mail -- sending out a mailer that has all the local signs of local candidates on it. that's what i have been told at least. Not an online effort.

The "Vote Local" thing is coordinated through www.votelocalnow.com and is trying to ride the high turnout of next month's election by getting these names out.

[randommichael]

Early voting starts Oct. 20th!

[TampaMike]

I ahve no clue who is running up here in Pasco. No one really appeals to me from what I have seen.

[HARTride 2012]

For sure, everyone needs to do some research on the amendments (including myself).

[John F]

HART -- when in doubt, vote NO on everything. (regarding the amendments). Some are byproducts of a tax commission that only proposed help for a select few with the tax code. Others are ... well, just flat out crap.

[HARTride 2012]

I'm certainly voting no to Amendments 2 & 5. I think Amendment 5 will make the economy worse, and Amendment 2's language is very confusing and I believe that gays and lesbians should be able to keep thier rights, though I am against gay marriage.

[randommichael]

I agree, with you John F, I'm voting NO on all amendments. Yes on Obama though.

I'm doing early voting on Saturday!

[Robert.Maddrey]

Such is the plight of every election. So many people turn out to vote for president but don't bother doing any research on the rest of the ballot...even when the County sends out a sample ballot in 2 different languages. /Shakes Head.

At any rate I'll be there voting no to the amendments, and yes to Beckner and Obama. That being said, I'll also add that I do greatly respect the life and accomplishments of Senator McCain.

[John F]

I've had some people tell me the property / conservation amendment is worth voting YES on. I have no problem with someone wanting to own land but not devlope it... The problem is, this benefits guys like St. Joe's company who has PLANS to develop the land when the economy improves.

But seriously, check out the Vote Local sites and votelocalnow.com and get info on those on the down ballot races.

[randommichael]

I hope everyone out there is voting early. I went this weekend and stood in line for 1 1/2 hours. It was well worth it.

[HARTride 2012]

I might go out and vote tomorrow. A lady from the Obama camp asked my dad some questions yesterday. She also told him about early voting.

Near my home is the Jan Platt Library, so I'll be able to travel close to vote.

[jonknee]

I voted today at the County Center in DT Tampa. It was busy and after I finished and got off the elevator about 200 people from an Obama rally across the street were coming in. Guess I timed it right! The workers said it had been busy all day every day they have been open.

[John F]

Deb Clark (The Pinellas Supervisor of elections) has only 3 early voting sites open in Pinellas. They are in Central Pinellas (Downtown Clearwater), South Central (Largo), and South (St. Pete). If she wasn't popular, this choice of action would have put her at risk to lose to Jack Killingsworth in the election.

[jonknee]

Charlie Crist has extended early voting to be open 12 hours a day (7am-7pm) state wide. It was 8 hours maximum before. Pretty good move. While I voted against Buddy Johnson, I'm glad he had plenty of sites open in Hillsborough. We've had 65k early voting ballots cast so far which should easily surpass last cycle's total. I'm guessing it will be in the 110k range when it's all said and done.

[John F]

here is another Gaffe in pinellas: I called about weekend hours and how they would be extended, Deborah Clark's staff member, instead of answering or asking me to repeat myself (he kept saying he couldn't hear me) transfered me to the county switchboard.

It's one thing to have problems understanding someone on the phone, it's another thing to do the dickish anti-social thing. Just another reason to vote for Jack Killingsworth.

[HARTride 2012]

Must be a big mess in Pinellas by the way you describe things

[John F]

Early voting is about inclusion and everything Clark and her staff are doing is excluding. Crist's actions are inclusive and probably detrimental in a lot of ways to the GOP (more people voting does not help them). Clark not opening more voting sites makes it look like a very partisan decision.