A look on the local side, Manatee County, Fl

Aside from the fact that Floridians have chosen the true conservative to represent them in the general, local elections are all over the place. Let's take a look at some of the races and candidates in Manatee County Florida.

Perhaps what intrigues me more about local elections is that many go into local races with low net value and many get rich quick. Sounds a little suspicious, but the facts don't lie. Is it because you have inside information that could benefit yourself or others at a profit?

One area that has always interested me was the school board races as I have younger children that at one time were in local public schools. Fortunately, we have the resources to send them to private now as my opinion on the local district are unfavorable.

This year, we seen three districts out of five up for grabs. A long term SB member was retiring and had two very different candidates step up to run. District 5 board member Walter Miller is retiring from the Manatee School District. He has held this position since 1998. Walter, thank you for your service and enjoy retirement.

Two candidates stepped up to the plate, Independent Conservative Karen Carpenter and once Democrat, changed to Republican one week before announcing Jennifer Radebach. This particular race was somewhat close (2000 votes) seeing Jennifer jumped into the campaign late.

Karen gained my support because she has exceptional educational success and maintained an independent voice in a race that was non partisan. Additionally, Radebach has been questioned on her residence and party affiliation. I believe she would of came out the winner if she would of been more honest on several statements.

District 1 seen David Bailey trying for a third time to unseat long term double dipper Barbara Harvey. This race was also interesting because there were approximately 2000 more recorded votes on this particular race than any other in the county. Harvey has been in this position for 12 years and it looks like we will be stuck with her for another four more.

District 3 is not without controversy. Incumbent Jane Philsticker appears to be a one topic candidate, but yet promised to only run one time. This race had two stepping to the plate to challenge Jane, Julie Anaribar and Reverend Al Yusko. The race ended in a run off with Anarabar leading the pack, Jane in second and Yusko with an impressive 9000 votes.

In this race, Julie is the clear choice to take this seat. Jane has promised to be a one term candidate only, she broke this promise, Jane appear to have a lot on her plate away from the SB including a new start up of importing rum. With all her outside distractions, how can she focus on the children and district?

Additionally, Janes financial statements appear to be questionable. Her reported donations appear weak based on how much she should of spent. She did a county wide mailer and the cost is not cheap. More to come.....

Next week, County Commission...

Primary is over, now to victory!

Congratulations to Rick Scott for winning the Florida primary! This victory was possible because people are sick and tired of the same old stuff and are looking for leaders that can provide solutions.
Grass roots was why Rick won. A dedicated team of volunteers across Florida along with his staff made this happen. A little pat on my back as Manatee County Florida was taken decisively. The REC, local papers, Tea Party and anyone with an audience endorsed McCollum.
After almost knocking on 5000 doors, sign waiving and talking to hundreds about Rick, we cleaned house! Off to a November victory.

Reason #1 why not to vote for Flip Flop McCollum

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum's recommendation of an "expert" witness to defend the state law banning gay adoption has become a big embarrassment for the would-be Republican governor. The witness, George Rekers, hired a gay male escort to accompany him on a two-week European vacation. The state of Florida doubled his pay to 120K with the approval of McCollum.

Why Florida could see a D next to the Governors name

Those of you that are following the Governor’s race in the State of Florida know it has been a race full of mud slinging. The dirtiest ads are coming from Attorney General Bill McCollum campaign. I’m not saying the Scott group hasn’t put a few in there, but Bill’s group is spreading false information.

Let’s look at the facts:
Rick Scott, self funded campaign has projected him into the spotlight as the outsider with no ties to special interest. His ads portray McCollum as an insider (he is) and ties to some out there that have committed criminal acts (Greer) and strong ties to special interest (US Sugar, TECO, Progress, FPL and a long list of special interest. Additionally, McCollum has been protecting Greer as well as Renker, an ally of McCollum’s anti gay campaign that later was caught traveling Europe with his paid gay page.

Bill McCollum also just started to get into “get tough on immigration mode” by only reacting to the polls. Bill opposed the Arizona law, then supported it, then opposed it. Sorry Bill, you had 30 years in elected positions to do something and now it is an issue. Where were you four years ago when the Minutemen came into focus?

All McCollum can say is HCA Columbia scandal. Once again Bill, you have beat a dead dog. The response was made in May about this issue, yet all you can say is HCA Columbia.

Floridians have a chance Aug 24th to say no to politics as usual, say no to Bill. If you fail to, it will be your fault that the next Governor could be an open border, liberal big spender by the name of Sink. Fact is, McCollum cannot beat Sink in the General, Rick Scott can!

Bill McCollum, he owes he owes, so off to special favors he goes.

Six months ago, things were looking good for Florida’s Attorney General, Bill McCollum to be Florida’s next Governor. A lot has changed since then and now Bill is looking at the possibility of retirement. This outsider with deep pockets jumped into the race in a self funded campaign, businessman Rick Scott. When Rick first announced in April of 2010, he was running positive introductions across the airwaves until the McCollum insiders noticed that Bill now has a formidable challenger.
All was about to change in his bid for Governor. Bill’s heavily financed campaign from Tallahassee’s political inside crowd was being threatened by an outsider that will clean up the corruption throughout the state. Now Bill was encouraging his big money supporters to funnel money into 527’s, agencies that intentionally put a negative attack spin on opposing candidates.
Names like TECO, FPL, Progress Energy and other s with a vested interest in having the door open to the Governors office were pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into these 527’s. Who could blame them, there was a lot at stake including the possibility that if Scott is the next Governor, they might have to justify raising their rates instead of the “automatic” increase every time they take our elected officials out to lunch.
Then there is the multi billion dollar deal that RINO Charlie Crist struck with US Sugar. Rick Scott signed a pledge that the taxpayers will not be stuck with this insider deal. Fact is, McCollum owe them a big favor. U.S. Sugar handed $680,000 over to Bill McCollum for his campaign. And that’s just the money we know about.
The list goes on, a vote for McCollum is a vote for more of the same insider actions, increased fees and taxes and continued job loss. Support Rick and “Let’s get to work”.

Flip Flop Bill McCollum does it again

It is amazing when you have a person that claims to be a "career public servant" that has the personality of a spoiled child running for Governor of Florida. Bill McCollum, a 30 year career politician that needs to go away. The same Bill McCollum that feel entitled to be the next Governor of Florida.

Bill the Flip Flop McCollum is now saying he wants a law similar to Arizona's law on illegal immigrants. Back in April, he didn't support the law, Rick Scott jumps into the race supporting it, polls go through the roof, then Bill supports it. Two days right after he supported it, he said "We don't need that law in Florida". Flip Flop Bill is at it again.

Then this past week, Bill supports a law prohibiting gays from adopting children in Florida.......Guess what, next day he said that isn't what he meant.
August 9, 2010 "I really do not think that we should have homosexuals guiding our children. I think that it’s a lifestyle that I don’t agree with and will create a law stopping it."
August 11, 2010 less than 48 hours later.."He says he wants to wait for the Florida Supreme Court to rule on Florida's gay adoption ban before deciding to take action." So Flip Flop continues to do what he does best, nothing.

Then "pro life" Bill claims he is opposed to abortions. OK, that is good, but he also managed Rudy's 2008 campaign in Florida. Rudy is the most open pro choice candidate out there, more so than Clinton. He also supported Forbes, another pro choice guy in addition to Gates, the list goes on. How can you claim to be pro life when you have all pro choice friends?

Stay tuned for "As Bills world flip flops" on a TV station near you....