Municipal ElectionMarch 8
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN LAKE WORTH
It used to be Lake Worth until politics changed it. It should be LW now.
Politics is what got us to November elections and politics is what has kept our elections in November. Sorry Wes. No one has the balls to do what's right. It's as if the Commission is saying, "Oh, we have too many important things to consider and the month we hold elections is not on our radar." What about fiscal responsibility for a starter here?
And I like bringing this up over and over again because it was a stupid move and the electorate fell for it. So to the guy who wants to say "get over it and move on," I say let's do something about it. Thanks to former Commissioner Nadine Burns who spearheaded it and Dave Vespo and Retha Lowe (a former "top worst" commission), who pushed this several years ago, our elections are still in November. This was all a political stunt to keep Jeff Clemens in office for 8 additional months. The present, as well as the last Commission, could have changed this back by a simple Ordinance. They haven't.
Even Susan Bucher told the Commission (not this one) that our election should be moved back to March because it was going to cost us much more money if we should need a run-off. Luckily, last year we didn't as there were no multiple candidates running that would have forced us into a run-off. Broward County's special election cost about $75,000 — for 204 votes.
Those with elections today: BelleGlade, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Greenacres, Gulfstream, Haverhill, Highland Beach, Juno Beach, Lantana, Loxatcheee, Manalapan, Mangonia Park, Ocean Ridge, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach, South Bay, and West Palm Beach. Every city but Lake Worth!
10 comments:
I never wanted November elections.
I was joshing you on the word "politics." :)
Even Dave Vespo conceded(Yes,he told me directly) that moving the elections was a mistake. The snowbirds are not down yet,and it is really hot to have to campaign door to door at this time of year.Our local issues get lost in the shuffle of a huge ballot. Last election,a huge amount of our voters did not realize that the Mulvehill/Maxwell race was on the back side of their ballots.Thanks for ANOTHER bad decision JEFF,RETHA,and DAVE! (at least,like I said above, Dave admitted his mistake)!
The people voted for it. That just proves that people are uninformed on issues.
Helen M.
Imagine what would have happened in FL if Amendment 4 would have passed?????
What does Amendment 4 even have to do with this topic? I CAN imagine what would have happened in Florida if Amendment 4 had passed-that's why I so strongly supported it!Sadly ,our voters are uninformed. That's why a 20 million dollar(they will admit to this amount,it is probably MUCH higher) smear and lie campaign supported by the Chamber of Commerce worked. Money talks. It was very difficult having to go to debates all over the state and listen to paid shills like Aimee Carlson and Ryan Houk ,who were working for working for the growth whore industry,throw out one hysterical lie after another.Our own CRA director Joan Oliva was a part of the smear campaign. She forwarded complete lies about Amendment 4 to our CRA board members. I don't know whether or not she was paid to distribute this information,but when she got caught, she tried to act like she didn't know what she was doing.
The CRA has never known what they are doing other than spending a heck of a lot of money.
Amendment 4 has to do with land-use changes. The problem is that most people had no idea what it was about and just did whatever the Chamber told them to do. Amendment 4 has nothing to do with the month of elections. Did I miss something?
DS
Am interested in the issue of having November intead of March municipal elections. Yesterday a voter brought up the issue with me at a polling place in West Palm Beach where I was a deputy. He indicated he would prefer November municipal elections. The point of the cost being less in March. especially for runoffs, is an important one. I would presume, however, that more people vote in municipal elections held in November. Is that a valid assumption? What are the facts on this, and are there any other factors pro & con on this issue?
Justine- I think it has to do with a combination of things here--
1. Most people are not like you and don't take an interest in our election process. Once a year to get them to the polls is enough in their mind. At those general elections, they are voting on many things and what they perceive to be important elections.
2. These people don't take any interest in local politics or what is happening in their city. As long as they can pay their mortgage and put food on the table, they are not that interested.
3. Therefore, voting in November or getting them off of their couch one time per year suits them just fine. And that is why this passed in LW a few years ago.
4. You are right that more people vote in a November election. However, it is a proven fact a good percentage of voters rarely scroll down to the end of the ballot and that is where you will find the local Lake Worth election and/or issues. Our elections get lost on a long ballot.
5. Voters do not want cumbersome ballots and once their vote is cast for Governor, congressman or president, they are done.
6. To join the rest of the cities, not to mention the cost of a run-off, makes sense. We all know that municipal elections are in March. It is easier to campaign during the winter months and a lot of the voters are back in residence. We are a "snowbird" state with a large number of winter residents.
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