Yesterday was one exhausting day. From working my polling precinct off and on from 6:45am up until 5pm, a city commission meeting followed by a President's Council meeting at my community (having to leave both early) and then an election party on Clematis Street, it was non-stop. I went to bed believing that Crist had won as well as medical marijuana. Rick Scott took 49% of the vote to Crist's 47% and medical marijuana failed to get its 60%.
Thank God we live in a state that is 65,755 sq. miles and the state and national elections are not decided in Palm Beach County alone. Heavily Democratic strongholds are Broward and Palm Beach which is hard to overcome while running as a Republican. (Even Erica Whitfield, in the non-partisan School Board race, promoted Party loyalty on her campaign literature..."the only Democrat in the race"). Florida is the 4th most populous state with Democrats still outnumbering Republicans among Florida’s registered voters. Republicans Among Florida’s 11,446,540 registered voters: 40% Democrat, 36% Republicans, 20% No Party Affiliation (independents) and 4% Minor Parties.
Now with the GOP controlling Washington with 52 seats in the Senate and the Democrats with 44, this is a huge win for Republicans that will shape President Obama's policies for the next two years unless he institutes more executive privilege. And in the House the largest majority was won by the GOP since World War II, 246.
Patrick Murphy won his race which was no surprise. He had some of the best campaign ads throughout this election. All of those for whom I endorsed won other than for House District 22 (wishful thinking because Frankel in this area is hard to beat, sort of like Alcee Hastings in his). It's hard to figure Frankel's popularity. When she was mayor of West Palm Beach, she told the people to screw off and did it her way anyway but there are other voters out of this city who only know her as a Democrat. There is a lot of Party loyalty with voters. Amendment 3 was rejected by the voters with only 48% of approval. It needed 60%.
The other was the non-partisan School Board District 4 race where highly qualified Tom Sutterfield lost. The City of Lake Worth voters, (in the city where Whitfield resides) came out strongly for popular Erica Whitfield who had a resounding win over Sutterfield. Whitfield had the backing of several unions. Her attack ads (I hope those are not a "Mother's voice") helped her to gain thousands of voters for her win. Tom took it with grace and class.
I was taken aback by a commenter who said she was appalled that I endorsed voting for Erica because she was one of our own and qualified. It was not about ability to write a budget. It was about our kids. Your commenters did not get it Erica did.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised about this as it seems that everyone in Lake Worth wants to smoke this stuff. We know that it will eventually lead to harder drugs and it's not just about helping people in pain. Sorry, Jeff, you lose once again.
ReplyDeleteThe School Board election was twisted by one candidate who made it a partisan race. Being a mother is not a qualification. I will say that Erica seems to be a great gal in many ways and loved by LW. I am sure that her personality along with all those who backed her, decided this race. She put on an effective campaign. Tom didn't run on his ability to "write a budget" but rather his understanding of budgets in general, something very necessary as a member of the School Board as well as his concern for students, teachers and taxpayers alike. I am rather sure that Erica took LW with a big percentage (She is, afterall, one of LWorth's own).
ReplyDeleteHow do you know Whitfield's attack ads helped her gain thousands of voters? You wrote it so you must have the proof right?
ReplyDeleteYou're can't be so obtuse that you would just make stuff up right? Please post the proof you have.
This is my absolute favorite know-it-all @ 10:55 who likes to call me names and use the word "obtuse" when describing me. I would suggest that you look the word up in the dictionary and get a grip. This is an opinion blog. You don't like what I write, please take "it" somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much.
P.S. policy says NO personal attacks against this author. So, you just can't even read or interpret. Go back to 3rd grade. This is why your comments are deleted most every time.
It is sad for the people of FL, all the republican wins, then you wonder why public education K-College has gone to hell and now will only get worse. The FL educational system is really doomed now.
ReplyDeleteScott says that he will recommend roughly $700 million increase for public schools in 2015.
ReplyDeleteIt is not all about money, it is about testing and their system and logic, it is all flawed, they hurt the schools that need more help, it is a flawed system all coming from the top and republicans, all these charter schools and corruption, our poor public education system is hurting and is going to get worse, educators will leave FL in droves.
ReplyDeleteIt has everything to do with the fact that a big majority of these kids CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH. can't write, can't read, can't do one damn thing.
ReplyDelete