I am often asked for my opinion as to who would make good choices for elected office and the 2014 General Election is no different. So here is the list of those I plan to vote. The person / issue I will vote for is in BOLD, sometimes with an explanation.
U.S. Representative, Dist. 22
PAUL SPAIN – I am voting for Paul Spain. He was my #2 pick during the primaries and am comfortable with him leading District 22. I wish he was more libertarian and perhaps in two years we will have a Libertarian Party challenger for this seat.
Lois Frankel
Write-In Candidate Raymond Schamis
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Rick Scott / Carlos Lopez-Cantera
Charlie Crist / Annette Taddeo
ADRIAN WYLLIE / GREG ROE
Farid Khavari / Lateresa A. Jones
Glenn Burkett / Jose Augusto Matos
Write-In Candidates
Attorney General
Pam Bondi
George Sheldon
BILL WOHLSIFER – no matter who wins the Governor’s race, it is imperative to supporters of Amendment 2 (medical marijuana) Bill Wohslifer win to be Florida’s next Attorney General so Amendment 2 will be implemented properly and go unchallenged.
Chief Financial Officer – It is unusual for me; however, I am skipping this race (and a couple more below). I can not in good faith vote for either of these candidates. Both are bad in my opinion.
Jeff Atwater
William “Will” Rankin
Commissioner of Agriculture
Adam H. Putnam – I am not a huge fan of Putnam and am tempted to skip this race as with the CFO race; however, Putnam is the better candidate and has helped Libertarians in the state move their agenda forward.
Thaddeus “Thad” Hamilton
Write-In Candidate – Jeffrey Obos
State Senator, Dist. 34 – I am sitting out this race as well. Sachs is awful and I do not believe she lives in this district which is required by our state constitution. If allegations are proven true (it is currently being officially investigated) it could lead to her going to jail for continually lying on official qualification forms and violating the state constitution. Bogdanoff is equally awful. Her record in the Florida legislature is terrible from a Libertarian point of view and is more interested in corporate welfare than offering small or big business a truly free market in Florida. As before, perhaps a Libertarian Party of Florida candidate will challenge the winner next time around.
Ellyn Bogdanoff
Maria Lorts Sachs
State Representative, Dist. 89 – I can not in good faith vote for either of these two. UGH! Both are nice people; however, I do not want either representing me in Tallahassee. I could get into the nitty and gritty details – but will spare you.
Bill Hager
David Ryan Silvers
District Court of Appeal
Shall Judge Alan O. Forst of the Fourth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
YES
NO
District Court of Appeal
Shall Judge Mark W. Klingensmith of the Fourth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
YES
NO
District Court of Appeal
Shall Judge W. Matthew Stevenson of the Fourth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
YES
NO
District Court of Appeal
Shall Judge Martha C. Warner of the Fourth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
YES
NO
Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation District Group 5 – 4 Year Term
Eva S. Webb
Karl Dickey – he is the OBVIOUS choice! 🙂
No. 1
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE X, SECTION 28
Water and Land Conservation – Dedicates funds to acquire and restore Florida conservation and recreation lands.
Although I am an environmentalist, the state has enough land AND it continually sells off land that was SUPPOSED to be held for conservation. The government has a horrible track record and cannot be trusted to keep this land preserved.
YES
NO
No. 2
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE X, SECTION 29
Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions
Allows the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician. Allows caregivers to assist patients’ medical use of marijuana. The Department of Health shall register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes and shall issue identification cards to patients and caregivers. Applies only to Florida law. Does not authorize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.
Increased costs from this amendment to state and local governments cannot be determined. There will be additional regulatory and enforcement activities associated with the production and sale of medical marijuana. Fees will offset at least a portion of the regulatory costs. While sales tax may apply to purchases, changes in revenue cannot reasonably be determined since the extent to which medical marijuana will be exempt from taxation is unclear without legislative or state administrative action.
YES – I will be voting YES for this amendment because we must end the absurd practice of jailing patients for using this tremendous resource.
NO
No. 3
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE V, SECTIONS 10, 11
Prospective Appointment of Certain Judicial Vacancies
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution requiring the Governor to prospectively fill vacancies in a judicial office to which election for retention applies resulting from the justice’s or judge’s reaching the mandatory retirement age or failure to qualify for a retention election; and allowing prospective appointments if a justice or judge is not retained at an election. Currently, the Governor may not fill an expected vacancy until the current justice’s or judge’s term expires.
YES
NO
COUNTYWIDE – QUESTION 1
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE CHILDREN’S SERVICES COUNCIL OF PALM BEACH COUNTY
Shall the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, which provides early learning and reading skills, development, treatment, preventative and other children’s services in Palm Beach County, be reauthorized to continue in existence as a district with voter-approved taxing authority, with independent oversight and accountability as required by law, unless and until it is dissolved as specified in s.125.901 (4)(a), Florida Statutes?
YES
NO – this $100 million+ per year taxpayer funded agency should be abolished. They do great work; however, it can be done better privately.
COUNTYWIDE – QUESTION 2
REFERENDUM TO CONTINUE AN AD VALOREM LEVY FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONAL NEEDS
Shall the School Board of Palm Beach County have the authority to continue to levy 0.25 mills of ad valorem millage dedicated for operational needs of non-charter District schools to fund teachers, as well as arts, music, physical education, career and academic programs for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2019, with oversight by an independent finance committee of citizens and experts?
YES
NO – VOTE NO to end this ‘hidden’ unnecessary tax
