Money At-Large
Assuming I have the option on November's ballot, I'm going to vote in favor of eliminating the scheduled expansion of the Board of County Commissioners by two seats at-large. The reasoning behind that decision is based not only in theory, but the practical evidence evidence offered by comparing two County Commission races this year. One is an at-large race, while the other is a district race. Rob Bradley is running for the chairmanship, one of the at-large seats, and is unopposed. Didn't start out that way, though. He wasn't even the first person to start running for the position. Already in that at-large race was County Commissioner Harold Rutldge. Harold actually has more experience as a County Commissioner (slightly less than one four-year term), more experience as an elected official (one campaign victory to none), and has already served a whole year as BCC Chairman. The kind of resume that would certainly label someone a viable candidate. And Harold was viable, too. Right up until Rob started filing campaign financial reports. The first report showed Rob had more than $27,000, even though Election Day was more than a year away at the time. Seemingly-viable resume notwithstanding, Harold was showed who the big-money was supporting, and that particular at-large office immediately became uncontested. In a hotly-contested at-large election, we'll likely see candidates raise more than $100,000. Heck, Rob's raised almost 50K and no one's even running against him. No one familiar with the names on local political campaign contribution lists would doubt that he could raise that much more and then some if anyone stepped in to seriously challenge. By contrast is the District 3 County Commission race this year, where I'm one of the candidates. Another candidate in the race, Travis Cummings, has a campaign donor list that closely resembles Rob's, already within spittin' distance of 50K and still raising money. I have $1,200 in my campaign account - but I can walk one district and campaign without having to raise the kind of dough my opponent has. Some may say I don't have a snowball's chance of winning the August 26 primary election against election, but that's not really the point. There is a third District 3 candidate, who is also remaining in the race despite the financial disadvantage - and that is the point. Same big money, but two different effects on two types of elections. Voters have an option in only one. The current Clay County election cycle shows why I will vote to abolish the two at-large County Commission seats. Big money has already purchased one at-large election this year by driving one candidate from the race. But the same big money can't buy a district election. Ultimately, at-large elections will reduce the choice of candidates in Clay County, narrowing the perspective of elected officials and inhibiting the possibility that there can be meaningul change in Clay County government and its priorities. Michael S. Mann
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Submitted by TruthHurts on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 7:40am.
Mike I think it's a safe bet that most want less government in our life. But the fact is the county is growing. As the county grows there will be areas that must grow with it. What areas of govenment, as you see it, would you expand and improve both in dollars, and technology?
TRUTHHURTS Submitted by clayvoter on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 7:49am.
I agree with Marsha, as I mentioned in another blog, the voters can effect change and gain control of county government, but they MUST get "in the game". Marsha, I am encouraged by what you say about hearing an awareness--I hope it is true and momentum continues to build! My brain is fuzzy this morning but wasn't the title of a book about President Nixon called The Selling of the President 1968? Maybe Mike can write The Buying of a County Commission 2008? Mike has the skills! Mike, ya need an agent? Seriously, I am quite concerned with the mega money we see in some races (Mike's included) that there will be a finely crafted media blitz that will "dazzle" the uninformed voter. At least in District 3 two out of three candidates do not have fat treasuries. In the Chairman's race there is no choice presuming we remain with a 5+2.
Submitted by Marsha on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 9:29am.
The news article in the online news page here at MCS gives a perfect example of why I'm against adding two more Commissioners. Allison Arthurs, a Chorus Teacher at OP Jr High, she's losing her job due to budget cuts that is eliminating the Chorus/Keyboard Program and putting it under the Band Class. The Teacher was quoted as saying that her concern is that Chorus & Keyboard will suffer because it's just too much for one Teacher to do. Many students that want to be involved in Music but cannot afford to buy or rent instruments may in the end have no where to go. 517 petitions were delivered, pleading to retain this well loved and respected Teacher to no avail. I don't know how much the woman makes a year but if we can't afford her, if School Programs are cut, then there is no justification to adding two more employees to the payroll. I would in fact support a hiring freeze in the County across the board. No new positions at all. http://24.23.126.8/ Save a Teacher, sign the Petition for Choice between 7 Commissioners or 5.
Submitted by OneMann on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 11:18am.
TruthHurts, that's a good kind of question to ask a County Commission candidate because you'll learn a lot from the answer. My answer is that I don't know. Government is incredibly dynamic and affected by a myriad of uncontrollable outside influences and mandates. There's no way I can see into the future to know what areas of government will need to provide expanded services, how Clay County's revenue sources will be affected by Legislative mandates and other factors, or what new technology will be available. Overall, though, I'm a proponent of technological advancement. For example, I'd like to see the public have easy, centralized Internet access to all of Clay County's computerized records. I think a local citizen should be able to hit the county's website and find more than just the BCC's agenda. I think they should be able to click links on agenda and get the background information on what the Commission will discuss. Another example is traffic flow on Blanding Boulevard and U.S. 17. It is technologically feasible to time traffic lights so vehicles move more efficiently. Doing that would not only help mitigate the state's longest commute, but virtually eliminate those unexplainable traffic jams at 2 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon or 10 p.m. on a Sunday night. As gas prices continue to rise, the increase in fuel efficiency cannot be dismissed as a factor in nearly every Clay County family's budget. To me, it's just common sense to make a reasonable expenditure to time traffic lights and I'd support that kind of technological advance. Heck, I'd rather help pay to get rid of traffic jams than salaries for a couple of more politicians. I've heard talk of timing those traffic lights since I got here in 1982. That'll be 26 years this July 4, and they still aren't timed. Of course, Blanding is a state highway and 17 belongs to Uncle Sam and you can't do anything to their highways without getting their permission first. But if the county puts together a plan that is functional, financed locally for the general benefit of local citizens and makes common sense, then even those bureaucrats will have trouble saying no. I'm not a technology geek who wants to buy stuff just because it's new and shiny and some government department has figured out a way it could be used. Convince me first that the people will be better and more efficiently served by the technological improvement, show me how it works financially, and then we'll take a serious look. But there won't be any new big high-def flatscreen in the BCC breakroom just because there could be. Michael S. Mann michaelsmann@comcast.net
Submitted by finder on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 12:14pm.
OneMann; What the heck kind of politician do you call yourself? That was probably the most honest, straightforward answer about what are you going to do for the county that I have ever seen. Most would have taken the opportunity to tell everyone a bunch of whatever they thought people wanted to hear. My personal opinion is that any bloggers in D3 need to think seriously at casting their vote your way and telling their friends they should do the same. Mike Heemer http://24.23.126.8/ Petition for choice in Nov.
Submitted by Walt on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 11:52pm.
I’ve lived in the Jacksonville area since 1974 and Middleburg specifically since 1985. I’ve never been a groupie of any politician but when we moved out here in the sticks, Jimmy Jett was our County Commissioner. I appreciated Jimmy because he was always approachable whenever something needed attention. His phone number was in the book and you could feel free to call him at home. We had a problem years ago when our roads were all dirt and they were regularly washing away. We tried desperately to get the county to pave them but the commission had a deaf ear. Jimmy called all the neighbors together and explained the County’s situation and then offered suggestions on how we could remedy the problem. Needless to say, the problem was fixed. Not all the roads were paved but the solution was one we could live with. Years have passed since then and Jimmy moved on to bigger things. He made some enemies along the way but in my opinion, he tried to keep his constituents as his utmost concern. All I ask for in a commissioner is someone who gives a damn about the people who live in his district and the people of the county. Someone who can look at the growth of the county and work to keep up with future needs without breaking the bank to do it. Most of all I’d like to see how the county can finally connect Clay county to Duval. Brannanfield Road has been a blessing but it's still not enough. Widening Blanding Blvd and US-17 helped somewhat but it only makes the parking lot bigger. Most people work outside the county but after all these years there are still only two major corridors to get out of town. I know the new by-pass is on the agenda but I hope we can live long enough to see its completion. People are talking about ...Here are the recent blog postings with the most comments. |
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Those that would say you don't have a chance of getting elected are those who don't want people like you getting elected. They think if they say it enough people will believe it.
I think the County is ready for a change, I see and hear an awareness of what is going on that I've never seen before. People are tired of being hoodwinked.
You've got more of a chance then you might realize Mike.
Wouldn't it be lovely if the people voted "big money politics" out of local Goverment this year.
http://24.23.126.8/ Petition for Choice 7 Commissioners or 5