Follow The Money $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

If he who has gold make the rules. He who has none pay the bills. That's us the taxpayers. Today we should celebrate the results of the elections. We will pay for it!

Clay County my friend was already owned they just changed players.

This is the way of business in Clay County politics.

I don't know about the othr names you listed, but I am not Paige and I think the graves are just the good ole boy politics of old still being portrayed by Jett/Ricks/King/Bush/et al!  Just shows immaturity on their part, doesn't impress anyone!  All Jett thinks life is  is a laugh or two, did you hear all the speeches?  You should have gone to the forums.

Correct me if I am wrong, but on another blog weeks ago JATFUR was explained to mean: Just A Thought From Uncle Rich

I don't think that you are Paige either, you just want everyone to think that you are so they won't guess who you really are!

Good ole boy politics is alive and well in the county. Just check out the elections. The growth industry or special interest is the only industry in the county. They are the special interest that funds the campaigns and has the largest employment in the county and votes. You would think that with all the new people coming into the county that would change. But as long as 60% of them are leaving the county each day to go to work. Things will remain the same.

Angela;

Perhaps those are some good reasons to reconsider your stance on voting for me.

I don't have the smooth talking BS lines down like the professional politicians. I tell it the way I see it and think it.

Forget my rough around the edges personality and let's talk about what you see as issues, what you would like to see changed and where I might stand on them. 

You might find yourself surprised.  

Mike Heemer

To me this is a well crafted plan to send us out of the county to work. While they drive the other way to conduct business. This keeps people from being involved with their government. This has been the way of life in the county for a long time. I don't see a beltway or any other way they will change the way they conduct business. It's how they maintain control. When we have 115K registered voters and someone wins a position with less than 20K votes. You need the others to care enough to make any changes.

I will work to support the CTLAC's petitions you support. If they start a PAC to get an ordinance enacted on the ballot to stop the beltway. I'll work on that too.

Angela, the situation is actually even more dramatic than you state.  The D1 candidate moves on to an election with a "write-in candidate" with little more than 2000 votes!!!  (I put quotes around write-in because Mr. Nelson was purely a tactical decision and not genuinely interested in taking office.)  D3 moves on to November with roughly the same number, and D5 wins outright that amount.  We can thank the CTLAC for that fact.  In fact, if they get their wish in Nov., 2000 votes in Clay County will be a grant of 20% of power on this County.  Not sure how that's in the best interest of the voters. 

Also, Finder, I've heard you say many times that you are a "tell it like it is" kind of guy.  You're admittedly rough around the edges and don't worry about how you're perceived or what others think.  That concerns me a bit.  I don't care how smart an employee is - but if he/she can't get along and work well with people, then that doesn't help me (or the people of the county).  That type of employee wastes my time with deadlock in the office where someone is more concerned with their own ideas than the overall good of the office.    

I need to have someone that I feel is consistent with the way they conduct business. I don't need someone that changes with the situation. I get tired of the politically correct answer and/or its popular so that's why I supported it. Sometimes its not as important which side of the issue you fall on. But that you have personal beliefs and you follow those conviction with consistency.

I used the less than 20k figures because those were at large positions that did not get many of the 115k to the polls to even care. When you are picking an at large CHAIRMAN with less than 20k people. I know who those voters will be. I get concerned.

Angela, I agree with completely about how an official should conduct themselves.  Consistency, principles.  People may not always agree with them, but they should know their representives are making decisions based on principle. 

As for the number of votes cast, I'm not sure what you mean when you say that you know who the 20k will be.  Who?  I'm guessing you mean the 20k that cared enough to show up at the polls on election day.  Do you mean some specific group of 20k?  I would imagine that number would include many diverse people, from bloggers, activitists, government workers, police officers, teachers, etc.  Surely you are not making some sweeping indictment of voters, are you?

I feel those are just the special interest who was talked about in the beginning of this blog. You know if growth paid for itself we would be one of the most wealthiest county in infrastructure in Florida. We are not! The only others who vote would be those that have a job and want to keep a boss. We have very few activist in the county.

I would rather have no chairman than a chairman that a few who have a special interest in why they want them there. Generally their interest don't help me but cost me more money.

For a long time they have had a system in place that allows people to be involved in the process of what they propose and do with growth. Sadly only those on someone's payroll generally shows up. The rest of us are driving into another county to work.

This is the point in the conversation where you lose me.  I agree with some of your general principles, but without fail, you continue down a road of absurd extremes.  The idea that the only people who vote are special interests is absurd.  The idea that the people are denied an opportunity to have a voice in government because they are driving to another county is absurd.  Its always somebody else's fault.  Always another excuse. 

Byron I don't know how to get people to vote and be informed or interested. You can't make them. Sometimes when I hear them talk I agree with Rick K. I hope some of them stay home and never vote.

So if the majority don't care or take the time to vote. Then why should I support a few (special interest) who get to dictate everything for those of us who do care. We don't profit from their special interest but it cost us more taxdollars. Our numbers don't compare to them because they have a special interest in it.

How many do you think can afford to sit in every BCC meeting, planning commission meeting, or any of the others? They work a job get paid and can't afford to spend the time down there. It's not an excuse its a fact of life.

Now if we could get the different commissions to figure out how to do business and incorporate a football in the room. We may get more participation. We might even get them to pay to watch.

Also, Finder, I've heard you say many times that you are a "tell it like it is" kind of guy.  You're admittedly rough around the edges and don't worry about how you're perceived or what others think.  That concerns me a bit.  I don't care how smart an employee is - but if he/she can't get along and work well with people, then that doesn't help me (or the people of the county).  That type of employee wastes my time with deadlock in the office where someone is more concerned with their own ideas than the overall good of the office.

Byron;

Let’s get something straight. What I said was it would be nice if people liked me but not required. This should not be a popularity contest. 

I’m not sure how much you know about the military, the Navy in particular, but only 1% of the people in the Navy can be promoted to the rank of Master Chief. You don’t get there by taking tests. You get there by a selection board process. If you can’t get along and can’t get the job done, you don’t get there. 

Being smart certainly helps but sustained superior performance is what does the trick. Byron, I’m a retired Master Chief. That may or may not mean anything to you but it does to a lot of people. 

It says that not only am I a good leader, I’m a good leader all the time. Not just on special occasions when people are watching or when the right people are watching. All the time. It means I was one of the ‘go to’ people when the crap was hitting the fan and you needed someone that could get down in the dirt and figure out why it was hitting the fan and then fix the problem. 

When you needed someone that could take a group of people, whether it was 3 or 30 or 300 and figure out how to turn them into a team to accomplish the mission I was one of those people. It’s about determining who has what skills and letting them do the job. And yes, I have and ego. Not an ego problem but an ego. I know that I can do this job better than anyone else in this race. 

This job is not about me or anyone else that sits on that board. It is about the County. It is about the citizens of the County. All the citizens. Not just a special group or a select few. I understand the meaning of sacrifice and service. I understand the meaning of taking charge when required and sitting back, shutting up and doing the job assigned when required. 

A leader isn’t always in front. Sometimes just because you are the senior person there doesn’t mean you are the best person to do the job. Sometimes the best you can do to serve is to hold back the crap while someone else builds a dam to stop the flow. 

Byron, you put me in this job, you’ll get your money’s worth. And $37K is plenty for this job. I don’t have my fingers in a bunch of others pies. I’m not looking to do this job for 8 years so I can move on to some other position. This is it. This is the only job I’d have. The only tune I have to dance to is the one the citizens of Clay County play. 

Byron, people may not always like what I say or how I say it but it will be what they need to hear. That may not always be what they want to hear. You want platitudes and BS, talk to a politician. You want the straight stuff ask me.

I try to be nice and I try to be polite but the bottom line is if someone is trying to screw the citizens of Clay County they are going to know that I’m not happy with them or their performance.

I'm Mike Heemer and I approve this message.