I promised a review of the info I learned while doing research on local political candidates, and I like to keep my promises.

I know it is a lil later than expected, but tomorrow is Election Day, so I am not too late for some. I will go over my official ballot in the order that the candidates and amendments are listed and report the source of the information I am sharing. I will tell you who I am voting for and why, and also why I am not voting for their main opponent. I am skipping over the Presidential question because I am more concerned with our local election and Johnny has some really good points to make about the Presidential race, so I left that section up to him. I will attach his link to this so every section of the ballot is covered, including who to vote for President. Depending on what district you are in you may see some names that are not on your ballot. You can find your district number listed on your voter ID card, so you can search your specific candidate. Please go vote.

UNITED STATES SENATOR

(Vote for One) Connie Mack REP Bill Nelson DEM Bill Gaylor NPA Chris Borgia NPA

I voted for Bill Nelson for United States Senator. He supports the Disclose Act, which is aimed to prevent corporations and big money from influencing elections by forcing politicians to reveal all of their contributors to Super PACs. (http://www.discloseact.com/) He wants to implement the National health care bill, the Affordable Care Act, which will protect those in need from being dropped by their insurer, lowers Rx costs for seniors, and will preserve Medicare through reforms. He has sponsored and voted for bills to address climate change and clean energy for America. I did not like his response concerning how to control deficit. He states that to lower our deficit he wants to reform the tax code by reducing tax code preferences. I do not think just simplifying our tax code will reduce the deficit and I want a better answer. He states he does not want to risk our National security by cutting the defense budget, but I think that is a BS excuse that politicians have used after 9/11 to make us think we have to spend money we dont have to keep us safe from terrorists. (Just my two cents.)

This information is found in the League of Women Voters of Florida 2012 Special Edition Voter Guide. It can be found at this link: http://www.bereadytovote.org/informed.php. Why I am not voting for the other guy: The Republican, Connie Mack, wants to squash Obama Care, supports the Keystone Pipeline, and his website warns us of the threats of terrorists. His main contributors are guys like the Koch brothers and big money super PACs, his puppeteers. (http://www.conniemack.com/issues/freedom/)

REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS DISTRICT 13

(Vote for One) C. W. Bill Young REP Jessica Ehrlich DEM I voted for Jessica Ehrlich for Representative In Congress.

She supports clean energy and eliminating tax breaks to oil companies. She supports most of the National Health Care Bill. She supports the DREAM Act which enables immigrants who arrived here as children to get an education. Why I am not voting for the other guy:

Bill Young does not support the National Health Care Bill and he is against amnesty for all immigrants. He also wants to amend the constitution to include a budget cap, which could drastically affect federal programs. (http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/kyc/floridas-us-house-district-13-jessica-ehrlich-d-cw-bill-youngr/1256887 ) STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 22
(Vote for One) Jeff Brandes REP Write-in: John Nichol

I voted for John Nichol for State Senator District 22 Jeff Brandes objects the National Health Care Bill, opposes amnesty for any illegal immigrants, and boasts about how he is a lifetime member of the NRA. He also states on his website, I am in favor of cutting taxes whenever possible because government is not living within its means and is currently on an unsustainable course. Of course, cutting taxes is definitely the way to help the Government get out of debt! (Sarcasm). http://electjeffbrandes.com/issues Jeff Brandes is running unopposed for State Senate, and he sucks, so write in John Nichol or any other name you wish! STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 68
(Vote for One) Frank Farkas REP Dwight Dudley DEM Matthew D. Weidner NPA I voted for Dwight Dudley for State Representative District 68

He is against private school vouchers that divert money from public education so some children could go to private schools. Does not support charging more money for ports and toll roads, like our Governor is pushing. Promotes clean energy and does not like the money being put into nuclear power right now.

Why I am not voting for the other guy: Frank Farkas is FOR private school vouchers, more expensive toll roads, and wants to spend more money to improve our oil, coal, and natural gas production. No thank you! http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/kyc/florida-house-district-68-dwight-dudley-d-frank-farkas-rmatt-weidner-i/1256894 SHERIFF
(Vote for One) Bob Gualtieri REP Scott Swope DEM I voted for Scott Swope for Pinellas County Sheriff

HE WANTS TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA! (http://swopeforsheriff.com/issues/)

Wants to create better jail diversion programs and do away with Safe Harbor, a program aimed at removing the homeless of Pinellas County from view. (http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/kyc/pinellas-county-sheriff-scott-swope-d-bob-gualtieri-r/1256896)

Why I am not voting for the other guy: Because Swope wants to decriminalize marijuana! SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
(Vote for One) Deborah Clark REP Jack Killingsworth NPA

I voted for Jack Killingsworth for Supervisor of Elections He is not affiliated with either party, which would prove less biased when it comes to our elections. He believes voter suppression measures should be stopped.

Why I am not voting for the other guy: Clark closed most of the county's early voting locations in 2008 because she says the sites were too costly, when it is know that early voting normally brings out more democrats. She then pushed to increase mail in ballots, which tend to draw in Republican votes. I think having a non-biased Supervisor of Elections is pretty important. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/kyc/pinellas-county-supervisor-of-elections-deborah-clark-rjack-killingsworth/1256917 It was difficult to find much info on the County Commissioners, so these will be short and sweet. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 1 - AT LARGE
(Vote for One) Neil Brickfield REP Janet C. Long DEM

I voted for Neil Brickfield He voted to take the fluoride out of the water. The differences are not too vast and the fluoride issue is a big deal to me. Why I am not voting for the other guy: She voted to keep fluoride in the water. This is a difficult choice, I chose for personal reasons. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/kyc/pinellas-county-commission-district-1-janet-long-d-neilbrickfield-r/1256918 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 3 - AT LARGE
(Vote for One) Nancy Bostock REP Charlie Justice DEM

I voted for Charlie Justice. In 10 years in the Legislature, Justice supported ethics and elections reforms; renewable energy and smart environmental initiatives; and efforts to protect seniors and help homeowners fortify their houses against hurricanes. Supports the light rail and improving Floridas Transportation.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 7 - SINGLE MEMBER

(Vote for One) Buck Walz REP Ken Welch DEM

I voted for Buck Walz. He voted to take fluoride out of the water, his opponent did not. THE NEXT 7 QUESTIONS ASK WHETHER TO RETAIN THE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT AND THE JUDGES FOR THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS. I voted YES, to retain all judges. No judge has EVER been removed from office by a merit retention vote, because there are already means to handle these problems. The Judicial Qualifications Commission is in place to review judges and recommend their removal if any ethical breaches occur. NONE of the judges have been denounced by the commission.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/florida-supreme-court-justices-fight-back-to-retain-seats/1255242 For the Supreme Court Judges: Normally there is little attention placed on merit retention for judges because unless there is a scandal or some great wrongdoing, a judge remains in office until retirement.

But because some Republicans do not like the way the court has been voting, they are pushing for removal of these justices so Rick Scott can replace them with judges that would be his cronies. These judges did nothing wrong, the just are not being as agreeable as some Republicans would want. Do not fall into their trap! http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article1255765.ece For the Court of Appeals Judges: None of the judges have been brought up on charges by the Judicial Qualifications Commission, and out of the 7,800 Florida Lawyers who were asked in the FL Bar Poll, 92% support merit retention for these judges. http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/retain-fourcourt-of-appeal-judges/1255766 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DISTRICT 1 - AT LARGE
(Vote for One) Janet R. Clark Elliott Stern

I voted for Janet R. Clark They stand for many of the same things, but Janet has been in education for many years, whereas Stern is a retired businessman. She also is against privatizing some non-instructional district services. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/kyc/pinellas-county-school-board-district-1-janet-clark-elliottstern/1256899 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DISTRICT 7 - SINGLE MEMBER
(Vote for One) Rene Flowers Glenton "Glen" Gilzean

I voted for Rene Flowers. She is a former two term City Council member who grew up here. Her opponent, who she squashed in the primary with 48% of the vote, just moved to Pinellas this year and was appointed by Rick Scott. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/kyc/pinellas-county-school-board-district-7-glenton-gilzean-jrrene-flowers/1256900 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS #1-12 I voted NO on all the Amendments EXCEPT # 11 I am not going to review what every Amendment states, I am tired and most of them should not even be considered as an Amendment to our Constitution. With that said, I voted yes on Amendment 11 because it is asking whether or not a city or county should have the choice to grant homestead exemptions for low-income seniors who have lived in their home for 10 years or more. Right now, a city does not even have the option to totally exempt certain seniors because of state regulations. I think the local government has a better idea of what its needs are, more than the state level does at least. http://tampabay.com/tbprojects/elections/2012/ballot_guide/index.html# I hope this helps and encourages you to go to the polls tomorrow!