Very important information on School Board elections from two dedicated and astute individuals. School board elections are critical to the future of local education of our students. Be informed and vote in August! Ruth Lawler
So, John C has lived in Manatee County for 6 years. I have been here 40 years, never hesrd about a "CASINO" by a bridge or being voted down. HMM? Good job with your questions Dawn & Mitch.
When politicians draw their own borders to guarantee a win, the only ones getting cheated are the American voters. This "party-over-country" strategy is a desperate move and I hope it backfires spectacularly in 2026.
THE DUTY OF THE PEOPLE IS TO PROVIDE NEW GUARDS FOR THEIR STATE AND COUNTRY.
VOTE BLUE WHETHER REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT
While I agree that more affordable housing is needed in Florida urban areas, the real question remains whether builders, ever seeking higher profit margins, will pass the savings to home buyers. Some of the "discounted" home prices in Houston resulting from smaller lot sizes aren't exactly a bargain!
When politicians control the drawing of districts, it moves us further away from a system where voters choose their leaders and closer to one where leaders choose their voters. Gerrymandering is used to protect incumbents and lock in political advantage, not to serve voters. The result is a system of one party control of state government, like Russia and China have.
Nationally, before the current race to the bottom was started by the Republican Party in Texas, then joined by the Democrat party in other states, only about 15% of the U.S. House races were considered competitive. Now only about 8% of House races will be competitive. That means 92% of voting districts will be safe seats where one party is overwhelmingly favored, and incumbents rarely lose, with reelection rates typically above 90 percent. At the same time, congress's public approval rating has been about 20% for many years. Think about that. Our election system is broken. Whether the Democrat party or the Republican Party gerrymander more house races during this mid-decade redistricting, all voters will lose because it leaves us with fewer choices. This is a failing democracy. We need election reforms at the state and national level.
The Seahorse Gift Shop was the definition of "Old Florida". I remember going in with parents in the 60's and being fascinated by the jewelry that contained painted butterfly wings and the orange blossom perfume sold in golf ball sized orange containers. I am so happy that the Seahorse statue has returned to welcome people to Palmetto. Such fine memories
Nationally, this mid decade gerrymandering may not advantage either political party, so it may not accomplish its intended purpose for the political parties. But it did damage to our election system. Before this latest gerrymandering, only about 15% of US House districts were competitive, the other 85% were safe districts for one party.
After this latest gerrymandering only about 8% of US House districts are competitive, the other 92% ere safe districts for one party. That means that only 8% of voters will cast a meaningful ballot in November. The winners of the other 92% of house races will have been decided in the closed party primary election by party loyalists. This is not democracy. We need election reforms like open primary elections and independent redistricting commissions. Time is running out to save our democracy.
The “entitlement transfer”. I love it. Overdevelopment approved for the future, probably by the pro-development commission we have now supposedly replaced, is allowing approval of this development, which is sure to bring even more congestion to this already overwhelmed area, under the guise that it was going to happen anyway. This is the same twisted and convoluted logic used over and again for the past two decades which has created the overcrowded, flood prone county we once called wonderful. It never ceases to amaze me as I watch county after county all over our state fall to the greed of all parties involved in the ongoing onslaught of overdevelopment and the destruction of our environment, quality of life and even our personal safety all in the name of riches. Apparently, we really have not done much to take back our local government which is a real shame since Tallahassee is doing all it can to bypass those boards anyway. One would think that our supposed “sustainable development” focused “new” local commission would do all it can toward that goal while they still have some remaining power to do so, but I guess I’m confusing our state and local politics with fantasyland.
KVO was a disgrace as an Elected official. Sore loser and the courts saw right through his frivolous lawsuit.
Time for a rematch with the blue puppet ha ha
Good riddance
Never will get past her explanation on the wetlands buffer and going against the vast amount of citizens who were against this. Then said she still doesn't fully see the evidence for keeping or increasing the buffer......can you really say that with a straight face?
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