If you haven’t already voted by mail or at one of the early voting sites, it’s not too late. In Broward County, you can get information about early voting, voting locations and times, etc. from the Broward Supervisor of Elections. Of course, you can always vote the old school way, in person, on election day, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. If you haven’t voted yet, and are still struggling with some of the issues, here are my recommendations.

Regards,
Tom Truex

P.S. This is my personal opinion, provided at no cost to me or anyone else, and is not endorsed or promoted by any group, campaign or candidate.

BALLOT RECOMMENDATIONS November 2, 2010 by Tom Truex

Governor:
RICK SCOTT

United States Senate:
MARCO RUBIO

US House of Representatives:
District 20 – KAREN HARRINGTON
District 22 – ALLEN WEST

Attorney General:
PAM BONDI

Chief Financial Officer:
JEFF ATWATER

Commissioner of Agriculture:
ADAM PUTNAM

State House of Representatives:
District 100 – no recommendation
District 101 – Matt Hudsen

Retain Supreme Court Justices?
CHARLES CANADY — no recommendation
JORGE LABARGA — no recommendation
JAMES PERRY – VOTE NO, DO NOT RETAIN
RICKY POLSTON — no recommendation

Retain Judges, Fourth District Court of Appeal:
CORY CIKLIN — no recommendation
DORIAN DAMOORGIAN – VOTE YES, to retain
JONATHAN GERBER — no recommendation
ROBERT GROSS — no recommendation
SPENCER LEVIN — no recommendation
MELANIE MAY — no recommendation

Broward County Court, Group 1:
JOHN FRY

Broward County Court, Group 26:
F.J. McLAWRENCE

Broward County School Board, District 6:
MARDI COHEN or PHYLISS HOPE ** no recommendation

Broward Soil & Water Conservation District, Seat 2:
CYNTHIA THOMAS

State of Florida Constitutional Amendments:
#1 – Repeal of Public Campaign Financing – Recommend VOTE NO, so that tax dollars will not be used to finance political campaigns
#2 – Homestead Ad Valorem Tax Credit for Deployed Military Personnel — no recommendation
#4 – Referenda Required for Adoption and Amendment of Local Government Comprehensive Land Use Plans – Recommend VOTE NO
#5 – Standards to follow in Legislative Redistricting – Recommend VOTE NO. This is a politically motivated attempt to change historic voting districts.
#6 – Standards to follow in Congressional Redistricting – Recommend VOTE NO. This is a politically motivated attempt to change historic voting districts.
#8 – Revision of the Class Size Requirements for Public Schools– no recommendation

Non Binding Statewide Advisory Referendum:
Balancing the Federal Budget – Recommend VOTE YES

Broward County Charter Amendments:
#1 – Charter Review Commission and Management and Efficiency Study Committee shall meet every ten years – Recommend VOTE YES
#2 – County Code of Ethics Prevails Over Municipal Ordinance Regulating Conduct of Public Officials and Employees – Recommend VOTE NO. The County “Ethics” code is more about “political correctness” than ethics. Some of County Commissioners who approved it have extremely questionable knowledge and/or practice of ethical conduct. The current County “ethics” code should not be given this endorsement.
#3 – Broward County Constitutional Officers Subject to the Broward County Code of Ethics – Recommend VOTE NO. (same reason as previous recommendation).
#4 – Establish Charter Office of Inspector General to Investigate County and Municipal Misconduct and Gross Mismanagement. – Recommend VOTE NO.
#5 – Allow Counties to Show Taxpayers the Portion of Taxes Attributable to Constitutional Officers – Recommend VOTE YES

FLORIDA VOTERS: In order to vote in the upcoming election on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, you must be registered by Monday, July 26, 2010.  Hopefully, you are registered, but you may know people who are not (friends new to the area, new neighbors, friends who have never voted before or who have not voted in many years).  Please share this with them NOW. This is also the time to change your address if you have moved since the last election and/or to change your party affiliation.  Name changes (marriage, divorce, etc.) can also be done now.

This is a primary election, but judges and school board members will be elected that day.  ALL voters can vote for the school board and judicial candidates, although those with no party affiliation cannot vote for Governor, U.S. Congress, State House and others in the primary election.   It is vitally important that everyone VOTE on August 24.

There is a voter registration form attached, which also serves as a switch and change of name/address form. Or get it here:

Broward County: http://www.browardsoe.org/VoterRegistration.aspx

Broward County Supervisor of Elections
115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 102
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
954-357-7050

Palm Beach County: https://www.pbcelections.org/VoterRegistration.aspx

Those in other counties can contact your local Supervisor of Elections.

Start studying the ballot now (you can see all the races online); there are lots of races and referendums!  Also, don’t forget to get an absentee ballot for those who need one.  This is a VERY IMPORTANT election!!