Judicial candidate  Lorraine Sherman works the crowd

You can always count on the Fourth of July to bring out the candidates. It’s difficult to find good venues to meet the people, especially since privately owned shopping centers are pretty hostile to politicians. Bring your  money to spend, but if you want to hand out cards and meet other shoppers, beat it. Fortunately there are a few free speech opportunities available, and Fanfare & Fireworks is one of them.

I really look forward to hearing what the candidates have to say. I can’t wait for the forums. I am more than happy to miss  reruns of “The King of Queens” to know what’s going on. But I am also on official business for this website, and I often feel like I have to tell them, eyeball to eyeball, that we need them to show up on THIS venue. Not everyone is moved by a handshake. Some of us want information. Some of us want a REASON to vote for you.

Well, I did get some good information while I was out there, but I’m afraid that it was not for public consumption. Some of these  candidates tell me things that I believe are “off the record”,  and I want to honor that trust.  And I say that for their benefit. I think it would be beneficial for them to go on the record MORE instead of less. Playing it safe may win you the election, but it’s a disservice to keep your constituents in the dark.

Well, I have a picnic to go to. I hope to hear from more of you. And please vote in the poll!

Posted: July 4th, 2008 under Candidates.
Comments: none

I am 37 yrs. old., originally from Memphis, TN. I have lived in Gainesville for almost three years now. I moved here with my beautiful wife, Shelly, and my two wonderful childen, Jackson, age 10, and Ashton, age 5. I was transferred here with my job as the Assistant General Manger of TGI Friday’s on Archer Rd. I have spent most of my life around politics. From about 3 years old, I was involved with my first Presidential and Senatorial campaigns in Tennessee, not that I could do much. I was involved with other local, state, and national campaigns in the years that followed. In high school I was selected to the Memphis Mayoral Classroom and received an honorary appointment to the City Council. Later I was selected as Head Delegate to the Collegiate United Nations in New York. I did a brief stint as an intern to then Senator Albert Gore Jr. and proceeded to run for the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2006. I have found a new life and a new calling since our move to Gainesville, and I sincerely hope that this may be my stepping stone to larger things in public service. It is my firm belief that the majority of voters are moderate in their points of view and do not subsribe to the labels of liberalism and conservatism that currently plague our political system. There is now, and always has been, a balance and compromise to the very foundation and structure of what has made our country, state, county, and municipality. Too often that moderation and compromise is disregarded in the name of political or financial allegiances. We need leadership as we forge into this millenium that is understanding of the needs and wants of their constituency as well as sympathetic to diligence and foresight of those who brought us here. There was, and will hopefully be again, that balance, that moderation, that compromise that not only made this country, but made it the most wealthy and powerful one in the world. I hope to be that voice of what was, is, and will be.

Posted: July 1st, 2008 under Candidates.
Comments: 4

I plan on using more of these to promote Alachua Voter Guide. I have used YouTUbe to show candidate forums in High Springs before. I hope some candidates or their helpers will do the same…

Posted: June 27th, 2008 under Candidates, Site Issues.
Comments: none

Qualifying for local candidates is now over, and there have been a few changes. In the County Commission races we have seen Ward Scott decide that he does not want to face Lloyd Bailey in a primary. Instead, he has opted to move his campaign to District 5, where he will face Rodney Long in November. You may recall that Scott was originally running in the District 1 race, and looking forward to meeting his old nemesis, the incumbent Mike Byerly, in November. He lost to Byerly in the 2004 Democrat primary back before he switched to the Republican party.

The 2004 contest probably left a bad taste in Ward Scott’s mouth because he had expected to get some help from Republicans since they had not fielded a candidate. And if no one else entered the race except the two Democrats, it would have been an open primary. However, in the closing week or so of qualifying, Steve Nichtberger entered the race as a write-in candidate. Since Nichtberger was not running as a Democrat, he would be on the November ballot, thus closing the primary to Republicans and Independents. Scott lost a fairly close race (52-48%), and Byerly had clear sailing over the unknown Nichtberger (92-8%) in November. Some accused Nichtberger of being a secret Byerly operative, who only entered at the last minute to close the primary to non-Democrats, but others thought it was a bad gamble by Scott that went wrong.

This year Scott is a freshly minted Republican, and he was taking no chances on missing the opportunity to face Byerly this fall. However, Rick Bryant, a Democrat and a popular city commissioner among conservatives, got in the race with a pretty fair chance of unseating the sitting commissioner. This was not a promising contest for Scott, who decided to take his quest to District 3 to face the incumbent Paula Delaney. This would be a tough enough race with No Party Affiliated Lloyd Bailey already in it, but it got more interesting when Bailey decided to change to the Republican party in an attempt to eliminate Scott so he could face Delaney alone in November.

I do not know if Bailey and Scott had a discussion about who would get out of this race, but I cannot imagine Lloyd Bailey moving over to the District 5 race to face Rodney Long. Lloyd was in the District 3 first, and he already lost to Long in 2000. But this had to be a bitter pill for Ward Scott. It’s a good thing Jeff McAdams, another Republican, decided to get out and give Scott a clear shot in November.

In other developments, Paula Delaney’s primary opponent, Bill Russell, is out. And the District 1 race has picked up a write-in candidate: Owen Stephen Osborne. He will appear on the November ballot with Republican Kevin Riordan and the winner of the Bryant-Byerly clash in August. There are two Democrats running for Sheriff, so it should be an open primary.

Clerk of the Court Buddy Irby, Tax Collector Von Fraser, and Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter (all Democrats) are automatically re-elected since no one bothered to run against them. And two of the Soil and Water Conservation District seats are suddenly in contention. Thta will be worth a separate posting after I get the dirt on Soil.

Posted: June 23rd, 2008 under Candidates.
Comments: none

I love social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. They allow me to keep up with friends and family members, as well as people I just like to follow. It’s fun, and convenient if you do it right. But is there a handy use for your business or for a candidate running for office? Barak Obama thinks so. He has had a Twitter page for his entire campaign, and he has over 34,000 followers who get his microblog messages.

Here’s how Twitter works: You get an account for free, and you can send a quick message of up to 140 characters to all of your followers. And who would follow YOU? Someone who wants to know what you are up to, and would like to be informed via the web or via their mobile phone with a text message.

Is this useful? I think it can be. For instance, I saw that County Commission candidate Rick Bryant has a Twitter account for his campaign. Well, I chose to be a Rick Bryant “follower”, and then I opted to receive his updates on my cell phone. As a result, when he got an endorsement from the Fire Rescue Professionals of Alachua County, Local 3852 on May 16, all of his followers were notified in the manner they chose. And at 9:39 PM on Memorial Day evening, I got a text message from Rick honoring the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

So far, I am only 1 of 3 followers. But if Rick Bryant wants more followers, he will have to start posting more often, and with relevant information, like where he will be speaking next. I know that I would just love to get any kind of information about where any candidate would be making an appearance! And he could send Twitter messages from his mobile phone like, Need sign wavers at 13th and University! And all his followers would get the message.

Facebook is a lot more involved, but it is just as free. Rick Bryant also has a Facebook account for his campaign. It’s like a home base for campaign photos and information, and it could be useful. But Rick will have to go about “friending” a lot of people in the Gainesville Network of Facebook users (over 33,000 last time I looked) if he wants to get his message out to those voters. Right now his Facebook only has 6 supporters, and it could run up to over 6,000 with a little effort. Would that help his campaign? Well, every time he posts a message on his page, his friends and supporters would get notified on their Facebook pages.

Now, I know it sounds like I am just pushing Rick Bryant, but I am not. It’s just that he is using the web and social networking, albeit in a very limited way, the way I wish all candidates would. I don’t want to have to wait until the week before the election and get all my information from a bunch of campaign postcards that tell me next to nothing. I’d like to be engaged early and often by the people who want my vote.

Don Marsh

Posted: June 1st, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 1

I saw this, and many other signs on the fence surrounding West Side Park this Saturday morning. It was part of a large demonstration by the local Veterans For Peace chapter. By “large demonstration”, I mean it had a huge sign presence that stretched for at least 50 yards along the fence. I’m not sure that there were more than 12-18 actual demonstrators.

I took this picture and bring this up because I remember that in 2002, as a County Commission candidate with little money, I asked the parks department if I could set up a political rally in this tax-payer funded space. I needed to be able to access the public and allow them to have access to me so I could share my platform personally. I was refused. I was told: “No political rallies.”

Well, things must have changed. Or perhaps it is purely a case of selective enforcement. I’d love to have them weigh in on this site and let me know.

In 2002, I learned the hard way about the antipathy that candidates must face. The Girl Scouts can sell cookies in a shopping center, and certain selected “charities” of dubious veracity can set up a table in that shopping center, and anyone seems to be able to set up a car wash, but a local candidate is told “no” on the grounds that then they will have have to let them all do it.

Besides the fact that this is an irrational fear (most candidates are unwilling to give that kind of access, nor can they all be omnipresent at multiple shopping centers) , it is one that the centers do not take into account when allowing the aforementioned groups to squat on their property.

I remember well how humiliating it was to be chased off from any venue where there was a line forming because I dared to gather signatures to get on the ballot. The people I approached did not complain. It was always the manager of the theater, or whatever.

So, why is it that a candidate is the only one who has to  pay for his or her “free speech”? We are told to use direct mail and advertising, but then we are vilified for raising the money to pay for that advertising. It is the height of hypocrisy.  Or perhaps it is something that no one ever thinks about.

And that is part of the reason why I created this site. It’s a totally free venue where the candidates can say whatever they want. What remains to be seen is if they will use what is free, or just keep raising money.

Don Marsh

Posted: May 25th, 2008 under Activism, Candidates, Local Issues.
Comments: none

May 20, 2008

Friends and Patriots,

            We did not collect enough petitions to qualify for the county commission race by the petition method, but I greatly appreciate the effort that many of you made to accomplish that goal.  Unfortunately, the deadline was moved up when Florida’s primary was changed and we just ran out of time.  It is my understanding that none of the Republican candidates gathered enough petitions and only a few of the Democrats were able to collect the necessary petitions to qualify.   With that said we must continue to push forward to reclaim our county.

            The other method to qualify is with a filing fee of $4,197.84 and my deadline for that method is June 11^th.   I hate the idea of writing a check to the government for anything, but it is our only option.  I am the only conservative candidate that has filed to run in district 3.  I believe that conservative campaigns tend to pull liberals to the right, because they do not like to face their bad behavior during forums and interviews.  With our weak economy, caused by government, taxes are a very hot issue.  I attempted to lower your taxes in 2000 in the Bailey verses Long campaign and again in 2006 in the Bailey verses Chestnut campaign. Now, thanks to the economic suffering that is caused by the government, people will likely change the way they vote and in Alachua County, that is what we need. Candidates are always talking about change and I believe I can convince the county voters that if they really want change, they need to put a principled, conservative Republican in office to really effect change and to relieve the economic burden on our families.  Although, it might be difficult to make campaign donations during bad economic times; the bad economic times can work for us in winning seats for conservative candidates.  If I win, all that will be necessary to get your moneys worth will be for me to block one fee, assessment or new tax.  Also, I intend to use the office of county commission to influence our state and federal elected officials.  All politics begin at home, and I will work for your liberty at all levels of government.  You will get your money’s worth out of me; I guarantee it.

            Of course, if another principled conservative candidate were to get in the county commission, district 3 race, I might decide to sit this one out but “real” conservative candidates are hard to find these days. 

            I will work hard for you, fight wasteful government spending, vote against all corporate welfare and other wealth redistribution, protect the environment, make roads a priority, move to eliminate the new gas tax, and to end CHOICES and will NEVER…………………………………………………………..vote for a tax increase and will be committed to reducing the size of government in Alachua County.

            I need you to contribute the maximum allowed donation of $250.00 or whatever you can spare and I guarantee you will be glad you did.  If I am elected and you are not satisfied with my performance, I will gladly refund your contribution.

Please send donations to:

Campaign Account to elect Lloyd Bailey

3112 SW 101^st Terrace

Gainesville, FL  32607

            Please call me at (352) 214-1758 for questions or comments. 

Lloyd W. Bailey, Jr.

www.electlloydbailey.com

Republican Candidate for Alachua County Commission, District 3

Paid for and approved by Lloyd Bailey

Posted: May 21st, 2008 under Candidates.
Comments: none

Although your intrepid webmaster has been absent due to other projects, this site continues to get a steady flow of visitors. In the month of May, so far, we are averaging 150 visitors per day. That is not bad for a relatively esoteric subject such as local candidates for office. In a county where most people can name all eight of Santa’s Reindeer and all seven of Snow White’s Dwarves, few people can name 3 of their 5 county commissioners. Go ahead. Ask around. I’ve done it.

As I have been updating the site, I have been trying to track down the web sites that local candidates have made for this coming election. When Googling their names, I never get their websites, if they have them. I get THIS site on the first page of results, however, almost every time. So, if you are going to bother making a campaign website, it had better get listed here, or precious few people will find it.

I am also granting all candidates blogging privileges. That means that I give each one a username and password, and that they (or more likely a member of their campaign) can communicate directly with the people who come to this site. And they should start early. After all, 150 visitors a day adds up. And this is a slow month. February and April were both over 160, and people are not even really looking yet. In the closing days of the campaigns, we get 300-700 per day.

And best of all, this is free, and equally so. This site accomplishes, on the local level, what Campaign Finance Reform does not. It’s a level playing field. But you’ve got to  come to play…

Later,

Don Marsh

Posted: May 18th, 2008 under Site Issues.
Comments: 1

There was a time in the not-distant past when it was hard to get a Republican to even run for a county-wide seat in this largely Democratic county. Adding to the difficulty was the common occurrence of a third-party or no-party candidate splitting the conservative vote. It looked like the same sort of thing would be happening in the County Commission’s District 3 race when Ward Scott (R) decided to get in with Lloyd Bailey (NPA) and whoever the Democrat would be in November.

Lloyd Bailey had been one of the 2 NPAs who ran, and lost, against Rodney Long in 2000. There was no Republican candidate that year. Bailey also lost Cynthia Chestnut in 2006, when there was no Republican in the field that year. Mr. Bailey, seeking a different result, has decided to change his strategy and try to take out the other conservative early, so he can face either Paula Delaney or her Democrat challenger, Bill Russell, alone in November. Bailey has switched his party identification to Republican, and that means Alachua County Republicans, for the first time in memory (if not history) will have a choice in who represents them on the ballot in November.

Lloyd Bailey has run twice before and has been the standard bearer for less government and lower taxes both times. A John Birch Society member, Bailey’s credentials as a conservative are beyond question. His decision to run as a Republican, a party that is probably not conservative enough for his taste, can best be interpreted as a strategy for winning instead of just standing on ceremony. This is also a real opportunity for the Republican voters in this county to show where they stand on the ideological continuum.

Ward Scott switched parties a couple of years ago, after losing a relatively close Democratic Primary for the county commission against the incumbent, Mike Byerly. Scott could be a strong candidate in November if he is able to attract a large number of Democrats who are loyal to him personally. But he will first have to convince Republicans that he can best represent them and their interests.

No matter how this turns out, it is extremely exciting to see how this could energize voters across the spectrum. There is a real opportunity for the citizens to learn what their local government is up to as things come out and issues get attention that are usually left in obscurity. I look forward to the performance of both candidates in this primary contest.

Posted: March 22nd, 2008 under Candidates.
Comments: 1

There have been a few stories in the Gainesville Sun lately about Alachua County’s Property Appraiser, Ed Crapo.  (Here’s one of them.) Crapo has a side job doing consulting, and he has done county business with some of the same people who have paid him fees. The attention he has gotten from the press lately has caused him to go to a state ethics committee to see if he’s done anything wrong. He says he had previously gotten advice from an attorney, and that the attorney saw nothing wrong with what he was doing.

The jury is still very much out on whether or not Crapo did something illegal, although whether or not it was ethical may be a different question. I mean, it would never dawn on me to ask an attorney if something was morally right. Morality is simply not a focus of the law.

Ed Crapo is up for re-election. He is seldom opposed, and has held the post since 1980. This election is usually a real yawning festival because no one really knows or cares what the Property Appraiser is up to, unless you get an appraisal that has an adverse financial effect on you.

I don’t know what will come of this ethics inquiry, and I have no ax to grind for Mr. Crapo, but it is in the public interest that some qualified person stand up and run against him. A candidate with a  case to make is exactly what Mr. Crapo  and the voters need. It’s the only way we can be sure we are getting the best representation. It’s the system we have for holding leaders accountable. It’s not personal. It’s not nasty. It’s simply our form of government, and it is the people  who bring the personal and the nasty if they so choose.

Posted: March 8th, 2008 under Local Issues.
Comments: none