Pre-Election 2010
I know it is early, but it is September and if anyone is considering running for the seats that will be up in 2010, now is the time to start preparing. I truly hope we have some very viable candidates that truly want to represent the best interests of the district and the county. If you are considering it and feel if you need to talk to someone outside your circle and in complete secrecy and confidence, you are more than welcome to contact me via email and I will be glad to help anyway I can. Again, I promise confidentiality. If you know someone that has mentioned running and you feel they would make a great candidate, now is the time to start motivating them to start.
The offices open next year are:
County Commission - Districts 2 & 4
School Board - Districts 1, 2 & 4
Soil & Water Board - Seats 2 & 4
City Council Districts 4 & 5
I refrained from openly supporting the candidates I felt were right, but will do so this round, even if they are incumbents (which I know one that I probably will, if they run again). As always, we will have spirited debate on the candidates, of which I look forward to.
It is time to replace all of these incumbents. Most of theses incumbents have some type of pre-21st century mindset and need to go home. I honestly cannot think of sny current member of the City Council, BOCC or School Board that should be retained. I like BM hope that interested and qualified candidates enter these races, although if we repeat history we will continue with more of the same. The only thing worse than all of the incumbents is the level of apathy in our community! Wake up trailer county!
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I believe in term limits for all in elected office..I too am ready for any with an I in front and sits on the hill for more than 8 yrs needs to leave...as of late I keep asking myself why would you spend millions to keep a job that pays you for the rest of your life..lets you hobe knob with the rich and famous..give health care to themselves and gets to vote a raise...traveling on private jets....oh ya and the power that goes with it..I know that some of Allan Boyds money men have his ear at anytime...so I say Allen don't sell the sod farm so fast...your time has run out..I am also waiting for someone who will be for Term Limits and agrees sadly I am still waiting..
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i agree its time to vote for people who actualy have the public interestat heart.unfortunately i havent seen one in years,but i do know that if they are in office im voting for someone else
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I think anyone who runs for a school board office should have an education background rather than BKI employees and self-employed individuals! I don't believe anyone who is on the school board has a background in education.
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It would not appear that any current school board member nor Dyal has the intellectual experience or wherewithal to get it right. It is a shame what we elect here in trailer county! What passes for a qualified elected official would amount to qualifications to get into the state nervous hospital!
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The simple minded And the uninformed
Can be easily led astray And those that cannot connect the dots Hey look the other way People believe what they want to believe When it makes no sense at all
So be careful of those who Kill in Jesus Name cause he don’t beleive in Killing at all
So be careful in what you believe in
There's plenty to get you confused
And in this land called paradise
You must walk in many men's shoes
Bigotry and hatred are enemies to us all
Grace, mercy and forgiveness
Will help a man walk tall
---Walk Tall Lyrics by John Mellencamp
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Whether you are for Health Care Reform or not, does it bother folks that our Elected Officials cite programs already run in-efficiently by the Government as the reason nothing can be done? Aren't they the ones supposed to be making sure everything runs correctly, that's what I want them to do. They talk of all the waste in Government Programs already, why don't they do something about it, they're already there, some have been there for years, why do we allow them to talk about waste, all the while drawing huge salaries, and benefits, paid for by us. Don't Vote For Incumbents they've had their chance, they're the reason there is such waste.
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Whine and complain. That's all we hear from the "recliners". Didn't see anyone holding up a sign that said "Elect Me".
Darn if you do and darn if you don't. Why do these officials get re-elected? They must be doing something right and because YOUR not running against them. Gripe and complain all you want but the fact is you couldn't do half of what they do especially when your on the sidelines. So either run against them or close your yapper. Donate 4 years of your life to doing something more than just griping. Thanks for nothing.
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You make some valid points, people who complain the most seem to be the ones who would not have a chance of winning a race as it is, they should PUT UP OR SHUT UP....
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Complain, whine and just do nothing, I have to agree dorightbyall, you are a lo0ser in the true sence of the word.
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Well let me see isn't it our god given right to voice our opinons about anything we want. I think its in the constitution that we have FREEDOM OF SPEECH. We don't have to run for office to earn the right to gripe and complain. As taxpayers these elected officals work for us. So we earn the right to critique there preformance. This isn't a socialist country(yet). We donate 4 yaers of ours lives by living and working under the poloices this people implement. So instead of telling people to close their yappers maybe you should practice what your preaching. But then again thats not the American way. God Bless America and SEMPER FI.
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Well put, Keith.
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Well you must be well satisfied with our County and the way it's run, good for you, I'm so happy that someone here is perfectly satisfied, but no one donates time, all elected officials are well compensatedd for their positions.
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Well dorightbyall...you are forgetting on thing, some folks who would make very good local officials simply do not want to risk the money it cost to run a campaign for a countywide or other position. Some also cannot aford it. If you review the last election candidate expenditure forms local candidates are spending as much as a reported on paper $22K to a reported by candidate/stated $50K. Also here in this county the worst are elected and seem to go into office time and time again...most citizens or at least the 40% who vote appear to want to keep these folks in office. These "officals" are not doing anything "right", it just matters who they are related to, who ox is getting gored, and what promises have been made. It really is not as simple as run if you do not like the incumbent.
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Whiners and complainers, that’s rich. The truth is most of the folks in Taylor County are not qualified to run for public office. Seeing as to how the first qualification is to work for Buckeye now let me see how many members of the county commission are connected to this company. How many over the years have connections to this company? In other words isn’t working at Buckeye and always voting in favor of this company a qualification for county office?
Next if you are not an alcoholic can you really be elected in Taylor County? Ya’ll tickle me especially the people whining “you don’t like it, then you run for office” what a joke
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HaHa is right! The election process in this county could be as bad as crookaloosa county. Some time ago a blogger listed many of the problems, such as the absentee voting fraud, the badly needed update of the voter list, the problems went on and on, not with standing the supervisor of elections hand picking and endorsing a candidate. It really is not as easy as stated and you really have to be willing to lose the money invested in running a campaign. There does appear to be some unique criteria to win in trailer county. That is a whole new topic!
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It will be interesting to see which turd in the toilet bowl of Taylor County politics will escape flushing. I predict the typical turds will still be floating in all of the races. The incumbents cannot get the stink off and will try to stay in their positions. No one else in the county wants the stink on themselves, the stink that has been created by these incumbents!!!!!!
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If you want to change the status quo and shake up the local political power bases, then force the city and county to begin the REDISTRICTING PROCESS. They are supposed to do this every ten years, but for some reason elected officials never seem to want to rewrite their own district boundaries. Hmmm.
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Interesting. Are you saying they are required to do this by law or is it just an option? I wonder if that is mainly for those larger districts where population change is constant. Regardless, if they are required to do it, then they should, but I doubt things would change. I mean you still have the same voters voting in the same people. I will do some research on it and if you have a link to the regulation please post it or email it to me.
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If you look at the districts for a county-wide there are only several in Perry-proper you would have to win. If you look at the last election, some districts hardly had voters at all. I am not sure what difference it would make in an election. Jerkins is going to vote like Jerkins, Precint 14 and others are going to vate their way (incumbent-relatives) and the rest will have sparse voting number. The only other issue would be the absentee voting and redistricting would not make a difference, this wild card has always been predictable. I would rather the county spend time cleaniing up the voter rolls of people who are no longer living here and still vote, people who do not have signatures on file (an 'X') and are in the nusrsing unaware of day/time/place, mentally deffective folks who vote everytime by absentee, poll workers manipulating counts and many other things. This....this is where we need to make a difference!
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You make some very valid points. I am not sure how poll workers can manipulate votes, but I do know with money and contacts, elections can be manipulated in the streets with absentee votes, among other things. I don't think it should be so easy to vote absentee, especially considering the fact that we now have early voting. I find it hard to believe that many people are absent from the county for that long of a time. You are also right in the fact that people who have succumbed to mental issues of old age, those that are incarcerated, etc. should not be allowed to vote absentee. You should have to prove extenuating circumstances to vote absentee.
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i hope this helps in 1983 the county entered into an agreement with the federalcourt in miami known as the lippman lawsuit it required the county togo to single member districts instead of at large,ms hamby and ms lilliot advised the county several times that they needed to redistrict,various incarnations of the county commission declined to do so.the current commission has not addressed it although i was told by one commissioner that the federalcourt would have to approve that.if thatsso federal law requires redistricting every ten years and the county could possibly be in contempt for not doing so.ibelieve that the federal court in miami is the one that originaly had jurisdictionj.
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If you redistrict the beaches district gets more compact geographically. It will no longer have anyone outside of Salem. Steinhatchee, and the beaches. \
Mark Wiggins district will then shift to cover the area vacated by Houlk, and the other districts will shift also, though to a lesser extent.
The School Board districts will shift to match those of the County.
The law requires the County and City to examine the district boundaries every 10 years. The number of voters in the beaches district demands redistricting.
The way the city is laid out, even a small shift could leave officials out of their historic districts.
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I have been trying to find redistricting laws for the State and all I can find is laws governing redistricting on the Congressional and House level. In no way am I saying you are not right in that the county is required to do it, but in order to push for them to do it, we need to be able to provide the law to the public. If you have a link to the law, please post it because if they are supposed to do it, then it needs to happen.
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I know for a fact that precincts (poll workers) were calling in poll numbers (counts) to candidates and/or their representatives prior to polls closing during the last election, I know this because I was sitting next to such a person outside the elections office in the courthouse. This may not be manipulating votes, but it sure is not above board and if this is occuring in one of the largest precincts in Perry it casts a doubt on the whole precinct, the poll workers and the legitimacy of the precinct numbers. This goes hand in hand with other inappropriate actions of a lot of folks. People always panned Frank Russell for working the absentee votes, but in fact most candidates with any strategy work these voters (absentee), some better than others, some skirting election law. It is good we are having this discussion ahead of the next election, maybe some change will occur and maybe the supervisor of elections will make some meaningful changes.
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Florida Constitution, Article VIII, Section 1:
(e) COMMISSIONERS. Except when otherwise provided by county charter, the governing body of each county shall be a board of county commissioners composed of five or seven members serving staggered terms of four years. After each decennial census the board of county commissioners shall divide the county into districts of contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable. One commissioner residing in each district shall be elected as provided by law.
Other laws indicate that the process really has to begin in the year before the census.
The City Charter has a similar provision.
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Thanks.
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I am always amazed at the number of people who complain about our elected officials (none here I am sure) who don't even vote! We should exercise our right to vote at each and every election. And I agree, before someone can get an absentee ballot, they must prove extenuating circumstances that prohibits them from going to the polls.
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The federal lawsuit was filed in Tallahassee. The case is over.
Tallahassee attorney (and Taylor County native?) Ken Davis represented the City (and the County?). An attorney named Lippman (spelling?) represented the plaintiffs (Shirley Scott and Jack Scott and others?). Lippman may have been from Miami.
The purpose of the suit was to ensure single member districts, which we now have.
So long as their is still one minority district, I can't imagine why anyone would involve the federal court. Even if they did, the cost of approving a redistricting plan would be de minimis so long as there was one district populated by a majority of minorities.
If you have a law requiring you to do this, the only obstacle from following the law appears to be laziness and apathy.
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This is done on the state level for Federal and State Districts every ten years and should be on the local level, but you hit the nail on the head when you said laziness from local officials, because the population has severely changed and lopsided since 1983 when the districts were originally set-up from the lawsuit and TC went to single member districts. Just For example, Precinct 7 has the population by it self of almost any district in TC, not including the other 2 Precincts that District includes.
The State Legislature sets a special committee that over sees this and tries to keep politics out of it. But like in 2000 Republicans was the majority and who did they appoint to the over-site committee. Not to say Democrats have done the same in the past. I mentioned this to several county commissioners in 1999-2000 and nothing was done then and I even mentioned it to County Commissioners two years ago while some was running for office. But I don't look for anything to change. We are already in late 2009 and the time should be now for it to get approved and start the 2012 year with the new districts. I haven’t heard anything on the State Level as of yet, but I am sure there is a sub-committee working on something. Thanks for bringing some attention to this very important issue.
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Just so I understand this correctly, it is the responsibility of the Taylor County Board of County Commission to redistrict?
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Yes, The TCBCC should appoint a committee like the state legistalture does to perpetrate the new boundaries based on recent census data. Then they approve it. In, 1990 and 2000 they voted to keep it the same without any changes and without anybody looking at the Cencus data. Status Quo at its finest.
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Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes time and annoys the pig.
Mark Twain
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This just one of the reasons a complete and accurate census count is needed....despite what the wing nut Minnesota US Representative states!
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Since you are so versed in the process, by your coments, why don" you approach the County Commishioners and form a committee and head it up, so that you will be satisfied, that way you will not be able to whine and complain on the anounymous site.....lol
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The person you reference may not be in the clique of trailer county potentates and charlatans!
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Rock on trailer county, the charlatans and potentates will rig the election once again!
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I sure hope somebody does run for School Board District 1. I hear the incumbent thinks what he gives to the schools and threatens to take away if somebody runs against him will hurt the school system, if that is a fact and why he is giving to the schools than for the wrong motives as usual anyways. District 1 has been known to elect people with an educational background and sure hope somebody runs and gets him off the board. He is an embarrassment.
http://vyoma108.blogspot.com/2008/01/taylor-county-florida-school-board.html
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First let me say to attack one's character is really a low blow. Maybe you feel like you can do this as an attack on his personal character because you have a personal beef with him. I can tell you over the years Mark and all the current and former school board members have made decisions we all are un happy with. Maybe you have a personal vendetta for some silly childish reason that you called out just District 1 seat ? Who knows? Only yourself and let us remember that one should look into the mirror before we judge someone. As far as his work for the local community I can tell you very few have the passion for the community as Mark does. I can tell you I see very few who work as hard and give to the school such as Mark and NEVER ask for anything in return. He never asks for anything in return and the only reason we know what he does is because the people he helps tells everyone and NOT Mark. As far as the decisions that was made on hiring and freezing positions in the School System anyone who picks up a newspaper, watches the various tv news or has access to the internet all know that the financial problems within the school systems are NATIONWIDE bought about by the current financial situation within our Country. As far as Mr Mike O'Risal's stature in our community may I ask what he has done for Taylor County lately ?
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Good site, but the reasons listed for not re-electing Mr. Southerland on this site, are the very reasons he will be re-elected in his district.
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Sometimes people "give" to the school board / district in the front door and "get" more out the back door. I do not know if this is the case with all school baord members, but we can all agree that it is time to replace existing school board members. Let's thanks them for their service and elect new members then focus on replacing one-termer Dyal!
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I would encourage everyone who has any doubts about Mark Southerland or Paul Dyal to sit down talk with them. i have found both men to be honest, willing to listen, and willing to change their opinion when all of the facts are in.
I have known Mark for 30 years. He gave a lot of time, labor and money to the school system since at least as far back as 1989-1990, when he helped out with the Perry Primary School playground.
Mark has also purchased things for county staff when budget money wasn't available - like fans for the clerk's office 20 years ago when the AC went out.
I understand the skepticism locals have for politicians, but the money they make in no way compensates them for the grief, mudslinging, name-calling and slander that accompanies the job.
Every decision an official makes is going to upset one side of the issue. Overtime the look around and no one seems to appreciate them.
Give Southerland and Dyal a second look.
Get involved yourself in some organization, run for office, or apply for a city or county board position (they usually need someone to fill a position somewhere). Just be sure to put on your Teflon overcoat and britches, because the criticism, fair and unfair.
Oh, and let me have it 'cause I know you can't post on here without being attacked. (For the record, though, I am registered as No Party Affiliation and have been for some time, so I'm not the ReTHUGlakin or whatever I was accused of being.)
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Well said.
I've voiced my criticisms of the superintendent and board members here in the past, but I've never questioned their motives. I've seen no evidence indicating that they're dishonest or driven by any desire other than to do what they think is best.
We may at times think some of our local leaders are incompetent. We may disagree with their conclusions or logic. We may believe they don't properly research and understand some issues before making decisions. But let's not accuse them of being crooks or having impure motives unless we have hard evidence to back that up.
Surely this is something we all can agree on?
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I will have to side with Mr. Blue this time. I have known Mark for quite a few years myself and just have to stand up beside him. I have watched him do things for people and be generous strictly out of the goodness of his heart. I know he goes to out of town high school football games, gives of his time, raises money for different student activities and would do that regardless of his political position or motivations. I could go on. I supported his wife on election day and will support Mark if he decides to run again. I truly believe he has good intentions every time, but just like everyone else, he can make mistakes, but overall he has been a good public servant.
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Mr. Southerland, May not be a crook and may have a big heart and we all need one of those for the school children, instead of example over charging on milk prices, but he sure isn’t a board member with “educator” experience or a good record of being a prepared school board member at each meeting. If the students didn’t do their homework before school they would receive an “F” and that is the grade I hope District 1 gives their school board member. Let’s see if he keeps his cherty up when he is ousted from office next year.
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The Fan that Mark donated to the county was for his wife who worked in the clerk’s office then, please there is a motive behind every thing done and everything received.
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So you are happy with the status of our School System, not bothered about the way money has been spent, not bothered that we let teachers go, but hired a head coach and his assistant. Either that or you believe Mr. Southerland had no responsibility for this situation, how can that be, how can he be a sitting member of this board and bear no responsibility for what's going on, I realize he does a lot for the community, but he does have a business, and good PR is good business, if the current members of the board aren't responsible then who is, you can say Oscar but he had plenty of help, from the current board members. Again the Taylor County Mind Set, "why he gave fans to the clerks office, so I'm gonna vote for him" now tell me again why he gets no benefit from his charity, being elected sounds like a benefit to me.
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So as you put it, then every school district that had to cut jobs and other things because of the State and Federal
monies shortfall because of the economy, and the couties that have had to cut jobs and other items, and the States that have had to cut jobs and other services, are solely responsiblity of the elected officials in each situation at each level. You are so much wiser than all put togeather, be real in hard times their are hard desicions to be made, and those desicions have been made, be them popular or not by the elected officials that are put there by the public, no one could have saved everything you post, it is not all their fault and to say so is absurd. Run if you think you can do better, maybe you will be the savior of all, I really do not think so.
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Yes I think everyone in every office Federal, State, County, and City, bear responsibility for the situation we are in, if you want things to stay the same, then vote the same. As far as running for office myself, as you said, you doubt I would be able to do anything, you don't know me, and you've already made up your mind, besides I can't donate fans to the clerks office, I haven't pulled anyones cow out of the ditch, I haven't caught anyones hawgs lately, so I'm completely unqualified to run in Taylor County.
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The school system is in a mess. Dyal cannot fix the problem and appears to be more of the same...problems. Whether you are a friend or foe of any existing school board member, we can all agree something has to be done to get new leadership and direction. Every exisiting school board member has had a chance to make a difference (and a check) for some time now...it is time for these folks to step down and let other people in our community serve.
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I agree, we have school board members who have a pre-budget woe mindset. New members are needed for the financial health of the district, the educational standards for our children and to rid the business as usual mind-set. Prior blogger posts and reference to websites are shocking.
I saw where a religious group has reprinted Darwin's book with a 50-page introduction of their point of view to be given out at an (book published) aniversary Darwin date in November. There are accompaning videos on Utube. We need school board members who can stick to the legislative mandate and fiduciary responsibility set out by the florida legislature!
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I agree about the character thing, I think we all agree he is a good businessman also. He also does more for the community than most other business people. Your also correct that the problem is Nationwide, it does have a lot to do with the economy, that is true, but do you really believe none of the present School Board Members are responsible for any of the mess? A lot of our problems are mismanagement, over-hiring, paying people to do jobs they can't do, and hiring people to actually do the job. You don't have a problem with the way the Technical School has been run? These are just a few examples that our School Board Members are responsible for. If you are happy with the way things are, then vote for the same old people. But if you vote for Mr. Southerland, because he gives so much to the community, then I guess giving so much to the community has gotten him one vote, and probably will get him many more. I think giving to the community is very noble, but I think there are many more reasons to vote for or against someone.
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The more I read these threads the more I see this as a personal attack on District 1's incumbent and his wife. I see no remarks made about any other candidates and all I see is a vicious attacks on someone. I see people making comments as anonymous, under pseudonyms but I have only seen person man up and put their name on a blog comment so far(kudos to Mr. Blue) . I personally do not take much weight in the words of anyone who cowardly hides behind the name anonymous. If you are not happy with the community you live within step up and do something about it. Get out and volunteer. Make a run for public office. Be something other than stale moss growing on the side of a tree. Stop calling your home a crooked county or trailer county. If you are so unhappy with where you live move somewhere that will make you happy. God or Darwin(depending on your beliefs) knows it has to be unhealthy for you to hate your hometown that much. But I will say this, I do enjoy coming home and seeing the people and there are some of the finest people you will meet in Taylor County.
Oh, one more thing...the fans ? There were 4 fans delivered to the clerks office for use..Not all by his wife as you say. They were evenly distributed around the clerks office. And why the the fans necessary ? Because the AC system was run by a company out of Atlanta Georgia via computer. Hence, when it was cold in Atlanta they ran the heat for the Court House in Perry. The Court House had no control over the AC system. How do I know ? I was there so I have to make no assumptions. Me, I have no "dog in the hunt" as they say back home.
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It is not about Mark Southerland or District 1, do not flatter anyone. It is about a school system that has been mis-managed and school board members not living up to their fiduciary responsibility. It is time to rid the school district of folks who cannot do the job be it a school site employee, a district office employee, or yes a school board member. School board members also have an added responsibility to the community to do their jobs without bias, self serving behavior and without an ear/eye on getting re-elected on every decision. I do not feel that there is a grand conspiracy to rid the incumbent school board member in district 1 of a seat, but an overwelming concern throughout the community that the school board has, as a whole been asleep on the job, making bad decisions for a long time, voting with the cliques instead of policies and procedures. If the shoe fits a school board member they have to wear it, they do get the check every month! It does not really matter how many t-shirts are given away (t-shirts avertising a business) by a school board member, it matters what the quality of the job they are doing. If a school board member gets kudos and a tax form from the district on donations, that kind of cheapens the whole gift. The fact of the matter is that a lot of parents of students are "giving" everyday to the school district without fanfare, items such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, school supplies and many other items, and these parents do not get their pictures in the paper with everything they have donated displayed on a table. When you become a politician and act like a politician, you open yourself up for criticism. It goes with the spoils you enjoy as a polititican, so stop complaining!
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I am not complaining. I am simply stating some facts. I see no mention of any other candidate so candidly other than District 1. As I stated from someone looking in from the outside, I see nothing short of a personal vendetta myself. Why not point out some positive things that one might can do ? Realize somethings that many of these decisions that had to be made via School Board members, and others are mandated by law. Again as I stated another cowardly post by a pseudonym instead of a name.
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That's your opinion, and your certainly entitled to express it on this site, as am I, pseudonym and all. I assume your not using a "cowardly pseudonym", so if you, as you say "don't have a dog in the fight" why concern yourself with the fight at all?
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Are you blogging Mark? LOL! The election is over a year away, no other "candidate" is being discussed because there are no other candidates, in fact has Southerland declared his intent to seek re-election? This leaves the exisiting school board for discussion. If a school board member cannot stand the heat, they need to leave the kitchen. The fact is these folks are always "running" for re-election, that drives their donations, their actions, their grand-standing issues at board meetings, taking calls from folks (ex parte communication) prior to voting on an issue, sunshine law violations, getting involved in staff issues, getting involved in day-to-day operations of the district, selling items to the district, and many other things that pass in trailer county for school board member duties. I for one would like to see the manual checks that have been written, a list of checks/vendors paid to who are school board employees/members, and a few other things that need to see "sunshine". Given the early discussion of these topics, yes it is going to be an interesting election year in 2010.
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Well, generally these blogs attract only the people that have negative things to say. I don't see many topics that start by saying "Boy hasn't old _______ done a great job!"
It's hard to please everyone - and there will always be those that are displeased with whomever is in a position of authority. I'm sure that throughout history, even the most recognized and greatest of leaders had their share of detractors. So, Mr. Southerland will never please all of Taylor County. I would bet that by now, he's made his peace with that.
As for having people on the school board with education experience... that may be okay if they teach accounting or finance. However, the goals of the school board are broad, so the experience of the members needs to be broad as well. They must manage all of the aspects of a multi-million dollar operation - this includes all aspects of the school system from education to transportation to materials management. Let's not forget managing cafeterias, libraries, grounds keeping services, facilities management, record keeping... well the list goes on and on. Of course, the board does not get into micro-management of all of these things, but I am trying to illustrate the fact the school board has to deal with many other topics than education alone. It would be simplistic to believe otherwise.
It could be that a person with a proven track record of successful business management may be a good choice to help broaden the knowledge base of the board. Mr. Southerland does not need an educational background because he is not teaching - he has been placed in his role to help the other members of the board oversee and guide a large operation with many sub-parts and with many goals - one of which is to provide education.
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You make some good points, and I agree that a board (the board of *any* organization) should consist of bright people with broad management and leadership abilities, an understanding of organizational behavior, general business acumen, and both the time and desire to become deeply involved in the entity they're overseeing.
Every school board candidate ought to be evaluated in this light. Some current members don't possess all of the above qualities. There are some who I think don't possess *any* of them. But c'est la vie in a demoracy, where elected officials are all too rarely selected based on their actual abilities. And it's hard to avoid in a sparsely-populated county with a limited pool of potential candidates; how many people with the above qualifications have the wherewithal to run, the free time to devote to being the best possible board member, and the desire to do it all for a measly $25,000 per year?
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I have not yet read of a personal attack on Mr. Southerland. Just all facts of a closet contributor.
RE May 4th Scool Board Minutes, http://www.taylor.k12.fl.us/shared.content/board.meetings/minutes/05-04-09.pdf ) Mark Southerland: 6.) noted
the district received a good deal for carpet at the high school referring to the purchase order which
was on the consent agenda (see agenda item #4.01 #1.). Please, take time and attend meetings and read the minutes to see for yourself.
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No I "dog in the hunt".. I moved out of Taylor County 10 1/2 years ago. Why am I interested ? My children live there. I am on the outside looking in. And if anyone knows Perry you would know me just by my name. Well worded Quint.
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Well we have three school board members who sign the back of a payroll check and two who sign the front of a payroll check (business owners). I really do not see where these business owners have brought any expertise to the board, they have made the same bad financial decisions for the district and appear to be more interested in selling things to the district based on numerous audit findings and comments. I would agree that a business person would potentially bring great experience to the table, we just have not seen this to date. It is also about leadership and having a vision.
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Agreed. Every single current board member contributed to the poor financial state the district ended up in.
For all of their combined business experience, no board member ever challenged the district's practice of continuing to increase payroll even as student enrollment (and the state funding tied to it) declined. They just kept approving new hire after new hire.
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I know you, McCoy, I know your connection to this topic, that's why I questioned the " No dog in the hunt" statement. "No Dog in the hunt" means you don't have any personal interest in the topic.
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Your Statement is very true Quint, the board members must manage many different things, but Education should be number 1, that should be classroom education, that doesn't seem to be the priority of this board or superintendent, judging from their actions of late.
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McCoy is a very good man, especially how he can support a guy after building his business for him, getting paid minimum wage and then he kicks him to the curb after the fact. Like we know McCoy is a hard worker and good man. Interesting how he wants that dog to hunt.
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Thanks for the compliment I do sincerely appreciate it. Has Mark and I had differences over the years ? Sure he and I will be the first to admit it. I have even disagreed with him over some decisions made within the school system. My youngest son was removed from the High School for behavioral problems. I went to him and got the same answer I am sure many parents have gotten the last few years. The rules are rules and I have to abide by them. I think much of this is brought about by people who haven't agreed with some discipline decisions over the years( Such as the incident with the high school students vandalizing the high school two years ago) Trust me, it is a very humbling experience when you have seen your child publically reprimanded for their behavior. People can say what they want about the financial responsibility but MUCH of this has been bought on by the will of the people. People wanted lower taxes and because of that we have had repercussions. Then we had the fall in the economy. Sometimes as a public servant they have to make tough decisions and not everyone will like them. I have read the threads through out and only seen called two out by name, Paul and Mark . I have seen remarks such as "trailer county" and such. Look the wagon works both ways. If you dislike your community pack up leave or do something about it. I made a decision to leave Taylor County and I do regret it sometimes. There are some of the finest people in the world who live there. AS with any community there are shakers and movers which consist of about 20% of the population, then there are those who are the do nothings, the whiners and the complainers. I agree, everyone has the right to an opinion but to those who can say nothing but derogatory remarks,such as "trailer county", "turd in the toilet bowl of Taylor County politics will escape flushing" I will say again, it is not healthy for you to hate where you live that much. I know all the Board members personally will say I respect them all. The sacrifices and decisions they have made or had to make over the last 24 months are some of the toughest. I will ask this can you tell me how many people attend Board Meetings ? More than likely less than a dozen with the exception of school personal. One more little tidbit, I called the School Board office to ask how many people attended the last budget meeting, which was scheduled at noon so those who wanted to attend during their lunch hour could. The meeting was so important that no members of the public attended to offer input. If you want to complain be a shaker and mover and attend meetings. To further answer your question about the 'doh in the hunt' no I do not have one currently but I may one day. My son and daughter-in-law still reside in Perry and God willing ( or in some cases Darwin depending on which limb of the tree you swing off of) I will have grandchildren one day who will attend the local school system.
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What about Don Curtis, Don Cook, or Emily Ketring for school board?
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If that's a joke I'm laughing. If not, we're in serious trouble!
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Don Curtis, Don Cook, or Emily Ketring for school board? I hope this is a joke, we have enough of idealogs and others in the assorted mix-nut bowl.
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I always laugh at the trifling actions of the local potentates, charlatans and elected morons who want kudos for all they "donate" to the community. These folks all want to be in the local paper. The fact is most in the community donate time, talent and treasure every week (volunteer). Nothing would get done locally without volunteers and most do not volunteer with such obvious motivation as elected offcials and others of like mind. The folks living in true grace do not expect kudos and reaffirmation when donating to the community. The fan clubs of these elected officials should pick out a person who donates withoout fanfare, someone who does it without regard of look-at-me and send that person a card or thank-you...it it does not have to be in the local mullet wrapper. I too was appalled at recent pictures in the paper of what certain potentates have donated to the school system, everyone has to donate to the school system and everyone does not a tax write-off for all they do!
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I agree, to have all of what you donated spread out on a table with two politicians smiling with a teacher is shameless self promotion. If the local politicians bought the space in the newspaper that is one thing-as a political ad, but anything else is just the newspaper pandering! I have always felt that when someone has to let everyone know what they are donating, it is not very genuine, shame on these two elected officials and the teacher for going along with such a charade!
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Read local newspapers. Look at the Madison, Dixie, Levy, Taylor County newspapers. This is what is called community news. If you have an issue with what your local paper prints you do not have to buy it. Choose to gather your local news another way. Many people who donate do so not requesting such fanfare but many of the recipients will place the pictures as a way of saying "Thank You" for caring about our community and what you do. I see pictures every week of businesses donating and does anyone complain ? No they may go by that business and say thank you for such donation. Every year I see the same volunteers at the Festival. Where are the so called volunteers you rant and rave about. Visit the classrooms and where are all the parental volunteers you rant and rave about ? I see the same 20% volunteering everywhere and donating. Maybe somewhere there is an underground group of volunteers awaiting to hatch and come forth
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Good luck with that! For living out of town for 10 years+ you sure seem to appear to feel that you have the pulse of trailer county. Volunteers are everywhere (not just the festival), and volunteer every day...without being featured in the mullet wrapper. Any activity in the county involving children, school aged children, churches, old folk, poor folk, disadvantaged folk, ect......have volunteers. These volunteers are not trying to get jobs in the courthouse or school district. They volunteer for bigger reasons, not for money, glory or re-election campaigns! I would not be touting the validity of community news from the collection of newspapers in the region. I do not know much about Levy or Dixie County, but the editors/publishers of the mullet wrapper in Taylor and Madison counties leave much to be desired, are whores to their respective advertisers, and a whole host of personal bias issues. Albeit more colorful, Green Publishing, Madison appears to publish a better newspaper with more community news. Taylor's paper is just crony jibberish back patting. LOL!!!
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I have lived out of town 10 years and I guess I do have a better view of things. I read the newspaper(s) and from an outside view I can plainly see what goes on. I can see the same people who have volunteered over the years volunteering. Same names Same faces different year. I have spoken to teachers at football games or many different places and the same story every year. The same people support their community and then you have the same whiners and complainers. Public servants for years have gave and gave to the community. Why ? because in every community it is expected of them. People take it for granted when these people volunteer their time and money. If you have such a beef with what they have given why are you so up in arms about it ? Maybe your cause was left out ? Why are you so up in arms about their picture in the paper ? I see the local Badcock owner's picture in the paper when he donates something. I see the Ware Oil company executives picture in the paper when they donate something. I see Local bankers and others with their pictures in the paper. What in the world have you against these two public servants /business owners ? You dislike your community and keep calling it "trailer county". Again I will say if you are so emotionally damaged and feel so degraded by your community pack up your belongings and do something about it. Hwy 19 runs North and South and is a easy path to follow out of town. I found it and like I stated sometimes I regret leaving Taylor County. Why because as stated there are some of the finest people in the world there. The key word is some. What I do not miss is the pettiness of such as I see going on now. Just because somewhere along the line someone didn't bow down and worship at your mighty altar and appease a cause of yours or someone else's in the community people someone feels they have to attack ones character. If you want your picture in the paper please Call Don Lincoln, have it printed and I will personally buy you a full page ad so you do not feel left out.
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Well that teacher that is smiling happens to be someone that cares about these 2 people very much and that cares about each child that attends Taylor County School System. I don't know what we would do in the school system if we didn't have people like this that happen to not only care about the kids but also about the people that work in the school system. These 2 people along with others I would like to Thank for all that they have done for Taylor County. I guess whoever this person is that wrote this has nothing better to do. I myself will continue to support anybody that helps a child!
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Get your children out of failing schools or else the future is a repeat of the past
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Fenholloway River has not been killed
A recent letter writer stated that the Fenholloway River had been "killed" and that plans were afoot to pipe pollutants "directly into the gulf." That's not quite right.
Happily, the Fenholloway River has not been killed. In 2003 biologists with the U. S. Geological Survey collected bluegills, red bellies, warmouth, bass, several species of catfish as well as bowfin and gar in the Fenholloway. They also collected tarpon just below the outfall of Taylor County's pulp mill.
The biologists stated at the time, "The fish were of good size and showed no sores or lesions. We dissected some of them and found no parasites. There were generally healthy and we collected them equally well at all the sites."
True, that could not have been said 50 years ago - but this is not 50 years ago.
Now, about the pipe: One option to improve the Fenholloway that was briefly investigated in 1991 - and discarded - involved building a pipeline to carry treated pulp mill wastewater into the gulf. Contrary to what was written in the recent letter to the editor, direct gulf discharge has not been under consideration for the past 14 years. The proposed relocation of the treated wastewater within the Fenholloway does not involve direct gulf discharge.
The Fenholloway River does need significant improvement. They will require the use of good science, the continued use of best available technology, cooperation between regulatory agencies, and the investment of tens of millions of dollars by the private sector. The promotion of inaccurate and wildly pessimistic environmental assessments is not particularly helpful.
The Perry-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce supports restoring the Fenholloway to fishable and swimmable conditions and to continued protection of gulf waters.
MARK SOUTHERLAND
Chairman
As read/printed in Perrynews Inc
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Mr. McCoy,
Can you say misery merchants?
Ask the misery merchants to leave and refrain from asking the good people of Taylor County to leave. It's plain rude and since you no longer live here, you may ask the misery merchants to join you. Have a nice day.
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Who is asking the good people of Taylor County to leave ? I simply gave instructions to the poor misguided soul whom is so tortured by and I use their quote"trailer County" on how to leave town. They are so miserable living there that the are having what appears to be a mental breakdown. As far as the merchants you ask to leave? Remember they pay more taxes than one as an independent homeowner. They do not have the ability to take advantage of homestead exemption, the save our Homes initiative, nor the ability for their property taxes to be capped. The more "misery merchants" as you quote them, who leave or relocate only places a larger tax burden on the independent homeowner.
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20 senate seats
120 representatives
Lots of change coming to a county near you.
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Higher taxes and fees or vote 'em all out? Well we already have the higher taxes and fees the only thing left is to vote'em out.
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343,000 farm green belt acres pays whose tax? Get real. You appear to be misguided and one sided. Highway 19 north and south. good bye
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If there is such a crime committed call for an investigation. Can you prove it ? If everything is so evident as you say let us stand on the Court House steps and claim it together. What have we to lose ? I am open and public and hide behind no pseudonym on here name the time and I will meet you there. The governor can have the FDLE come in and investigate it. If it is as widespread as you proclaim we will be heroes! Again I take no bearing on anyone who is too cowardly to post a name with their post. Anyone can hide behind a pseudonym.
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McCoy, LOL! Tabatha, LOL. Tabatha are you blogging while you should be teaching your class? Have you featured every parent in a photo-op that has donated to the school? Your class? I do not think folks want to leave "trailer county", they are just tired of the mis-management of the school district, the cronyism, the crime associated with the management of the school district and these few self important folks that ruin the community for everyone else. Keep the retardlican ideology to your self, our community has no time for thug politics and anti-government ideology. I wonder how many of the folks around here actually pay any taxes at all. There are certainly is a wide range amount of taxes paid on comp homes, some pay few taxes, some pay a lot and it appears that some are getting a under the table deal! I think everyone is voting all incumbents out of office in 2010, which will be a good thing, no incumbent that I have observed is even putting the time in to earn the check they are getting.
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As a fellow teacher in another school we are allowed a planning period, lunch hour or even a break what were you doing when you and chastising Tabitha ? Do you work ? Sit at home watch a soap opera ? Come volunteer with us. Thank you Mark for all you do for us and for the Children in our schools. We owe you for your undying gratitude and hard work you put in for us. Please pay no attention to the personal attacks leveled against you, your wife, or your business. by this individual or individuals.
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Can you spell audit findings? Take a look at the last few audits of the school district. Enough said! LOL!
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Looks like knee pads and chap stick stocks will be up soon.
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Great way to debate, if you can not say anything constructive attempt to establish a line of rhetoric with no meaning what so ever. Shows just how lome some people attempt to stoop when they can hide behind the stroke of a keyboard and have no backbone.
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http://www.taylorelections.com/
Better go back and look at that (two) referendum 2006, 2008 and tell us again who pays that tax. Oh that’s right “exemption” Now who the hell pays taxes and where is that exemption for citizens. Oh that’s right, there isn’t one.
What a joke.
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So we have several teachers blogging on school time when they should be working in the classroom. You have to wonder how teachers follow blogs and work the classroom. I think these teachers owe the tax payer and children an explanation! This must be part of the school board member-teacher interface! LOL! But it really is not funny, these teachers are stealing time from the district by blogging during school hours!
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We do not steal time as you so put it. We work extremely hard in and out of the classroom. We have lunch breaks and in some cases a planning period. As a teacher we earn every dime of our money. In many instances we spend more time with your children then you parents and we are the only discipline your children have. I agree the school board made some tough votes and moves, but these are decisions which had to be made. In defense of Mark he is always available when we have a question and or a concern. In my opinion he is the most available and the most concerned member of the school board. I appreciate Mark and his family for the support they give to the community and most especially the schools. I thank you McCoy for calling out the weak malacious attacks on Mark. This person and or people have nothing constructive to say and should be ashamed of theirselves. I instruct my students that if they can not say anything nice to not say anything all. They behave better than many of the adults in our community. Thank God for little ears that know how to behave.
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Great for you and Mark, but Mark's role as a school board member is not to answer questions and concerns of school district employees, that is for the elected superintendent and related employees. Your view is part of the problem with the mis-management of the school district. If a teacher is blogging during school hours they are not working, plain and simple. They are stealing by not providing the work they are being paid to do. I would commend you for not blogging at your tax-payer supported job.
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I teach in the primary school and I think Mark does an good job. I give 125% daily to my students and like another teacher said above in most family situations I am the only attention these children get. I love my students and I am glad to have a job. Do I think Mark has made all the greatest votes on some matters ? No, but I will have to say he is the fairest. I have to agree with what I have seen written on here that for what reason does a certain blogger(s)( and I question if it is one using many different names) has such a certain issue against Mark and or his family? I for one use my lunch break for personal matters also. I have quiet times when my work is done and I do handle other matters. We as teachers have moments where we have completed our work during the day and have a moment to catch our breath or do something else. Do we blog ? I haven't but if my work is done and I want to I will. I agree with what McCoy said also. We see the same parents here helping our kids volunteering and I personally thank each and everyone.
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So let me get this straight McCoy, you believe none of the sitting School Board Members bear any responsibility for the shape the School system is in, it's all the property tax amendment, and the economy. Your saying if the property tax amendment hadn't passed, and the economy had remained high, our school system would be fine, is that really what you mean?
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Can you tell me of any school district that was not faced with budget cuts in Florida ? I can tell you here in Alachua County alone they laid off 120+ teachers and the only reason any were hired back was due to the stimulus package. Is Taylor County's school board members responsible for the statewide shortfalls ? I know everyone is attempting to lay all the blame on the Taylor Board but they can not be blamed for statewide budget cuts in every district.
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McCoy, so I guess you don't believe any of the School Board Members are responsible for the mess, they never approved all those people that were hired when enrollment continued to decline, they haven't presided over the decline of TTI, they didn't vote to lay off teachers and hire coaches, they aren't responsible for any of this. Who is then? This was going on long before the economy declined, and before the property tax amendment. Who should we poor misguided Taylor Countians hold accountable? There's my real name that seems to be your major complaint. While we're on this subject, do you really believe people that agree with the Evolution Theory, worship Darwin, and Christians worship God, is that what you were taught about Evolution?
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Well this is a first, a teacher that is satisfied with the way things are. McCoy and yourself are completely happy with the way things have been run in the School System for the past 4 years. McCoy I can excuse, he doesn't live here, and he has family ties, but a teacher that is happy with the way things have been run for the past 4 years and I guess longer, well that is really something.
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McCoy “if I used my real name everyone would know who I am” your words? Now tell me again whose hiding where? Is it possible for anyone in this community to place principles above personalities? In other words can the truth be told without blame, shame and defense? I do not think so.
Y’all tickle me.
As for “trailer county” you must not have read the original post which said “this is what others are saying behind our back while laughing at Taylor County”. It’s not being said here just to insult you it’s simply being repeated.
Of course there are those who care little about the good name and reputation of our county and our good people. Now if that statement offends you then you will certainly not be ready to hear what else is being said.
Many of us have to stand and defend the good people of this county while the one’s you praise so highly run us all amuck. Your attempt to make the locals the bad guys in all of this is truly insulting and that should offend everyone who lives here.
So now let me enlighten you to some of the bad publicity.
“The Fenholloway River happily has not been killed.” Duh. Outsiders call our river the sh**haulaway river and say that anyone who promotes it are “turd polishers”. That came out of a state agency employee’s husband’s mouth. This was said directly to me as a person from Taylor County. This happened while a Taylor County citizen was a sitting member on the agency’s board. It’s hard to be proud of that. So now tell me how we got this reputation? Please get over your poor pitiful self whining and complaining about a place you once lived. Those of us who live here have to put up with this type of hype all the time. It’s embarrassing, degrading, and insulting. And tell me how complimenting the local leadership improves this situation. I think your hype is all gripe.
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creekgazer I have no gripe. I do have two children living there and one when he gets out of boot camp( serving in National Guard) will be relocating back there. I will say that if your cause is so great come out and name yourself. Again I pay no attention to someone who can not identify their selves to a cause. If you are tired of the hype move away from Taylor County. Otherwise, get up off your toad stool and be a difference in the community.
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I’ve heard Taylor County described as “Darwin’s Waiting Room” and now I know why.
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Better place to live than the putrid dish Mike O'Risal's evolved from.
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Why has this thread become a Mark Southerland topic. I am no Mark fan, but there are other school board members and elections next year. Let's move on to antoher race/topic. We all see what a polarizing figure Mark has become, vote for the other candidate.
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You are right in asking why this turned into a Mark topic. If he is planning on running again, he can't by this kind of publicity. In my opinion, it seems people everywhere are finally beginning to get tired of people being, to keep it simple, mean. I am beginning to see people of all walks of life get tired of people being hateful just because the can. What that does is bring people out in droves in defense of the individual and catapult them over the other. It also amazes me that people complain when a public servant gives back, but then complains when a public servant doesn't. Can't have it both ways, and I feel it shows they actually do care when they give that tax-payer salary back in some fashion. If you don't like the incumbent, either run against them, actually get out and publicly campaign for your candidate, post comments that promote your candidate and discredits the others job performance or simply vote and hope everyone else votes like you.
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Well worded.
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Finally someone to post with some fortitude! Someone who is not afraid to hide behind their keystroke of a keyboard. I am amazed. I think this school district is in most of it's trouble due to the economy and the property tax amendment. Can you tell me of a district anywhere within the State of Florida not faced with budget cuts ? I do not think so. All school districts were faced with tough decisions. The School Board is in a "damned if you do or damned if you don't situation" If the teachers were not needed then they had to be axed. General Motors and many other companies made staff cuts also this year. Business is business and the School Board is a business. As far as a coach the School needed a coach. The previous one was not getting the job done. Football games can be a profitable revenue if the team is turned around and becomes a winning team. ( Kudos to the new coach by the way I read in the paper he won again last night). As far as who is held accountable ? How many school board meetings do you attend ? Have you ever attended one ? I took the time to call Friday and inquire as to how many people of the public attended the last budget meeting. Besides school personal the answer is zero, zilch, and none. Real concerned as a citizen of that budget, weren't you Curtis . Now do you care to discuss politics or Evolution ? I thought this thread was about politics.
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Just a quick history refresher... The district began operating at a deficit in the 2005-2006 fiscal year, and the deficit continued to grow until the state stepped in in 2008.
So while the current economic climate has certainly made things worse, the problems began long before that.
As for whether the school needed to bring in a coach... Well, that's debatable. Some schools (like NFCC) have gone so far as to eliminate athletics. A dramatic move, to be sure--but if given the choice between athletics and academics, academics have to win. But also remember that some employees had volunteered to coach for free, meaning that new people didn't have to be brought in at additional cost--that was another contentious issue.
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Thank you...very true.
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Lets revisit the coaching for free deal, these two fine gentlemen were strickly trying to save their jobs. Their plan to not hire a new head coach was to get their existing supplement and split the athletic directors pay, by sharing the duties. This I know because I saw the plan. It was the only way that they could find to keep their existing job. They wanted to save one coaching position by doing this. The board had already decided not to have as many assit. coaches as it was, therfore no savings would have been made.The older of the two coaches was coming up on a profeional contract and therefore this was his only chance at that, he had been told already that he would not retained, the secon coach as good a person as he is, wanted to just keep a job, he was on a continuing contract, because he had not been in the system long enough. so for the savings there would not have been any. As admirable as this seems it was simply a ploy for them to keep a job. By putting it out in the public there plan backfired from lack of support from the administration. It was simple they had not helped the previous coach win, so the same pattern would be there again. To have balance in the school and to keep your school population up you have to have athletics, alot of kids this is all that keeps the in school, a chance to play at a higher level, and to play their grades have to stay up. I am nbot saying sports is the savior of the academic system but it is a vital part of it. So before we bring up old topics get your facts straight first.
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Could you please quantify the relationship between athletics and school population?
Let's say, for example, that the TCHS football program had to take a two-year hiatus during the economic crisis. How many students would you estimate would drop out of school as a result?
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You Sir brought up Evolution, not I, yes I have attended School Board meetings, but when they are held during lunch on a business day it's difficult to attend, besides I'm sure it lasted more than an hour, that's all most people get for lunch. Do you really think it was scheduled during lunch for the convenience of the public? Why did the School Board continue to hire un-needed employees, was it because they knew a property tax amendment was going to pass, or they knew the economy was going to decline, these employees weren't hired in the past 2 years, this has been going on a long time. I want something different, so I won't be voting for any incumbent.
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I brought up evolution because it was mentioned in the beginning of the thread. As far as whether or not you vote for an incumbent or not I could care less, I am glad to know you vote. However, I would hope you would have the nerve to vote for the best candidate whether or not he/she is an incumbent or a challenger.
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I feel that the consensus of the community is that the school district is a complete train wreck and the entire school board needs to be replaced, if several at a time. The community had hoped that the superintendent would be a positive step, however he has proved in his short time to be more of the same. [Now do not blog that he has only been there a short time and blah,blah, blah....unless you are willing to give the same to Obama! LOL!]
The same unfortunately applies to the board of county commissioners. I wonder some days what happens when good people are elected and turn into bad politicians who appear to incapable of making good decisions. Does power corrupt?
The City of Perry, well....I stop here.
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What has been done with the Football Coach, has been done, the people on the Board and the Superintendent all approved the hiring of the head coach, and the assistant coach. I don't blame the two coaches that were already hired for trying to save their jobs. But our Superintendent and our Board decided it was important to have a New coach and Assistant to try and build a winning team. If you think Football is the number one priority for our school system, then vote for Brenda Carlton, Danny Lundy, and Mark Southerland, if you think more emphasis should be placed on teachers and education then vote for someone else. If Carlton, Lundy, and Southerland are re-elected, then Taylor County has spoken, the majority that vote will have said, they are happy with things the way they are. I personally know of 4 young people, 3 Graduated Taylor High, 1 did High School Completion, none can read, they are too proud or embarrassed to try to get help, or to let me help them, I really don't know what will become of them, minimum wage jobs probably, it's very sad. I prefer something different I will not vote for an incumbent, if you want change vote for it, if what you vote in doesn't do what you want, vote someone else in. Our young people are suffering, they are being left behind, something has to change.
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From reading your post, I can clearly see why you only have four friends.....
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Really? What exactly about my post, made you think I only have 4 friends? Do you think because I believe school is about education I would only have 4 friends, I really don't see what would lead you to believe that, only that YOU disagree with me. You have that right, and you have the right to be rude also.
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I can say if that is true about the four students then pride will certainly be their downfall. How can they as members of society be nothing more than a drag on the community? Most of the blame rests on them as students. Can you honestly tell me that for what 10 years they passed through teacher's classrooms and not the first teacher showed any concern ? If they could not read how could they pass the FCAT or placement tests ? Were they mentally disabled or handicapped and just moved through the system? I find that hard to believe and if the blame rests on anyone I would place it on them for being lazy and not applying their selves. Now to address the sports part of the question I for one believe that any extra-curricular program is important. Whether it is the music, arts band, and or athletics.
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ou are right McCoy, we better get togeather with Curtis then and run a campaign against all the politicians in Tallahassee, because those four students got by the FCAT test, that must mean the political figures up their did not do their job.
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The art of flowery speech has never been my strong point. I am of the mind set which says “tell it like it is” not as we perceive it to be. A prior post began a some what famous quote that I will attempt to complete “First comes money then comes power, power corrupts and absolutely power corrupts absolutely”. Loving Taylor County “warts and all” will certainly salve one’s conscience but fails to address any current issue with actions for improvement.
There was a time when I believed the conspiracy theory of graft, thief, and corruption as the motivations for imbecilic decisions made by governing boards of Taylor County and advisory commissions to state agencies. Today I know the real motivation is incompetence. People in places of power who lack ability and skill to perform task required to manage a city, county or state with massive growth issues and depletion of natural resources for private gain without benefits/profits in the best interest of the ordinary citizen.
Poor performance standards are continuously accepted by the public at large on numerous election days. This is history. This is the past and this will not continue in the future. But not to worry, those following along after the current establishment promoters of bad policy and law will face an electorate less appreciative of pitiable attempts to perform or improve issues based on quality of life.
80 million Americans, the millennium generation will set and apply the standards of tomorrow. Everyone working together to make a difference or the minority being completely left out of the process are the only options. Whiners and complainers do have choices. To the tea party crowd and the darlings of economic development I say Good luck with that.
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Well they may can pass the Fcat, but they can't read and follow directions, or the newspaper, joke if you will, if you want things to remain as they are, vote for the people that are already on the board, if your not happy with the way things are in the school system don't vote for an incumbent.
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The next war of the world will not be fought over oil; it will be fought over water.
One fifth of the world fresh water supply is in one lake in Russia. It’s safe to assume that with this much fresh water Russia will be the emerging super power. The only other pulp mill similar to the one on Lake Baikal in Russia is the pulp mill in Perry. The Russians have closed their mill and have stopped the pollution of the lake.
So go ahead Taylor County have a parade to celebrate the pine trees which are the source and supply to the mill. Let Bo Taft lead the parade down Jefferson Street as representative of the largest land holder in the county. I am sure Mr Taft is so proud of that 2060 visioning plan. Be sure to thank the public relations/lobbyist for promoting the sweet deal for your children. Shake hands with and pat the backs of your BBoCC member for the good decision making. But most important, make sure you vote for the same old BBoCC member in your district next election day to show approval of deal making to ensure the water is all used up by those who deserve a better deal than the citizens.
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Have you kissed your turtle kissing tree hugger today ?
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Did you mean toad? If the trees and turtles can not live here just maybe you can't either. So say the lame crusaders of indutrial waste of natural resources.
" If you must be an ass, please be a smartass not a dumbass." Have you hugged yor pine tree today?
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Okay I see just Saying, it's okay for people to get on here and be hateful and cruel about someone, but someone fires back hits a nerve, and again the whioning starts, let me say things about others but by no means let someone say anything about me.
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I believe Turtle Kisser stepped on someone's nerve. I agree that we should be good stewards to the enviroment but much of it has to be based on common sense. The problem is the US is one of the most enviromentally friendly countries in the world, especially when you compare us to Communist China who is doing much more damage to the enviroment than any modern country by far. I also believe I read somewhere that in South America where they use bio-diesel the aerial pollution is much worse than in many American cities. So it seems we may be no better off than using fossil fuels. Personally I would like to see us use much more Natural Gas as it is more readily available.
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Little Johnny stuck his head in the oven so I did too. That would seem like a good excuse to whom? China doesn’t do the right thing and so the U.S. should be excused from doing the right thing. Wrong. Lead by example. Stop the whining and lint picking others to support wrong actions. There is no excuse like a poor excuse. There is no excuse acceptable for knowing what the right things to do are and not doing the right things. It makes no difference what “little Johnny” does our challenge is to do the right thing no matter what others do.
The prior two post appear to me as dishing it out while being unable to take it. They tell me turn about is fair play. Which reality plain does one live on where it is okay to talk smack and then whine when a smack back comes. What did you expect?
A shift of responsibility to others for our actions is avoidance of consequence for actions taken. So run that lame justification down to someone else. I challenge ignorance where I see it.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/science/earth/01epa.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
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I don't think anyone in the U.S. is sticking their head in the sand. I know it's impossible to compete globally with countries that do stick their head in the sand. What costs us $100 to produce they can produce it for $10.
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Isn't that what tariff's were made for, the Chinese Government and their Corporations do not care about their workers, they don't pay good wages, they work children. Before US Corporations bought Washington, we would tack a tariff on goods from China, that would make our products competitive, but our need to buy ever cheaper products, and corporate greed did away with those. You can't buy cheap Barbie's, and Tonka Trucks made in China, imported with no tariff's, and expect Americans to work and maintain their standard of living. The money isn't going to the Chinese people, it's going to the Chinese Government, and our Multi-National Corporations.
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So your argument is that Americans' standard of living will increase by jacking up the prices of their merchandise? Most middle-class Americans couldn't afford Barbies and Tonka Trucks if they were made in America. Labor here is simply too expensive.
With a few exceptions, America has little choice but to get out of the business of making things. We need to focus on service and knowledge work--not manufacturing. To be competitive, we need to be doing things that can't be offshored for a fraction of the cost.
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Blah Blah Blah, from Mark Southerland to somt type of Chinese conspiracy, sounds like the faux news glen beck show or cnn's lou dobbs, both mindless talking heads! Free Roman Polanski! LOL!!!!
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Only a sick Ba$stard would want to free Roman Polanski...
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Sic Bas - In regards to the "free roman polanski": I know they are big words for trailer county, but it is called "sarcasm" or being "facetious". Kind of like faux news, but at least it got a response! LOLLLLLLL!
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No one said anything about a Chinese conspiracy, what I stated was fact, if you don't see the problems that has created, I don't know what to tell you.
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What happened then, we used to make them and buy them here. Are Unions to blame? Would these corporations ship jobs overseas, if it cost just as much to import it here, as they saved to make it somewhere else? I don't know what the answer is, your probably right, we are changing to a service based economy.
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Service/knowledge based economy is an old concept (twenty years plus). The jobs shipped off shore are not as big an issue as profits from subsidized industry held off shore in “shell companies” (for lack of better description) in the islands countries to avoid liability. These companies are most often incorporated in Delaware and some are housed in Florida. These companies re-invest in Florida in order to secure more funding/subsidizes without corporate income taxes paid and other Florida State incentives. Paying to keep those jobs here and that never materializes.Looks real good on paper and operates with out scrutiny from regulatory agency(s). Its real good return on investment if you can get in on the deal and most affected citizens are as a rule excluded from all formula assessments this is the obvious downside. Look here Bubba ain’t as dumb as some would believe.
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I just got on this topic and slogged through all 9 pages of it. All I can say is Wow. I think there are 2 kinds of people on this site. There are those who are sincerely interested in how to make things better and then there are those who are just bitching and moaning.
Let me first say that I love Taylor County warts and all. I wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. And I am very much interested in making it a better place.
As for Mark Southerland…..I think the attacks on him are way overblown. Is Mark holding political office strictly for personal gain? I doubt it. Does he have some ulterior motives? I have no idea. But I do know one thing about him….he does do things for people out of the goodness of his heart. Some of what he does may be publicized, but not all. I know of things he has done for others, for people who sincerely needed help, and no one asked him to, and it never appeared in the paper. Mark has a heart. Is he perfect? I doubt it. None of us are.
As for the school system….again some of you are hurling personal attacks on individuals, some of it unfairly. Now I don’t know everything about everything but there are a few things I do know having been in the school system for a long time. Some of what I know, I learned years ago, and if what I say has changed and someone knows better, please correct me.
First of all, the way the school system is set up, when they have to cut teachers (I don’t know about administrators), they go strictly by seniority. It doesn’t matter how good or sorry a teacher you are. What matters is how long you’ve been there. What that means is that you’re gonna keep some really sorry do nothing teachers and you’re gonna cut some really good fresh young teachers. Terrible but true. I think the system is moving toward getting away from that standard but it’s not in place yet. I know a lot of people are mad about that. But don’t blame Paul Dyal, because he is just going by the rules! Continued…..
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And speaking of Paul: is he a great superintendent? I don’t know yet. I’m still watching. He inherited a mess and he has had to do some hard things. He didn’t have any choice. He had to and he had to follow the protocol of how to cut people. If you don’t like how he did it, work to change the rules of the education system! Don’t blame it on him!
As for the school board….one disturbing fact that was true the last time I checked (which was during Lester Padgett’s administration) is that the school board can only address things that are brought before them! Has that changed? If not, that’s kinda scary. Seems like a school board member, if they hear of a problem, should be able to put it on the agenda to be discussed. That would be great.
Another disturbing thing to me is….there is only one financial officer. Only one person in this county knows the real deal when it comes to finances. One school board member (not a current one) told me that the financial officer could print out a report, and all he would see was a page full of numbers. He could in no way tell whether it was “right” or not. I think there should be more than one person involved with the finances. Two heads are better than one, and it might discourage any shady finagling. I am in no way saying that the current financial officer is engaged in anything shady. I’m saying that more than one person should be involved with the finances.
As far as incumbents…there is an old saying….”Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. I don’t think we should leave anyone in a powerful position too long. But that’s just my opinion.
I said earlier that I love Taylor County. I’m interested in making it a better place, but the way to do that is to work through the channels that are already there! There are more of “us” than there are of “them”. But we have to be students of the system. If you think someone is abusing their post, do something about it! Run for office or encourage a good person to do it. Or confront them about it! One problem with a small town is finding good people to go for it. There have been LOTS of occasions where there was no one else to vote for…so we get the same ole same ole.
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This was in intelegent post, THANKS.
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It's correct that the Board doesn't control the agenda. I don't believe this is a local issue,though; it's a matter of the corporate governance structure of school districts. That said, I'm not aware of any instances of the superintendent refusing to allow a board member to discuss something.
The Director of Finance does have an assistant who (hopefully) is relatively well cross-trained and can serve as a system of checks-and-balances. School finances are certainly incredibly complex, amd I'm not sure what a perfect solution would be. Two directors? At a cost of nearly $80,000 each? That doesn't seem feasible.
Do bear in mind that the state anually audits the district's finances. That's how the current mess came to light--although one has to wonder why it took several years for the state to realize that the district was spending at a deficit.
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I know Mark as well and a lot of what you say, in my opinion is not true. People like and/or dislike other people for good reason based on their experience. I do not hate Mark, but pray for him. I am aware of some very unsavory things Mark has done as a school board member, Mark knows. Like Forest Gump, "that is all I am going to say about that". We are all sinners, but when you are an elected official and have a fiduciary responsibility, you have an obligation to do right by the office you have been elected to. It seems that in this county we have historically elected people who are less than honest and it has often said that "at least he is our crook". Well, that is not good enough. Part of the problem with the school system is that it continues to be operated like it is 1950 or something. We are in the 21st century and things have to be managed and operated in a proper context. I think the governor should step in and replace the entire school board. The cronyism and such that has gone on continues to go against "we in it for the kids" that was so popular during the Oscar era. I think the school board members should keep their noses out of day-to-day operations of the district and in personnel matters. I agree that there needs to be additional checks and balances with the finance office. I was never a Vince Dorman fan and he ran the finance department in the same manner that has got the district in financial difficulty. I am not sure the current finance director knows what she is doing, you oftgen see a blank stare on her face when things come up at the school board meeting. I do feel that the school board budget is a budget that changes as the budget year passes and I wonder how the district keeps the school sites and administrators in the approved budget. You would think that quarterly there would be an approved budget amendment to adjust as things change during the fiscal year. More resources should be put forth to maintain budget integrity and a level of trust with the district administrators that was lost long, long ago, as far back as Vince Dorman. I would like the school board to follow recommendations of the audit reports, their own policies and procedures, and be above reproach in matters relating to finances. As for Paul Dyal, he has yet to show that he has the qulaities needed, time will tell. I voted for Dyal, but it was really a vote against the other candidates. With all of Dyal's bad decisions, I would hate to think what it would be like if one of the other candidates won. I know in my heart that Dyal's tenure will be short, what we need to do as a community is to access who would be a good superintendant for the next term, start some planning to get a good candidate in the mix and elect that person. I know many a folk who discuss this everyday at the coffee klatsches around town, excluding the beer/liquor klatsch at the golf course, of course! LOL!!!!!
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Yee haww!! Hallejulah pray for me tooas we are all sinners and have fallen short of the Glory of God!
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Matt 7:2-5 "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged [if we judge with an evil heart or dark intent, His judgment of us will reflect it; if we judge nobly with honesty and justice, His judgment of us will reflect that, too], and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you [if we use extremes or exaggerations or other ignoble means, our judgment will reflect it and judging with fairness and compassion will garner likewise in His judgment of us]. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye [point out his sins, "minor" in Jesus' example here] and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye [our own sins, even and especially those we will not admit, magnified by our selective blindness]? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' tell him of his "minor" sins, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye that there are greater or the same sins in our own lives which we do nothing about or think we are above]? You hypocrite,pointing out the sins of others while by pretense thinking of ourselves as above sin, first take the plank out of your own eye sincerely ask the Lord for forgiveness and learn and live the Truth and Light by His Word, and then you will see clearly be in a righteous position to remove the speck from your brother's eye to judge and to help him out of his bondage to sin]." At Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan, Jesus was talking to the multitudes gathered there after hearing of His message and of His healings to beseech them to not become like the pharisees and hypocrites who think they are above sin.
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So Preacher, we should never judge, or we'll be judged by the same judgment. I don't mind that, I would expect anyone in political office to expect that, as I would anyone that works for me. I wouldn't go around judging people on the street for their actions, unless they affected me. If you are paying someone to do a job and they don't perform as expected I think you and everyone else would either tell them so they could improve or fire them if no improvement is made, that isn't judging.
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For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
—Romans 1:16
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I fail to see the relevance of Romans 1:16 to this conversation.
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because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
—Romans 10:9-13
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It is kind of sacrilegious to include Jesus in a discussion about all the politicians and related thugs in this county. Unless we are praying Jesus' name that these folks would see it in their collective hearts to do what is right, just and...legal.
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Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
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Are you one of those clergy who quote all the scipture, but still would go to their "buddy" in the courthouse to get a DUI or other crime thrown out for one of their flock? The scripture is fine and good, but typically when someone over does the scripture thing they are over compensating for their own failures. We are all sinners and some of you folks are going to be surprised when we get to heaven and see who else is there! LOL!
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Preacher thank you for the good word from the good book, Paul was a wise teacher his letters to the Romans were great counsel. On this we both agree. My opinion on the use of the term “judging” as a platform to base a written opinion published on this blog/ opinion page is extreme in context so, on this point I disagree. There is simple negative and positive reaction to all actions. Correct action is by far a harder task to accomplish. It is much easier to participate in negative vs. positive until stalemate rather than to consider correct action as the obvious solution.
The negative term judging and warning text of recrimination to describe criticisms of conduct and performance of the county leadership teams/boards is way over stated. I base this opinion on my childhood raising. The irony of your sermon is this “Jesus the great teacher broke bread with the tax collector. Do you think? Jesus asked the tax collector how to avoid paying his taxes legally? wwJd? Another irony of criticism thought to be judgment is Jesus the great teacher criticized the leadership team and we all know what happen next.
“Judge not lest ye be judged” negatively implies to criticize is to be judged and harshly. This may be seen to those/some morally challenged individuals as positive reaction equal to a negative reaction. It simply kills time while avoiding the initial action’s response consequence. It is a lot like justification and rationalization gets you off the accountability hook for short periods of time. If the criticisms seems too harsh, why not try corrective action as a solution to the problem and avoid the wallow process altogether?
Jesus wept and I understand.
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I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
—Matthew 12:36-37
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Jesus walked the water and I know that is true
Sometimes I think that preacher man would like to do a little walking too.
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The simple minded And the uninformed
Can be easily led astray, And those that cannot connect the dots Hey look the other way, People believe what they want to believe When it makes no sense at all, So becareful of those who Kill in Jesus Name and don’t beleive in Killing at all.
So be careful in what you believe in
There's plenty to get you confused,
And in this land called paradise
You must walk in many men's shoes,
Bigotry and hatred are enemies to us all
Grace, mercy and forgiveness Will help a man walk tall.
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You've been a messin' where you shouldn't have been a messin'
and now someone else is gettin' all your best.
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.
You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin'
and you keep losin' when you oughta not bet.
You keep samin' when you oughta be a changin'.
Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet.
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.
You keep playin' where you shouldn't be a playin
and you keep thinkin' that you´ll never get burnt.
Ha!
I just found me a brand new box of matches yeah
and what he knows you ain't HAD time to learn.
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.
Are you ready boots? Start walkin'!
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Woohoo…Daisy
Now tell me dear are those boots really kickers or just low heel waders?
A perfect example of dysfunctional Taylor County attitudes used to chastise anyone voicing dissent to ridiculous county approval of tax payer funding for special interest deal-making. This type of behavior promotes a culture of abuse and disrespect for others. To those who would climb up that dung hill to proclaim moral supremacy I say you are going need those boots.
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Those boots would look good kicking your a$$
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“Love is hard to find in the church of the poison mind”
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Come my children, let us not resort to violence here:
Well I’m tired and I'm weary
But I must go alone
Till the lord comes and calls my soul away
Well the morning will be so bright
And the lamb will be the light
And the night will be black as the sea
There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, sorrow
No trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me
Well the bear will be gentle
And the wolf will be tame
And the lion will lay down by the lamb
And the beasts from the wild
They'll be led by a little child
And I'll be changed from this creature that I am
There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me
Let There Be Peace In The Valley, Oh Lord I Pray
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Preacher, If you have something to say, say it. If not, go away. I can read the bible for myself and don't need you to quote it to me. If you want to start a debate about the bible, start your own blog. I am a Christian and I know and believe what the bible says. This discussion is about the political candidates, not the bible or anyone's personal beliefs. I want to know about the candidates so I can make an informed decision, that's why I read this blog. If I want to be preached to, I'll go talk to my pastor.
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Very well said. I wonder if Preacher is a member of our School Board?
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Let the preacher alone. He is obviously connected to P&G Presbyterian and Buckeye Baptist the churches of political influence.
Now if this comment offends you and you heard it first here, consider this, it has been said for ages behind your backs. It is sorta like that old saying “if you can smell it, other people have been smelling it for seven days”.
It is time to come right out and say what’s real or else the delusional decision maker/politician will never hear anything but “good job” from the folks that promote bad deals.
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I am associated with neither of the above referenced churches or employment mentioned above but I am a member of the Lord 0f Lords open arms. May I ask if thou art of the same my brethren ?
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without
expecting to get anything back.Then your reward will be great, and you
will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Luke 6:35
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People, people, people this is the roving Baptist preacher from Perry, just read what he says.....
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I would like to ask that if you use 'Taylor County Citizen' as a pseudonym that you follow it with a number or the word too or also. He has been using that name since the beginning and he was one of the original participants, and I would like to appreciate that. Thanks for your cooperation.
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Someone did not pay attention in class that today ridiculous is spelled r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s. Now I know I taught my pupils better than that!
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Why thank you English Teacher, but I do have spell check on my computer, so I know the correct spelling, but again thanks for pointing out a perceived error, was that all that you dis-agreed with or was there something else?
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Outside of those being ethically challenged; I feel that we could solve a lot of problems in our county with term limits of local potentates. Term limits for all of the constitutional officers in the courthouse, county commissioners, city councul and school board members. We can thank these individuals for their service, get some new leadership in these positions and cut down on the cronyism, ect....These folks do not own the courthouse, courtroom, school house or any other item under their control. We, as tax payers of the community own these things. They are just the custodians for a short time. I really do not see that some of these people who have been sitting in these positions leave office with anthing accomplished, look at the school district, property appraisers' office, court system...they are and will not be "better" when these career elected officals leave office, the only thing that is in better shape is their respective retirement accounts, and that is all most are working for. You do not see any of these "leaders" out in the community, helping to better the community or giving back, unless it is purchasing a newspaper ad. And that just lines the pocket of part of the problem.
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The problem I have with term limits is that it takes power away from the voters--something I think is a dangerous thing to do in a democracy.
The idea seems to be that voters just aren's smart enough to vote corrupt or ineffective politicians out of office. And the truth is, sometimes they aren't. But in the end, that should be their choice to make--they're the ones who must live with the consequences.
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Excelent commentary asap. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas. This just goes to show what good ideas are out there from those who love and care about this county and all the people. ASAP please consider running for office in 2010. Taylor County deserves thoughtful/respectful leadership.
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Great commentary but NO backbone. All we hear is someone complaining about local politics. I see NO one complaing about state and national politics. You people complain and the only reason some of you are complaining is somewhere along the line someone pissed in your cornflakes. Someone couldn't scratch your underbelly and pave your road. They arrested your crack dealing whore or son.Maybe they kicked your juvenile child out of school for beaking the law and you claim these people are "potentates". All they are doing is abiding by the law and doing the best they can. You complain and moan because the school board has been made to make cuts and you claim cronyism.You claim impropertities knowing dad gum well there isn't any. I am tired of you people complaining, B**ching, and moaning about the local politicians who give their time and sacrafices for the betterment of the community. You complaining anuses are just that nothing but ruptured hemerroids.
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What u saying? Taylor County has a drug addiction problem? Can’t be true. Cause if there was a bad problem the county would have “a drug court” right?
NO, cause that would put your tax dollars to work improving your community and what kinda politician would do that?
Give’em a grin, tell’em they can win, and vote’em back in, so we can have discussion again.
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Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
Proverbs 13:24
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I appreciate your comments and I comment a lot on this blog, but none of your comments apply to me and I doubt many of the "local politicians" do as you say ("who give their time and sacrafices for the betterment of the community"). We do have many unsung heros in our community who do not get their picture in the paper handing out "gifts" and other items. Please give some examples of "time and sacrafices for the betterment of the community". These folks are paid for their time, I cannot recall any of the constitutional officers making such sacrifice. What have any of the two judges done? What has the clerk done? What has the tax collector done? What has the property appraise done? What has a member of the school board, county commission or city council done? I exclude any united way donation and/or any donation that most common folks make to the school, church and people collecting in front of hardees. What have they really done "for the betterment of the community" other than the jobs that they are paid very well for, heck try to find a judge on Friday afternoon, try to find their assistants half the time. I always just shake my head when I see a member of an board or council stroll into the meeting, meeting agenda and package inhand, unopened, sitting down and looking at the meeting materials for the first time as the meeting starts. Even some of our worst...worst elected officials in the last 30 years apeear to at least have opened the meeting packet prior to their arrival at the meeting. I want even go into sunshine law violations. Of course term limits would wrap this all up!
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Andy made some good comments and I somewhat agree with him. However I always hear about these suntime violations. If you have proof can we not prosecute them ? Would the Law Enforcement community not moved if there were such violations ? Do you gop to the meetings and acyually sit and watch these people open their packets ? You seem to know it all will you be running this election ? I wish to work on your campaign staff since you have all the answers to fix the community.
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Term Limits would clear up most of what is allying all of us...it would also give a fresh approach to what seems to be the same "old problems"...there is enough blame to go around..from the gov to unions, to all board members, past and current ...locally...also we the people who sat back and did not vote or did ..without doing our due diligent..we .had our hand in this too..
as for Sen Nelson...he is hiding behind closed doors and we who live in the SUNSHINE should question Why???? ARE YOU AFRAID??? that we might READ the bills and actually comprehend them??? and as for Rep Boyd I would stay out of Tallahassee if you don't want to get caught....it is out so again don't sell the Sod farm
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I have just got plain tickled with the latest round of Boyd political infomercials. Let's see; covered veterans-check, cover child molesters-check, covered the evil internets-check, covered health care for veterans-check.....I wonder what special interest group Boyd will tout helping next; starving kids, abused spouses, poor broke farmers, NRA members or (insert here) you pick the group. Fact is Boyd needs to go home, part of the problem is these career politicians, like Boyd. Boyd histroically has done nothing unless you are part of an elite group or friends. Boyd was not dynamic when serving in the Florida House and has not been dynamic in Washington. We need some new blood and representation, goodbye Allen!
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Allen is one of those politicians that is a compltely different person when he's home. He talks conservative when he's here and votes the typical party line in Washington. Seems like we have all been warned about those that "speaketh with a forked tongue".
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I too, watched Mr. Boyd on TV, and was fascinated by the content of the ad.
The part about the VA clinic in Tallahassee was most interesting. The VA clinic in Tallahassee is on Hwy 90 and has been for years. This is well known to those who transport veterans to their VA/doctor’s appointments from Taylor County.
This is the dirty underbelly of politics avoiding blame for things done and taking credit for things that others do is the norm in the political realm. Politicians are capable of performing for the media some of the funniest material ever witnessed with a straight face and fane true indignation when challenged on the topics. I watched the latest TV ad and was amused.
Since the topic/discussion of volunteerism has been brought up by some postings, here is my two cents.
There are many in this community who give their time, money and energy to perform acts of kindness and assistance without blowing their own horn. They are the unsung heroes of our community. They give without expectation of reward or recognition. Let me tell you where to find these individuals you never see in the paper or on TV.
Some are sitting in the waiting rooms of VA clinics and hospitals for hours to aid, support, and advocate, for veterans, transporting the veteran without pay or compensation for as much as 100-200 miles round trip.
Some are spending their day at food banks and clothes closets making sure the poor and disadvantaged have a good meal and a warm coat.
Some are building handicap ramps for the disabled veterans and elderly at no cost.
Some are visiting the sick and shut ins, preparing meals, changing beds sheets, and running errands.
How do I know this? I’ve watched them perform their tasks/good deeds with smiling facings, welcoming attitudes, and cheerful spirits. I admired them; aspire to be like them for they have beautiful souls.
As for the politician practicing self promotion, I think I’ll just put that old stuff out by the curb.
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'I see' has spoken volumes! God bless these unsung heros in our community. For the charlatans in our community that have to be featured in the paper when they do things, many of who are elected, shame on you. Everyone know how insincere you really are, only attending church during the election season, with children that are less than civil.
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The people of Taylor County and the state of Florida can not afford any more corporate welfare. Any company needing government subsidy (AIG bail-out types) to make a profit needs to go.
Stop the madness vote’em out this is a rip supported by all politicians all the way up the ladder. Bembry, Dean, Buckeye employee/ Taylor County Commissioners/ Perry City Counsel Members, Allen Boyd, Charles Bronson, Charlie Crist, etc… Got it?
Tallahassee Taylor County combines to rip off tax payer.
Check out House Bill 7229/HB7229 to see how tax payer subsidizes special interest again. How many times will a few jobs get a cut of the tax payer dollars to supply and support industry that can not operate without exemptions from laws?
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=44649&SessionIndex=-1&SessionId=64&BillText=&BillNumber=&BillSponsorIndex=0&BillListIndex=0&BillStatuteText=&BillTypeIndex=0&BillReferredIndex=0&HouseChamber=H&BillSearchIndex=19
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You forgot those morons on the school board who are up for re-election, the school board are some of the most fiduciary challenged of all the trailer county politicians. Even the business owners who should bring experience to the school board are less than able to read financial reports and make sound financial decisions for the school district. These folks are too busy trying to get a check out the front door and the back door since their own businesses are failing. And that is just the plain truth! Check the district check register and "manual checks".
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I've seen this alluded to before, and must plead ignorance.
What, exactly, is a manual check? In what way is it different from a regular check? The implication seems to be that manual checks are more secretive...
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The manual checks, as I understand it, are checks that do not appear in the check register and have been hand written and as you say "more secretive". This type of check was used for the trip last year for the football team and other "spoils" for Dyal and company. It would be hard for the average citizen to know how many manual checks have been written and to who, suffice to say the school board does not question this and may be implicated in this questionable practice that is "under the table". I would suspect one or more school board member or Dyal crony is benefiting personally from this these transactions, if not, why doesn't Dyal prepare a list of manual checks for all to see?
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I think Frank Russell should run for the school board seat in District 1. He's familiar with government workings, once worked for the school as a teacher, and knows how to read a financial report. Frank was a great commissioner and always went to the meeting prepared.
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I wish he would, but he lives at the beach.. Ok lets face the Facts NO One is running against these crooks.
Mrs. Fegal is the only one brave enough to have her name on Taylor Talk ( good and bad messages )and in the newspaper. No one is going to Run against Mark School Board Dist 1 they can't win his wife counts the votes , IF someone runs, he will call in their loans at South House and they will loose their furniture.
Mrs Carlton Can't be beat to big of a family, face it.
Danny Lundy is a preacher to big of a following, if he looses he will leave Pleasant Grove , so they keep him... Mark Wiggins will not draw anyone, Jack Brown will not let anyone run against him, they will loose their job in this county if they do. Jack controls Mark and the county elite , hold to many community and buckeye markers and it will cost someone too much money to run, Mark is paid too much as county Commissioner to let the 30,000.00 + extra 5,000.00 for being Chairman get away. His family is too rich to let that happen. Wife works for the county , and he and his parents are selling to many tires...
They only hope the citizens have is Pam Fegal, and Darell Gunter to change the County and City. Bob Brown cannot run Darrell and Jack Brown cannot run Pan Fegal.
But No Else has the money to battle the BOCC rich nor School Board , Dyal Crony racketeers there is too much money there and honest person cannot win.
That is why no one has signed up and will not sign up, it is so SAD we sold our county to the crooked rich , it is 1980 and the Von Whiddon Days all over again. Corruption breeds Corruption.
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Darrell Gunter? WTF?!! I agree there needs to be change, but Gunter would be more of the same, remember when he was on the BOCC? He would doom the city council with him being elected. Lawdy, lawdy.
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I understand your concern, I weighted it out too. But here is the reason , Experience Experience. Mrs. Holton is a great person , happy go lucky person. But no experience, She likes to party with her husband and cousin ( we got that with a council member and the mayor now , don't need any more ) and face book with her friends, not serious enough to make a million dollar judgment at this time. Maybe in 4 years
and training , YES she would be good. Not know though. Everyone knows Uncle Jack Brown would have too much influence and control on her too.
Yes Jack Brown County administrator is her uncle, get the picture now. ( Who's minding the store) Again there is No one stepping up to the plate, the older generation has no faith in the younger people to encourage them to run. Plus only the Rich can afford to support their children or themselves to run.
In Gunters Case he is living off his little store , wifes 2 jobs and grandfathers inhertience money. Why spend 20,000.00 to get a 12,500.00 job in the case of the City Council, or in the case of the Board of County Commissioners and School Board spending $50,000.00 to get a (BOCC) 30,000.00 &(S
Never in the county's history ( since 1856) has it been flawless. How can that be, when smarter wiser , and larger projects have been done in this county in years past with some questionable items. The county workers get no raise this year again. Jack Brown gets a 3% raise ($118,00.00) for a flawless report?? Ask a deputy who puts his life on the line who deserves a 3% raise a numbers juggler or a people protector.. This is Tax Payer Robbery. A CPA in this county for over 40 years says there is no such thing as a "flawless" audit, ask Enron it is called cooked books. These are facts not wishes. People we need to get somebody to make these crooks spend the money they stole by running against them , or we should vote them out of office. I am too old and strong willed to run, but somebody run against them all please . But call for a state independent vote count, from Tallahassee's elections office. Do not let Southerland count her husbands votes.
That is against the law, and don't bring Lilliott back to count them for her either. Lolliott ( and the crony canvasing board ) cost Tharpe the election last time with the behind the doors counting....I ramble sometimes , I am finished:::
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Good point in case! I was wondering why the Gunter band wagon. I agree with your previous post, but maybe somebody else will run but time is running out only a few more weeks and qualifying will be over and we can listen to what they are going to do differently, except collect a Gov't pay check and retirement.
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Holton? WTF! It just gets better, I have witnessed her brain power with her service on the city zoning board. She votes on feelings, not the law or rules for land. She would be disaster as well. I hope she stays at the shampoo counter.
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Tonya Holton has more brain power than the population of Taylor County put together, especially whoever you are, Anonymous. Obviously, you know NOTHING about her or her character. If you think for one minute that she doesn't have the best interest of the county in heart.....talk to her....maybe she can wash the doubt out right out
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LMAS here reading these stupid bloggs. Are you people who are claiming that Mrs. Southerland actually counts the votes? You have to know about the computer age, my God your on one making these blogs. Are you just that STUPID! That has to be the most absurd comments that I have read on here. I just heard this and went to this site. My first time and probably my last, reading these comments are comical not informative, maybe if some intellegent comments are made maybe others will begin to read.
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I don't think the blogger actually meant that miss priss actually counts the votes moron. The vote counting is just a term for a larger action of the office to influence elections. The fact is in this "computer age" there are many ways to manipulated the "votes". First start with the manipulation of the absentee vote requests and process - done last election cycle, public annointment by prior politician - done last election cycle, buying of votes by incumbent politicians - done last election cycle, poll workers tabulating votes prior to polls closing and relaying info to a candidate - done last election cycle, not letting candidates know that absentee requests can be obtained online from Tallahassee prior to the local office releasing the info a day or two later, except for select candidates - done last election cycle, and many other items that can be manipulated at the local election office and have become normal operating procedure - done last election cycle. Do not give the current super of elections the credit for all of this, these unlawful actions have been going on for years while the office looks the other way. The office lost all credability last election cycle when Molly endorsed a candidate. Ok all you Southerland minions and "squad" members take your shots! I have thick skin and the truth hurts doesn't it!
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Some one suggested all incumbents in elected and appointed positions in trailer county should resign immediately after using county employee health insurance to secure “I am to crazy” to prosecute diagnoses from DMH. I agree.
There is no need to run against, support or not support those in these positions. The inconsistencies and shady dealings are infamous in the city, county, state and now the country. Many citizens have alluded to these incidents/occurrences many times on this site and there is a pattern of numerous violations in multiple areas. It is the pictures and videos that will ultimately bring it all into focus.
I have to laugh when I hear the terms used to describe the situation/investigations as “Madoff, Abramoff, and Rolloff” of course we all know which one describes the strange happenings in Perry Fl or as one blogger described it as the “co-winky-dinky capers”.
Two years ago (TCT) many made suggestions to improve the community the citizens should take control and vote in new blood. The flip of that strategy was to let it ride the way it is/was in order to catch those doing what they do best. There were many who did not get that memo hence the need for the insanity plea. Who knew?
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..."there is a pattern of numerous violations in multiple areas. It is the pictures and videos that will ultimately bring it all into focus". Will these be shown on WCTV? If not, where will they be seen?...I can't wait to see them myself...to see those folks squirming outta their chairs will be priceless...Let the show begin!!!
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A lot of our beleaguered local elected officials have the moral duty to be ethical and they are not, they simply cannot "serve" our community without falling into self interest traps, personal dealings and self enrichment. You know I laugh when folks talk about congress not listening to the citizens and doing what they want for some reason, the same applies to local elected officials. How many times in the last four years has there been a public outcry on an issue only to have the board of county commissioners or city council vote against the will of the public. How many times has the school board and super done the same, selectively enforce rules and regulations on everything from the discipline matrix to procurement policies to personnel policies. How many times have all these groups violated the sunshine law, I would suspect almost weekly if not every meeting. Well the citizens have an opportunity to do something this fall, I am all for kicking out congress, but also feel that we can make a big difference by not returning or re-electing any of our public servants, they simply have not shown honesty in their fiduciary responsibility, services (Honest services fraud), and continue the 'ole boy dirty tricks. I am not saying that some folks who have announced they are campaigning for office will / would be better, but at least we can break the hold a few have now and try to keep newly elected folks, on a very steep learning curve, at bay for damaging our community. As for our current super of schools and his cronys.....give them enough rope and they will hang themselves. They are their on worst enemy and are doing a good job of showing the citizens what true cronyism is and how much it stinks. I amazes me that DYal cannot or will not follow established rules and policies on personnal issues, procurement issues, general accepted accounting principles and administrative policies. I doubt Dyal will get the kind of audit the county got as reported in the local newspaper this week. Good luck Dyal, we will be glad when you leave office!
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I agree with your statement 100%. I only wish that the line for new candidates for every office which is open would be a mile long starting today.
But two things
1) No one will run against the ones in office ( except Mrs. Fegal)
2)The school board and Dyal will never change , his camp of crooks is to big and too strong.
The BOCC, City Council,School Board and Dyal has created a Mafia organization on every level. We are all slaves to (Godfather Brown /County, Godfather Brown / City, Godfather Dyal/Schools) The Teflon board members,it will take the FBI to break it up.
We will have to send our children to Aucilla and to Mayo or to Charter schools at a cost, where we have to work two jobs to get them out of this crooked county. They can not be educated in a way where a college will pass them, they will turn , to drugs and violence before they are taught properly.
I am sad to say I voted for the people in our county offices, which I helped elect. They betrayed me, my children and there children, and sold their children's and grandchildren future for the sake of self gratification. These officers and board members bring a new description of
"There is no honor among thieves".
and most of all "MakeADifference" to your last sentence . Dyal will never leave that position. He has no morals, if he did he would resign.
He has no integrity or honor ,he holds the keys to the vault. There is no honest person to take his place.
Our children are doomed to be uneducated so the superintendents golf buddies can be paid 100.00 per hour, promoted to guidance counselors( no training or degree to support it), his special lady friends can be promoted to principals, and vice principals, his cronies,and people who ran against him, can teach without certifications, or qualifications. He can dole out thousands of extra money to his special helpers for supplement positions.
If you took a pole today of all the people who gave money and supported the candidates in 2006, 2008 elections, 90% would be disappointed and wished they had not given money or asked other people to vote for Dyal or any City or County Commissioner. Try it and see.
But never worry "when all is dark and gloomy dawn is coming at some hour" !
"The tide will rise again, and the wind will change direction" one day then these people in office will have to depend on us the citizens to buy their goods, shop at their stores, accept their apology, teach their kids.
Speak a kind word to them for no one else will. Listen to their Speeches and sermons. Support them in their united way campain or some other organization they are trying to help.
They will need us before we will need them again... This I know....
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Agreeable, you are full of crap, just like most on here. I have kept up with most of the boards here in Perry, and I must say, most are doing very well. Why don't you try and make the change. Maybe to dumb or just don't care. To me you just won't to complain and blame. get a freaking life buddy. because you my friend have a miserable one right now.
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to " someone who cares" Why attack me for my opinion. I am only expressing my opinion. Are you trying to make a change? Or did I hit a nerve??
If so what commissioner , board member , council person are you that is afraid you may get a person running against you? Or is it the other question What school do you principal or vice principal, teach or guidance at, who is afraid in 2 years you will be out of a job and can't afford the new big Taho you bought with 500.00 per month payments ( just a figure). Are you a Soldier, Capo or a LT. of which Godfather? I live no miserable life, I am only expressing my opinion ( which the constitution allows me to do, try reading it sometimes) of we need more business hardened people making these decisions instead of a lot of followers. I am like Mr. Parker too old to be on a board. Just a good advisor. You may try listening to us old geezers we have seen more than your eyes have, or your young minds can imagine. Youth is great but it is also ignorate, no experience.
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It is never ignorant that makes me laugh it is arrogant that makes me bust stitches. It is as if no one ever told the “I think I am all that individuals” no body loves a winner. People say every body loves a winner except the facts are that everyone wants to beat, best, take out or take on the winner.
If those who believe them selves to be winners had considered this truth/fact, arrogance among the local power brokers would not play out in repeated ugly displays of self inflated egotistical bad manners and rude attitudes such as name calling and verbal attacks on unknown persons/bloggers.
Education will cure ignorance but a down fall/fall from grace is the only cure for arrogance, hence the old adage remember how one gets to the top is by climbing upward and the opposite is the long fall downward.
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My imperfections and failures are just as much a blessing to me as my successes and talents are. I OWN them all. No one person passes harsher judgement on me than I do on myself. My whole life has been a process of trial and error, but I have lived it with a willingness to make adjustments, so therefore, I have made progress. When I need help, I ask for it - When I am wrong, I make amends - I have an opinion on everything, but I also value the opinion of others, and I LISTEN. And YES, I DO have COMPASSION on people, especially when I have desired it from others so many times during my own life.
I was surprised to find my name mentioned in your blogs. While I appreciate the few kind words that were dispersed throughout them, it is the unkind words that leave me wondering if you are someone that really knows me. I encourage you to come out from behind your anonymity, and take the time to speak with me. I've been told that I'm really easy to talk to - not to mention - I just plain enjoy it! So, YES, I FACEBOOK. Feel free to hit me up on there - I'd love to be your friend. Happy Blogging!
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Focus on what Agreeable is saying. "It will take the FBI to break it up". Anyone here have the guts to bring them in. FBI should find all the outsiders that were brought in to TACO and defrauded. At least they won't be afraid to talk. Folks need to stop being a bunch of cowards, bring in the FBI, or just shut up. Cronys don't leave until caught and forced out.
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Several of the potential candidates mentioned here would have disasterous effects on the boards-councils they hope to serve. If there are not any better quality of candidates out there....I would just soon keep the crooks we have, at least we know what they are up to and can keep an eye on their self created fiascos, some of these new folks would just be absurd! We already have a clown at the school house, Dyal, at the coutrhouse, take your pick, at the BOCC, you know, and City Council, just pick up a newspaper.
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More brain power than "the population of Taylor County put together". I do not think I would make that comment about anyone, you are putting a tall order in for Ms. Holton or any other candidate to fill. Let's just say Ms. Holton is as smart as any other candidate and (hopefully) has the ability to learn. Well, you can tell a lot by people's actions while they serve on appointed boards. I have personally witnessed the behavior of some folks referenced here on appointed boards and can tell without a doubt in my mind that some of these folks would not be the best city council person or county commissioner. To get my vote a candidate should bring something to the board they wished to be elected to...to serve the citizens. Lack of experience, education, and many other skill-sets lacking do not make for a good elected official. When have several examples of this now on the school board, city council and county commission. All voters need to look at the final list of candidates and determine who has the best knowledge, skills and abilities that would be an asset to the governmental entity. We do not need any folks with an ideological agenda, folks needing a check (we have that), or folks who simply do not have the ability/temperment to make sound decisions, ability to carry out and exhibit fiduciary responsibility and/or think critically and follow rules and regulations.
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The State of Florida is broke, no joke. Thank you very much republican leadership and it will cost the citizens 54+ dollars to renew driver’s license for eight years. Do we need more information to vote all office holders out? I think not. To think those of us holding a Florida Driver’s license for many years (some since being fourteen years old hence many baby boomers) without fines or identity issues are required to pay exorbitant fees. The republican controlled Florida house and senate should be handed their walking papers today. November is soon enough, and to think some are advertising firing a liberal US congress (Democrats) is a joke to the ordinary citizen living in Taylor County Florida. I say clean up around your own back door first.
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Firing all of congress, liberals and/or conservatives, is not the answer. We all in this country need to change our ways. I agree that we need to clean up our local mess first. That is why I am puzzeled that the local tea party folks are spending their time and effort natioanlly when some effort could be spent locally and make a difference at home first. BTW BM, why not see if you can put the most recent comments first instead of on page 14. Just a suggestion on an otherwise great job you are doing.
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I too have wanted the comments in ascending order, or at least give the user that option. I have submitted that idea to GoDaddy to be included in the next product update several times. Maybe one day they will listen. One of the problems with that is someone may be replying to an older comment which makes it fall under that particular older comment, so it would be impossible for it to be by itself. We also wouldn't know what comment you are commenting about and therefore take away from a possible good discussion. It may be a nuisance we have to live with. Thanks for the support and your participation.
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I will get it all our eventually. I changed the comments to be divided into pages to clean up the topics because they can get quite lengthy. I tell you what I will do for you, I will change it back to everything being on one page so you can scroll down to the bottom and won't have to click pages. If it is better for everyone, I will keep it that way. Let me know what you think. Give it a few minutes to change on the server.
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Thank you. It is so much easier to read and I appreciate the hard work you do to keep this site going and civil.
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Yea, Thanks! was so aggravating scrolling through so many pages to just read a few lines. Keep up the good job. Great avenue to catch up on Taylor County News.
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Rudolph Parker better get busy, Pam Feagle appeared to be campainging at Taylor County Elementary school last night at their open house and talent show. She could have been attending with family members, but sure appeared to be saying "hello" to a lot of folks attending. Even if she was not campaigning, she was visible in the commnity, talking to voters and such. Way to go Pam!!!!!
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