Three Incumbents Seek Re-Election
*Please remember to keep discussions regarding elections strictly adult and professional. The rules will be strictly enforced involving election topics, with no leniency. I do not want to have to go to moderating comments before posting during this election cycle and do not want to ban users for improper comments. Thanks in advance for your cooperation and understanding. BM*
Three incumbents have announced their intention to seek another term. Those running are County Commissioner Rudolph Parker (D), District 4; Mark Southerland (NP), School Board District 1 and Brenda Carlton (NP), School Board District 2. Other offices up for election this year are County Commission District 2, School Board District 4, City Council District 4 & 5 and Soil and Water Board District 2, 3 & 4.
I hope to see every incumbent with opposition in the election. It is the only way to ensure we have the option of removing less than acceptable public servants, so step up people.
Three incumbents have announced their intention to seek another term. Those running are County Commissioner Rudolph Parker (D), District 4; Mark Southerland (NP), School Board District 1 and Brenda Carlton (NP), School Board District 2. Other offices up for election this year are County Commission District 2, School Board District 4, City Council District 4 & 5 and Soil and Water Board District 2, 3 & 4.
I hope to see every incumbent with opposition in the election. It is the only way to ensure we have the option of removing less than acceptable public servants, so step up people.
You have to wonder if the state and national anti-incumbent - tea-bagger feelings will take root in local elecetions. What I have seen is that a lot of these local tea-baggers have all of this enthusiasm, but on a local level they turn a blind eye. If the same tea-bagger philosophy and anger was applied locally, where it is needed as well; Those running County Commissioner Rudolph Parker (D)--OUST!, District 4; Mark Southerland (NP)--OUST!, School Board District 1 and Brenda Carlton (NP)--OUST, School Board District 2 should be replaced. These folks have had a chance to make a difference and have not delivered fiduciary responsibility or good public service to our citizens.
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Everyone has ( even BM) forgot about Chairman Mark Wiggins County Commissioner District#2
he is up for Re-Election this year too
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I doubt the BM has forgot. This thread has been dedicated for comment about those that have announced re-election. To my knowledge, Mr Wiggins has not filed.
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I have some concern with replacing a lot of sitting commissioners and/or board members given the challenges facing cities and counties of Florida. Should we keep the folks we have and do not alwaays agree with or get the inexperienced trainable who does not need to be learning on the job. Based on who I have heard at the coffee klatch is running for some seats...it scares the heck out of me. The minimum requirements of such seats unfortunately is a pulse and how many local relatives you have. Our community is facing some tremendous challenges, we need folks on the commissions and boards who can think critically, read and write, and have some experience that would benefit our governmental entities. Anthing less will continue the downward spiral that has become Perry and Taylor County. We need more than french fried potatoes and mustard!
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Darn Karl, you are wise beyond your years!!! I like you! You are also funny, funny ha ha not funny....well you know. Karl Childers for local office!!! Tan and rested straight from the nervous hospital!!!
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As far as incumbents go, right now, I say replace them! Especially Brenda Carlton - 20 years+ on the School Board. Way too long. Just the rest of them! Need new blood. Mark Southerland-well if you supported teachers and staff like you support sports, you would not have had to cut so many teaching positions. Remember, they will all tell you what you want to hear when they are running for election, right Mr. Dyal?!!! But once in the coveted seat, it's a different story. Then they do what will benefit them and NOT the greater good. I don't see Mr. Dyal making it after his first term. Too many lies. But then, that's a politician for you.
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http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/dcp/gmw/2008/Brown.pdf
Take a look at this and then tell me how we got the nick name trailer county.
This is disrespectful and down right ugly.
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I attended a presentation of this slide show. It was done to over exaggerate the need for some type of regulations to keep this from happening. Your post is another example of not knowing what you are talking about. And you wonder why competent people will not run for office.
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Please clarify for me, are you saying the present board members are incompetent and competent persons will not apply because public documents are being made available on TCT?
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Public documents are public of course. The majority on here are saying the existing Boards and Commissions are not competent. I am saying you will never get others to run for office when you have public, anonymous, after the fact bashing going on. I admit I didn't make all the meetings leading up to this submittal. Those I did attend had no opposition or input from anyone as is the usual in this County. That is until the cat is out of the bag then everyone has a opinion. Monday morning quarterbacking. Show up at these meeting and voice your opinion there.
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In response to your post identifying your self as present at this presentation please tell us who gave the oral presentation of this PP (power point) slide show? Inform us all with your knowledge and expertise to show the validity of your statements. Inquiring minds want to know b/f passing judgments. Who is Brown in the link title? Who submitted this pp document to the Florida Department of Community Affairs as professional communication? No surprise defamation claims are being made against some in the community if this is the way public funds are being spent and county business is being handled?
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Well, as it has been said many times before on this blog...good folks do not want to run, good folks cannot afford to run for public office and with the past doings in the courthouse can anyone be assured an honest and fair election.
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The travel trailer picture has been passed around the internet for ages under the heading of “you might be a Redneck if” With titles that read “Redneck condos, Redneck skyscrapers, and the like. It’s called stereotyping, racial/identify profiling, and culture bashing. It is unacceptable behavior on the part of leadership…I don’t care who you were…That’s unacceptable.
But the caveman cartoon was the worse insult to this community and even a gecko should know better by now, he has certainly been told enough times. The cartoon implies the large number of hunters/fisherman (deer/fish) and gatherers (fruits, berries, nuts, swamp cabbage) in this community should learn to purchase food from retailers i.e. Winn-Dixie, Wal-Mart without funds to do so. Or would the county leadership prefer the public eat pine trees b/c we have no vegetable farms or dairy cows.
Considering these hunters and gatherers are the most likely to suffer exposure/sickness from toxic chemical exposure from food source due to our industrial designation by law this cartoon is extremely insulting. Failing to protect the public through health and safety standards is bad enough but to make fun of them for eating tainted food because they can not afford to do so is evil.
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You are 100% correct. It is a shame what passes for leadershsip in our community and this lack of leadership is the root cause of many of the failings anadd troubles in our community. The lawlessness, corruption, lack of jobs, legal and illegal drug usage, lack of a skilled workforce, lack of students being able to read and write, teen pregnancy, crime, incest and related sex crimes on children.....no we are not talking about New York City, we are talking about our community. The lack of leadership in the courthouse alone perpetuates these problems, everybody has a "buddy" in the courthouse. lol! The "at any cost" philosophy for a few low paying jobs and lack of respect for the hard working law abiding citizens by our "leaders" is criminal. Good points!!!
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http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/84416822.html
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I have heard many times that people in our community are content with the absurd leaders in our fair county and city mainly due to the fact of knowing what moron you have is better than an unknown moron. The crooks on the other hand need to go....like the crook(s) who get a paycheck in the front door and sell items through the back door....all the while making small donations to be put in the local newspaper on a predictable basis....and buyiing ads in the newspaper covering that base as well....no wonder things do not end up in the newspaper. Everyone keeps talking about Chicago thug politics, that has nothing on Taylor County thug politics! Just follow the money you will see who the charlatans and crooks are in our community. Everything at the school board, city and county is public record. Ask for a peak at the check register and "manual checks" used so frequently to hide purchases and payments to cronys!
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So many politicians - so little time (to replace them all). Do you start at the local, state or the national level?
The TEA Party is aiming nationally. Dry-up the deficit spending there 1st, then state and local governments won't have "the big tit" to bail them out.
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It has often been said that if we could give an enema to our community, the palce to give it would be the courthouse.
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http://www.aarp.org/community/groups/displayTopic.bt?pageNum=1&groupId=23262&topicId=7429352
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You think the County and City wastes money, wait to see what they are considering spending and on what. I don't have all facts yet, but if what I have heard is true, I will be floored. Not only that, considering the unemployment rate in the county and the poverty level and the current national fiscal status, I don't see how anyone up there would even consider it. I will keep checking and watching for it to come up in a BOCC meeting.
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Is this guy an idiot or what, Did you here? No but when I do I will tell you. Keep it a secret. It hasn't happened yet, but when it does I will tell you. hahahahahahahahahhahahaha idiot.
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Stupid is as stupid does, you can't fix stupid and put some more mustard on them french fried pertatoes. We have a whole community of Forest Gumps, Goobers, Karl Childers' and a few Boss Hogs whose long county - community nightmare they have inflicted on us all will soon end! Did anyone see the local elected officials trying to operate their new computers at a board meeting tuesday night? It reminded me of when there was a news program about training monkeys to punch keys to get a tasty treat. The only difference appeared to be no treats! LOL!!! Although I think a couple pooped their pants!
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I read this and I am conflicted. I don’t know whether I want to drink a glass of iced tea or throw a tea bag into the river.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/us/04lawyer.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=rothstein&st=cse
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The other day at the local “coffee shop/diner” I had the rare opportunity to speak directly with the cook about “things” in general. The cook is a grandparent like I and a life long Taylor Countian. I knew this when the cook said “I grew up in Cabbage Grove” and I know that the Cabbage Grove community is no more, gone, lost in the sands of time. But I remember and visit graves sites of beloved and remembered friends and family.
As with many conversations the subject matter turned to the condition of our condition life in Perry, happenings around and about and what’s going on, and actions of the in-charge crowd. I was surprised at what the cook said “Taylor County’s history is out-law from the day when the law chased the lawless into the swamp and there was so much water every where the law give-up and the out-law got away and now the water is all gone. I know all about it and I love Taylor County.”(This was expressed as hate the sin love the sinner)I have thought about the wisdom of the words and the love of community and special connections to home, that place in your heart that others may not recognize as valuable and precious. I said to the cook Thank You, I needed that, the good food and the kind words.
I needed to hear that things change even when you do nothing to cause the change it just happens. Ain’t it funny how things turn around the dry swamp gives up secrets and exposes the lawless traditions? Now that we are left with no place to hide do we really need to carry on those old historical traditions of under-handed deals made and backroom secrets kept in out-law hide-a-ways until our water dries up and our community is no more? It made me wonder if the people we elect to represent us understand HOME and the good folks that live here.
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Good post about the Cabbage Grove folks. The outlaws continue to occupy different offices in the courthouse, school house, county commission and city council. The good folks of our community seem to like these folks who spoil the bath water for everyone else who goes to work everyday, goes to church on Sunday, raise their children right, pay taxes and many other things that make a good citizen. I know some of our local potentates and charlatans are lovable, but it is time to remove these cancers from our midst. How much longer do we watch our communty deteriate, someday Buckeye will move on and Perry will be one big nothing. There is still time, maybe TCDA should stop chasing "spurs" and focus on some local job creation that is realistic. All of the bad that these "leaders" brought to our community do nothing to increase scores on grant applications. Perry and Taylor County's law-less past sure effects the ability to get federal grants. Thank our "buddy" in the courthouse and other so called "leaders" for the honor of being law-less, corrupt and lack of civility and ethics.
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I keep hearing how Taylor County would be a ghost town without our “oh so special interest” (four special districts and a municipality) or we could say it is an independence nation within our borders, not held to the same standards as the rest of the people in the county (as expressed in NO rules just right). It sickens me to think we are dependent on such as the likes of these to save us. Poor Taylor Countians has become beggars in our own home/community. Reminds me of the techniques used by batterers to continue abuse of others through threats of leaving and financial ruin.
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This place would whither up and die without Buckeye; it's the county's largest employer and taxpayer. No question about it.
I think everyone agrees we need to diversify. Being so reliant on a single company is certainly a disadvantageous position to be in, and I'm sure we'd alll love to see some new employers come to town.
The notion, though, that there are "no rules" for Buckeye is wrong, as is the analogy of an abusive relationship. As I recently posted, Buckeye has spent millions of dollars modifying its operations to reduce pollution, and it's anticipating spenting millions more. There ARE rules--federal, state, and local--and as far as I can tell, Buckeye follows them.
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Ask any local what is a Buckeye? The response will most likely be “a pulp and paper mill”. But the industrial zone designation at Foley allows and has caused construction and operation of pulp manufacturing, chemical processing/extracting/accumulating, electrical power production and soon to come biofuel production facilities. In common words and speech Buckeye is a pulp mill, chemical plant, and power plant all rolled into one, and is now adding fuel plant, all highly profitable because all are extremely under-regulated through law and lawful exemptions such as 1947 Law and UF request for exemption from rules of air permit. This is how they roll.
To pretend this is not factual and that some how this company performs true acts of humanity is simply boloney. To ask us all to believe that “Out of the goodness of their hearts spent millions improving condition/causes which are basically exempt to begin with” all the while screaming and shouting “you can’t make me clean it up and it’s all legal” is in our own best interest is extreme arrogance. Now it is your right, to believe and say anything you choose Taylor County Citizen, but don’t ask me to believe the Fenholloway River is full of rose water, because I ain’t buying that Toyota.
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I don't recall anyone here saying that Buckeye made pollution-reducing operational modifications solely out of the goodness of its heart. I know *I* certainly didn't say it.
"Anonymous" had implied that Buckeye had no rules. I was responding to that assertion, countering that they did, in fact, have rules and had spent millions of dollars (and plans to spent millions more) making adjustments required to be in compliance with those rules.
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The rush for funding and to avoid regulation produces a real eye opener on the permits, (state, federal, and local) so I’ll say it again “No rules just right”. The biomass plant/electricity producing power plant in Taylor County reports producing/transmitting 36 mega watts into consumer grid as noted in PSC records in a utility ten year site plan as P&G/Buckeye. This present production under the local industrial area permitting process this is un-regulated and UF/Buckeye is applying to DEP for another exemption for increased production of 12 mega watts. What’s wrong with this picture? Remember the land use amendment to Comprehensive Plan in 2005-2007 for designation of new land use as “electrical power production” the TCBoCC were so keen on, and the 2060 vision for Taylor County.
http://www.starfl.com/news/biomass-20289-challenged-permit.html
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P&G and Buckeye have always expressed a public persona that bounderies and other items do not aqpply to their corporate standing. Yes they have spent many millions of dollars in "modifying operations", they had to do this to stay in business. As a corporation, if they could get away without any improvements, they would not have madse the investment. They owe that to the community, the State of Florida and the region's environment they have impacted. I am no environment wacko, the citizen's voted several generations ago to have a paper plant, the benefit (jobs), and to take the pollution, the cost. But I would not pat Buckeye on the back for doing what is morally right and what is mandated they do by the State of Florida and by their industry. I think we all, as a community, should make plans for the day when Buckeye closes, it may be sooner than everyone thinks. Our leaders sitting by and doing nothing with the closing facing our community at some point in our lives, our children's lives is simply pathetic. And I do not suggest an equally polluting industry that cannot be place in a region, county or city in Florida due to population density greater than Perry, Taylor County or North Central Florida. You would think that a strategy could be developed and worked on to do this. I would be in favor of ceasing the funding of tax-payers funds to TCDA, the Chamber and any other group to develop and implement a strategy to empoer our community over the next 10-20-30 years. What we are doing now is not working, will not work and is ruining our community, look around!
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Let others lie, wantonly, gratuitously, if they will, but let you & me make it the rule of our life to lie for revenue only.
- manuscript page dated January 15, 1910 from the Ethel Sloan collection
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That damn pesky millennium generation making a point, and TCT scooped topic months ago. Baby boomers grandparents, the sandwich generation parents, and 80 million millennium generation children joined together as a voting block. What are those in leadership positions saying to the “new kids in the block” who say to their grandparents and parents generation “y’all started it and now we are going to perfect it”. I can not wait to watch the “olden day ways/good ole boys” try to sale this crew “deforestation/woody biomass, carbon trades, and Drill Baby Drill” and the like as good stewardship of “God’s creation”.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/opinion/28friedman.html?em
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What are there so many problems getting approval from the Department of Community Affairs? Here's a thought: Find out what's wrong, fix it, then submit. It's not rocket science. I hope that the landowners won't be dead or gone before the land use changes are approved. Lighten up people, my last sentence is only a comment.
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Ahhhh….the damn cat jumped out of the bag and got somebody’s tongue, isn’t it amusing…when the topic of “honest services” comes up no one rushes in to explain what brown has done for you lately. Pun intended.
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this is very interesting
http://www.sa15.state.fl.us/GJ/Final%20Presentment%20of%20the%20Palm%20Beach%20County%20Grand%20Jury.pdf
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Great last few comments. The honest services fraud perpetrated on our fair communities' citizens is criminal. From the judiciary,clerk's office, BOCC and others it really is criminal. Everybody has a "buddy" in the courthouse! An htis has contributed to the lawless society that some in our community live day to day in, and some of the "'good kids" and adults! LOL!!!
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Is it me or are these local politicans using facebook and other networking sites to self promote. There seems to be one in the courthouse that spends all day on facebook, updating family, friends, political cronys and such. It is funny that you can see when this elected official is "online" and although this person tries to be the first in the courthouse parking lot daily, most of the time is spent self promoting on the internet and facebook. I say stop wasting taxpayer resources get back to work and do your facebook updates at home! The trivial items in everyone's life do not need to be highlighted on facebook, especially at work and at taxpayer expense, no-one really cares and it shows some level of insecurity when you look like the Walton's family on facebook and are more like the Sopranos in real life! Give it up Martha Stewart wanna a be. Why not spend this time going to church, keeping you kids out of trouble and trying to be a better citizen in our community.
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You must have some time on your hands. You critize one of the best we have, I sit in my store across the street from the court house and watch the comings and goings. I see if the politicians are at or doing their jobs, most are. But to go after this person is njust plain Stupid on your part. Maybe its jealously or just dumb on your part. Yes this person comes in early and goes hjome late. Her office is well run, if not the best in the court house it's in the top two. Maybe you are a wanna be, maybe not, maybe just plain jealous. You mest be obbsessed with this lady, to keep up with her comings and goings her church life, how she lives and her kids. Two of her boys do business with me and I see one them reguarly and he comes by to look. Number one they are both gentlemen and polite hen I see them, I hear great things about her daughter. Jealous I think so or obsessed maybe. Don't go after this one it may bite you, because you will not find any problems with her office, I keep uyp with the parties and have go in ther and her office help and she are friendly and helpful, and always have the proper answers. But now I leave you with this, good night John Boy, and get a life.
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Are they using taxpayer resources such as time, office and county computers to carry on all this face-booking. It is very easy to note when the person is on line, as many "friends" can tell so, and most of the computer time being used is on the tax-payer dime! What a shame that we have such ilk in the courthouse. I do not know who the blogger was talking about, the second blogger is obviously coming to someone's defense. Don't be baited stupid!
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Sounds like that "wanna be" may be the person in question using county office resources to update facebook and "steal" time like other folks in the courthouse. Honest Services Fraud mentioned on this blog many times is alive and well in the courthouse, sounds like an ethics complaint is in the making!!! LOL!!! I think Facebook is great, but do it on your own time on your own personal computer!
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"I sit in my store across the street from the court house and watch the comings and goings", I guess you can thank Main Street Perry for having no business and that you have to sit and watch all day. Lets see;(1)Soutside of the Courthouse - not much, (2)Northside of the Courthouse a restauarant, thrift store, framing business, and a drug store. (3) Westside of the courthouse - now view of the parking lot. (4) Eastside of the courthouse - no businesses. So it is either the person in question, a crony of the person in question or another person in the courthouse who should be working that is responding to these blogs on county time and resources. Get back to work lard bricks, there is more waste of tax-payer resources in the courthouse than most larger cities in Florida. The elected official is not the only one using their computer for personal use in the courthouse. The shame is the ones using county time, the bigger shame are the computer illiterate that populate the courthouse positions, both appointed and elected, welcome to the 21st century!
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It appears to me that some of these politicians are using social networking sites, such as facebook, as political advertisment and campaigning. All the while at work at the position they were elected to. Can you campaign at work? Certainly the person in question, in their office knows campaign rules. Using facebook at work is wrong and constitutes some type of election fraud if being done in your elected office at your desk on the county's computer. Shame on you politician. These teabaggers ought to grab this issue!
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The postings are correct, the facebook use by many in the courthouse, both elected and hourly on the taxpayer dime. It is always funny when you see the facade these folks put on and their personal lives and their kids lives are on big COPS episode. Kudos to all the hard working, honest and real folks of the county who raise their children right and better yet behave correctly and do not steal from the taxpayer, under-privilage and the community.
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Well, after reading this little thread with no name for who was being talked about, but a lot of hints, I went and looked at the Facebook page of the accused. Sheesh, there's the occasional post of a feel good quote and some announcements for the senior trip. The official is not playing on Facebook all day, but using it for the tool it is. A few minutes out of the day. Big freakin' deal. I think we have bigger, better things to worry about in county government. Stinks of a jealous opponent to me.
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Now sheesh, you are the smartest person in the room, you hit it on the head. Jeasously, just plain and simple jeasously. AMEN
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Is it REALLY Jeasously simple Jeasously, or is it maybe JEALOUSY, why is it jealousy to want people to do personal business on personal time? Why are we never to question anything these people do? Are they really that perfect that they never do anything wrong? I'll admit some things on this blog are a little picky, but it seems anytime anything is questioned about this woman or her husband, their minions go crazy with comments like this. Calm down it's alright to question our elected officials, they do work for us.
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I'm not a minion. As a matter of fact, I barely know the lady. And I don't consider commenting and giving my opinion on this blog, "going crazy."
Do you think that all elected officials should be forbidden from using social media? What would that prove or accomplish? It's the 21st century, expect our elected officials to spend time online each day.
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I have no probelm with elected officials using social media, and in fact believe more of them should do so. It's a great way to communicate with the public.
That said, they need to be careful with how they use it due to various requirements ranging from open records laws to election regulations.
I would recommend that officials have separate accounts for personal and work use. For instance, there could be a Facebook fan page for the office (e.g., "Taylor County Supervisor of Elections") that would be separate from the people running that office (e.g., Dana Southerland). The personal page wouldn't be accessed on the clock, especially if that page were used to advocate for one's (re)election, but the office's page could be updated throughout the day to convey information that's important to the public.
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Your right we should be able to question what the elected officials do, but to be so picky all the time, as TCC said and others, make it worth while, every aspect of their lives is not this one person business. I mean, talk about their kids, if they go to church, their house and how theLady acts, I mean come on. She is using modern technology to update the public about events or happenings of her office, maybe we should be thanking her for letting us know, no one else in the court house tries to update the public. So I will say iot first , Thanks Mrs. Southerland for keeping us informed.
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I wonder why Ms. Sunshine only goes and only takes her brood to church when she or hubby are up for election every four years? We are all sinners, including myself, but every four years to get religion?
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Isn't Mark up for relect this year? Then Dana in two more years? So that would mean they go to church every two years, not four...lol.
I don't really care...seriously, as long as she does her job (from what I hear, she is good at it), it's her business if she wants to go to church or not, or if she updates her facebook from her desk at work. All this nit-picking does nothing but distract her from her job.
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Minions! You got that right. I think a lot of these "squads" may be these politician's kids and related cronys. I think that these folks with their head in the public feed bag forget they are public officials and public service is hard. When you are a public official and get public funds, both husband and wife, people have a right to voice their opinion about your actions in office and how you conduct yourself as a local elected official. That goes with the public feed bag you have your head stuck in. If you do not like it or can't stand the heat, quit.
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You know Anonymous, you are right, I saw Mark at Walmart the other day, and he a whole buggy full of groceries, he bought chips and meats, and staples. I could not believe he did not buy any vegetales. Can you belive it, he did not think about the farmer he's a voter too, lol.
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Head in fed bag? Try hand in the wallet. These elected officials look the other way when our county money is being embezzled by thier supporters. Don't look like public service is all that hard.
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Exploiting the public feed bag in this county is an art form. Most of us work hard, try to provide for our kids, pay taxes and our tax dollars go towards these folks' retirement, wallets and support their children. They act like they are entitled to everything, immune from the rules and laws we all have to follow. When you finally haul them out of the courthouse on a stretcher or casket, they are still holding onto their potentate ways, wanting to hand pick their successor. The crop of folks in the courthouse these days is the worse I have ever seen, and I do not think the current incumbents will last, well you know ala-Hamby. It always amazes me the lack of community-minded thoughts these fed-bag potentates have, oh you have one self-promoting on facebook, but what have any of our "leaders" done in the community. Start at the third floor and work your way down, make me a list on this blog, maybe I do not know, but would like to. Let's start with the judiciary; Bean and Buddy. What abour the state attorney's office? Remember Bean sat there of 12-15 years prior to his appointment to judge. Name me five things they have done for the commnunity in 5 years excluding immediately when they were running for office. Next the second floor. I do not know Greg Parker, but he seems to be a new kind of judge, you do see him involved in activities and sober.
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To heck with these public "servants" who act like they have really done something by getting elected in this corrupt, absentee vote buying, just win two precincts county. They are small minded uneducated and are in it for their own pockets. And before some minion writes in, the election process here has been corrupt for some time, everybody knows it, everybody laughs about. Every developmently disabled in the county was rounded up to vote absentee in the last election, and if you ask them if they have ever voted they do not have a clue and that is the tip of the iceburg. Everybody has a "buddy" in the courthouse-viva trailer county.
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I see many comments on here about the hospital and emergency transport “helicopter rides” of patients to regional trauma centers and this caused me to think about another “free rides” drain on the county budget. What’s up with the airport? Where is the need for local residents to pay for an airport the majority of citizens never use? Where is the service provided? I don’t understand.
I was told the cost to county for purchase was 27 million dollars. The cost per year is how much? I was told the county had wide spread ground water contamination and an operational airport was required by federal law. I was told rich industrialist fly in and out in corporate jets as a courtesy/perk from county coffers. What is the real deal and how much does it cost?
Is the airport another one of the poorly run county operations on the tax payer’s dime?
There seems to be a lot of county budget and management issues never explained by county leadership and this failure to communicate to constituents gives cause for criticisms as seem on the blog.
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Good points. It surely is a boondoggle and a drain on county resources. I doubt it pays for itself. I do not think the county is mandated to have an airport. I am sure "indusrialists" and a few others use the perks that every tax-payer is supporting but not using. I have kind of seen this as a trade-off since members of my family us the 4-H program that all tax-payers support, but not all get the benefits. I think the overall view of the military-era airport we have is that it has the potential to be a great economic development tool. In the past folks who have sat in the TCDA coordinator's seat have made great efforts to use the airport as a tool, although there does not seem to be much of an effort at this time. I know folks who served in the past on the airport advisory committee and quit due to all of the effort made and the inability of the BOCC to use the committee effectively. I agree that there appears to be a lot of budget issues that the local tea-baggers do not address. As far as leadership, the inability of local "leaders" to communicate with the tax-payers show what a tremendous lack of leadership our local leaders have.
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I wonder if that Glen guy has a plane, maybe that's why he is going to church.
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Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and see the “Save the Children Fund” commercials? You know the one’s showing small children living on the dumps in other counties, often referred to as third world countries. Taylor County is a legislative defined and approved and county commission supported dump site and our children live here. Our children have shoes and a high rate of learning disabilities. Our children have unexplained cancers and birth defects. I listen to people in the community complain about the “checks” received by those with disabilities but few understand the problems well enough to take any meaningful corrective actions.
The following excerpts are from “The Landfill Diaries: My life on a Dump” (2007)
“I was there at many of coal plant “town halls” and let me recount some things I saw that made me want to wash my eyes out with soap. Many times the room was packed out, exceeding capacity and citizens were lined up along the wall in the hall similar to the jail inmates at the courthouse on court day. Coal plant supporters, local special interest and lobbyist as well as out of town interested parties from Jacksonville, JEA, and TEC special interest were seated in a section established under the guise of necessary county employees. That means special interest always had a good seat.”
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It's yours as parents choice to live here, not your childs.
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You know, why don't the complainers and whinners just move to another County, then they could be happy, They choose to live here, but I guess they have to refile for government help, and that would take them to long. Hahahahahaha
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Don't be foolish "Choice". Most people in our community are not on "government help", excluding the unemployment which does not pay the bills. The sad fact is a lot of people would leave, but can hardly afford to move or find a new job or any job. The cost of living here is on par with many other Florida cities with larger population density and better amenities. What citizens are unhappy with is the local corruption and lawlessness exhibited by our elected officials, political appointees and random potentates.
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Landfill Diaries.
“On this particular evening I arrived late and sat out in the hall near open double doors and could hear a whole lot more than I could see. A memorable scene for me was when I stood up to view through open doors an audience and panel. From my vantage point I could see front and center the commissioners raised podium seating area. On the front row of the audience sat a line of elderly women with their walkers out in front of them. These grandmothers needed assistance to walk or stand during long periods of waiting to be heard. These women waited hours to say “We have hundreds of children with learning disabilities identified in the public school system.” Our children can not afford more toxic chemical pollution exposure such as mercury and dioxin emissions.”
“Who were these “environmental whackos” a retired local public school principal and teachers. The other attendees opposed to building a coal plant, who were by the way in majority, were made up of mothers, grandmothers, fathers, grandfathers and children representative of people who live here, hence the term “most affected” and “concerned citizens”.
The citizens described here stood up for the health of people and protection of the living environment for all families in this community. These courageous citizens basically had their faces slapped every time they stood up for Taylor County, you, me, and other ingrates. Disrespected and betrayed by the very people they had voted into office to watch out for them. It was shameful. The local paper portrayed these individuals as villains out to steal your jobs and idiots for not agreeing that poisoning the children was a good thing. The truly sad part about all of this is that most folks in Perry agree with them or else they would require more ethical behavior and actions from the county leadership. Protecting the children from negative influence is a parental responsibility so is a safe and healthy environment to raise children. This is true whether you go to church or not.
It looks to me like there are some people who live by the philosophy “if you can’t beat’em, bad mouth’em.
Soap please.
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I assume there's scientific data to back the assertion that the number of kids identified as learning-disabled in Taylor County is linked to pollution? I'd very much like to see that.
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and I assume you are the sixth commissioner, smile
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We should not re-elect any of these incumbents to office. They have had a full term to make a difference and have not done anything but fill their own pockets and helped cronys. Stop the welfare for these "leaders".
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People keep talking about the lawlessness of the people in elected positions in Taylor County. If that is the case, as so many of you claim, why do you keep electing them into office? There are a number of folks-the charlatans, potentates, jr. potentates, or whatever you call them, running for re-election. If you are serious about cleaning up the "buddy" system in the courthouse or wherever they are, get out and vote these jokers out of office. If you don't vote, then you don't have a dog in this fight. I know that I am not going to vote for any incumbant this election or the next either knowing whose terms will be up in a couple of years. You could send a message to all elected officials, either do what's right for Taylor County and its residents, all of its residents, or you will only be in office ONE TERM maybe ... just maybe, they will start doing what's right for our community. Some, no MOST OF THEM, have been in office WAY TOO LONG! Only we the voters can change the landscape of our elected officials and I think its time for a change.
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Now we talking about what we can do for the good of Taylor County. I too am going to vote against all incumbents in the local election. We need to start locally and move on to state and national elections. Taylor County needs
help and we are not getting it from
current officials. Vote them OUT!
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Unfortuntly we won't get a choice.
NO One is running against any of the incumbents, except Fegal against Parker... (and That is a switch swap Jack Brown will never let that happen, he can control Parker who is near 75 years old, he can't control Fegal so commissioner #6 stops that change that iswhy Po-Hill was paved in the last two months wake up Perry)
Noone else is running against the incumbents, so we are going to have the same ones in there again.
Dana's / Superviser of Elections office won't let anyone win against Mark. Sutherland (to many absentees will show up) and all the other school board members families are to big in the discricts for anyone else to win.
Wiggins is owned by the Pine Ridge rich and is protected by Commissioner #6 Jack Brown. So he stays , may not even have anyone run againist him....??
The only way for us citizens to get fair reprensation is to go back to ALL candidates run County wide... They make decisions on the whole county, so give the whole county a voice.
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Sorry folks, Jack is not the 6th he follow orders and wants/needs of 6th but he is little more than a front man. A yes guy for poor decision makers and he thinks it cute to fool the rest/some of the public while keeping the 6th in the click of things. Does anyone remember that Jack quote in the “tacky yakky” “I can not represent six people” this statement was made while he was a commissioner representing how many?
No one running against the same old same old wait until July to see who will step up to the plate. I think it is wishful thinking to predict outcomes at this stage of the game.
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Isn't it great that even with all Pam Feagle has had to go through recently, she still has the desire to serve our county as an elected offical...again. Pam has "what it takes" to be a dedicated and responsible leader in our community and I wish her "all the Best" in her effort...Thanks my friend for caring for Taylor County!
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I think it's time for a change in this county. We need a new Judge and Sheriff.
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Clerk of the Court and Tax Collector too!
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The comment on old age (75) was uncalled for in the respect that being old may disqualifies a person from holding public office. Age discrimination is illegal. (Over 40) But to point out that age is often associated with wisdom and wise is not an adjective widely used to describe the bocc members is valid.
I have heard this topic discussed many times among young voters (18-24) and the sentiment is mutual when they say “old white men” in power have to go, they are out of touch and out of time, and represent no one but themselves.
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Change did not happen in 2008, it will not happen in 2010 (maybe marco rubio will upset crist) Not sure this will constitute big change but will upset the party establishment and get attention. Boyd will not get upset and this is the biggest unfortunate. None will get upset on the local level agreeing with the previous blogger post: City, County or School Boards. Time is running out for 2010. If there is hope for 2012, the movement starts now.
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What is it? You want everyone to think it is too late to qualify. Get real oh predictor better wipe that crystal ball off the picture is blurry.
http://www.taylorelections.com/index.php?id=52&spanish=N
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Marco Rubio? You are joking right? What was it I heard this week-end from Rubio? I remember he is in favor of raising the age to apply for SS to what 70? Now you know why the republicans are afraid of so called healthcare “death panels” b/c they need the elderly to work for minimum wage.
http://flarecovery.com/about/state-and-local-projects/jobs/senior-employment
lmao
Even the absentee brokers can’t fix it now. Too funny, can’t wait to see the bumper stickers.
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303429804575149683379090908.html
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Follow the money and you catch the evil incumbents in the act. So much misuse of public funds it's mud boggling. oops, mind boggling. Check the financial connections to local attorneys. Check the funding for hotel ventues or medical offices. High paid cover ups all over.
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Yeah follow the money, and watch where the office trailers for the pipeline are located. I'm sure everyone with property on 19 was contacted by the company installing the pipeline, but they chose one of our Commissioners property. It's the one with the largest roadside sign in the county, the one that advertises Tallahassee Memorial Hospital as you come into town. While all this may be completely on the up and up, in any other county, an honest commissioner would avoid the appearance of impropriety. I mean advertising for the Hospital that took over DMH, voted in by a board that you appointed, on a sign that I doubt anyone else could get a permit to erect.
I wonder why this commissioner is so lucky to have gotten a permit for a sign, that matches the ones on I 10, and landing the Pipeline Offices, what a lucky man.
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Another TC conflict of interest. Just put him directly on the board so he can funnel enough money out to build another hotel or medical office. He can call the owner of Premier for laundering pointers and continued free medical care. Like you said, I'm sure it's all on the up and up.
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Hey let's not leave out the new guys who have signed up, they will feel lonely not being talked about and trashed by us good ole TC bloggers, lol
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Frank Russell should consider running for the school board seat in District 1. He did a lot for his constituents while he was a county commissioner. Hope he thinks about it!
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I wish He would anybody or somebody just to get rid of the Once-ler®! What bout Clay Crews he ran a good campaign against Page for County Commissioner two years ago. He would make a good school board member.
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TCT has a lot of infomation on local politics, some one must be reading and writing. I love elves but I don't think its magic.
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