Ocala Election: Our Favorites
If you have not yet made up your mind, here are our suggestions for the City of Ocala Elections.
For Mayor: William “Dude” Phelan.
A former city attorney, Phelan gets the nod for mayor. His past experience with city government gives him a slight edge over a new-comer to politics, business executive, Randy Ewers.
For City Council-District 1: Kyle Kay.
Kay is currently serving very effectively as a city councilman. He has good conservative values when it comes to budget issues. We go with the incumbent Kay over Rusty Juergens in this race. Juergens business experience running a hair salon is commendable. However, it does not give him any advantage over Kay’s financial experience as an executive at Ocala National Bank.
For City Council-District 3: Charlie Ruse Jr.
Neither of the candidates for this district really thrills us. An attorney, Ruse gets the nod. Primarily, because we believe bar owner Bobby Tillander is entering politics for the wrong reasons.
For City Council-District 5: Daniel Owen.
We believe Owen, like Kyle Kay, has done a good job as an incumbent councilman. Why the local REC would even want pastor Sam Riggs in this race is hard to understand! Perhaps to give Riggs some name recognition for a future race, and the experience of being beaten by Owen. Riggs is a nice man. However, compared to Owen, he is a lightweight in dealing with complex situations; just ask some of the members of the defunct County Library Advisory Board he served with.
City residents, please make a difference and vote on October 18!
posted by Blog Master @ 10:45 AM
132 Comments:
I still believe Ewers will beat Phelan in a close election. Phelan has too many life style issues for the true conservatives.
My choices also. I'll vote for them.
After listening to Owen praising Pat Strait on the radio, his judgement (or lack thereof) comes into play. How he got caught up in that two hour love fest of Pat and Bobby D beats me.
Good point by "edisrevir".
There are many who would kiss up to her just to get her to leave. I am not in that group. I hope the community she goes to is prepared for what they are going to get. I have been a victim of her (and Bobby D's) partisan character assassination. I'm not alone. Someday this will come back to haunt her and her cronies.
with the constant increase in taxes -- largely due to values -- and the uncontrolled spending of the county adm i think you can look for a tough road to travel for any incumbent. harris will still have his base, but if there is a good mainstream republican, he will have a tough time, and a good middle of the road dem will beat him. the tales about how bad harris beats his opponents are a figment in the mind of the new resident of idaho -- the facts show he narrowly wins against a strong opponent.
edisrevir . . . maybe owen, mosley and co. are glad to see her go -- any thinking person is -- but to go to the extreme about how much you "love" her is a bit much to take. and it looks like a guy i know was right -- like the cockroaches at richard's place, bobby d will resurface.
Excellent choices if I must say........I do think Ewers is going to prevail. Phelan already had his time with the city. Please don't think any of these candidates have got the cat in the bag. Everyone needs to pass on the word to goto the polls.
Being new to this website and the political games is it safe to assume wherever you see a political sign that that is the landowners endorsement.
My vote goes to Ewers, Kay, Owens????????? and Ruse.
Don't assume that political signs represent an endorsement of a candidate by a property owner. Many signs go on places that aren't always "approved".
The first post says "true conservatives." What is a true conservative? I have no idea what "life style issues" you refer to, and obviously you did not want to say. In my judgement, there are tens of thousands of "true" conservatives who make up the vast majority of the Republican Party who disgree strongly with those who claim to be 'the party." I learned a long time ago not to count votes until the polls close, and I suspect the "true" conservatives -- the majority of voters -- will win.
--pwf
Anonymous speaks of being a victim of character assignation. I don't know the identity, but this I do know -- tt would be impossible to list in a short blog the numbers of people who have had their character called into question and/or defamed by the likes of the new resident of Idaho and her radio friend. At one time or another, every commissioner except Randy, and a number of other candidates have have been called vile names and their positions misrepresented before I quit listening or recognizing their presence.
My personal policy has always been when a person has to tell you what a Christian they are it is time to grab your wife and wallet.
And I understand why people use "anonymous" or strange names, but I have always signed my own name -- just as I did in my newspaper days.
--pwf
Would someone please tell me who is Bobby D and what show does he have? I have lived here most of my life and never heard of a Bobby D or his show. Bobby D, who are you?
Could someone please explain what pwf is talking about. I am lost................
Anonymous . . .
I was commenting on previous blogs, starting with the first one, and moving to the one where "anon" said they had been a vistim of character assignation . . .
--pwf
PWF was pretty clear to me. I understood his message in both of the comments he made. Listen to the radio show he is talking about and you will often hear a lot of character assassination. Hope Bobby D's new employers won't put up with his Yankee diatribe. I don't need him to come down here and tell me what's wrong with the people in Marion county.
I'm totally disgusted with our city council. I'm not voting for any incumbents or candidates with any previous political connections. We need a fresh start in government.
Anonymous - you are right. We do need a fresh start. That is why you do not need to vote for "Dude". The guy represents the old Ocala guard that thinks they are entitled to run the show just because they have always lived here. He does not have the character to be the mayor of Ocala. Just ask anyone who knows him well.
Am I the only person who finds it odd that a person who hides on the radio and in the newspaper behind a name like "Bobby D" or "Captain Midnight" or whatever is criticizing people in a blog for not using their names?
I listened to a couple of Bobby D's programs after someone suggested I have a lawyer listen to some of his material on the library. He got so fews calls I concluded so few people were listening that he wasn't even worth fooling with no matter what he had to say. He's insignificant.
For Lund and Bobby D to have the audiences they claim, there would have to be about 20-30 million people living in Marion County.
They get local politicians to come on their air because, apparently, the politicians are desperate for the approval of everyone who is breathing. I'm convinced you could get a politician to do an interview in a radio studio even if the microphone wasn't plugged in and all the equipment was shut off, which is probably not too different from the actual situation with some of these talk shows.
Lund called my home live on-the-air. I told him I didn't have time to talk to him and hung up. If everyone adopted this policy with these clowns, the world would be a better place.
Brian Creekbaum wrote . . .
"They get local politicians to come on their air because, apparently, the politicians are desperate for the approval of everyone who is breathing. I'm convinced you could get a politician to do an interview in a radio studio even if the microphone wasn't plugged in and all the equipment was shut off, which is probably not too different from the actual situation with some of these talk shows"
and this time he might be on right track. They love to hear themselves talk. Bobby orchestrates calls by calling his friends off the air and asking them to talk, and usually Lund has only four or five calls during his hour. To get the 10,000-15,000 listeners Bobby claims would require more than 1.5 million people in Marion County. both of them rejoice when they get a new caller.
To be most accurate, I just checked the latest Inside Radio ratings. WOGK is at a 9.5 rating; WSKY at 7.4; WOCA at 1.2; WRZO at 2.7, WMOP sports radio at a "0.0". A 1.0 rading indicates an audience of between 800 and 1,000 listeners . . . so WOGK has between say 7,500 and 10,000 tuning in daily; WSKY between say 6,000 and say 8,000 listeners.
They do not list WWKO, 91.3 or WKSG, 89.5. As a radio professional, this indicates an audience too small to measure. A no listing indicates an audience of between zero and say 200.
Before anyone claims they do not rate religious stations, look at other cities, and you see where there is an audience, they are listed.
It takes a massive market before talk radio or religious radio make up a large segment of the market. Rush Limbaugh has about 4 million listeners at a given time on a single day. That is about 1.5 percent of the population. Applied to Marion County (pop about 300K)means about 4,500 listen to him on WSKY, WOCA or Orlando stations reaching the south end of the county.
Call me as crazy as I may sound, but unfortunately (for me) these are the facts.
I'm an old retired politican and I can tell you that politicans do not have to pay any attention to the two local radio shows mentioned. Neither can influence an election. Just ask Mayor Ergle who continually gives the cold shoulder to both; hasn't ever impacted his election results or popularity. Why any politicians, except the radical right wing, even appear on these shows is beyond my political imagination!
Radioman says that the absence of a listing for WWKO indicates an audience of between 0 and 200 for Bobby D. He also states Bobby D claims an audience of between 10,000 and 15,000. Taking the mid-point of 100 of the estimated range of 0-200, the ratio of the claimed audience to the actual is 100-150.
Assuming all the listeners are in Marion County and applying this ratio to Radioman's county population of 300,000 (a reasonable assumption given that the US Census Bureau estimated 291,322 as of July 1, 2004), you get a population of 30 million to 45 million. This is the number of people who would have to be living in Marion County for the actual fraction of the population listening to result in the claimed audience size. By comparison, the US Census bureau estimated the population for all of Florida last year was 17 million.
I have a mechanic who bought a bunch of time on WOCA because one of his customers was seling it and "it was so cheap." He didn't rebuy because he couldn't identify a single new customer who heard the ads. If businesses contemplating the purchase of time on some of these little stations based their decisions on accurate audience research, a lot of these little stations would just shrivel up and die. That's probably why you never hear an independent market research organization cited as a source when the on-air people on these stations make claims about how many people are listening.
Old Republican is certainly correct about Mayor Gerald Ergle and Lund's program on WOCA.
I spoke to Ergle when he was running for re-election against Carrasco. Lund had aired some stuff about Ergle and Taylor, Bean, and Whitaker that caused Ergle to ask the station manager why they aired this sort of junk. Ergle told me he was concsiously ignoring invitations to appear on the program because an appearance "wouldn't be productive." Despite all of Lund's taunting and flacking for Carrasco, Ergle didn't go on the program. He blew out Carrasco by about a 2-1 margin.
I wish more polticians had as much spine as Gerald. You don't have to climb into the sewer to get elected.
Radioman’s numbers confirm what I have always thought. Bobby D overstates the size of his audience. Shame on you Bobby D for falling into the ways of some Wall Street advertising firms: “no truth in advertising”. Not a very Christian virtue!
Bobby D, I agree with you. I have heard enough about you. The topic of this section is the Ocala Election. How about let's get back on that--much more interesting than analyzing local talk radio. Talk radio in Marion County is very boring. I imagine this blog has a much better audience. It is sure much more interesting.
Bobby D asks "anyway, why does it bother you that i say 15,000."
It bothers me when someone who spouts forth the Christian philosophy you claim to aspire to would be so callous with the truth. Since I do not call names as you do, I will simply say your claims are false.
Since you know the ratings are not for public consumption, you also must know you violate the FCC rules for a non-profit religious station by airing what you openly admit are advertisements and commercials.
You constantly beg the Banner for publicity, don't complain that someone writes about you here. They might quit and then it would be you and the 100-200 actual listeners you have.
At lest when you talk monday about this blog you will not be telling falsehoods about others and we wont have to listen to your personal philosophy on marriage -- keep them barefoot and pregnant and using foodstampos and WIC money as you have said your wife draws.
Have a good day and may God forgive your exaggerations also known as falsehoods.
Kudos to "radioman" for telling it like it is! As Edith Ann used to say: "and that's the truth".
I would like to hear from Bobby D on this blog about something really important to our community. We have heard plenty about him. Where does he stand on the City Elections, what about the school impact fees, etc.? There are many meaningful topics on this blog. Let's hear from him on some of these issues. Or is he afraid to accept the disagreements he might get in this "open forum" that can be controlled on his radio show? Accepting differences of opinion doesn't seem his style.
I find it very interesting that Bobby D can sure dish it out on his show (e.g., personal attacks on those who don’t agree with him) but frets and gets defensive when people go after him.
To paraphrase an old biblical saying: “Do unto Bobby D as Bobby D would do unto you”. Seems to me this is what several bloggers are doing. Doesn’t always feel so good does it Mr. Bobby D?
Bobby D,
Why don't you give your listeners the address of this blogsite so that they can view all the comments and not just get the select few that you censor and feed to them. You aren't afraid to have them see the written word which is just as powerful as the spoken are you?
Comments on this blog are no more anonymous than those of your callers who use only first names (which may or may not be their names). I know a couple of people who called in and actually disguised their voice.
Bobby D,
Didn't realize you mentioned the blog. I must have missed that show. I listen in once in awhile.
I do know there are already many people who visit and mske comments on this blog and it has only been active for about three months. You are wrong about "hatred". Read some of the numerous comments on other subjects and you will see that is not the case. There are many very interesting, informative and intelligent views being offered.
This negative stuff seems to have appeared when your name and Creekbaum's got mentioned on the blog. Not sure what that means. I don't think anyone is "winning" or "losing" when it comes to debating issues. This blog is for people who are not on the far left or right. It looks to me that you and Creekbaum represent the far right and far left and therefore are having a tough time communicating with all of us in the more moderate middle. However, I'm willing to listen to both of your points of view. I don't think either of you are correct on the role of our library--just my point of view.
Let's all keep talking. My preference is the blog over radio. This is the future of communications--especially on political issues.
I have no idea who started this blog and really don't care. Whoever did it is doing a great service to many of us who feel left out of the local political process. I heard a rumor that this blog was started by some university political science students as a class project. If so, I thank them.
Jim said...
"It looks to me that you and Creekbaum represent the far right and far left..."
Far left? Nice try at marginalizing me, Jim, but you've got a little bit a fact problem here. I've never belonged to a political party. I've cast presidential votes in my life for Reagan, both Bushes, and Dole. And never for Clinton, I'm proud to say. My views on intellectual freedom at the library are pretty much in synch with those of self-described conservative Jan Cameron, a former two term school board member and Republican State Committeewoman, and those of Carol Matthews, a self- described limited government Republican, a gun rights enthusiast, and a Republican Executive Committee member. Both served for several years on the library advisory board during the five years with which I've dealt with library issues.
I don't know your sources of information, Jim, but it sounds like you could use some new ones.
I didn't meet any "Jims" during three years of attending library board meetings where I made my views known, but I do know one on the county commission who is undoubtedly sweating some maaaajoorr bullets right now at the thought he might have to follow through on some policy votes he's made by voting on "controversial" library books within just months of a re-election bid. Ever met that Jim, Jim?
Bobby . . . I have just re-read the entire blog thread and I do not see any slander of your wife and especially none of "her beautiful children", but then I didn't expect to see any; this is just one more example of your failure to tell the truth. I did read about food stamps and WIC money that YOU said on the air she and your family receive, because, to quote you "I don't make enough money>". I know many, many real conservative families who have had a tough time financially, yet never even thought about getting welfare. They went to work, doing several jobs, and dug themselves out of whatever hole they were in.
The comment "keeping your wife barefoot and pregnant" is not a slur at her and certainly not at her children, and not one at you as I read the comment. It is simply a statement of facts.
As for hatred .. . not the way I read it. When you call fine Christian men "preveyors of pornography" as you did, when you slander elected officials of Belleview, when you falsify facts about the drinking issue in Belleview...When you accuse teachers and principals of falsehoods as was the case at Emerald Shores and another school, on and on, the list grows almost daily.
Oh well...go ahead and talk to Ray or what is his real name steve, charles, robert or john...he has used all of those names and probably more, as he spews real hatred toward the Jews, God's chosen people...calling them vipers, snakes etc. Anyway hope you enjoy your 15 minutes of somebody talking about you. It's more than you have had on, let's see, how many stations is it...this new move makes four in about that many years. Have a great day, and pleasssssseeeee, if you are going to talk about the blog, tell the truth this time-it's really wont hurt you, and will make you feel better in your relationship with God.
Radioman makes more sense to me than anything Bobby D has said. I sometimes (not often) listen in on Bobby D and hear the same spewing of hatred and personal attacks on his show that he accuses of occuring on this blog. This blog is mild, mild in comparison to Bobby D and some of his callers.
when Bobby D moves to the new station, i have a suggestion: more music and less talk. i will start listneing again.
Well for the first time ever I attempted to listen to the Bobby D show today. We have four radios in the house and could not pick it up on any of them. Went outside and could not get it on the car radio either. I guess I’m not going to hear what the Bobby D show is all about. I was able to get his old station and they have some great music. I live in southwest Ocala. Maybe that’s too far out of range for 89.5. Guess I’ll just have to check the Politically Homeless blog to see what Bobby is up to.
Just tuned in. I knew Bobby D would wimp out! Radioman had him pegged, and had the facts to support what he said, and Mr. D did not have a leg to stand on in defending himself. At least we can now get back to the topic of the City Election and the blog is no longer blogged by this type of trivia junk.
By the way, I couldn't pick up the show either. I live in the north west part of Ocala. 89.5 is a lot like Mr D, not much power!
I may be changing my vote on Phelan. I have heard some really good comments about Ewers. I'm going to wait to hear them both at a forum. Some comments about Phelan have me concerned. Need to check this out by questioning him.
Hey,Got to love all of this criticism of a guy who has 100-200 listeners..Radioman-if this is true and he has done as much for the community with this "little and insignificant" influence over at 91.3FM-Wait till you see what will happen at 89.5FM which is 30 times bigger..I think it just bugs some people that a little guy can make a difference..Have you ever heard of "Word Of mouth"??If the 100-200 tell someone who tells someone,who tells someone-well you get my point!!
Yeah,its always the folks who sit in their Ivory Towers who get mad at the little guy who is out there everyday trying to make a difference in this world!!I guess radioman thinks the average every day guy is really "Insignificant" in the scope of things??
"significance" sometimes comes from who you are as a person ;and your passion for what you believe in and not always from the amount of money you can throw around.
The Funny thing is when it comes time to be elected, the politicians try and throw around as much money as they can to try and reach these very small and "Insignificant" people???
Bobby, I see you say you have quit the blog which does not surprise me since a bully seldom can take the heat themselves, but knowing you will be back to read, let me assure you that you did say your wife collected WIC (Women and Infant Care) checks and that you were on food stamps. You made the statement at WOCA and at WCFI -- and it was a topic of some concern by conservatives who questioned if they could have a mouthpiece who admitted drawing welfare. Later on WWKO, someone asked you the question about welfare checks and your answer was "not any more" and explained that when you folks had a tough time financially you did take advantage of the government checks, and asked the caller if they had any problem with people in need using welfare to get started again.
Nothing, not a single word, of what I have said is untrue. It is all things you have said at one of your stops, and anyone with a belief in God as you claim knows better than to try and deny what others have heard. And why not tell your listeners that you have to pay to get your two hours daily, and the business you operate from Queen of Peace's kitchen serving dinners, is not paying sales taxes on the cost of the dinners you serve (all restaurants must charge sales taxes and this is sure a business because it apparently funds Marion County Catholic Radio), and no one really knows where the money is going -- except you say you buy the time on the station.
Wish you well at 89.5. As for it being 30 times stronger than WWKO, I have always been able to pick up 91.3, but 89.5 is sketchy, fades in and out quickly. So you are starting out at 89.5 with another falsehood.
See you around.
Radioman is correct about 89.5. I can not pick it up clearly at all. Could get 91.3. Bobby D has lost me as a listener. 30 times more powerful seems an exaggeration by someone.
I'm sorry to see Bobby D not wanting to share his thoughts with those of us who use this blog. We are hear to listen to everyone, even though we don't always have to agree. What a boring world if you only want to communicate with people who constantly agree with you and stroke your ego.
I found the interraction between Radioman and Bobby D refreshing. I sure know more about local radio (ratings, reach, etc) than I did. Talk radio and this blog have some similarities--each is used by intelligent people and idiots. That is the way communications works.
.
Mr. Creekbaum,
Thanks for informing me on your political leanings. I imagine Bobby D could put forth an equally good summary of his political record. I have lived here all of my life and have observed your antics in the paper and at meetings, and Bobby D’s on his radio show and other events.
Both of you have what I call single-issue myopia. The library for you and abortion for him have clouded your objectivity on all other relevant and important local issues.
You are personally fixed on eliminating Randy Harris. Bobby D is personally fixed on eliminating all of the library liberals. So what is the difference? In my opinion, you are both wrong.
The problem with the two of you is that you cannot imagine or accept how others see you; a common reaction from extremist individuals/groups (political and otherwise) in our country.
This is the end of any more comments by me on this blog about you or Bobby D. I’m moving on to the more important issues we should be discussing.
Just so you know,The comments regarding Bobby D made by me(I am not Bobby) on KO radio VS. 89.5FM are a FACT..89.5FM puts out 30K watts and WWKO Radio puts out about 900 watts..Way more folks will be able to tune into the Bobby D show at 89.5FM..Radio man ought to at least concede this fact??..The reason I even posted on this blog to begin with is that I really cant believe people would attack a "Little guy" who puts so much out there to change the world for the better..I do personally know the Famous Bobby D and can say unequivically that he cares for the "Little guy" and will wear his heart on his sleeve to help people out..I cant say that we know that about the "IVORY TOWER" people throwing the stones..What is it you are personally doing???Go out and spend more money and live well,while Bobby goes out and actually makes a difference in our community little person by little person!!!
This will also be my last post regarding this issue.Will be anxiously awaiting the all new Bobby D show on 89.FM between 10.00 AM and 12.00 Noon ...
I consider myself one of the little guys anonymous refers to. I don't sit in an ivory tower. I'm a single mother, high school graduate and work in the administration office at CFCC. I am making it on my own because my Christian husband left me and my daughter. I don't know Bobby D and don't really care to. I will fight for myself and don't need some self-proclaimed, do-gooder "helping" me. I'm among the many little guys/gals who are doing fine without someone taking advantage of us or our situation for political purposes. By the way, I enjoy reading this blog. To each his own. If you don't like it don't participate. The same option I have concerning Bobby D's radio show.
Ann,
So what are your concerns about Phelan?
“Jim,”
Thanks for announcing your new priorities. I’m glad to hear you will now be posting on the myriad topics more important than I. I wondered why you bothered to post about me at all. At first, I thought you were confused about my politics as many people are by the fact that I’ve defended the right of people to read at the library books that other people decided to attack and that many locals would call liberal in viewpoint. Even some people who have allied with me for years on the library censorship issue have taken a long time to figure out that my political views differ considerably from theirs and those in some of the books I’ve said I and others should have the freedom to read at the library.
However, once I corrected your misimpression, you responded with another post offering more theories attempting to link me with this radio talk show person to whom you’re listening. It appears that your real purpose is to link me with this individual. I’m beginning to wonder if you have some sort of fixation with this.
I note you have managed two posts on me using labels such as “far left” and “extremist” without ever referring to any view of mine on anything. You know, there’s an old adage that labeling is a substitute for thinking.
I’ll be rooting for you and hope you’re able to go cold turkey in dropping me as a subject, but if you find yourself unable to resist the urge to post again on this subject, maybe we could set up some sort of tapering off program to wean you.
I'm also one of the little guys, just like Kate. I also like this blog. I agree with you Kate. I'm a Wal-Mart associate and proud of it. I don't need someone representing me either thank you.
So how about the required sales tax on dinners staged by a business, Bobby? There is a difference in a church dinner to benefit Queen of Peace and a business dinner, and according to your statements, you conduct a business called Marion County Catholic Radio that stages dinners at Queen of Peace. That required payment of sales taxes.
As for the power of a radio station, you are again uninformed. Radio Signals are directional as assigned by the FCC. You could have a 10,000 watt station in on the square with a pattern that was only two miles wide and ran from downtown Ocala to the St. Johns River and not reach more than 5,000 potential listeners. Get your engineer to show you a coverage map. 30,000 watts does not mean it reaches 30 times the listeners as a 1,000 watt station. And since the radio business is measured on listeners, again you will be with a station that does not show up as having enough listeners to be rated. Rant all you want, but that is all it is and all you ever has been.
Just think, if you can build an audience at 89.5, maybe the owner will do the same thing Mr. Walker did at 640 AM where he turned a non profit station into a profit and sold it to the Villages, and at 91.3 where he sold the license for a profit to Bible Broadcasting Network.
With all of your hard work at radio, just think, you might work hard enough at your blind business so your wife would not have to qualify for welfare to feed her beautiful children. And you are the one who brought her collection of welfare to the take, not me.
Glad to see Bobby D did not leave us. He and Radioman are having some interesting discussions! As I said before, I’m learning a lot about radio engineering, talk radio, etc. I did know that wattage and reach are not correlated. The Blogmaster should consider a special section on the blog for these two guys to continue to point and counter point each other. What about that, Blogmaster? That way it won't interfere with the discussion about the city election.
Critic from Belleview . . .
What is going to happen in the Belleview election over Sunday booze sales. After Bobby D and "pastor" Slattery lied about the issue and created such a stink, you've lost some good councilmen and the mayor. Will the voters repeal the Sunday booze ordinance?
Belleview Code enforcement ought to make Bobby clean up the mess in his yard. But then two grownups and six small in a house big enough for four or five; whadda expect?
What has happenend to Sam Riggs? Is he running or not? Dan Owen has been much more active. Has anyone even seen a sign for Riggs? I was optimistic that he would be an aggressive campaigner and was even thinking about voting for him just to change things. But won't unless I know more. We don't need another lazy politician.
Well, here’s a post to help this thread stay on its assigned topic with a few questions about what’s on the mind of one of our City Council candidates.
I too believed Rev. Sam Riggs would be an aggressive campaigner. He’s friendly and energetic.
Sam introduced himself to me in the county commission auditorium lobby shortly after the county commission appointed him last year to the library advisory board. He almost immediately informed me of his desire to not walk into his daughter’s bedroom and find her having sex with vegetables (I don’t think this was meant to imply that sex with other food was okay, but I didn’t ask). I was impressed with Sam’s firm grasp of the most important issue in running an institution focused on reading in a county with a low literacy rate.
One of the commissioners who voted to put Sam on the library board told me Sam was politically ambitious and wouldn’t be on the library board very long. I had seen photos on the internet of Sam at his fundamentalist church having knives thrown at him by a man with a knife throwing ministry so I knew Sam was well prepared for life as a politician.
When the library advisory board was finalizing its long-awaited policy recommendations, the Star-Banner showed up. Sam asked me before the meeting not to beat up on him too much. I never beat up on anyone in library board meetings, but I was impressed by Sam’s ability to focus on what was most important in setting policy for an institution serving hundreds of thousands of Marion Countians: How Sam would come off in the newspaper. Sam delivered his sound bites in his finely pressed dark suit without a hitch with Pat Strait looking on in sympathy.
Knowing that Sam was politically ambitious, owned a finely pressed dark suit, and that he was obviously on the right side of the vegetable sex issue, I wasn’t surprised that he later joined the Republican Executive Committee of Marion County, which posts in this blog indicate is supporting him in his quest to represent on the Ocala City Council the district in which I live.
Given his past comments to me, I figure Sam must be running on an anti-vegetable sex platform, but I haven’t seen him since the county commissioners who say they don’t believe in censorship snuffed all their citizen library advisors, including Sam. Does anyone know what Sam’s position is on the regulation of produce sales in the City of Ocala? Does he want to start carding people at Publix purchasing cucumbers and carrots? Also, we’re thinking of planting a for-consumption-only vegetable garden in the back yard, and I’m wondering if the City will require us to age restrict access to the garden or possibly to certain portions based on the form factor of the vegetables in question.
Finally something from Mr. Creekbaum that I love!! You are sooooo.... eight on about Sam Riggs.
Sorry, I meant "right on" not eight on. Guess I was unconsciously thinking about Eat Me.
After reading the diologue between radioman and Bobby D,it has become pretty obvious that radioman has a problem with a "Little Guy" making a difference in the community and will do anything to try and stop this from happening.As a "Little Guy" myself,I dont need a mouthpiece either,but its nice to see a regular guy standing up for what he believes in and throwing it in some of the "Ivory tower" folks faces.LOL
A spaghetti dinner,all you can eat for a 5 dollar donation???Who in the world can find fault with that?Apparently radioman has a problem with "Little guys" working their butts off and scratching and clawing their way up..30Kwatts is bigger then 900watts no matter how you point it.LOL
I could care less who is on foodstamps and who isnt.I want community leaders who are "REAL" and effective!!YOU GO BOBBY D !!
Well I have learned something. Brian Creekbaum has a good sense of humor. Thanks for helping to start my day with a chuckle. Your comments are funny and most likely correct.
Power to the People said--
You got it all wrong. At 6'1" or and 265 pounds or more, BD is the "big guy." I am not anywhere that size, thus a "little" guy. And anyone in radio knows it is the footprint of the signal that counts, not just power. As for the spaghetti dinners, no I am sure I would enjoy the food and the price. It is just the fairness of "little" regular guys like you and me trying to squeak out a living at small restaurants and then have a church misuse their sales taxz exemption, and of course, no one knows what really happens to the profit from the dinners. Wanna bet Marion County Catholic Radio doesn't pay income taxes. As for welfare, to blast blacks for buying into the Dem's by keeping "them" on welfare and then admitting on radio your family collects welfare sounds like a good Christian philosophy to me.
Anonymous,
I don't know how the vote on alcohol in Belleview will come out, if it goes to that. I will vote for allowing it. I'm a republican but lean libertarian when it comes to government and religious groups telling me what I can and cannot drink. I don't use alcohol, but I'll make my own decisions. What's next for government to control in my life?
Riggs campaign is being run by Randy Harris and the GOP. ASs Rock Gibboney found out, Harris does nothing until the last two to three weeks. So Owens better be prepared for an onslaught those last few days. It has won for Harris in three election cycles and he plans for it again.
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Bloggers (e.g. Bobby D, Radioman, etc.) who want to continue the ongoing and interesting dialogue about local talk radio, please go to that section and begin entering your comments on that thread.
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Blog Master
If Harris is running Rigg's campaign, Owen is in big time trouble. Look at how Harris took an unknown in McLain and defeated Townley. I see upset coming. Wait until they unlesh the attack dogs on Owen. He is dead meat!
Like Tillander to beat Ruse.Why do you say Tillander is entering politics for the wrong reasons?They all enter for the same reason.To gain power.Who will help the city grow?This is the important question in this election.Give me Tillander and his power brokers over another lawyer Ruse.
I don't want power brokers, I want someone with character, who I can trust. Ruse is the man.
I dont know Ruse or Tillander so have to go just on what I read.What has Ruse done to display his Character? Was strange to see him criticize Tillander for his Choice of business knowing that he takes Tillanders money as a landlord.Is this a bit odd?
Tillander has a phone number now where you can call and speak directly to him about the community.This is a good thing.
Tell us about the character of Ruse?I would love to know more about him.
I don't need to defend Ruse, I have met him, asked him questions and had a good discussion. I just flat out don't trust Tillander based on his behavior in City Council meetings, his legal shenanigans, etc. The last debate I attended put me off on Tillander. I also like Ruse's family situation much better than Tillanders.
Isn't it a great world when we can make up our minds, as we wish, based on our own evaluations and standards.
Lawyers are usually pretty good at legal shenanigans.
Lawyers are good at legal shenanigans. That's why I keep one on retainer. However, I don't have a bar owner on retainer.
The argument about Ruse owning Tillander's building won't fly with me either. Give up on me "anonymous", you will never convince me to vote for Tillander.
Now to watch the rest of the Ohio St. and Penn St. game.
wouldnt want to convince you to vote for anyone other than who you like.I dont know much about either canidate.Tillander is certainly no great moral man.The fact that he runs nightclubs where all kind of "shenanigans" go on proves this in my mind,but he is not claiming to be a moral leader as far as I have read.Ruse is implying by his signs that he is a moral leader,so my question is about what he may have done in the past to display his high moral standards?Does anyone know?
It isnt a great indicator to throw stones at Tillander ,when you yourself are making a profit off of these "Dirty" type businesses.A real high moral man would likely not be in a position to profit from this type of business at all.
Its like me saying I am totally against prostitution,while I knowingly rent a brothel to a pimp.Strange.
I like Ruse's TV spots. Not that that should influence my decision. Also, would like to know more about Ruse. He has a great looking family.
Who he rents to may not be anything he can control under today's regulations of fairness and city codes.
I love the ads of politicians! All of them feel thay must be "blessed" with something or other. Blessed with children, great wife, etc.
Why won't one of them be honest and say they are blessed with family money and a job because of a great father.
How about that Mr. Ewers, candidate for mayor?
Here is Sam Rigg's campaign slogan:
"Unavailable For Comment"
His candidacy is a joke!
Ruse vs Tillinder . . .
Someone asked about character of Ruse. Yes, I do know him reasonably well, and have never known him to no anything immoral except for his mouth in private conversations at times he is vulgar, but as a sinner i must admit I sometimes use vulgarity.
Yes, he does have a great family, two well rounded kids who are doing well in their education. His wife is a hard working lady.
I can not say anything about Tillander except he has a pregant girl friend, a houseful of kids, and has tried to avoid the law to get young (18) year old girls in his bar to attract boys and more profit. Nothing wrong with capitalism, but frankly, titty bars aren't the type business I really want for Ocala He told the star banner he was going to be a good citizen and stop fighting the city council, yet his law suit continued on appeal, trying to undo the city code.
If Character counts, well, I am on Ruse's side. By the way, Rose doesn't own the building. Ruise and partners own the building, and it was leased as a Dance Hall, Midnight Rodeo, not a topless, bottomless, anything to sell institution.
One of the bloggers questioned why I support Ruse over Tillander. The above posting says much that is important to me in making a selection. I must agree, character does make a difference.
I'm glad the Bobby D crap was moved off of this spot. That was starting to get a bit irritating. How did that guy ever get his own radio show?
I have to say, the choices we have are pretty weak. As far as I can tell we've been told:
Vote for Dude: he's talked to gov't employees, & oh yeah, he worked on a road once.
Vote for Ewers: he can say vision & business 5 times in a sentence.
Vote for Kay: he's not afraid to crouch near a lion.
Vote for Ruse: he won't booze it up with teens.
Vote for Owen: have we been asked to?
With candidates like those in this city election, you know why voters feel politically homeless. The ones we have to select from are the best of a bad lot. As said by others, we have a very shallow political gene pool in this city and the county. Just close your eyes, hold your nose, hope for the best and vote on October 18!
Anon, you missed a few.
Vote For Tillander: He knows how to run a "titty" bar.
Vote For Rev. Riggs: He's missing in action.
Vote For "Rusty": He will get your hair done for you.
It really is quite funny!! What a bad group of canidates.LOL
What is this nonsense of Tillander holding off till the day after election to file his appeal?????????? He does not want to add attraction to the media on this????? What a joke!!!! This is the appeal to the city and the under age drinking. I thought he was a changed man???? My vote definately goes to Ruse. He is extremely inconsistant in his stories...
What is this nonsense of Tillander holding off till the day after election to file his appeal?????????? He does not want to add attraction to the media on this????? What a joke!!!! This is the appeal to the city and the under age drinking. I thought he was a changed man???? My vote definately goes to Ruse. He is extremely inconsistant in his stories...
Anonymous..... who makes the comment about being blessed with a great wife, family and who they should be blessed by was there father is a "stupid" comment. Mr. Ewers has a job and works. So what if his father has done well and been successful. I admire his ambition and desire to get involved in politics. Perhaps you should too.
Does Mr. Ewers work for the company his father owns or owned? Has he ever worked any place else for a long period of time? I know the answers, and they influence my decision--but not entirely.
I don't think he will be a good mayor. Being interested in politics is one thing, being a good mayor is another. I don't think he is as qualified as his opponent and that's why I won't vote for him.
Isn't our system great that we can have disagreements about who we will vote for and why?
I no longer have concerns about Phelan. Much of what I heard about life style issues was “political garbage”. He is going to get my vote.
On the Mayor's race:
I got a mailing yesterday from Randy Ewers saying "We must focus on increasing the economic vitality of our community." And to accomplish this, he proposes we look at ways to attract and or develop higher paying companies in our area . . .
The mailing piece was printed and mailed by a Gainesville based company. Ocala is blessed with two talented and competent mailing companies, and numerous printing companies, as well as consultants who can and do work with numerous political candidates.
I would suggest to Mr. Ewers that if he wants to build a stronger economic base in Ocala (hardly the job of city government, by the way) he start by using the myrid printing firms, mailing firms and people who have been in dozens and dozens of political campaigns.
He seems like a nice guy, but he will not get my vote.
--pwf
Promote the local economy by using a Gainesville printer! Real smart Mr. Ewers. Not a very mayor like decision. PWF, you are right-no vote for Ewers.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY SOME OF YOU PEOPLE FIND IT SO HARD TO BELIVE THAT I CAN'T CHANGE?IS IT THAT I'M THE ONLY ONE IN OCALA THAT HAS MADE A MISTAKE OR SAID SOMETHING I SHOULD NOT HAVE. BEFORE YOU ALL HIGH AN MIGHTY ANSWEAR GO READ THIS.YOU WILL FIND IT IN ABOOK I'M SURE NOT ALL OF YOU HAVE READ!FRIST TIMTHONY VERUS ONE CHPTER 12-17 AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW ME THAN CALL502-2579 AND TRY AND SEE IF YOU CAN USE YOUR REAL NAME!!! IT TAKE A BIG PERASON TO HIDE LIKE A LITTLE KID
Mr. Tillander,
Your changing is not the issue with me. We all have made mistakes and God gave us the direction to change. I just feel that Ruse will make a better councilman. I may be wrong, but I feel much more comfortable with Ruse than I do with you.
I was not pleased with either one of you at a debate I attended. If I had to vote at the end of that debate, I would have skipped voting for either of you. However, after cooling down and looking at the total situation, I’m voting for Ruse.
Is anything that’s been said about you on this blog untrue?
Wow! Six years of high school down the drain.
Mr. Tillander,
How does running a bar where you use teenage girls to attract grown men who want to mess around with them, sometimes when the men are married? Your effort to skirt the law by calling yourself a pool hall, then back down before council, pledging to be a good citizen, and then you try to wait until the day after the election to file your appealate briefg does not show me much change.
As for scripture, I could quote some too. But my policy has always been when someone TELLS me what a great Christian they are, or quotes scripture to me, I reach for my wife and wallet. As Ronald Reagan once said, trust but verify. I trust you, but my effort to verify shows you have fallen short.
--pwf
PWF ARE FEELING A LITTLE GUILTY?
ANN YOU SHOULD AT LEAST CALL 502-2579 BUT IF NOT THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONEST COMMET AND NOT BEING RUDE THAT IS A SIGN OF A GREAT PERSON!
I am not quite sure who is actually being rude????????? Perhaps any untrue comments can be cleared up for us..
did anyone else read something we don't responed to anonymous grow some nads!!!!!!!!!!!
mr ruse was at aloss for words today at rotary club what a shock.is ruse a bush man or?what maybe hilary is his cup of tea.how can a man control gov. when he can't even control his on eating habits?
Ruse does look like he hasn't missed a meal in quite awhile. Of course the same could be said of many of our current and aspiring politicians. Suspenders look good on many of them!
Mr. Tillander asks if I am feeling guilty.
The answer is no. But if I was feeling guilty, I would seek sincere forgiveness in prayer and from those I had offended.
The real question man to man, is are you not feeling guilty for the "ruse" (pardon the pub) you have been conducting claiming to want to cooperate with the city (finally) and still maintaining your lawsuit seeking to overturn what the vast, vast majority of citizens want, i.e., the city ordinance that was passed by council.
--pwf
Grow some "nads" that sounds extremely juvenile, inappropriate and unprofessional for a grown man.
Mr. Tillander your choice of words is on the gross side. Perhaps the "potty" talk should stay at the bar.
Mr. Tillander,
Rather than exchanging barbs with others on this blog, it might be good if you use this blog to tell us why we should vote for you and how you plan to make the City a better place. Many, including myself, may have not yet made up their mind as to who to vote for. Let's hear you ideas.
If TV ads win elections, then Ewers will win. His just blows away the one I saw By Phelan. New style just beat old style. Great ad Mr. Ewers!
Ewers ads are good, and Dude looks uncomfortable in his ads. But as one who has done ads for perhaps 200 or so campaigns, don't be swayed by an ad. Our job is to make the candidate look good, in spite of their warts and knowledge os issues. Votre based on facts, not fluff.
--pwf
On the Mayor's race . . .
Biggest issues between the two candidates seem to be the Mayor's role in administering the police department, and roads.
Addressing the Mayor's role in police business. As an old newspaperman, I questioned during the new city charter writing about 25 or so years ago, why the Mayor should have control over the department while every other department was (and is) administered by the City Manager.
There were strong conflicts with the late Lee McGehee and former City Manager Scotty Andrews (and every other city manager): Lee didn't attend city staff meetings, did't work closely with the city manager or human resources.
If and I repeat IF -- the Mayor is going to take a hands off position with the police department, we might want to go back and consider why police should not come under the rest of the city as it is in most cities across America.
What we really ought to do is to work out a countywide consolidation program, where the Sheriff is in charge of law enforcement as was once proposed by Chief McGehee and formewr Sheriff Don Moreland. There would be tremendous savings in records, administration, purchasing, etc.
But until that happens, the city charter says the Mayor is in charge of police. That does not suggest a hands off policy.
Just thoughts to consider.
--pwf
sorry for using the bad choice of words. but i get so tired of being kick by people who can't even stand up for what they belive in using the own name they hide behind well you know.we need change we need a council who will make a choice for all not just the few this job will be hard and i understand this but i will be fair listen to all and make my decision for the best of all.i do fill we need to take a hard look at our ocala police we are the lowest paid dept in 5 counties.it's hard working 40 hrs aweek then have to do20-30 hrs over time just to get bye could we handle that dones't leave much time for the family?
Mr. T, I hope you will also take care of the pay for the city firemen when you are elected. The current city council seems to not care about us.
yes i will i have not had the chance to talk to the fire dept i have had more enter action with opd as you well know but i will take the time to listen to you and the whole dept i want to be fair to everyone!
Want my vote. Then commit that over the next two years one of you candidates will work to get rid of the entire idea of having a city council by folding everything into the county. Think of all the savings from all of the city overhead we can eliminate. Go beyond merging the fire departments and merge the whole damn city administration! The county commission couldn't do any worse.
Actually running as "anonymous for City Council" might not be a bad idea. When you look at what we often elect, a politician with a name who is anonymous in office. I would run if I wasn't 86 years old. Politics has passed me by.
I can't vote in the city elections, but if I could I would definitely vote for Kyle Kay. Probably the only one running that I would support.
I notice a mention of Ewers' very good TV spot. Just saw one by Ruse--it was awful! Who is advising some of these candidates?
According to the expense reports (lot of interesting information there) Kay has an advertising agency (guess they talked him into that silly lion that cost a fortune -- and took more courage to have take the gaf he has received than to stand beside the lion) and Ruse uses one for print. Owens is on his own, Ewers is using someone from Gainesville, Ruse and Phelan were on his own on TV stuff and it showed. Both are uncomfortable in front of the camera.
I just read Monday's Banner where Mr. Riggs wants to reduce the "city tax to reduce electric bills." Sounds good, but shows a complete lack of knowledge of city finances. The City of Ocala finances a large portion of city government through the electric system. Without Ocala Utilities, the city of Ocala property tax rate would be the constitutional maximum of 10 mills, and there would be a short fall.
So, why not just let a private, invester owned utility have the system and collect property taxes and a utility tax from them?
Good question. If we sold to Florida Progress, we would get a sizeable amount of money for the power lines and equipment, and that could be used to build roads etc., and would soon be gone, and the utility tax on the then Florida Progress utility sales would not provide sufficient revenue for the city.
(By the way, if I was on council, I would vote immediately to stop all the advertising the city does for Ocala Utilities. They have no competition, and it is one giant black hole.)
We have been through this idea of selling utilities during my 48 years in Ocala, and it is a loser.
(At one time, I wanted to sell to then Florida Power, but upon further review, my position was overturned by facts.)
Ad if Mr. Riggs will investigate power rates, he will find that Ocala's rates are highly competitive with other invester owned and private utilities in Florida.
Yes, I too would like to return to the days of $50 a month power rates, but I doubt he would like to return to the same rate of pay for preachers.
--pwf
Dan Owen in the pocket of developers-a charge by Sam Riggs. I doubt it.
Sam Riggs in the pocket of the far right of the Republican Party-a charge by me. You can bet on it. He will have to answer to every nut case R in the city.
that was a good one pwf sam riggs is totally clueless!!!!it's been fun and i happy it's almost over thankyou to all that have given support and the ones that have't i have learned alot!!!!!
Mr. Tillander,
I like the fact you have been one of the few candidates to actually join in on the blog. It takes guts to do that, and I appreciate you for doing so. Even if you don't win, you will have put some "fire" into this boring election. I respect that.
Just a couple of days ago someone says to me "I saw your husbands name on the blogger," my response was "what is a blogger?" After finding out the details of course I had to look to make sure there was nothing ugly. This is kind of fun. Alot of interesting comments.
Maybe candidates have not signed on because they do not know about this website. Does anyone know how many people actually comment? I will speak for my husband, Kyle Kay. Naturally I think he is the best candidate for this district. Kyle has in my mind been consistant, fair and always has done what he believes to be in the best interest of the citizens of the city of Ocala. He is one of the most awesome people I have ever met. He is a super father and couldn't ask for a better step-father. Yes, the lion was real. No, it was not the advertising agencies idea. It was Kyles. Yes, it cost money. The advertising agency helped with layouts. I hope he gets all of your support in this next election.
Ms. Kay:
Kyle has my vote and that of several of my friends. He has been a good City Councilman and deserves another term in office. He's not bad looking either--sorry about such a sexist commment.
Elected officials should always listen to the arguments and opinions of staff and citizens, and then use their best judgement. They should never be obligated to vote as we want, only to use their best judgement. If we do not like their judgement, then we have the right to vote for someone else.
Every time I have ever called Kyle and offered an opinion, he has been willing to listen, sometimes present a different point of view, but always listen. That doesn't mean he has always agreed; he has not.
When we were plagued with the day labor problems on North Magnolia, Kyle was willing to step in and help solve the problem.
In my judgement, he is smart, polite, not sure about this good looking deal Ann mentioned, but has been a good councilman, and he gets my vote.
--pwf
The Owens-Riggs race is easy. Owens.
The only time I met Riggs, I found him to be personable, well spoken, and humble. His service on the Marion County Library Advisory Board was less than satisfactory for the far right who were thrilled to have him appointed, and from the far left who feared him, since he did little or nothing. His lack of knowledge about local issues is underwhelming.
Owens is something else. The only time he had the chance to vote for something I really wanted -- to clean up the day labor problems on North Magnolia, he sided with the day labor people, saying something like he didn't want to hurt a businessman.
He is smart, he does do a lot of digging, he does support developers and builders too much for my liking, but he is the easy choice for me in that race.
--pwf
Ruse vs Tillinder . . .
My vote is easy, Charlie Ruse. He appears to be gruff, but will help most anyone in need. He is smart, he does his homework, was an excellent member of the Board of Adjustment solving tough property issues, has chewed my tail more than once (probably needed) and I believe he will listen to all sides of an issue and then know how to make the best decision for the future of Ocala.
For those who say he owns the building Tillander operates in and therfore is a "partner" to whatever goes on in there, I remind you Mr. Ruse is but a part of a partnership that owns the property, and the building was leased as a country and western dance hall, not a booty bar.
It's Ruse easily.
--pwf
For Mayor, we have two people who are obviously committed to serving; one with a long record of service (some paid) to the city government, the other volunteer service to a lot of boards.
There is a very strong component of the Mayor's job that requires interaction with the police department, and it has caused consternation on the part of various chief's of police (not Sam Williams), but it is a fact that the Mayor is the titular head of the department and is the city's official civilian representative to the department.
I was disappointed when Mr. Ewers said he would take a hands off approach to that department. It is far too important for anyone with authority to have hands off.
I think Dude Phelan has prepared himself for years to be Mayor, and he gets my vote. I hope Mr. Ewers will stay involved, and perhaps run again in the future, but Tuesday's it's Phelan.
--pwf
I think PWF has it right on 3 of 4 of the races. The only one I'm having a hard time with is the mayor race. I still haven't made up my mind on that one. I may not until I complete my ballot tomorrow.
Right on Ms. Owen!
Unfortunately, people like Mr. Riggs don't understand that they are not the only religious, "common folk" in this community. Members of the far fight of my Party are notorious for making outlandish statements on issues like this.
I can't vote in the city elections, but would vote for your husband if I could. However, I do know several city residents who are going to vote for him today.
Here's hoping he wins!! I'm confident he will.
pwf it's not a booty bar and that wasn't the issue with mr ruse he started mud slinging and that's not good!and if i do lose this race i have surley learnd alot and will give my support to charlie to help with bldg a better ocala.
I am very thrilled with the way the city elections turned out. I knew that if Ewers worked hard enough to get his message out he would win and he did! He spent about $20k less than Phelan. I am grateful that we now have a smart, innovative person as Mayor.Phelan represented the good ole' boy contingent in Ocala. It is nice to see that they no longer control what goes on here. Also, I must agree with Mindy. Her husband Kyle does a terrific job! It was good to see him win, as well as Daniel and Charles. I believe we now have a good council, although we will surely miss Mayor Ergle and Councilman Amsden.
Also, I saw some comments on Baxley in another section of this blog. I believe that he is doing a terrific job. He is working hard from what I understand on the funding issue with DCF. Dr. Mike Jordan with the Children's Alliance has mentioned the help from Baxley at the last meeting and said that help was on the way. Also standing up for our 2nd amendment rights is important. We couldn't ask for a better Rep. and I am sure he will cruise to an easy win. Frankly, I am surprised that the Democrats would put up a candidate in that race. I am sure they can't resist taking a shot at someone who articulates the conservative message so well.
--TWB
Agree with TWB on Ewers. He will have some learning to do, but I'm confident in him. We need more young people in office.
By the way, I disagree with you on Baxley. I can't wait to vote for the young Democrat who is running against him. Baxley has really let me down. I won't vote for him again. He spends all of his time promoting himself rather than handling issues in the county. I'm an R and he has lost me!
TWB sounds like Baxley's campaign manager!
I agree with the person who said we need some young blood in our legislative delegation. Don't know much about the Dem opposing Baxley, other than he's young. I will learn more. His social services and finance background also look promising.We sure have our problems at the state level in both of these areas.
Not sure why we are discussing Dennis Baxley on Ocala Elections but I was so proud of him this year. Dennis is such an honorable and hardworking legislator. He is not like some who go up there and get lost in the crowd and caught up with all the distractions!
Ok, since we are talking about Dennis, I ask again exactly what has he done, except for guns on our school parking lots, guns in business parking lots, etc? We are one of the lowest funded counties in education, foster homes, roads, most everything else. I like Dennis as a person, but will somebody anybody name the non-gun accomplishments?
I am sure Dennis IS working on children's funding, but he has been working on it for all of his terms and accomplished nothing. Remember, he is so highly thought of he had to drop out of the speaker's race because his colleagues did not recognize him as a leader. Father, Christian, singer, speaker, civic worker businessman all get high points but as a representative to bring home the bacon, no way.
I don't agree that we should judge Baxley (or any other politician) by the amount of $$$ they bring back to the area. How about judging them by the amount of $$$ they save us by eliminating pork?
OK, so please tell us what "pork" has Baxley eliminated? Several people have been asking for a month on this blog to get some facts on his performance. All we get is great platitudes about him. This is getting old and will be remembered come election time.
Where is TWB in giving us some info. on all that Rep. Baxley has done for the citizens of our county? Have I missed a posting of this somewhere else on the blog? It seems each time this question is raised, we get "dead air" on the blog.
Even though this was awhile ago, I do not see how being a financial executive is superior to running your own business. I think they are equally commendable. I do not know much about Kay, but I do know Jeurgen personally. He is kind-hearted, devoted, and a wonderful role model. He is smart and fair. He is the best choice!!!
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