Open Thread: It's Your Nickel

{NOTE: This thread of the Blog is full. You can continue to review the many excellent comments made to date. However, to add your comments, please scroll up to: "Open Thread” -- December 26.}

Here are a couple of topics to get you started:

(1) With the road tax being doomed by the voters, what’s the alternative(s)? Our roads are in bad shape and getting worse. So where does the BCC go from here?

(2) What is the best way to deal with train traffic through Ocala? Relocate train routes or build overpasses at critical traffic points?

We’ve transferred a couple of posts from other threads to continue the discussion. Please add any other discussion topics you might have on your mind.

Also, don’t forget to vote in our current “Straw Poll”.

Commissioner Fitos: Your Advice To Her?

On November 21, Barbara Fitos replaces Randy Harris. The lone female and Democrat, she likely won’t have an easy time. However, let’s help her get off to a positive start by giving her some Politically Homeless blogger advice.

What would you suggest Commissioner Fitos do early on to get off to a good start?

Also, we have a new "Straw Poll". Tell us how you think the election of Commissioner Fitos will change the effectiveness of the BCC.

Click on below, or at the Links section (Vote: Current "Straw Poll"), and give us your vote:

http://www.insitefulsurveys.com/Survey.asp?SI=347817212152

Election Analysis: Your Thoughts?

Well folks, it's just about over on the local scene. We may have to endure a couple of recounts, but otherwise it's a "done deal" for most politicians. A couple of shockers, as predicted by some on the blog. Most other races wound up "business-as-usual" for the politicians concerned.

Give us your observations and, if you want, even rub it in a bit about the results. We know there are several bloggers out there who will love (and have earned the right) to do that!

We may not have a new era in local politics in general, but perhaps a new era within the local Republican Party.

Let's hear from you.

P.S. We will announce the winners of our contest tomorrow after the final vote counts are complete; may have to use our "tie breaker" rule.

STRAW POLL: FINAL RESULTS!

"Final Results" as of this evening (377 participants):

GOVERNOR: Charlie Crist 51% Jim Davis 35% Max Linn 14%
COUNTY COMMISSIONER (Dist. #2): Jim Payton 51% Darlene Weesner 49%
COUNTY COMMISSIONER (Dist. #4): Barbara Fitos 49% Randy Harris 51%
SCHOOL BOARD (Dist. #5): Ron Crawford 54% Joyce Romanski 46%
STATE REP. (Dist. #24): Dennis Baxley 52% James Walker 48%
STATE REP. (Dist. #22): Larry Cretul 54% Macky Thurman 46%
STATE SENATE (Dist. #14): Ed Jennings 48% Steve Oelrich 52%
ROAD TAX: Yes 49% No 51%

Our final results have a few interesting trends worth mentioning. While the results, in general, pretty much pattern the update results of a week or so ago, some observations:

-- Darlene Weesner has narrowed the gap versus Jim Payton. This one looks to be close.
-- Randy Harris maintained a very narrow margin over Barbara Fitos. Actual vote difference is only + 5. Another, squeaker.
-- The high vote count for Max Linn is going to be interesting to watch. We doubt that the local results will be anywhere near 14%. However, with some apparent local coolness to both the R/D Governor candidates, who knows!
-- We discovered a high correlation between the voters for Jim Davis also voting for the local sales tax issue (Yes). Dem turnout may influence the result.
-- The sales tax issue is likely going to be much closer than the Straw Poll results indicate. At one time there was a 10% point advantage to the “NO” votes. That has been narrowed to + 2%. Based on the trend of the most recent 25 votes in our poll, that margin might very well continue to narrow. The heavy advertising by the tax supporters seems to be having some last-minute influence. We’ll see come Tuesday!

Thanks to Insiteful Surveys for helping conduct the survey. We did have a few bloggers who cast multiple votes. Fortunately, the tracking system enabled us to “eliminate” most of the ballot stuffing that was attempted.

Please vote on November 7!