HE STOOD UP FOR ALL OF US, NOW WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR HIM

I think many us have read with dismay the letter from Michael Barfield addressed to Commissioner Stoltzfus and P & Z board member Jim Connolly. Dismay that the witch hunt aimed primarily at Commissioner Stoltzfus could have reached such a low.
I hardly knew Harry and Cathy Stoltzfus before he decided to run for Commissioner. Sure we had occasionally passed the time of day at a baseball match at the Community Center when our kids were playing but I did not really ‘know’ them. The fact that someone had even stepped up to run I think had all our attention. Finally here was someone who was offering to be a voice for the residents of the City.
It sometimes feels like a lifetime has passed since November and not just a few months. In that time I have learned that the Stoltzfus’s are not just good people with a passion for their City but great people who are determined to follow through on the promise they made to the residents despite the personal cost to them.



Harry is without doubt one of the hardest working, most honest people I have ever met. For him this is about making sure that the rules we have in place in our City are followed. Its that simple. He has never been anti rental, anti business or any of the other allegations thrown at him. Cathy is devoted to her family, caring towards her friends and great fun (plus the girl can sing!). They both have that quality I love so much - integrity.
He has done everything we, as residents, asked of him. The task has turned out to be monumental as with every page he turned he uncovered more. This guy is smart and he does his homework thoroughly. No wonder his opposition are scared - they must know he is right or they would not be attempting to thwart him by any means possible.
He needs to know we have his back now. Please read the letter below. Then turn out tonight and show your support for him as he has stood up for all of us.

March 10, 2010 VIA EMAIL
amclerk@cityofannamaria.com
Alice Baird
Clerk
City of Anna Maria
P.O. Box 779Anna Maria, FL 34216

Re: Public Records Request

Dear Ms. Baird:

This letter shall constitute a request under section 119.07, Fla. Stat., to inspect the following records:

1. All e-mails, including attachments, regardless of whether on a personal or private e-mail account, sent or received by Jim Conoly and Harry Stoltzfus for the period beginning on March 1, 2009 through March 10, 2010.

For purposes of this request, the term “records” shall have the statutory definition set forth in section 119.011(11), Fla. Stat.

If you are contend that any record, or portion thereof, is exempt from inspection, please state in writing the basis for the exemption and include the applicable statutory exemption. See section 119.07(1)(c), Fla. Stat. Additionally, pursuant to the requirements of section 119.07(1)(d), Fla. Stat., I hereby request that you explain in writing and with particularity the reasons for your conclusion that the record is confidential or exempt.

I would direct your attention to the following statutory requirements set forth in section 119.07(1), Fla. Stat.:

(h) Even if an assertion is made by the custodian of public records that a requested record is not a public record subject to public inspection or copying under this subsection, the requested record shall, nevertheless, not be disposed of for a period of 30 days after the date on which a written request to inspect or copy the record was served on or otherwise made to the custodian of public records by the person seeking access to the record. If a civil action is instituted within the 30-day period to enforce the provisions of this section with respect to the requested record, the custodian of public records may not dispose of the record except by order of a court of competent jurisdiction after notice to all affected parties.

(i) The absence of a civil action instituted for the purpose stated in paragraph (g) does not relieve the custodian of public records of the duty to maintain the record as a public record if the record is in fact a public record subject to public inspection and copying under this subsection and does not otherwise excuse or exonerate the custodian of public records from any unauthorized or unlawful disposition of such record.

If any of the requested documents are maintained in a common-format electronic-medium, please provide these documents in such electronic medium and not in paper form. For purposes of this request, common electronic-formats include (1) American Standard Code for Information Interchange (“ASCII”), (2) email files formatted in Microsoft Outlook known as a .pst file; (3) files formatted in one of the Microsoft Office Suite, Corel Suite, OpenOffice Suite, or IBM’s Lotus Suite applications (.doc, .xls, .ppt, .mdb, .wpd, etc.), (4) a text file (.txt), or (5) hypertext markup language (.html) or similar web page
language. This is the preferred format. However, if any of the requested documents are only maintained or can only be produced as electronic images, for example a portable document format (.pdf), then as an alternative, I request this electronic-image format. See § 119.01(2)(f), Fla. Stat.

I am requesting that all e-mails, including e-mails sent to and from private e-mail accounts, be preserved. With respect to those e-mail communications requested, I am requesting only those e-mails that relate to the official business of the City of Anna Maria, whether on a private or public e-mail account. The term “relate to” shall mean to embody, record, refer to, concern, reflect, or in any manner involve or otherwise implicate the official business of the City of Anna Maria.

I am requesting that you notify each and every individual in possession of records responsive to this request, and that all such records be preserved on an immediate basis.

If you have any questions about the nature or extent of this request, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Very truly yours,



Michael Barfield