Pass The Soap Please

Having spent the better part of this past weekend speaking with voters in Anna Maria about next Tuesday’s election, it is enlightening to find so many who have arrived at decisions based upon their own thoughtful consideration of the facts and their evaluation of the candidates for mayor. Most people we spoke with obviously realize the importance of this race and seem to have put the necessary time into considering the issues, the candidates and the significance of their vote.

Of course, there were those who either could not articulate a reason or simply could not be bothered to do so. Their vote, their right, one supposes.

Others provided reasons that were simply, well, out there. For instance, one gentleman spoke of being “very impressed” with Mike Selby after reading Mike’s first mailing, the interview piece. Impressed, that is, until he saw that the post mark on the envelope was from St. Petersburg. He explained that Harry Stoltzfus’ mail also had a St. Petersburg postmark and, based solely on that evidence, he concluded that “those two are joined at the hip.”

Understand this: I’ve known this gentleman for 35 years. I respect him. He is a savvy guy and about as smart as they come so if this was the best he could do to connect Mr. Stoltzfus to Mike Selby I was not going to argue. But, to give him the benefit of the doubt I asked the postal clerk at the Anna Maria post office if Anna Maria mail is ever post marked St. Petersburg. “Of course it is,” he said, adding, “If it is bulk mail or put in the outgoing mail slot, it is bundled and sent to St. Pete for processing. It only gets an Anna Maria post mark if it is processed here at the desk.”

So much for that conspiracy theory. I hope my friend reads this and reconsiders his reasoning before he casts his vote. I am sure he would now admit that an inconsequential postmark on an envelope does not make Mike Selby’s resume any less impressive.

Why Amendment 4 is critical. Read this memo from Joe Kane

In follow up to recent Amendment 4 posts HERE and HERE, this from Joe Kane of Cortez:

"The date was 10-12-10 ( date of the Robinson Farm Land Use Change meeting )

Item #28 Robinson Farm presentation was heard from approximately 2:00PM to 5:00PM .

The BOCC vote was 4-3 to deny Robinson Farm PA 10-02.

During a break, Approx. 15 minutes later.............................

_____________________________________________________________________

Video begins at: 17:16:45 ( 5:16PM ) 10-12-10

The only persons visible in the North Lobby are:

John Neal

Edward Vogler

Betsy Menac ( MillerWilson Stantec)

at 17:17:02

Gwen Brown walks out of the BOCC Chambers directly to the center of the lobby

and is surrounded by all three - it is obvious a conversation is taking place.

at 17:20:46

Gwen Brown leaves the other three and walks back into the BOCC Chambers !

_____________________________________________________________________

At approx. 6:10 PM Gwen Brown rescinds her vote ! Robinson Farm is approved 4-3 !

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

LETS MAKE A DEAL

The naked power of developers over the Manatee County commission was again exposed a few days ago when a commissioner reversed her vote,

minutes after speaking to developers seeking a tripling of density of Hawthorne Park.

Amendment 4 was given another gift when commissioner Gwen Brown changed her vote from supporting the residents in the Northwest Bradenton neighborhood,

to denying the homeowners’ request in favor of developer Pat Neal. This brazen disregard towards residents is just another example why we need Amendment 4,

giving voters the final say on all changes to their comprehensive plan.

Opponents to Hometown Democracy are using fear, the oldest trick in the books. From outlandish predictions that passage of Amendment 4 will be the end of

Western Civilization, as we know it, to ominous prophesies of further economic implosion and voters being overwhelmed with voting on hundred of proposed changes.

Not so. In Manatee County there is a yearly average of nine changes to the comprehensive plans.

Even a college government professor, who is also a state representative seeking reelection is playing fast and loose with the facts, claiming there would have to be expensive

special elections to determine comprehensive plan changes. Sorry professor, that aint true, for proposed comprehensive plan changes would be voted on at the next scheduled election.

When you’re desperate though, you don’t let facts get in your way, and developers are sweating bullets, knowing their control over Florida government may be upturned by voters,

demanding their final say on all changes to their comprehensive plan. Vote yes on Amendment 4, November 2."

Remember What The Islander Said The Last Time This Happened...

As we approach the last week of the Anna Maria mayoral campaign, allow let us to remind you of what Bonner Joy's Islander warned us about a few years ago concerning close family ties and your local government:

"We don’t look forward to…a husband-wife team co-legislating their agenda as mayor-commissioner. And while the mayor doesn’t vote…the office carries veto power and more importantly, with this form of city government, the mayor freely lobbies other commission members on matters up for consideration out of the ‘sunshine’ – contrary to the intent of Florida’s open government law.”

-The Islander Bystander, March 4, 1998

Of course, the Matticks, a sitting commissioner and an aspiring mayor, bring a different dynamic, mother-daughter instead of husband-wife. But the sentiment, the principle and the concern are the same, are they not?

Of course they are, if not more so. Right Bonner?

Stay informed, and vote.

Mike Selby's Proven Leadership: Been There, Done That

As the Anna Maria mayor’s race nears its two-week final countdown, the question of “proven leadership” has popped up a few times from voters interested in the respective experiences of the candidates. That phrase “proven leadership” may mean different things to different people but we think it’s enlightening to summarize the issue with some “been there, done that” examples that starkly set candidate Mike Selby apart in this race:

• 30 years of real-life management experience both within and at the top of government and private organizations both large and small.


• 30 years of making payroll, keeping the lights on and growing his own business, one of California’s largest commercial developers, from scratch.


• 30 years of earning a living competing as an aggressive, effective and, most importantly, thoughtful commercial developer.


• 30 years of being accountable every single day for managing people, resources and policy in an effective and profitable organization.


• 30 years of give-and-take, of compromise, of effective delegation and problem solving at the helm his own organization and working cooperatively with city and county governments, large and small, on development issues.


• 30 years of being a listener not just a proclaimer, of being a decision maker not just a rubber-stamper.


• 30 years of being accountable to those he employs, those with whom he contracts and those who have depended upon him showing up every day to make sure the job gets done.


Mike Selby has “been there, done that” his entire professional life. He’s knowledgeable, dependable, successful and most importantly, he’s accountable.


Mike Selby is a “proven leader” by any definition.


Remember that when you cast your vote.


And stay informed.

Repost...All In The Family: She Think's It's A Conflict Too.

(Originally posted October 3rd but the message remains important).

The election for Anna Maria mayor is but 30 days away, one month from tomorrow, and campaigning should kick into high gear in the next few days. As pointed out by the Bradenton Herald’s Michael Bender HERE with the rise in absentee and early voting, voters are making election decisions long before election day. As a result, those key reasons why voters cast their vote for or against a particular candidate, must be addressed in advance as well. We’ll endeavor to provide our perspective on the candidates and some of the issues for you to consider in the coming weeks. Today though, let’s talk about one issue: Conflict of interest.

Does the possibility of close relatives, say father and son or mother and daughter, or even husband and wife, serving simultaneously as mayor and commissioner raise as many red flags for you as it does for us? What about sunshine law implications? Since he/she does not serve on the same governmental body, a mayor is free to independently discuss pet votes with commissioners without the straight-jacket of sunshine restrictions. Concerning? As you will see, others who are perceived by some to have influence think so and we agree with them.

Let’s break it down.

Voting Absentee?

Just a reminder, if you're voting absentee, you should have your ballots by now. Don't forget to send them in, and don't forget to affix the proper postage of $1.05.

Home Is Where His Heart Is...

With only 25 days left until the election, the candidates for mayor of Anna Maria could choose any number of relevant issues to talk about. Say, how the city spends the taxpayers’ money and the candidates' real-life experience with handling the responsibility of a $2.1 million budget. Or how about the ongoing debate regarding how commercial development can coexist with Anna Maria’s desirable tranquility and, importantly, what hard-earned development industry wisdom the candidates can offer to facilitate that coexistence.

Of course, that would require that the candidates actually have the real-life experience of being directly accountable for multi-million dollar budgets and have the wisdom one can only glean from going to work every day for decades as a de facto commercial developer. Only one candidate in this mayor’s race can make either of those claims: Mike Selby.

So faced with that reality, what is Sandy Mattick to do?

Stoltzfus Files Show Cause Response With Second District

Richard Harrison, attorney for Harry Stoltzfus, is filing a response to the Second District Court of Appeal's Order to Show Cause today.

You can read the response by clicking HERE.

If you vote 'Yes' you will turn purple and get fat!

The following is Howard Troxler's column from Sunday, 10/3/2010 St. Pete Times:


If this crazy constitutional amendment passes, it will destroy Florida.

Florida will go out of business. We will lose our jobs.

Other states will beat us.

Yep, those were the dire warnings that we heard from Florida’s business leaders … Back in 2004, when they tried to scare voters into rejecting a $1 increase in Flor ida’s minimum wage.

This year, we’re hearing the same kind of thing about Amendment 4 on the November ballot, the “Hometown Democracy” idea.

Amendment 4 simply says that local voters in Florida should have the final say over some growth decisions.

But to hear Florida’s busi ness community tell it, such an idea would be the end of the world. The state might well sink into the ocean.

Phooey. Nuts. Hockey pucks. 

Islander Gets It Wrong...Again

In our continuing quest to persuade you that should you choose to read the local weeklies at least do so with a healthy dose of skepticism and, well, don't bet your grocery money on their accuracy.

After THIS and THIS one would expect an extra effort at getting it right. But, no.

Below an ominous headline of "Deadline Looming For Stoltzfus Response" the on-line piece (under Rick Catlin's by-line) proceeds to report to you that Mr. Stoltzfus must file a response to THIS order by October 1, 2010, as in today. But the Second District Court of Appeal's September 16th order gives him 20 days to file the response. The Islander evens says so in its story.

You do the math.

So, be skeptical. And stay informed.