CTLAC attacks CRC initiative for at-large seats

Is this for real and where can I sign one of those petitions.

I voted against the addition of 2 new commissioners as did othes who had a feeling we the people were being bamboozled again.  I will also sign a petition.

Ask Pi where to get this petition. I'm assuming Mr. Smith is still out in front of the Publix in Fleming Island collecting signatures.

Sunflower

Contact claycitizens@claycitizens.com concerning the petition. You will be provided as many petitions as you desire.

Pi,

I'm looking at the title of your ballot summary and it says, "Home Rule Charter of Clay County Amendment Petition."

Is it feasible that you and Mr. Smith thought you could draft off (seek additional votes because of) the statewide Constitutional amendment proposition, "Hometown Democracy Amendment" by titling your charter amendment as closely as you could to the state proposed amendment?

That could be a double-edged sword, Pi. You'll get the HDA petition signers but you alienate anyone else who doesn't support HDA.

It sucks to be you. You have to own that strategy.

Karen Lake

Key

You obviously think you've got this one figured out, since you claim to be a "trained reporter", but you've got this one wrong, too. Just as you thought some of the bloggers were members   of the CTLAC, you obviously think that I am Jane Padgett, co-founder of the CTLAC. I am not Mrs. Padgett, did not write the amendment, and have not yet seen the amendment to know what it says.

As far as your comment "It sucks to be you ". I am beginning to see how blessed Clay citizens are that you were NOT elected to the school board in 2006. Your behavior toward people with opposing views is unprofessional, unethical, and very troubling.

What this has to do with HTD has me puzzled. I emailed CTLAC and was told their amendment has nothing to do with HTD and they are as puzzled as I am about your conclusions. I'm beginning to agree with them that your blogs are not worth responding to.

"Reduction of the number of commissioners from 7 to 5..." This doesn't sound like Florida Hometown Democracy to me. 

I am confused...isn't the CTLAC the people who got the commissioner seats changed so that you only vote for YOUR district?  Single member district?  Weren't they really unhappy about the Charter Review  adding two comission seats that everybody would vote on?  Wasn't one of the CTLAC  complaints that the single member districts were not given "a chance/enough time"? Well I went to their site and read their petition to do away with the two new seats  (If I read it correctly) Isn't that doing the same thing and not giving the two new seats a chance???

I am doing a lot of reading and a lot of listening to try to get it figured out--no wonder the average Joe/Jane out there is frustrated and voter turnout is so poor.  This is like a spittin' contest in the school yard.  If you aren't on "my" side "I'll show you..." I think BOTH sides are doing more harm than good.  This county is never going to move forward.

So, you erudite political folks that blog--enlighten me!

I have gone to CTLAC's website and I cannot find the petition so now I am really confused. So where are you guys finding the petition? I went to claycitizens.com can someone tell me where to look.

I have no idea whatthis whole thing is about either. But if it leads to reducing the commission back to 5 members, I am for it. Frankly, I never understood why we would need or want to more politicians snuffling at the public trough. So, wearily, I suggest we just put it up for a vote and be done with it. I know it's already been done but there is plenty of precedent for annoying voters with the same propositions again and again. Let's just do it and move on to more important matters such as getting FDOT disbanded before they do any more harm. What a bunch of dolts they are.

Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman

The phrase, "it sucks to be you" is vernacular associated with today's youth. It's not considered disrespectful but an acknowledgement of a particular situation.

Many bloggers (including some members of CTLAC) have vocalized their support of Hometown Democracy and the title of their new amendment reflects the word "Home" which also could reflect Home Rule Charter.

Yes, clueless - CTLAC is the same group who sponsored the 5-single district format. They are the same group who said if the CRC added two seats, it wouldn't give 5-single seats a chance to work. And yes, they are the same group who are now proposing to change the format reducing the two new seats before they have even been selected.

Members (and or friends) of the group also attack the messenger rather than dealing with the message.

This is like the ethics policy Clay County had one and everybody in local government violated that policy. Then when they got caught they just made a new policy instead of punish anyone.

Since then I think I have blogged several situations where prior Commissioner McGovern appears before the board in violation. Request to use the county staff in violation. Did they do anything?

I guess they will work on improving the ethics policy. I don't think the problem is with the policy but the people. Their actions have cost the county taxpayers a tremendous amount of money.

I will sign and vote for the petition, too. At least what the CTLAC proposes saves taxpayers money.

I'm still looking for the petition has anybody found it yet.

Key: "We didn't change anything. We added two at-large seats."

Let's use that same logic, offered by someone concerned about the legitimacy and validity of this particular website.  CTLA doesn't want to change a thing.  Just subtract two at-large seats.  Now, is everybody happy?

There is room for legitimate debate about the issue of seven or five members on the County Commission, and Lord knows I love a good political debate.  But when the entire debate is premised on that kind of logic, there's not much chance of it being worthwhile.

Michael S. Mann