Election

While we're waiting for the First District Court of Appeals to render an opinion, I took a look at some of the election results and did some down-and-dirty math to put some things in perspective.
 
Clay County had a respectable turnout this election cycle recording 78 percent of all registered voters. That's not too bad. I believe Duval County turned out 73 percent so compared to our northern neighbor, Clay Countians, by and large, love to vote. I hope the respective local political parties and the Supervisor of Elections continue to cultivate an atmosphere that fosters participation and educates Clay Countians on the importance of voting.
 
In the race for the first-ever chairmanship, Rob Bradley garnered 73,569 votes. Of the 94,761 votes cast in the election, 77 percent elected a chair. Of the write-in votes, 470 were cast for the qualified write-in candidate, Mike Heemer. So in actuality, Rob Bradley won by a margin of 99 percent of all qualified candidates and earned the most votes in county history.
 
(As a side note, Rob Bradley garnered more votes than two of the appellate judges retained to hear oral arguments on Wednesday. Judges Benton and Van Norwick earned 47,687 and 46,377, respectively, in the First District Court of Appeals' district.)

Making history in the 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Matt Shirk is the first Republican ever to qualify for a ballot position in the 2008 General Election race for the office of Public Defender. The 4th Circuit includes Duval, Clay and Nassau Counties. No other Republicans filed paperwork to campaign for the office of Public Defender, leaving only a General Election contest between Shirk and the Democrat incumbent.

"We were thrilled to avoid a Primary in this race," said Shirk. "While it is a healthy exercise for our democracy, it does put a strain on resources needed for the November election. We have a lot of work to do to unseat the incumbent who has been part of the Public Defender’s office for a long time. Prior to his holding the office, he served as an assistant under the old administration for more than 20 years. It is time that we get some new blood in the Public Defender’s office!"

Hello Everyone

Please watch the below video and forward the link to everyone in your address book.  Every man, woman, child and household pet should be aware of what is going on nationally.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZVw3no2A4&feature=related

I submitted the following as one of my first blogs.  Even though the election is now over, and perhaps especially now that the election is over, it still applies.  If your candidate(s) didn't win, give this some thought, and get on with your life:

Bitterness, hatred and the desire for revenge slowly but completely corrode from within the vessel which carries them.  They are the fuel of an agonizing process of self destruction, and a certain recipe for discontent.

Righteousness heals, strengthens and sustains.  Do not go forward blindy, oblivious to reality or in a pollyanna fashion, but cherish and nourish those things that are good within themselves: Among them are truth, honesty, self respect and compassion. 

Republican Supervisor of Elections candidate Debbie Ricks has
intentionally issued a last minute mailing in her quest for office which
contains outrageous lies.

Voters in Clay County received a mailing which compares Ms. Ricks
and her main opponent, Republican Chris Chambless from several
standpoints. The allegations Ms. Ricks makes against Mr. Chambless are
false, malicious, and unfounded.

- Ms. Ricks says Mr. Chambless violated the Hatch Act, without saying
why. The Hatch Act refers to the employment of individuals in government
positions which receive funds from the federal government, but must

Finally the video has been posted, thank you My Clay Sun.

I could not help but notice Mr. Robinson is AWOL again.  It seems to me that if you truly want a job such as county commissioner then you should make every possible public appearance that is available.  First he failed to debate Mr. Rutledge and myself and now it appears that he has failed to show up on the video.   I have to believe he thinks he can win this race without having any platform, without making any commitments, without placing himself in front of the real voters. Apparently he believes he can win based on just having more signs than any other candidate.   

Last Tuesday I sat for the video interview at the Times Union.   I have looked for the video but I cannot find it.  I find the candidates for the other County Commission races but nothing for District 5!

Has anyone else found it???

JD

Pd. Pol. Adv. paid and approved by JD "Dan" Weisenburger, Republican, Clay County Commission, District 5

I attended the school board meeting this evening during TS Fay ( I guess they did not get the message from themselves that all school activities were cancelled in Clay County), and as expected, attendence was even lower than usual.  You sure can get a lot accomplished quickly when you do not have those pesky citizens interrupting your meetings with their 3 minute time limit injections of common sense.  Surprisingly, the most discussed items were the future plans for redistricting high schools and changing over sixth grades from elementary schools to middle schools.  Of course, not too many controversial items will ever be discussed BEFORE an election, unless you can conveniently schedule them during a storm when no one will be there to witness the insanity.

Place: Lake Asbiry Jr. High

Date: August 14th

Time: 7:00 PM

Invited Debators: Harold Rutledge

Ronnie Robinson

JD "Dan" Weisenburger

Audience participation requested - Please attend

Pd. Pol Adv. paid and approved by JD "Dan" Weisenburger, Republican, Clay County Commission, District 5

It is common knowledge in Jacksonville that Rick Beseler has always had an obsession with the media getting his name in the newspaper and his picture on tv.  It just makes me sick!

As I have started reading the blogs, I see the same old Rick.  He could not take criticism, but boy could he dish it out. 

Staff Motto was always "Big Cases - Big Problems, Small Cases - Small Problems, No Cases - No Problems".  Some Crime Fighter.

And with the latest personal political attacks, I can't help but remember all of the stories that have floated around the office since the last election in Clay county.  Stories of a SAO Chief Investigator that was called to the State Attorney's Office and held there standing at attention taking a tongue lashing for leaking information to a reporter for political gain and given the option of resignation or being fired.  I have often wondered how you could work for someone for so many years and think they are just fine so long as you are still getting a pay check, but turn on them after you leave the office, or made to resign, whatever.