Election

A couple of days ago, I let my friends and campaign supporters know I was withdrawing from this year's race for the District 3 seat on the County Commission.  Yesterday, I notified the other two candidates in the race, and I'll file the official notice in the next few days at the Supervisor of Elections Office.

If you think making the decision to run for elected office is tough, try making one to drop out. A very - very - small group of friends urged me to run. A large group, including a couple of phone calls yesterday from people I haven't even met yet, tried to talk me into staying in the race.

The reason it wasn't okay for the F.O.P. to make an endorsement this early was because he KNEW it would not be Rick being endorsed.By the way, back in early 2004 wasn't there a photo and big story in the Times Union or Clay Today of Rick accepting an endorsement and check from the Clay County Firefighter's Union when he was running for Sheriff. He had promised them that he world GIVE them a million dollars out of is excess budget so they could get some raises.

I know all readers had to see the Mike Taylor for Sheriff campaign signs throughout Clay County yesterday.  They were placed at all, or most, polling locations throughout Clay County on the Public Right-of-way.  This is in violation of Clay County's sign ordinance.

One would think that someone running for Sheriff would at-least be familiar with, and abide by, the laws of Clay County.  Notice you did not see any other Sheriff candidates' signs out; they must know and respect the laws of Clay County.  

Let's step into the magic time machine and move forward 10 months. Picture it, November 2008. You step in to the voting booth to make your choice for the leader of the US for the next four years.

It's a simple ballot. The people, including yourself (maybe) have decided that these are the only three choices you have:

Democrat - Barack Obama

Republican - Mike Hukabee

Independent - Mike Bloomberg

What do you do? As scary as the first two seem to me, it could happen!

A scientific pole? Nope, it isn't meant to be. What do you do?

MikeH

I sure hope the voters in Clay County are paying attention to the chaos and controversy that is currently going on in Duval County between the school board and the public, and the appointed school superintendent. It has pretty much been the pattern for at least the last three Duval superintendents. They are appointed by the school board, almost immediately get a multi year contract extension, that has extremely generous provisions if they leave or are terminated before the contract extensions expire. They then start going their own way, pretty much ignoring and showing their contempt for the wishes of the people as well as the school board.

I would like to use this venue to keep all voters in OP informed as to the status of my campaign. We have contacted many great people in OP in the last 2 weeks and most are very supportive of my candidacy. Over the last 3 days I have spoken to no fewer than 200 of our neighbors and their support is overwhelming. My experience in the USN as a Navy Captain (O-6) when I was commanding VS-24 (Fleet), VS-27 (RAG), and SEACONWINGLANT (S-3 Wing) has given me many opportunities to work larger organizations as well as the sailors at the deckplate which make any operation successful. Additionally, my 3 year experience as a financial planner gives me the business background to know what makes a business run and gave me my first opportunity to sign the front of pay checks instead of the back. At FCCJ I run the Aviation Center of Excellence at Cecil Field where I supervise 28 personnel who have duties from custodial to strategic planning for the aerospace communities in the whole state of Florida.