Land-Use Amendment 4 Rejected
November 3, 2010
A seven-year effort to give voters more control over local growth decisions went down in defeat Tuesday as opponents of Amendment 4 rallied to defeat a proposal they said would have cost thousands of jobs and billions of dollars.
Amendment 4, the so-called “Hometown Democracy” amendment, would have required local voters to approve changes to their communities’ comprehensive plans to prevent the “development gone wild” atmosphere that became synonymous with Florida in the ’60s and ’70s.
But in a down economy, the notion that it might check recovery appeared to sway voters.
With more than 50 percent of votes cast in the statewide race, backers of the measure held only 33 percent of the vote,far from the 60 percent majority they needed to place the requirement into the Florida Constitution.
Business interests and many local governments banded together to defeat the measure, which they said would grind development to a halt and prevent growth, regardless of merit.
“Voters have sent the signal loud and clear that they do not support a no-growth agenda,” said Ryan Houck, executive director of Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, a business-backed group that spent millions to defeat it.
Backers of the proposal saw it differently.
“Voters were subjected to the full financial power of those special interests that are committed to maintaining a death grip on their ability to control the status quo of sprawl and overbuilding in our state,” Florida Hometown Democracy founder Lesley Blackner said Tuesday. “We nonetheless respect the voters’ judgment at the ballot box.”
Amendment 4 backers, a coalition of environmental and slow-growth groups, contend local comp plans have become as malleable as modeling clay in the hands of deep-pocketed developers.
Since first proposing the amendment in 2003, Blackner, a West Palm Beach land use attorney, and co-founder Ross Burnaman were joined by others who said Florida growth laws enacted in the 1980s were being rendered meaningless by developer-backed changes approved by local officials ready to reap the tax revenue that new homes and businesses bring.
Backers of Amendment 4 also contended elected officials too often ignore the public’s wishes and instead side with developers and powerful business interests, who have frequent contact with government planners and elected officials. Such collaboration has resulted in urban sprawl, overcrowded schools, traffic and the loss of environmental lands.
Opponents said the amendment would have forced local governments to hold scores of special elections or bog down voters with a California-style ballot chock full of changes written in ‘techno-speak.’
With Florida still recovering from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, slowing government’s hand would be catastrophic, they said.
Atwater Elected Fla. CFO
November 3, 2010
Overshadowed by record-breaking and history making elections farther up the ticket, Republican Jeff Atwater was elected chief financial officer Tuesday in what appeared to be a developing Republican sweep of Cabinet seats.
Atwater, R-North Palm Beach and the outgoing Senate President, outdistanced Democrat Loranne Ausley, a former House member who he outspent by more than two to one margin in a campaign that avoided public debates and relied almost entirely on paid advertisements and staged events.
With more than 4 million votes cast, Atwater held nearly 59 percent of the vote prompting Ausley to throw in the towel.
The chief financial officer’s post on the Cabinet was put into the Constitution in 1998, but a contested election for the office wasn’t held until 2006, when current CFO Alex Sink, a Democrat, beat Republican former Senate President Tom Lee for the job.
Ausley left the Legislature in 2008 after eight years in the House and is a lawyer in Tallahassee and is from a prominent, politically-connected family and law firm. But she found her name wasn’t as well-known outside the capital city.
“I am proud of the competitive race we have run, but with the election behind us, it is important to put aside partisan battles and begin working together to move our state forward.,” Ausley said in a concession statement.
Looking likely to join Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner-Elect Adam Putnam on the Cabinet was Pam Bondi, the Republican attorney general candidate who was leading Democrat Dan Gelber 56 to 40 percent with more than 4 million votes cast.
Atwater, a former community banker, has served as Senate President for the past two years, arguably one of the most powerful jobs in state government, along with the governor and House speaker.
“Having worked alongside CFO-elect Atwater in the Senate, I know his conservative principles will be an asset to the Florida Cabinet, as we work toward securing the futures of Florida’s families,” incoming Sen. President Mike Haridopolos said in a statement Tuesday.
Bob Cole Returned To Santa Rosa Commission
November 3, 2010
Incumbent Santa Rosa County Commissioner Bob Cole has been re-elected. The two-term incumbent faced political newcomer Prudence Caskey.
Unofficial results from Santa Rosa County races:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 2
Robert “Bob” Cole (REP). . . . . . 36,476 76.99
Prudence Caskey (CHR) . . . . . . 10,903 23.01
Robert Bentley Defeats Ron Sparks For Ala. Gov.
November 3, 2010
Robert Bentley handily defeated Ron Sparks for Alabama governor.
The retired Tuscaloosa physician campaigned on promises of creating jobs with tax breaks and stronger ethics laws in Alabama. The Republican also promised not to accept a salary as governor until the unemployment rate in Alabama returns to normal levels.
Photos: Walnut Hill Tornado?
November 3, 2010
A NorthEscambia.com reader took these interesting photos that appear to show a possible funnel cloud Tuesday afternoon. Steven Godwin snapped the photos with his cell phone as he traveled along Highway 97 near Kansas Road in Walnut Hill.
WEAR TV 3 Meteorologist Allen Strum told NorthEscambia.com that the pictures “certainly look like a funnel cloud”; however, he said that radar did not indicate any severe weather near Walnut Hill Tuesday afternoon.
There were no weather watches or warnings for North Escambia Tuesday afternoon, and there were no damage reports received.
Submitted photos by Steven Godwin for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning — Central Escambia And Santa Rosa
November 2, 2010
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
east central Escambia County in northwest Florida…
this includes the city of Ferry Pass…
west central Santa Rosa County in northwest Florida…
this includes the city of pace…
* until 715 PM CDT
* at 624 PM CDT… National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing quarter size hail… and
damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. This storm was located near
Ferry Pass… or near Avalon Beach… and moving north at 15 mph.
* The severe thunderstorm will be near…
pace around 645 PM CDT…
This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 13 and 20.
Update: A Look At Voting Today, Big Races In Florida
November 2, 2010
Voting was steady Tuesday across Florida, with no serious problems reported at polling places, according to the Florida Secretary of State’s office.
Weather, too, was generally good, with vote-rich South Florida clear, sunny and warm, while some rain fell in the Tampa Bay-area shortly after Democrat Alex Sink voted in the governor’s race and just before her opponent, Rick Scott, arrived to wave signs at a crowded intersection.
The fevered pace and bruising tone of the campaign, which polls show is a virtual dead-heat, wearied many voters.
Lynn Burnette voted – but said he was glad it was all over.
“I hate the mudslinging,” Burnette said after casting a ballot at Fellowship Mason Lodge No. 265 in Tampa.
Burnette said he voted for independent Charlie Crist for the U.S. Senate, and though he picked the Republican, Scott, for governor, he didn’t like either of his choices in that race.
Voters in Fort Lauderdale, where Scott’s election night party is to take place at a waterside hotel, also were more glad the campaign was over than happy to be participating.
“It seems to become just a lot of bashing at the end, by everybody on both sides,” said Denise Chembri, 42, after casting her vote at a union hall near U.S. 1.
Theodore Jackson, 45, a warehouseman voting at the same Fort Lauderdale precinct, said he had voted a straight Democratic ticket – but didn’t feel any particular motivation in a year where Republicans are expected to make gains in congressional races and statehouses across the nation.
“You vote – and you never know what you’re going to get once people get in office,” Jackson said.
The lack of enthusiasm appears shared, if late polling is accurate. A poll this week from Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University showed Scott, if elected, could start out as governor with half of Florida voters saying they have an unfavorable opinion of him. For Sink it’s a little better, but not much. Forty percent of respondents said they don’t like her.
Sink spent many of the final hours of the campaign at events across the critical Interstate-4 corridor – attending a late Monday night rally in Orlando with former President Clinton.
She voted early Tuesday in her Hillsborough County hometown, Thonotosassa, with husband Bill McBride and their son, Bert. Scott cast his ballot in his hometown, Naples, with his wife Ann, and accompanied by mother, Esther, who has campaigned with him in the homestretch but is a registered voter in Kansas City, Mo.
“We’re going to win,” Scott assured before flying to Jacksonville and Tampa for events before turning to Fort Lauderdale for his final stop of the campaign.
Sink was equally upbeat, saying she felt “fantastic” about her chances.
“We’ve been calling all around the state, the turnout is good, so we’re confident,” Sink told reporters in the Tampa area.
Asked about the feeling of weariness expressed by a number of voters, Sink said she wasn’t negative.
“What the people of Florida have been hearing from me is a positive message out how my plan is going to turn our economy around, get people back to work and we’re going to support public education,” Sink said. Her campaign has, however, run a number of ads taking on Scott’s business background and problems at his former company, Columbia/HCA.
The small-scale appearances marking the campaigns’ close constrasted sharply with the enormous spending that has made the Florida governor’s race the most expensive in state history.
Scott has poured $73 million of his own money into his campaign, while Sink has spent close to $12 million raised from donors.
The Florida Democratic and Republican parties have each raised about $31 million for the campaign’s homestretch, with much of it earmarked for the governor’s race. Outside organizations, like the Florida Police Benevolent Association, which is backing Sink, and business groups including the Florida Chamber of Commerce, behind Scott, also have poured millions of dollars into TV advertising.
With the prospect of a much closer race than when Crist beat Democrat Jim Davis in 2006 or when former Gov. Jeb Bush defeated McBride, Sink’s husband, in 2002, both parties have legal teams in place if prospects of a recount emerge.
Florida law requires a machine recount if returns show a candidate defeated by one-half of one percent or less of the votes cast. In such case, ballots are run through the machines again across all 67 counties after election officials assure the machines are working properly.
If the machine recount yields a race with a victory margin within one-quarter of 1 percent, local election officials must conduct a manual recount of questionable ballots such as those which failed to detect any vote for a particular race despite votes elsewhere on the ballot.
If 5 million people turn out to vote, as is generally expected, a race would have to be decided by 25,000 votes or less to trigger a machine recount. A manual recount would take place if the gap closed to under 12,500 ballots.
Florida Republican Party Chairman John Thrasher, a state senator facing a stern Democratic challenge himself, said Tuesday he felt confident about the prospect for both his own race and for the party. But he conceded, little more could be said until the votes are actually counted.
“The missiles have left the silos,” Thrasher said.
Thrasher, though, said he was counting on a Republican advantage going into Election Day, with 270,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats having cast ballots in early voting or by absentee. Florida Democrats, were hoping for a turnout surge Tuesday to offset that likely disadvantage going in.
“I think it’s going to be a good night for Republicans,” Thrasher said, with polls showing the party likely to win at least three Florida congressional seats now in Democratic hands, while sweeping Cabinet races and making gains in the state Legislature.
Floridians were also treated to a bruising three-way Senate race between Crist, and Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek. Rubio was ahead of most polls going into Election Day, threatening to bring a stunning halt to Crist’s political career – though not necessarily a permanent one.
Just two years ago Crist was a front runner to be a candidate for vice president of the United States, and Tuesday he appeared on the verge of being out of a job, after having left the Republican Party in May.
Crist, acknowledged by many in politics to have had a keen sense for which way political winds blow, missed the rise of an angry rightward reaction to policies in Washington this year, said state Sen. Dave Aronberg, a Democrat who is also on the verge of being out of work. Aronberg left his Senate seat to run for attorney general and lost in the Democratic primary to Dan Gelber.
For Crist, called a “raging moderate” by Aronberg, it just “was the wrong year.”
Meek never gained traction and faced the added hardship of losing Democratic voters to Crist, who openly courted Democrats saying he had a better chance of keeping Rubio – who is a staunch conservative – out of the Senate than Meek did.
Sink looked to be the only Democrat in a statewide race for whom a win wouldn’t be a big surprise. All three Cabinet races had Republicans ahead in late polling.
Sink said if she wins and ends up having to work with an overwhelmingly Republican Legislature and an all-GOP Cabinet, it won’t limit her effectiveness.
“I’ve always been able to work across party lines, I have many voters and many, many supporters, a number of Republican elected officials, and sheriffs and state attorneys have come out and publicly endorsed me, so I know I’ll be able to put together a coalition of both Republicans and Democrats and independents to do what’s right for Floridians,” she said at a stop in Tampa for sign waving on Tuesday.
Potentially driving turnout higher, despite the nastiness, were some particularly competitive congressional races, far more than usual. Republicans thought they had a good chance to flip four seats, with Democratic incumbents Allen Boyd in north Florida, Alan Grayson and Suzanne Kosmas in central Florida and Ron Klein in South Florida all seen as vulnerable to challengers.
Democrats held a glimmer of hope in two other congressional races, including in central Florida’s District 12 where operatives thought Democrat Lori Edwards had a chance to beat Republican Dennis Ross in a seat being vacated by the GOP’s Adam Putnam, who is running for agriculture commissioner. Edwards was being given a shot in this Republican-trending year because of the presence in the race of Tea Party candidate Randy Wilkinson who was expected to peel votes away from Ross.
Democrats also were hoping that Joe Garcia might have a shot at winning a Miami-area seat, though late polling showed Republican David Rivera ahead in the race for House District 25.
Also on the ballot were four controversial ballot initiatives, one requiring local referenda before certain changes to local growth plans, two dealing with the rules for redistricting and one giving school districts flexibility in meeting class requirements, allowing them to use averages rather than actually capping the number of students in a class.
By John Kennedy and Keith Laing
The News Service Florida
James C. Darby
November 2, 2010
Mr. James C. Darby, 91, passed away on Monday, November 1, 2010, in McDavid.
Mr. Darby was a native of Uriah, AL, and a resident of McDavid since 1947. He was a veteran and POW of WWII and attended the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a son, Donald Ray Darby, Sr.; a granddaughter, Tracey Simmons; his parents, Jeff and Ada Darby; a sister, Verna Mae Simmons, and a brother, Dovard Darby.
Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Lois Darby of McDavid; a son, James R. and Nancy Darby, Sr. of McDavid; a daughter, Edna Darby of McDavid; six grandchildren, Jamie and Janine Darby of Lebonon, IL, Kevin and Pam Darby of Herndon, VA, Donald Darby, Jr. of New Orleans, LA, Dana and Doodle Langhorne of McDavid, Deneen and Mike Brazel of Pensacola and Darla and Doug Coburn of Byrneville; 14 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Emma Lee Newton and Elsie Word, both of McDavid.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 5 at 11:00 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Kevin Hasty and the Rev. Doug Coburn officiating.
Burial will follow at Crary Memorial Cemetery with military honors. Pallbearers will be his great-grandsons.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 4 between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore.
Deputy Remains in Critical Condition; Shows Some Improvement
November 2, 2010
Deputy Jeremy Cassady remained in critical condition Tuesday morning in the intensive care unit at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The Sheriff’s Office is holding a candlelight prayer vigil for Cassady at 7:30 tonight at Seville Square in Pensacola. [Read more...] Donations to the “Benefit Account for Jeremy Cassady” are being accepted at any Gulf Coast Community Bank location.
Family members say Cassady, who was put into a medially induced coma after the shooting, opened his eyes and turned his head Tuesday. He has underwent numerous surgeries and has received over 240 pints of blood. His kidneys have failed.
Hundreds of people have donated blood on Cassady’s behalf at Northwest Florida Blood Services. The blood centers at 2209 N. 9th Avenue and 1999 East Nine Mile Road are continuing to accept donations for Cassady.
Cassady, a native of Jay, joined the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in 2006. He turned 36 just one day before being shot twice.
The victim of home invasion, 45-year old Jackie Rosenbloom, was listed in fair condition Tuesday morning at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Shooter Philip Martin Monier of Hornlake, Miss., remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $2 million. He is charged with three counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and home invasion robbery.
Deputy Chad Brown, who joined the force in September 2009, and Deputy Sam Parker, a deputy since April 2007, were both released Friday from Sacred Heart Hospital.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is continuing their investigation into the shooting.
LIVE Election Coverage Today; Complete LIVE Results Tonight
November 2, 2010
This is an archive of a live election blog from November 2, 2010 on NorthEscambia.com.
7:00 p.m. – Polls are closed. Local election results soon here on NorthEscambia.com.
6:20 p.m. — A steady stream of voters across the area as polls close at 7 p.m. If you are in line by 7, you will be allowed to vote. Don’t forget results from across the area tonight here on NorthEscambia.com.
5:25 p.m. — At the Walnut Hill precinct, over 400 voters had cast their ballot just before 5 p.m., a 28 percent turnout. That would not include anyone in the precinct that voted absentee.
5:00 p.m. – Two hours to get out and vote before the polls close. Don’t forget a photo and signature ID when you go to the polls. With no ID, you will vote a provisional ballot. And don’t forget the ballots in Florida are two-sided. You’ll need to flip it over to vote on the back. If you make a mistake, you can ask for a new ballot and start over.
4:25 p.m. — Slow and steady…that’s the word on the flow of voters and the rainfall across the area at this hour. school. Many of those people are stopping by to vote on their way home, increasing voter turnout. The flow of voters as North Escambia precincts should only increase as the time gets later.
4:00 p.m. — Just three hours until the polls close across the area. Light rain is falling in many areas, but voters are still turning out in large numbers.
3:55 p.m. – For a look at voting across the state, click here for a NorthEscambia.com article.
3:30 p.m. — Steady voter turnout is being reported across the area. The two hottest races in the area are the race for Pensacola’s first strong mayor and the race for sheriff in Escambia County Alabama — so those locations are seeing higher traffic.
3:10 p.m. – Don’t forget NorthEscambia.com is the place to be tonight to get all of the election results from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, Escambia County in Alabama, as well as the statewide races in Florida and Alabama. As soon as the results are in after 7 p.m., they will be posted here on NorthEscambia.com. This is the place to be tonight for all the election results.
2:45 p.m. — Scattered showers are morning through North Escambia (Fla.) and western Escambia, Alabama. There will be breaks in the rain, but it remains to be seen if the rain will dampen turnout.
2:15 p.m. — Heather Leonard’s Danceworks classes normally held on Tuesdays at the Byrneville Community Center have been canceled for today because the community center is used as a voting precinct.
1:10 p.m. – We’ve had a few emails asking about Highway 97 road construction and the Walnut Hill precinct. The paving crews are working south of Highway 99, so no road constructions at the Walnut Hill Community Center. But be careful around Highway 97 and Arthur Brown Road (at Ernest Ward Middle). There’s lots of heavy equipment moving in and out of Arthur Brown Road where they are dumping asphalt mix. Rain is putting an end to today’s roadwork shortly.
12:30 p.m. — Have an absentee ballot in your hands? It must be returned to the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. You can not return it to your local precinct. They won’t accept it, and your vote will not be counted. The elections office is in Escambia County is on the second floor at 213 Palafox Place downtown. Need to call them? (850) 595-3900.
12:25 p.m. – Voter turnout is reported to be steady during the lunch hour.
Noon – It’s the lunch hour. Voting usually picks up during this time. No major problems reported at any of the area precincts.
11:10 a.m. — There is, of course, voting in Century today at the Century Town Hall. But you won’t find the Century Town Council runoff race between incumbent Henry Hawkins and political newcomer Jacke Johnston on the ballot. The runoff election for the Century Town Council seat will be next Tuesday for voters that live in the town limits.
10:25 a.m. — A busy period is winding down at the polls. Traffic will pick up again about 11:30-1:00 as people vote during their lunch hour. Avoid the rush and the rain that is forecast for this afternoon — go vote now.
10:15 a.m. — It’s interesting to see how Facebook has played in this year’s local elections. In Escambia County, Alabama, there’s a hotly contested race between incumbent Sheriff Grover Smith and Heath Jackson, a drug investigator for the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office. We could not find Grover Smith on Facebook (if we overlooked it, please email us), but there are supporters encouraging their Facebook friends to vote for Grover Smith. Challenger Heath Jackson does have a Facebook page (click to see) with over 1,800 Facebook friends. Jackson also embraced the net with a website, while we were unable to find one for Smith. Smith has been the sheriff in Escambia County (Ala.) for eight years and has several other years of law enforcement experience that he believes qualifies him for the job. Jackson has been in drug and law enforcement for 11 years, and he says his management experience also qualifies him for the job.
9:50 a.m. – Our phone is still ringing with the automated “robo calls” asking us to vote for candidates. So tired of seeing “Private Number” on the caller id when it’s a political candidate recording on the other end. Every call is a strike against the candidate in our book. Our most interesting call this week: Sarah Palin reminding how important it is for us to get out and vote today in Illinois. Huh?
9:10 a.m. — Moderate turnout is being reported for the hour at precincts across the area. Lots of voters still undecided on governor races in both states. Many voters are expressing sentiments of disgust over the TV ads and telephone calls for candidates and all of the mud slinging.
8:00 a.m. — The old adage about rain on Election Day affecting voter turnout won’t be put into play Tuesday with partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures projected for throughout most of the state. According to weather.com, the major metro areas of Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Tallahassee all have only about a 20 percent chance of precipitation. the Pensacola area, however, is expected to see stormy weather by afternoon.
7:30 a.m. – The polls are open in Alabama and Florida until 7 p.m. tonight. There is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms by this afternoon. Get out and vote this morning if you want to avoid the rain.
