Putnam Wins Ag Commissioner
November 3, 2010
Congressman Adam Putnam’s win in the agriculture commissioner’s race Tuesday gave Republicans a sweep of the three Cabinet seats, though they awaited a razor-thin governor’s race to know whether the governor would also be on their side.
Putnam defeated Democrat Scott Maddox. With most precincts in the state reporting, Putnam had a comfortable lead with 2.7 million votes, 58 percent, to Maddox’ 1.7 million votes, or 37 percent.
Joining Putnam on the all-GOP Cabinet will be Attorney General Pam Bondi, who defeated Democrat Dan Gelber, and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who beat Democrat Loranne Ausley. The Cabinet meets with the governor, who isn’t technically part of the body.
“Agriculture is more than a traditional base of our economy, it is a vital and dynamic part of Florida’s bright future,” Putnam said in a statement. “Fostering these new employment opportunities, stewarding our state’s resources and protecting Floridians from those who would prey on them will by my daily focus.”
Putnam, of Bartow, served five two-year terms in Congress representing most of Polk County and part of Hillsborough. While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, he became chairman of the Republican Conference, the chamber’s third highest Republican post.
Putnam was elected to the House in 2000 following a four-year stint in the Florida House, to which he was elected in 1996 at the age of 22.
A fifth generation Floridian, Putnam’s family runs citrus and cattle operations in Polk County.
He replaces Charlie Bronson, a Republican, who is retiring.
Pictured: Adam Putnam campaigns for Florida’s agriculture commissioner in April, 2009 at Fran’s Country Grill in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Republicans Pick Up Seats In Fla. House, Senate
November 3, 2010
he national Republican wave filtered down Tuesday to the Florida Legislature, where Republicans ousted at least five incumbent Democrats in the House picked up two more seats in the Senate to give them their largest modern majority in that chamber.
Republicans were poised to have 81 of the 120 House seats and in the Senate won two open seats that had been held by Democrats, one in the Tampa Bay area and one in South Florida, giving them a 28-12 majority in the upper chamber.
The gains give the Republicans a veto-proof majority in both chambers, should there be a bright spot for Democrats. In the governor’s race, Democrat Alex Sink could still win – with several votes yet to be counted the race remained too close to call late into the night.
The Senate’s Republican majority is shaping up as the largest by either party since Democrats held a 30-10 advantage over the GOP in 1986. In the House, Republicans held 85 seats in 2006, before Democrats made gains that fall and in 2008.
Two returning members led the way, as former Sen. Jack Latvala retook for Republicans the Tampa Bay area seat held by Democrat Charlie Justice, who was leaving to run for Congress. Latvala defeated Nina Hayden to put the Pinellas County seat back in GOP hands.
Former Rep. Gayle Harrell ousted freshman Adam Fetterman, D-Port St. Lucie, to lead a wave of GOP challengers into the House. Other Democratic House incumbents who were ousted were Rep. Debbie Boyd, D-Newberry, Rep. Janet Long, D-Seminole, Rep. Bill Heller, D-St. Petersburg, and Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota.
The other Senate seat flipped by Democrats was the South Florida seat left open by Dave Aronberg, who quit for an unsuccessful bid for attorney general. Republican Lizbeth Benacquisto won the seat, defeating Democrat Kevin Rader.
As Republican legislative leaders looked at their broadening majority, they were already discussing a veto override session in mid-November to undo some of Gov. Charlie Crist’s vetoes from earlier in the year.
“Tonight’s successes demonstrate the strength of our slate of Republican members and candidates and highlight the fact that Republican values of lower taxes, less spending and limited government continue to resonate with voters across the Sunshine State,” House Speaker-Designate Dean Cannon said Tuesday night. “I look forward to joining our returning members as well as our more than 30 new Republican members as we work to cultivate a fertile economic environment by shrinking the size and scope of government, empowering the individual, and promoting the family.”
Boyd was defeated in House District 11 by Elizabeth Porter in a rematch of a close race in 2008. Long was defeated in House District 51 by Larry Ahern. Jeff Brandes defeated Heller in House District 52, while Ray Pilon beat Fitzgerald in House District 69.
Democrats also failed to win in seats where they had pinned some hopes of bucking what they knew would be a Republican trending night. The party had talked up Katie Edwards as a strong candidate to flip House District 119, which had been held by Republican Juan Zapata. But Edwards was defeated by Republican Frank Artiles.
Democrats had also hoped to unseat Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, in a race in which a Tea Party candidate was also on the ballot. But Dorworth was easily on his way to defeating Democrat Steve Barnes and John DeVries, the tea party candidate.
In the Senate, Republicans held on to two targeted seats, with Sen. Steve Oelrich, D-Alachua, turning back a challenge from Democrat Perry McGriff, and Republican Party Chairman John Thrasher winning his northeast Florida Senate seat against a challenge by Democrat Deborah Gianoulis. Republicans also appeared set to keep control of the South Florida seat being vacated by Senate President Jeff Atwater, with Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff appearing headed for victory.
By David Royse
The News Service Florida
Pam Bondi Wins AG Spot
November 3, 2010
Former Tampa-area prosecutor Pam Bondi is Florida’s new attorney general, defeating Democratic state Sen. Dan Gelber Tuesday in the race to be the state’s top lawyer.
Bondi, who stepped down as a Hillsborough county prosecutor after nearly 18 years, swept past Gelber in the general election, touting her opponent as the ultimate insider, a death knell in an anti-incumbent and anti-Democrat year.
She also got a boost from outgoing Attorney General Bill McCollum, who led the lawsuit against President Obama’s health care overhaul. Bondi fervently supported the lawsuit and talked it up at every campaign stop, earning her the immediate support of Republican-friendly groups including the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Florida.
“As your attorney general, I pledge to make you and your family safer, our neighborhoods more secure, and I will be a vigilant watchdog for our taxpayers,” said Bondi, in a speech to supporters who watched results with her at the Pepin Hospitality Center in Tampa. “And I vow to stand up to a federal government health care takeover.”
The big Republican embrace of Bondi pumped cash into the candidate’s campaign account, allowing her to mount an aggressive television campaign. In TV commercials, she pushed hard against Gelber’s votes as a House and Senate member, particularly a vote for a now repealed measure, called the “Scarlet Letter” law, which required women to publish their sexual histories if they put a child up for adoption and did not identify the child’s father.
For weeks, polls had been giving Bondi the edge over Gelber in the race to replace Attorney General Bill McCollum, though there was still a rather large contingent of undecided voters because the race received less attention than some other races in the state, such as senate or governor. She ultimately claimed victory by a margin of 56 percent to 40 percent.
Bondi’s victory was immediately praised by Republican supporters who campaigned on her behalf.
“We need a strong Republican in this position to continue the federal health care lawsuit and ensure our Constitutional rights are upheld,” said incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos.
Gelber, a state senator and former House minority leader, called Bondi to congratulate her and in a two minute speech to supporters in Miami, recounted the last few days of the campaign, comparing it to a “dysfunctional family vacation.” The political winds were not in his favor he admitted, but said he believes Bondi will do “just fine” in her new job.
“I want her to do well,” he said. “Because frankly, if she does well, Florida does well. And that’s something we should all understand very deeply.”
By Kathleen Haughney
The News Service Florida
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.
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.
