I read with interest an editorial that was recently featured in your newspaper, Preserving majority rule (July 28), which discusses the suspension of the 2004 Second Primary Election and the Times' apparent support of an instant runoff. While I appreciate the concerns and suggestions raised, the editorial omits important information.
The editorial asserts that "after the state's costly investment in new elections machinery, elections officials now complain a runoff election would be too hard to conduct." This statement is misleading and trivializes the dedication and concerns of Florida's elections supervisors.
The new voting systems (including the touch screen machines in Pinellas) are much more complex compared to former systems. It takes more time to program and test this equipment. Layout and production of optical scan ballots used to vote by mail take a considerable amount of additional time, and legal deadlines create a limited schedule to complete the ballot layout subsequent to candidate qualifying. In addition to the time needed to create, obtain and distribute absentee ballots to military personnel and citizens residing overseas to ensure their timely return, production of audio files for voters with disabilities is an additional requirement. Counties requiring multilanguage ballots must translate the languages for optical, touch screen and audio ballots. These are just a few of the issues that contribute to the increased complexities and time required to prepare for elections in the"Post-2000" environment.
As a result, elections officials conveyed to the Legislature that we can no longer conduct three elections within a 60-day period, a feat no other state even attempts. We requested sufficient time to prepare for each election, and strongly encouraged lawmakers to provide at least eight weeks between each election in order to ready the equipment and ensure the accuracy and integrity of the entire process. We suggested this could be accomplished by revising the election dates or suspending the second primary.
Clearly, Florida voters have responded very positively to the touch screen machines, finding them much easier to use. The fact that preparing for an election is more complex and time-consuming should not be considered a negative, but certainly should be a factor in scheduling elections.
In closing, it is an honor, a privilege and a rewarding challenge to conduct elections, not a burden or hardship as implied by your editorial. The public and the press are always welcome to visit the Pinellas County Elections Service Center to learn more about our new voting technology.
-- Deborah Clark, Pinellas County supervisor of elections, Clearwater
Many have the skill to lead us
Re: We need a new way to select leaders, letter, July 30.
The letter writer is right. There are tens of thousands of men and women who have the intelligence and skills to be governors and presidents. My political involvement over many years has given me the insight of party politics and the privilege of meeting and knowing many of those at all levels of government. Most are honest, hardworking and caring. Some are of good character but lacking in political skills, and a few, for various reasons, are a disgrace to politics.
My only disagreement with the letter writer is when he says, "the intensive scrutiny by the press is part of the problem." I truly believe that if there is one issue the media agree upon and treat in an honest, fair and unbiased manner, it's exposing lying, cheating, unscrupulous politicians. Here in Pinellas County, the local paper exposed the corruption that was prevalent in our County Commission in the mid '70s, and I could cite other cases where reporting caused unsavory candidates to lose their elections.
The letter writer closes by asking if we can do better. The answer is yes. To accomplish this, the political parties should encourage contested primaries. And because their prime purpose should be to present qualified candidates, they should have a committee of worthy citizens to screen potential candidates. Those not worthy of holding public office should be discouraged. Those who are worthy should be encouraged. And the party should show no favoritism to incumbents or others and let the voters decide who will represent them in the general election.
-- Ray Aden, Largo
Obstructionism is bipartisan
Re: Democrats are a party in search of an agenda and Using obstructionist tactics, letters, Aug. 1.
The letter writers wring their hands and shed copious crocodile tears while decrying the evil Democrats' nefarious obstructionism. Yes, that's right: The party that wrote the how-to book on obstructionism is now shouting "foul!" Permit me to throw a little light onto this murky swamp of conservative hypocrisy.
Whether you consider the filibuster a means foul or fair, it has been a tool used by both parties since the 19th century and a legitimate one since the cloture rule was passed in 1917. Filibuster gives the minority party a chance to block the excesses of the majority and thus performs as a check to would-be extremism. Unfortunately that can mean that social progress may also sometimes be thwarted. For example, Strom Thurmond famously filibustered against the Civil Rights Act for 24 hours and the Republican Party successfully stopped President Johnson's nominee to the Supreme Court, Abe Fortas, by this very means because the party stood opposed to his civil rights activism.
Now we hear Republicans screeching racism because of Democratic opposition to the appointment of an inexperienced lawyer and conservative activist to an appellate court. Never mind that Republicans blocked Bill Clinton nominees Enrique Moreno, Jorge Rangel and Christine Arquello who, like Miguel Estrada, are Hispanic. In fact, during the 103rd Congress, Republicans used or threatened the filibuster some 51 times. Republicans may reply that Democrats are even worse, having forced them to 70 or so similar cloture petitions in the 104th Congress, but so what? I'm sure that conservatives will exceed that record during the next Democratic presidency.
So please stop the disingenuous whining. If the Republican Party weren't so doggedly determined to abuse their majority to force an advantage, as in the Texas redistricting scheme, Democrats would not be forced to use whatever means they can find to stop it. Whether you like it or not, obstructionist politics are here to stay, and I don't imagine I'll hear any sobbing from conservatives when the shoe is on the other foot.
-- David Carroll, St. Petersburg
Desal problems were no surprise
Re: Clogs gum up desal plant filters, Aug. 2.
What a surprise. My organization, No De-Salution spent well over a year fighting to stop the building of desal plant No. 1 in Apollo Beach. We contacted every legislator in the state as well as the county commissioners from the counties that are "served" by Tampa Bay Water. In addition to the high cost of construction and maintenance, our most important concern was for the health of Tampa Bay, which is now starting to come back to life.
No one was concerned. I guess I'm not as smart as the "experts." I invited all the members of the board from Tampa Bay Water to pledge their personal assets as collateral to guarantee that the plant would operate efficiently and cause no damage to the fragile ecosystem. No takers - what a shock. They seemed so confident in the project - particularly, Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala, who wanted this project on the fast track. I remember the line she used: "Why wait?" Well maybe we could have waited to see if the "drought" ended.
About the drought: Florida has above average rainfall and is one of the wettest places on the planet. Our underground aquifer, filled with water that mostly comes from Georgia and Alabama, is so large it is almost impossible to estimate how much water is contained in it. Unfortunately most of this water winds up in the gulf and Atlantic Ocean, rendering it unusable. To then build plants to take the salt back out to the same water is ludicrous. The mismanagement of our water resources in this state is criminal, driven by development and politics and money. No water, but keep on building. We have a very strong construction lobby in Tallahassee.
Your state representatives may tell you they have no choice because of "the local options first" statutes. Simply not true. What is needed is a comprehensive statewide plan to include aqueducts, reservoirs and systems to catch rain water. While we continue to fiddle while Rome burns, your tax dollars are being squandered on what is nothing more than an expensive experiment. Go to TBW Web site and find out who the board members are and remember these names when you receive your bloated water bills and you have to pay for the cleanup of Tampa Bay.
-- Robert R. Stegmann, Lutz
Don't lift watering restrictions
Re: Rain lifts well fields to 14-year high point, July 31.
Our so-called elected representatives have consistently demonstrated their failure and inability to address the problem of uncontrolled growth within the state of Florida. Is the Southwest Florida Water Management District now poised to emulate their negligence by prematurely lifting watering restrictions? When the cold water tap is turned on and nothing comes out, is that when someone will decide there may be a problem?
Revising the watering restrictions now in place would be counterproductive.
-- John W. Gill, St. Petersburg
Check out a charter school
The list of schools with available seats, published in the Aug. 3 Times, did the public a disservice by omitting openings at the public charter schools in Pinellas County. There are three active charter schools in Pinellas County, all of which provide an excellent educational experience in small classes and quiet environments.
Pinellas Preparatory Academy is entering its second year after a very successful first year. We concentrate on creativity and high academic standards; there are no discipline problems, all courses meet state standards, advanced learning is encouraged, there are no fees or costs, and classes are small.
Since we have not received the publicity accorded other public schools, many parents do not know of our existence. We still have nearly 50 seats available in grades 4 through 7. Admission is on a first-come first-served basis. The school is located in Largo, and can be reached at 727 581-9550, or online at www.pinellasprep.org
-- Ronald F. Lipton, principal, Pinellas Preparatory Academy, Largo
Correction
Due to a production problem, the Monday letter from Len Vivolo of Clearwater, As school starts, motorists should watch for buses, was printed with typographical errors that may cause some confusion about state traffic laws. Below is a corrected paragraph from the letter:
Just as a friendly reminder to all motorists: According to the Florida state Department of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety Handbook, motorists driving in either direction must stop for a stopped school bus and remain stopped until the children have cleared the roadway and the bus driver withdraws the stop arm and begins to move. If the roadway is divided by a raised concrete barrier or grassy median at least 5 feet wide, motorists do not have to stop if they are traveling in the opposite direction of the bus. Motorists must stop however, if they are traveling in the same direction as the bus. Painted lines and markings on the roadway are not considered barriers so motorists must always stop for the bus when traveling in either direction where there are only paintedlines dividing the roadway.
-- Share your opinions
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