[This post will remain on top of the blog until after polls close in Florida on Nov. 5.]
This is a critical election. You really should vote, and soon. Early voting has begun, so why wait.
Here’s a crib sheet with some suggestions about the downballot, plus links to the posts that explain them.
Clerk of Court: Annette Taddeo (Line 71)
Sheriff: James Reys (Line 73)
Property Appraiser: Marisol Zenteno (Line 75)
Tax Collector: David Richardson (Line 77)
Supervisor of Elections: “J.C.” Planas (Line 79)Justices of the Supreme Court
Justice Renatha Francis: NO (Line 81)
Justice Meredith Sasso: NO (Line 83)3rd DCA
Judge Kevin Emas: YES (Line 84)
Judges Ivan Fernandez: YES (Line 86)
Judge Norma Shepard Lindsey: YES (Line 88)County Court
Christopher Benjamin (Line 90)Miami-Dade Commission, District 7
Cindy Lerner (Line 92)Constitutional Amendments
NO on Amendment 1. (Line 251)
NO on Amendment 2. (Line 253)
YES on Amendment 3. (Line 254)
YES on Amendment 4. (Line 256)
YES on Amendment 5. (Line 258)
NO on Amendment 6. (Line 261)
Reasoned comments are always welcome.
I really appreciate your articles and recommendations. It is particularly difficult to research judges, so your endorsements (or lack thereof) help a lot.
I’m leaning toward voting NO on Amendment 5 because:
1)The system is already complicated enough. Increasing the exemption by 2.3% or 4.1% in a year would make it more difficult to understand the assessed value. Instead of a flat $25,000, it could be $25,575 or $26,623, which is deducted from an assessed value that went up 3%, except for the one used for school taxes. People will be lost and demand a new system.
2) Any savings for one/some means increases for others. Mom & Pop landlords and small business owners (of restaurants, retail, etc) will face larger tax increases because others have new savings. Those costs get passed down to renters and consumers.