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The Martin County

  Defender

The e-newsletter for aware citizens – No. 74

A clear-eyed view of the District 1 race …..

With only a couple of exceptions, readers were pleased with our report in DEFENDER No. 73 on the national financial meltdown, and its implications for Martin County.  We stated:

“New twists in regulations and financing will trickle down to Martin County. We expect, or at least hope, that our locally elected officials know enough about the law and about financial management to be capable of looking out for all Martin residents. So if we want at least one commissioner to be well versed in the arcane skills that will be sorely needed in the days ahead, it makes good sense to elect Joan Wilcox in District 1.”

A number of readers tuned in to the fact that the rules governing financial administration will be more complex than ever before, and that a commissioner with exceptional qualifications would be a great asset for the county. Here is one letter we received:

Mr. R: I usually don’t agree with your editorials, but your issue 73 explanation about the need to elect a commissioner with good legal and financial management credentials made sense. I was going to vote for her opponent, but after I went to the Joan Wilcox web site [www.joanwilcox08.com] I decided to vote for her. Her qualifications are super and as you say sorely needed.

It’s heartening to see citizens rise above preconceived political preferences for the good of the county.

….. Versus the view of a smear crew

I have been receiving a few mean spirited, similarly worded comments, the result of an apparent concerted effort, to smear Commission District 1 candidate Joan Wilcox, and to support Tom Fullman. None of them deal with Wilcox’s exceptional experience in financial management, experience that is so badly needed on the Commission. Rather they … well, here are samples to see for yourself:

Joan is a very ambitious lady, need I say more.

She was the supposed “brains” behind her husband when he was a commissioner because he was dumb as a stump.

Are you sure God didn’t tell you to vote for the spoiler Wilcox? 

Wilcox has the typical nasty Republican outlook on life just like her dipstick husband.

Of course, venomous accusations tell a lot more about the accuser than the accused. Nevertheless, following Journalism 101, I tried to uncover facts. I exchanged e-mails with one of the scornful crew:

Ms. H: Who the hell knows who Joan is? (the Spoiler) Do you really think Joan is going to do what you and your people want her to? She has her own agenda.

Editor: Thank you for your comments. As to “She has her own agenda,” could you please be specific about what that agenda is? And what evidence do you have to support your contention?

Ms. H:  I will get back to you on that!  [Never heard from her again – Ed.]

I suspect that Mr. Fullman has not known of these baseless smears, but he knows now. He would be raising the level of political discourse if he told such desperate  supporters to knock off their toxic innuendos.

Unseat the Justice who doesn’t trust citizens

Unlike the straightforward election of local judges, a relatively complex appointment process is set forth in the Florida Constitution for selection of Supreme Court Justices. It requires the creation of a Judicial Nominating Commission composed of persons appointed to staggered four year terms, representing various interests. The Commission must submit to the Governor of Florida between three and six names for each vacancy on the court, from which the Governor selects the new Justice. The Governor’s selection is final and requires no further approval by any governmental body.

After appointment, the new Justice must face statewide voters in the next general election that is more than one year after the date of initial appointment. In this “merit retention” election, voters decide only if the new Justice will remain in office. If not retained in office, the Governor appoints a replacement through the same Judicial Nominating Commission process. After this first merit retention election, Justices face the voters in the same type of merit retention election every six years thereafter until they leave or reach retirement age.

An interesting case, Strand v. Escambia County, was decided last year by the Florida Supreme Court.  Under political pressure, it recently reversed itself. The case revolved around whether the County could issue bonds without the approval of a popular vote. On Sept. 6, 2007, the Supreme Court decided: “We conclude that the County is without authority to issue these bonds without first obtaining approval by referendum as required by article VII, section 12 of the Florida Constitution.”

After extensive lobbying by government officials (technically called amicus curiae briefs) who want to hold the purse strings, the Supreme Court on Sept. 18, 2008 changed its mind and said that counties could load debt on its citizens without their approval.  One Justice who voted against citizen control was Justice Charles T. Wells, who was first appointed in 1994. He is up for retention election. That gives us the opportunity to let the court, and everyone else, know that we do not approve of removing debt control from citizens.

Express your disapproval on the Nov. 4 ballot by voting NOT to retain Justice Wells.

Stuart Group V Commission race

In DEFENDER No. 72, we noted the entry of challenger Robert Steinberg in the race for the Group V Stuart City Commission.  The platform of incumbent Mary K. Hutchinson, running for re-election, has become available. It lists her accomplishments, and her efforts to increase a sense of community in Stuart.

Among Ms. Hutchinson’s goals for the next two years are to use her financial background to keep the City on a sound, fiscal policy, and to push for tougher environmental regulations. She plans to work with the Business Development Board to assist current businesses to grow. A more detailed copy of the platform may be obtained by contacting Ms. Hutchinson at:

mk@hutchinsonartgallery.com

Both candidates agree on various issues, but there is a difference in emphasis. Mr. Steinberg appears more concerned about homeowner protection against increasing density, while Ms. Hutchinson appears more focused on furthering business growth.

COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION EXCEEDS 100,000

For the first time, the number of registered Martin County voters has passed 100,000. This includes Republicans 50.2%; Democrats 28.8%; Others 21.0%.

NEWSPAPER ENDORSEMENT PREDICTABILITY – 100%

The Stuart News has endorsed all three Commission candidates running on the Republican ticket. The Palm Beach Post has endorsed all three Commission candidates running on the Democratic ticket. What else is new?

HUMBLING THOUGHT OF THE DAY: “No one likes the media. Even the media doesn’t like the media.” – National columnist Peggy Noonan

+++++

Hi Al,

Thanks for keeping the City race in your newsletter.

The paragraph above is generally correct but would add that her focus is downtown business not businesses in general. She is the treasurer of the Downtown Business Association, a special interest group by definition and a potential conflict of interest for a city commissioner. I have asked how Mary Hutchinson thinks she can help business in the downtown during our meeting with the editorial board of the Stuart News. Other than asking the landlords to reduce their rents, which we know they will not unless it is market driven, she has no other ideas for promoting business. Again, when given the opportunity to actually do something that would help the Key Lime Cafe, she fought against the exception to allow beer and wine in their cafe.

On the same issue, I have practical ideas for increasing visitors to the downtown area such as demanding that the Arts Council, of which Ms. Hutchinson is the ex officio board member, remain open on weekends. I find it unbelievable that at a time when Stuart is hemorrhaging businesses, the council is given a 2 year lease at $5.00 per year with no oversight other than Commissioner Hutchinson’s position on the board. Her husband is Kevin Hutchinson the artist. I doubt Mary will do anything other than rubber stamp anything the council does….which isn’t much for a $400,000.00 per year organization.

Nor will she address the MainStreet organization. In a recent visit from the Punta Gorda MainStreet they comment on how “primative” Stuart’s is in that it did not even know the vacancy rate or cost per sq. ft. for retail space.

So, as I wrote in my response to Mary Hutchinson’s announcement of candidacy, I want to “protect our existing neighborhoods, promote sensible solutions to ailing businesses and stop giveaways to development.”

Thanks again and keep up the good work.

RS