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*************************************************Posted April
27, 2012
County Wide Voting Referendum Information Sheet
(The following is an information sheet on county wide
voting in Franklin County. It is being posted at the request of an APTA
member. While it has been discussed in the recent APTA membership
meeting and board meeting, it is not the position of the Alligator Point
Taxpayers Association, or its board of directors. It is provided for
information only).
What is County-wide Voting?
County-wide voting is identical to the
method that other positions within the county are on the ballot,
including Judges, the Tax Collector, the Property Assessor and other
District they run for but unlike Single-Member District Voting, all
registered voters are allowed to vote for all Commissioners, not just
the Commissioner running in their own District.
History. County-wide voting existed in Franklin
County until Federal Judge Stafford ordered the method of voting to be
changed to Single-Member in 1993 as a result of a suit alleging minority
voter suppression. The County was also redistricted at that time. In
2006 County Commissioners voted to put a non-binding referendum on the
ballot to return to County-wide voting. The initiative passed by an
overwhelming 69% margin that year. That non-binding initiative has never
been implemented. Starting in 2007, organized groups such as the
Concerned Citizens of Franklin County, Inc. (a party to the original
1993 decision) attempted to have the initiative implemented. The Florida
Constitution enables the citizens of a county to put a local initiative
to a binding referendum vote of the people.
Petitions being collected for a referendum.
In 2011 a new broad based Political Action Committee (PAC) was formed.
The new PAC is named the Franklin County Voters County-wide Voting PAC,
specifically to bring about the return of County-wide voting to Franklin
County. The PAC has the task of collecting a constitutionally required
number of valid signatures. (10% of the registered voters within the
county) Once collected these signatures will be presented to the
Supervisor of Elections for verification. Following this successful
petition process, the issue is required to be placed on the next
available ballot during a County-wide election. The referendum effort in
2011 fell about 30 verified signatures short. A new effort by the PAC is
underway now with the goal of obtaining at least 1,000 signatures by the
end of May 2012.
What’s good about Single-Member Voting?
Single-Member Districts are thought to be more responsive to their
constituents. Commissioners can focus on their own District more than
the County as a whole. Running for office is less expensive because
candidates can focus their campaigns on one District rather than the
entire county. Single-Member Districts were created to help minorities
attain office. There are no minority drawn Districts any longer, yet
minority candidates in the county have been elected time after time.
What’s bad about Single-Member Voting? The PAC
believes that Single-Member Districts do not foster an atmosphere of
what’s best for the county and that in the areas of growth and
development has tied the county to a status quo that is not forward
looking.
Also, Single-Member Districts Commissioners may often
view financial matters with a territorial protective attitude. The PAC
believes this is neither efficient,
nor based on actual need.
What’s good about County-wide Voting? The PAC
believes County-wide Districts will tend to pull the County together by
reducing the imperative to only focus on a district. The PAC believes
County-wide voting will encourage a more diverse field of candidates for
office which would add diversity to the choices that voters presently
have.
If you want to support County-wide Voting request a
petition from Ken Osborne who is the Treasurer of the PAC at: KROVBO@aol.com.
You may volunteer to help or write a check to the Franklin County Voters
County-wide Voting PAC at 198 Fifth Street, Apalachicola Florida 32320.
The PAC is operated by Cora Russ and Van Johnson (Mayor of Apalachicola)
of Apalachicola.
*************************************************
Posted April 16, 2012
PLEASE NOTE: A Public Workshop on the Alligator Drive
revetment is on the County Commissioners’ Agenda.
The Franklin County Board of County Commissioners
regular meeting is in a different location and your attendance as
Alligator Point residents would be most appreciated.
April 17 Tuesday – 5:00 P.M.
Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve,
Conference Room
108 Island Drive, Eastpoint
850 – 670-7700
*************************************************Posted
April 12,, 2012
Alligator Point Taxpayers Association, Board meeting, April 14, 2012
Roll call
Approval of minutes of Board meeting, March 10, 2012
Board member attendance report: Jim Cummins
Treasurers report: Bill Kimbrough
Presidents Report: Jim McCloy
Committee reports
Membership: Marvin Heymann (survey results)
Beautification: Barbara Withers
Newsletter: Sam Rogers
Web Site: Beth Hayes
South Shoal Development: Sam Rogers, Jim Apthorp
Beach Access Parking: Eddie Sosebee
Old Business: County Commission meeting attendance
New Business: South Shoals development, Capital City
Bank and Franklin County Government. The possible purchase of a
substantial portion of the property using Bald Point Trust funds.
Announcements:
*************************************************Posted
April 12,, 2012
Alligator Point Taxpayers Association
Membership Meeting, Saturday, April 14, 2012
The Alligator Point Taxpayers Association (APTA) will be
conducting the regular scheduled April General Membership meeting on
Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Mission by the Sea Church on Alligator
Drive (highway 370) at 9:00 a.m.
The subjects of this meeting will include: a discussion
of a possible future ballot initiative to convert the election process
in Franklin County from a single member district system to a county wide
system; a discussion of a possible purchase by Franklin County of a
substantial portion of the property now known as the South Shoals
development (previously referred to as the KOA campground); a proposed
Alligator Point Ordinance relating to parking on the Point near the
designated public beach access points; and other items of general
interest to property owners at the Point.
Property owners and other interested parties are invited
to attend.
The regularly scheduled APTA Board of Directors meeting
will follow.
Questions or comments should be directed to the APTA
President, Jim McCloy at 850-519-4680 .
*************************************************
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