Recommendations for 2011 Jacksonville City Election Primary

Mayor: Mike Hogan (Republican)

Mike Hogan has served on the City Council, in the state legislature, and is the current Tax Collector. In all these positions, Mike has gained an unmatched reputation for honesty and integrity, especially in his dealings with his constituents. As a member of City Council, I personally experienced the fact that he made himself readily available to anyone who wished to discuss issues before the Council. Although we did not always agree, I found him always willing to listen carefully and consider all points of view before making a decision. He is a fiscal conservative, winning the endorsement of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. He has been endorsed by the N.R.A., too. I give my highest recommendation to Mike Hogan for Mayor. Website: http://www.hoganformayor.com/.

Sheriff: Soren G. Brockdorf (No Party Affliation)
With Jacksonville still the murder capital of Florida, it is time for entirely new leadership in the Sheriff’s Department. Soren would bring to the Sheriff’s office both a law enforcement and business background. In law enforcement, he has been a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer, a Clay County Deputy and a Federal Agent. He is a Supreme Court Certified Family and County Mediator. He has outlined precise plans to reduce administrative costs that will allow for more monies for officers on the streets. For example, he wants to introduce software that will get needed information directly to officers in the field while eliminating 120 administrative positions. He has pledged to put more officers in the neighborhoods with the highest crime rates and to reduce response times to police calls. He wants to add a DNA lab with a two-day turnaround so rape victims do not have to wait six months for results, which currently allows perpetrators to remain on the streets to victimize other women. Website: http://www.1sheriff.com/.

Property Appraiser: Jim Overton (Republican)
Jim is the current Property Appraiser and has done a good job of creating efficiencies in how the office operates while reducing the budget. He has put much of the information online that taxpayers need. He won the endorsement of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. Website: http://www.jimoverton.com/.

Tax Collector: Dick Kravitz (Republican)
Dick Kravitz brings a wealth of legislative and business experience to the position of Tax Collector. He has served on the City Council and in the state legislature. I found him willing to listen to differing points of view on issues before making decisions. He has been fiscally conservative on budget and tax matters and has been endorsed by the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. Website: http://www.kravitzfortaxcollector.com/.

Council-at-Large Group 1: Steve Burnett (No Party Affiliation)
If you read the report in The Florida Times-Union, the race for Council-at-Large Group 1 is colorful. Each candidate has background issues and none is ideal. Steve is a twenty-year Navy veteran who advocates limited government as defined by the City Charter. After retiring from the Navy, he owned and operated 50 Jackson Hewitt tax preparation offices with 300 employees in Florida and Georgia. He is a registered Republican, although he chose to run without party affiliation. When he sold his Jackson Hewitt franchises, he was caught by a local TV news crew throwing records into a dumpster without shredding them, making clients and employees vulnerable to identity theft. Because of what I consider more serious issues with the other candidates, I will vote for Steve for Council-at-Large Group 1.

The Republican candidate, David A. Taylor is a lawyer by trade, specializing in commercial litigation and adoptions. He has been in the past and is currently under investigation by the Florida Bar Association for ethical violations, one of which could lead to criminal charges. The NE Florida Builder’s Association, both the Firefighters and Police unions, First Coast Manufacturer’s Association and JAXBiz have endorsed him, but the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County gave him an ANTI-endorsement. These caused me to decide not to support David Taylor.

Steve’s other opponent is Democrat Kimberly Daniels, a self-admitted former drug abuser and prostitute. She now is pastor of a Northside Christian congregation with a reported 400 members. She pays no property taxes on her home because it is listed as a “rectory.” There are questions regarding the propriety of using church funds to make enhancements to the property, including a swimming pool with screened enclosure.

Council-at-Large Group 2: John R. Crescimbeni (Democrat)
John has served on the City Council for a combined total of ten years. Despite his Democrat affiliation, he has been one of the most consistent fiscal conservatives in city government. He practices what he preaches by being the only council member who does not have a paid legislative aide; he answers his own phone and does his own research. He has never missed a regularly scheduled City Council meeting in all ten years and has one of the best committee attendance records. He asks the tough questions on contracts such as those with the Jaguars or for the landfill. He opposed the county courthouse cost overruns. He voted against tax and fee increases, winning the endorsement of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. Website: http://www.johnforcitycouncil.com/.  

Council-at-Large Group 4: Juan Diaz (Republican)

None of the candidates for Council-at-Large Group 4 have run for or held political office previously. After careful review of all their proposals and positions, I have decided to vote for Juan Diaz. He is a young corporate attorney who has served on a variety of local boards, committees and civic organizations. He is a fiscal conservative and won a co- endorsement of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County. He advocates job creation through expansion of JaxPort, Mayport Naval Station, the Cecil Commerce Center and Jacksonville’s healthcare facilities. He opposes tax or fee increases as a means of balancing the city’s budget. Instead, he would work to eliminate duplication of services, make pension reforms, privatize some services, etc. The Northeast Florida Board of Realtors and United Christians of Florida P.A.C also endorse him. Website: http://diaz4jax.com/.

Council-at-Large Group 5: Robin Lumb (Republican)
This is another race in which none of the candidates has previous political experience. Robin won my recommendation because of his active opposition to Obamacare, including organization of Town Hall meetings and public forums, and his advocacy for expansion of JaxPort for job generation. A fiscal conservative, he does not believe tax hikes will solve the city’s budget problems. Instead, pension costs need to be brought under control along with budget discipline that focuses on essential services and basic needs (public safety, roads, parks and libraries). He is a small business owner and has served on many civic and charitable organization boards. Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County has endorsed him. Website: http://www.votelumb.com/.

The primary will be held on Tuesday, March 22nd. Early voting begins Monday, March 7th. Whether you agree with my selections or not, please vote.

MTV's "Skins"

After watching tonight's episode of MTV's new series Skins, I wish I could take my brain out of my head and give it a good scrubbing. Skins included teens engaged in lesbian sex, drinking, drug use, masturbation, heterosexual sex, and foul language, all within the first 15 minutes. It was all I could do to keep from switching channels at the first commercial break.

The series has created a media firestorm of outrage because the actors and actresses are under the age of 18. Many are calling for the adults responsible for this series to be prosecuted under laws forbidding child pornography. Under them, children are not allowed to be filmed in portrayals of sexual behavior. Clearly, this series does that.

The Parents Television Council called Skins the "most dangerous program that has ever been foisted on your children!" That is why I kept watching until the end of the episode. I have a strict policy of not commenting on books, movies, TV shows, music, etc., until I have read or seen the original. I do not rely on secondhand information and opinions.

By the end of the hour, I was seriously depressed and disillusioned. I have never put much stock in the idea of UFO's and aliens visiting planet Earth, but now I'm not so sure. Am I even on the same planet I was on when I was a teenager? Has it really gotten that bad in our schools and homes?

Why would any reasonably responsible adult ever produce -- or even want to produce -- such a show? Or, loving parents permit this show to be aired in their homes? Or, any advertisers want their businesses associated with it? Or, any teens want to watch it?

Far worse than the explicit sex is the show's degrading of our teens. It portrays them as totally irresponsible, self-centered, immoral, lazy, anti-social and stupid. The producers and writers disdain, if not hate, today's teenagers. Now, I know I don't have a whole lot of close contact with teenagers anymore. But, the ones I do know are not at all like the ones portrayed on this show. If they were, I would completely despair for our future. I don't because I think the show is reflecting the self-hatred of the adults -- the producers, directors and screenwriters -- behind it.

The show's writing is atrocious, and the acting is worse. Poor quality should kill the show, if nothing else. I am a little heartened that several advertisers have bailed already. Maybe I am too naive, but I do not think this show will appeal to most teens. The show should bomb in the ratings because no self-respecting teen will want to waste his or her time on this trash. That said, I would advise any parents whose children do find this show appealing to get them into counseling immediately.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Quiz

Check out the Martin Luther King, Jr. quiz. You will be surprised at the answers, originally posted on January 15, 2007, which can be found at .http://yankeereb.blogspot.com/search/label/%22Martin%20Luther%20King%20Jr.%22.

2011 Fearless Forecasts

Florida, but not Jacksonville, will take a direct hit from a category 3 or higher hurricane.


A major earthquake (6.0 or higher) will rattle a major city on the West Coast.

The Tea Party will strongly influence the Jacksonville city council and mayoral elections. Rick Mullaney will not be our next mayor.

Sarah Palin will decide not to run for President.

Inflation will be above 5% by year-end, primarily due to higher food and gas prices. Gas will be $5/gallon or more.

A second round of foreclosures will cause further declines in the real estate market. Commercial real estate defaults will bring another banking crisis, although not as severe as the last one.

The stock market will decline during the first three quarters but rise slowly in the fourth quarter back to 11,500.

War will break out on the Korean peninsula. China will intervene to stop it.

Israel will take matters into her own hands and strike at Iran’s nuclear production facilities. Obama will be furious at Israel.

Terrorists will hit a train or subway in the U.S.

Osama bin Laden will be captured, thanks to a Special Ops. Unit.

A tornado will hit Godfrey, Brighton or Jerseyville in Illinois.

Hilary Clinton will resign as Secretary of State.

A dormant volcano will roar to life in Europe or Russia.

An earthquake in Afghanistan will kill and injure some U.S. troops, but the subsequent rush to bring aid to locals will help solidify U.S.-Afghan relations with local leaders.

Flooding from Spring runoff in western Colorado or Utah will take out a portion of the old D&RGW rail-line between Denver and Salt Lake City.

Unemployment will stay stubbornly above 9%.

President Obama will announce he will not run in 2012 due to revelations of the Chicago-style corruption throughout his inner circle. Indictments will be expected, if not delivered, by year-end.

Rahm Immanuel, Obama’s former chief-of-staff, will not be elected Mayor of Chicago.

A major art museum will suffer a truly stunning and audacious art heist.

Although Obamacare will not be repealed, Congressional Republicans will be successful in defunding major provisions. Federal courts will continue to hand down mixed decisions on its constitutionality. Eventually, the Supreme Court will declare the mandatory purchase of health insurance unconstitutional but not in 2011.

The news media will be abuzz with the “state nullification” movement as a way of reining in federal power.

2010 Fearless Forecasts Results

Below are the results of the Fearless Forecasts I made at the beginning of 2010. I think I forgot to post them, but as you can see, the results show that I continue to be about 50/50 right and wrong. (The results are in parentheses after each prediction.) I have been doing these forecasts since college days. The practice started with a Catholic priest, chaplain of the campus Newman Club, who became concerned about us believing Jeanne Dixon, a famous soothsayer of the sixties and seventies, had special predictive skills. He challenged a group of us to make our own for that year, which he kept. The following New Year's, he took them out so we could compare our results with Dixon's. Ours were the same as hers: 50/50 true and false. For years, our group made and saved our predictions for our New Year's Eve party. I kept it up long after our party days had passed, and the results are always the same. My next posting will be my forecasts for 2011.

Jacksonville will experience a snowfall; it may not be officially measurable but it will accumulate slightly on grassy areas. (True: trace officially recorded on 12/26)


The Jaguars will not sign Tim Tebow. (True)

The St. Louis Cardinals will play in the World Series. (False)

The Bad News: Healthcare reform will be signed into law. (True)

The Good News: Healthcare reform will cause the Democrats to lose control of the House and the Senate. (Half true: Republicans took control of the House, not the Senate)

The Tea Party movement will grow and become more organized. (True)

The housing market will experience another precipitous drop in prices – 8% or more – due to more foreclosures from rising mortgage interest rates. (False: prices dropped but not by 8%+)

There will be a successful suicide bomber attack in the U.S., probably in Las Vegas. (False)

Jacksonville will not have a direct hit from a hurricane but Florida will. (Half true: neither was hit by a hurricane)

A damaging tornado will hit Jacksonville or the metropolitan area (St. John’s, Clay, or Nassau counties. (False)

A cruise ship will be hijacked by pirates or sunk by terrorists. (False)

Scientists will become more alarmed over seismic activity in the Yellowstone caldera. (Neutral: some are; some aren’t)

The economy will not recover much, especially unemployment, which will remain above 8%. (True)

The stock market will have a correction back down to @ 8,000, then sluggishly return to above 10,000 but less than 11,500 by year-end. (Half true: dropped but closed slightly above 11,600)

The Senate will block immigration reform if it has any type of amnesty for illegals. (True)

The upper Mississippi River valley will have major flooding this Spring. (False: had some)

Congress will halt the closing of Guantanemo or the transfer of terrorists to Illinois. (True)

Reflections on an Election: November 2, 2010

American voters may have saved the United States yesterday, November 2, 2010. The stakes in this midterm election were just that high. I awoke this morning with renewed hope.


Overall, the results should hearten conservatives who believe in limited federal government, rule of law according to the Constitution as intended by our Founding Fathers, fiscal responsibility, and free market capitalism. With a few exceptions, the country roundly repudiated Obama and his far left modus operandi. So far, thirty-one Tea Party candidates won election.

There were a few disappointments for me. Foremost was the reelection of Harry Reid to the U.S. Senate from Nevada. I was rooting for Ken Buck for U.S. Senator from Colorado and Tom Tancredo for Colorado’s Governor. However, I knew they were long shots. Republican insiders sabotaged Delaware’s Odonnell; I blame them for her defeat. Results from Alaska will be delayed until November 18th. It is looking as though U.S. Senator Murkowski may have won reelection as a write-in candidate, which would be disappointing. However, these are blips on the radar screen compared to the sweep of Republican victories nationwide.

What struck me, as I watched the returns through the night and into the wee hours of the morning, was the breadth and depth of the conservative victory. A sea of red ink floods maps of the United States at the county level. Democrats in small islands of blue are even more isolated than before. Naturally, the national media focused on the national races for Congress and the Senate and, to a lesser extent, the governors’ races.

Not only did the U.S. Congress flip to a Republican majority, but so did many state legislatures. Come January, there will many more states with Republican majorities in both legislative bodies and a Republican governor. Some of these have not had Republican control since the Civil War.

This state-level Republican control will have profound long-term effects. This being a census year, these Republicans will control redistricting in their states, which must be completed for the 2012 election. Future national leaders often emerge from these state bodies. The most successful presidential candidates have been governors historically. A strong electoral base can swing the results in national races for the state through better organization and enthusiasm.

So, how did my candidate and referendum choices fare? The following candidates I voted for won:

· Marco Rubio for U.S. Senator

· Rick Scott for Governor & Jennifer Carroll for Lieutenant Governor

· Pam Bondi for Attorney General

· Jeff Atwater for Chief Financial Officer

· Adam Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture

· Charles McBurney for State Representative (District 16)

For race results already announced, only Ander Crenshaw (District 1 Congressional Representative) and John Thrasher (District 8 State Senator) won without my vote. Also, all the judges were retained, and I always vote against all of them because I do not believe in lifetime appointments or the process by which they are selected. I am still waiting to hear results on the Soil and Water Conservation District races. I voted for Phillip Laibe for Group 1, Curtis Winkler for Group 3, and Stuart J. Coffin for Group 5.

The only amendment or referendum that did not go the way I voted was No. 1 to repeal public campaign financing. Voters did not give it the 60% approval necessary to pass a Florida constitutional amendment.

Passage of constitutional amendments 5 and 6 was especially pleasing. I have long fought against “minority access” districts; Florida has now outlawed them. Districts will have to be drawn to be as compact, equal in population, and use existing geographical boundaries as is feasible. District lines cannot be drawn to favor incumbents or a political party or to deny equal participation in the political process.

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, Florida’s most embarrassing politico, announced today she would file suit against these amendments. Her district is one of the most convoluted in the country, extending from Jacksonville to Orlando. She knows she will lose if she has to run in a geographically contiguous district here in Duval County. That prospect alone persuaded me to vote for amendments 5 and 6, despite opposition from most establishment Republicans and the Tea Party. Many Republicans and conservatives have come to love these minority districts because it isolates voters who generally vote Democratic.

2010 Florida Republican Primary Candidate Recommendations

Here are my recommendations for the Florida Republican Primary election. Early voting began today and continues through August 22, 2010. The election itself is on Tuesday, August 24, 2010.

• U. S. Senator from Florida: William Escoffery III
• Governor of Florida: Rick Scott
• Attorney General of Florida: Holly Benson
• Florida State Senator District 8: Charles Perniciaro
• Florida State Representative District 16: Charles McBurney
• Florida Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Group 25: Samuel P. Garrison

As always, whether you agree with my choices or not, I urge you to vote. Below is detailed information on all the candidates and how to contact them so you can make your own decisions.

2010 Primary Candidates

 Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Early Voting for Primary: Tues., August 9 - Sun., August 22, 2010

Last Day to Request Absentee Ballot for Primary: Wed., August 18, 2010

Last Day to Register to Vote or Change Registration for General Election: Mon., October 4, 2010

Last Day to Request Absentee Ballot for General Election: Wed., October 27, 2010

General Election: Tues., November 2, 2010

For More Information:

Jerry Holland, Duval County Supervisor of Elections

105 E. Monroe St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

(904) 630-1414

 

U. S. Senator

 

William Escoffery III

 

Address:
265 Country Club Road
Shalimar, FL 32579
Phone: (850)225-7228
Website: www.senatebill.us/
Email: Dr.Escoffery@senatebill.us/

 

Medical doctor. "Bible-believing Christian"

Platform:

• Limit big government (reduce taxes & regulations)
• Cut taxes
• Expand jobs (free market; stop bail-outs)
• Protect life (pro-life)
• Keep America safe (identify terrorism, prosecute terrorists under military tribunals)
• Guard our borders (stop illegal immigration & deport illegals here; no amnesty)
• Control the courts
• Root out corruption
• Restore Bible values
• Strengthen the family
• Defend U.S. sovereignty
• Safeguard individual rights

William Billy Kogut

 

Address:

12 Winchester Road

Ormond Beach, FL 32174

Phone: (386) 316-3133

Website: http://kogut2010.intuitwebsites.com/

Businessman & realtor in Flagler County since 1995. Memer of the Flagler County Planning Board. Former Municipal Chairman for Wallington, New Jersey. "Bible-believing Christian"

 

Platform:

• Protect our Constitution
• Repeal Obama Care
• Strongly Support our Military
• Oppose Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants
• Audit U.N. and Federal Reserve
• Supports Fair Tax
• Pro-gun
• Pro-life
• Supports traditional marriage

Marco Rubio

 

Address

4027 South LeJeune Road

Coral Gables, FL 33146

Website: http://www.marcorubio.com

Email: marcorubioforsenate@gmail.com

 

Private-practice lawyer & visiting professor at Florida International University’s Metropolitan Center. From 2000-2008, Rubio served in the Florida House of Representatives. During this period, he served as Majority Whip, Majority Leader and Speaker of the House.

 

Positions:

• Anti-amnesty for illegals and pro border security, employment verification.
• Pro-gun: "A" rating with NRA & endorsed by Gun Owners of America
• Opposes cap-and-trade carbon tax
• Opposed Obama's stimulus plans
• Supports balanced budget amendment & line-item veto
• Pro-life

Agenda in Florida House:

• lower taxes
• better schools
• a leaner and more efficient government
• free market empowerment
• protect private property rights
• championed a major overhaul of the Florida tax system that would have eliminated all property taxes on primary residences in favor of a flat consumption tax
• blocking the expansion of gambling in Florida

Endorsed by: Jeb Bush, Dick Cheney, Mitt Romney, Rudy Guiliani, The Club for Growth, Associated Builders & Contractors of Florida, FL Right to Life, Eagle Forum

 

FL Governor

 

Mike McCalister

 

Address

3201 Foxden Lane

Plant City, FL 33565

Phone: (727) 641-4873

Website: http://mikemccalister4governor.com/ or http://mikemccalister.com/

Email: bmccalister@earthlink.net

 

Single parent, retired USAF Colonel, educator, small-business owner, health care professional, farmer. PhD in Management

 

Websites have long list of endorsements and resume but no information on issue positions. Both seem to be primarily aimed to sell his book, The Right Future for Florida and You… Starting Right Now!

 

Bill McCollum

 

Address

Post Office Box 915006 or 

 

Longwood, FL 32791

Phone: (850) 241-1885

Website: http://billmccollum.com

Email: info@BillMcCollum.com

 

Florida Attorney General; former U.S. Representative

 

Positions:

• Pro-gun rights: "A" rating with NRA
• Illegal immigration: supports amended AZ law; opposed amnesty; voted to make hiring illegals illegal; pro-English language
• Economy & Jobs: wrote “Real Solutions, New Jobs: A Roadmap to Florida’s Future” with Steve Forbes. It provide tax relief, regulatory reform, litigation reform, and property tax cuts, and to improve Florida’s education, transportation, water and energy infrastructure.
• Pro-life: 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee.
• First Attorney General to file suit against Obamacare, which 19 other states have joined now.

Endorsements: Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey, Ander Crenshaw, Cliff Stearns, etc., FL Right to Life - A rating

 

Rick Scott

 

Address

1400 Gulf Shore Blvd., North

Suite 148

Naples, FL 34102 or

 

300 S.E. 2nd Street

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Phone: (954) 915-3360

Website: www.rickscottforflorida.com

Email: info@rickscottforflorida.com

 

Businessman: former Founder & CEO of Columbia/HCA hospital system & Solantic Urgent Care Centers. Started Conservatives for Patients’ Rights, an organization founded to defend free market principles in health care that focused successfully on defeating President Obama’s government-run public option plan. Supports and has attended & spoken at Tea Party rallies.

 

Positions:

• Cut government workforce by 5%
• Phase out the corporate income tax
• Reduce regulations
• Cut state property taxes by 19%
• Pro-gun: highest rating from NRA & Unified Sportsmen of Florida
• Pro-life: wants Roe v. Wade overturned
• Illegal immigration: bring AZ's new law here; opposes amnesty
• 7-7-7 Plan: these 7 steps will create 700,000 jobs in 7 years:
• 1. Implement Accountability Budgeting
• 2. Reduce Government Spending
• 3. Enact Regulatory Reform
• 4. Focus on Job Growth and Retention
• 5. Invest in World Class State Universities
• 6. Reduce Property Taxes
• 7. Phase out the Business Income Tax 

Endorsements: FL Right to Life - A rating

 

FL Attorney General

 

Holly Benson

 

Address

2640-A Mitcham Drive

Tallahassee, FL 32308 or

 

P.O. Box 998

Tallahassee, FL 32302

Phone: 850-224-3800

Website: http://www.hollybenson.com

 

Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration; former Secretary of the Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation and State Representative

 

Positions:

• Will continue lawsuit against Obamacare & supports tort reform
• Will support AZ's illegal immigration law for FL Hold the federal government accountable for the costs to Florida’s taxpayers of illegal immigrants who attend our schools, receive care in our health care facilities and consume needed services.
• Pro-gun: A+ rating from NRA
• Pro-life & pro-family: 100% rating from the Christian Coalition as a state rep.

Endorsements: cross-section of local and state officials

 

Pam Bondi

 

Address

610 South Boulevard

Tampa, FL 33606

Phone: 866-246-9110

Fax: 866-702-3290

Website: http://www.pambondi.com/

Email: info@pambondi.com

 

Prosecutor for 18 years. Hillsborough County elections records show Bondi registered to vote as a Democrat in 1984 and switched to Republican on July 21, 2000. Election records also show Bondi didn't always vote when she had the chance. She skipped party primary elections in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2002 and 2008. She did not cast a ballot in the last presidential primary in January 2008.

 

Positions:

• Pro-gun: A rating from NRA
• Supports AZ immigration law for FL
• Wants to stop Obamacare
• Pro-life

Endorsements: Bob Martinez (her campaign chairman), Associated Builders & Contractors of FL, Associated Industries of FL, Chamber of Commerce of FL, and the pro-life Susan B. Anthony Candidate List Fund. 4 of the 5 largest newspapers in Florida: St.Petersburg Times, Miami Herald, Tampa Tribune and the Orlando Sentinel

 

Jeff Kottkamp

 

Address
Post Office Box 10787

Tallahassee, FL 32302

Phone: 850-701-2377

Website: http://www.jeffkottkamp.com/

Email: info@JeffKottkamp.com

 

Lt. Governor of FL; former State Representative

 

Issues:

• Pro-gun: A+ rated by the NRA. Co-sponsor of the Castle Doctrine law. Banned government from registering guns owned by individuals. Stopped the anti-gun lobby from filing frivolous lawsuits against gun makers and owners of shooting ranges.
• Supports AZ immigration law for FL. Would sue the federal government to recover the millions of dollars paid out each year by our taxpayers as a result of illegal immigrants in our state.
• Pro-life: Sponsor of the Parental Notification bill signed into law by Governor Jeb Bush. Led the fight to punish drunk drivers who kill unborn babies. Faith and Family Award presented by the Christian Coalition. Defender of Life Award by the Florida Catholic Conference.
• Will continue lawsuit against Obamacare. Has successfully sued the federal government in the past. Supports Tenth Amendment

Endorsements: Florida Police Benevolent Association, Florida Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Right to Life PAC, Connie Mack, FL Right to Life

 

State Senator Dist. 8

 

Charles Perniciaro

 

Address

Post Office Box 331178

Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

Phone: (904) 372-4494

Website: www.charlesperniciaro.com

Email: senatorcp@aol.com

 

Medical doctor, the Director of Dermatopathology at Bernhardt Laboratories. Member of Beach United Methodist Church. Recently changed voter registration from Democrat to Republican. "I've always been a conservative. I've been working to help Republicans get elected throughout my entire career. My contribution records from the Florida Division of Elections, going back 15 years, are public record. All of those contributions were to Republicans and committees that support tort reform. No Democrats. I've also hosted fund raisers in my home for Republican candidates. My prior voter registration was from the days when conservatives were all Democrats in the South. Although I didn't get around to correcting my party registration at the courthouse until recently, I‘ve lived and voted as a Republican for a long time. This primary will be a referendum on what it means to be a Republican, and about which Republican is running for the right reasons."

 

Issues:

• Refuses to accept PAC donations to campaign
• Jobs are the first priority. Spend money on backlogged transportation projects. Reduce regulations.
• Opposed Thrasher's SB 6 for education reform, which was vetoed by Gov. Crist and had wide opposition.
• Illegal immigrants should not be eligible for state or federal benefits. Ports & borders must be secured. Prosecute illegals & businesses that hire them.
• Opposes Obamacare. Limit Medicaid to set budget.
• Pro-gun.

Endorsements: the Republican Liberty Caucus of NE FL, the Jacksonville Liberty Journal.
 

John Thrasher

 

Address

4963 Beach Boulevard

Jacksonville, FL 32207 or

 

109 Premiere Vista Way

St. Augustine, 32080 Phone 904-607-2226

Phone 904-607-2226

Website: http://electthrasher.com/

 

State Representative; former Speaker-of-the-House. Interim chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Florida co-chair for the George W. Bush for President campaign in 2004. Former chairman of the Board of Trustees of Florida State University. Former Clay County School Board member; chairman and vice chairman. Former Counsel to the Jacksonville law firm of Smith Hulsey & Busey. Former partner of Southern Strategy Group, a Tallahassee-based governmental relations firm.

 

Positions:

• Keep taxes low
• Grow our job base and our local economy
• Improve our children’s education
• Preserve the St. Johns River and our beautiful beaches

Endorsements: NRA and Unified Sportsmen of Florida, , Florida Police Benevolent Association and the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Florida United Businesses, the Florida Right to Life Political Action Committee, Mitt Romney, Ander Crenshaw, Jeb Bush, FL Right to Life

 

State Representative Dist. 16

 

Charles McBurney

 

Address

6326 Christopher Creek Road E.

Jacksonville, FL 32217 or

 

76 S. Laura St., Ste. 590

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone: (904)731-7726 or (904) 798-0002

Website: http://www.votemcburney.com/

 

State Representative. Lawyer. Former Assistant State Attorney (prosecutor). Deacon in South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church.

 

Issues:

• Sponsored & passed Civics Education bill.
• Combat gangs and gang-related violence
• Voted to balance the State's budget every year
• Led the fight to make our schools more accountable and to improve their performance by directing more dollars into the classroom
• Introduced “Florida Taxpayers Protection Act”, House Bill 1197. The legislation would tax non-residents on Florida property transferred as a result of estate or inheritance to the extent a State imposes an estate or inheritance tax on Floridians for property in that other state.

Endorsements: NRA, John Delaney, Ed Austin, FL Right to Life

 

Luis Melendez

 

Address:
1401 Riverplace Boulevard, #610

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Phone: (904)962-8932

Website: www.electmelendez.com

 

An Allied Health Professional and a medical educator at a Jacksonville technical college. Small business owner, President of the Florida State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists. A naturalized American citizen who served honorably in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman with the Fleet Marine Force serving the United States Marine Corps.

 

Issues:

• Support sports' teams such as the Jaguars for economic impact they bring.
• Have criminals serve their full sentence and make prisons more spartan or restrict privileges.
• Government benefits should be time-limited & require drug screening.
• Supports Fair Tax. No tax increases -- cut spending.
• Pro-gun: member of NRA.
• Supports term limits.
• Supports school choice with student accountability for grades made if receive gov't. assistance to attend private schools.
• Pro-life.
• Supports AZ's immigration law & pro-English.

Endorsements: Republican Liberty Caucus

 

Fourth Circuit Court Judge Group 25

 

Samuel P. Garrison

 

Address

1223 Orange Circle North

Orange Park, FL 32073 or

 

221 N. Hogan St., Suite 382

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone: (904)303-5212

Website: http://www.garrisonforjudge.com/

E-mail: Garrison@garrisonforjudge.com

 

Assistant State Attorney, Senior Prosecutor in Homicide & Major Crimes; previously in the Special Assault & Repeat Offenders' division. Member of New Grace Church of Fleming Island. Founder of Clay County Victims' Services. Past Chairman of the Clay County Task Force on Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence. Past member of the Orange Park Medical Center Board of Trustees. Young Life of Clay County committee member.

 

Endorsements: Jennifer Carroll, Steve Wise, Mike Weinstein, Matt Shirk, Lake Ray, John Rutherford.

 

Mark Hulsey

 

Address

200 East Forsyth Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone: (904)353-7188

Website: http://www.votehulsey.com/

 

Certified Family Mediator & Child Custody Evaluator. Has practised law in 4 of the 5 areas covered by Circuit Court. Law educator at JU, FSCJ & UNF. Military veteran: Army Captain. Participated in Pro Bono work with the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid since 2000 and with the City Rescue Mission since 2000. Member of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral.

 

Endorsements: Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters, Association of Fire Chiefs, Duval Teachers United, Ed Austin, John Delaney, Jake Godbold, Tommy Hazouri, Martha Barrett, Nancy Broner, Vicki Drake, Brenda Preistly-Jackson, Daniel Davis, Michael Corrigan, Kevin Hyde, Dr. Johnny Gaffney, Mike Hogan, Jim Overton, Alberta Hipps, Kris Barns, Aaron Bean, ,Tony Hill, Betty Burney