Monday, August 18, 2008

Vote no on county charter; vote for Ben Rich, Ken Bryan, Faye Armitage, Roger Jolley and Peter Romano in August 26, 2008

No on charter

Ed Slavin
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 08/16/08

Editor: St. Johns County resembles what NBC's Tom Brokaw said of China: a "place where the few rule the many and protest is not welcomed."

That's why I'm voting for Ben Rich and Ken Bryan for county commissioner.

I'm proudly voting for Faye Armitage in the Democratic Primary -- let's deny oil-directed Rep. John Mica a ninth term.

Mayor Joe Boles doesn't give a fig about average people. Accountant/former street musician Roger Jolley deserves a chance to hold our city manager accountable. Likewise, forensic cpa and Lincolnville leader Peter Romano will make a fine commissioner.

I'm voting against the proposed St. Johns County Charter, even though some of my friends liked it initially.

My East Tennessee publisher once wrote, "We need more elections."

Unfortunately, the poorly-written St. Johns County Charter on the August 26, ballot actually threatens to reduce the number of elections by paving the way to potential county takeovers of two independent taxing districts (Airport and Mosquito Control) and three municipalities (St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach and Hastings), reducing the number of elected offices by 25.

St. Johns County deserves a charter of freedom, not a blank check for future freeloaders and power-grabbers. Unfortunately, the cognitive-miser lawyers (and bosses) who drafted the charter didn't heed serious, constructive reforms suggestions. They emitted a meaningless compromise, squeezing any reform out of their starter charter, refusing to include an inspector general, ombuds or worker rights protections, deleting requirements that public officials post performance bonds.

In Sir Winston Spencer Churchill's words, "this pudding has no theme." Send it back to the kitchen.

St. Johns County Commissioner Ron Sanchez got downright testy with me after the August 4, 2008 Record/LWV forum. I told him the charter draft "stank on ice."

Sanchez bragged "14 lawyers" said it didn't stink. Read for yourself.

Then vote "no."

Ed Slavin

St. Augustine

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