Publication Date: 08/12/09
United States Sen. Mel Martinez's decision to leave his United States Senate seat more than a year early brings on mixed emotions.
We're glad he was around to push through his bill last spring to create a federal St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission with operational funding.
If St. Augustine is going to make its 450th world class, it needs help from a federal panel to raise money and awareness of the city's place in the world's history. We await appointment of the federal panel by the U.S. secretary of interior. We hope Martinez has provided some insight into the appointments or will do so before he leaves the U.S. Senate.
St. Augustine, founded in 1565 by the Spanish, is the nation's oldest permanently occupied European settlement in America. It deserves the world stage for its 450th. Martinez's bill gives us that ability.
We're disappointed that he is leaving office 18 months early. There is still so much more work to be done on behalf of all Floridians on issues including stimulus money and its use in the state, the bailout and the federal health care reform. A sitting senator has more rank and expertise than a short-term placeholder will have.
Martinez said he was ready to come back to Florida and that he wanted to spend more time with his family now. We can understand because Martinez has had to do a major balancing act with his family in Orlando and himself in Washington. That's a tough commute with irregular hours, for sure. So, if he is tired of it, then it is time for him to move on and time for us to give special thanks.
We appreciate again everything Martinez has done to get the 450th commission into law and funded. During his four years in Washington, he also has worked with our congressman, U.S. Rep. John Mica, on a multitude of community projects related to the elderly, veterans, transportation, education, beach renourishment, economic recovery and Northrop Grumman's continuing military contracts, to name a few.
We just wish we had a longer time to work with him.
Click here to return to story:
http://www.staugustine.com/stories/081209/opinions_081209_030.shtml
© The St. Augustine Recor
No comments:
Post a Comment