Florida House Redistricting Process Lacks Transparency

On May 5, 2021, I filed to run for Florida House of Representatives District 17 seat, currently encumbered by Republican CYNTHIA WARD "CYNDI" STEVENSON. 

The Florida House of Representatives Redistricting Committee is considering maps that would place me in a different district fromn Rep. STEVENSON. 

Wondering why, I've requested records. 

But current Florida law has an exemption for legislative redistricting! 

Wonder why?

I support Representative Joseph Geller's bill, HB 6063, which would end the exemption. 

Here's my letter to the legislature: 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: Tom.Leek@myfloridahouse.gov <Tom.Leek@myfloridahouse.gov>; joseph.geller@myfloridahouse.gov <joseph.geller@myfloridahouse.gov>; hutson.travis.web@flsenate.gov <hutson.travis.web@flsenate.gov>; cyndi.stevenson@myfloridahouse.gov <cyndi.stevenson@myfloridahouse.gov>; paul.renner@myfloridahouse.gov <paul.renner@myfloridahouse.gov>
Cc: pat.gleason@myfloridalegal.com <pat.gleason@myfloridalegal.com>; mminer@stjohnsclerk.com <mminer@stjohnsclerk.com>; bcc5hdean@sjcfl.us <bcc5hdean@sjcfl.us>; pmccormack@sjcfl.us <pmccormack@sjcfl.us>; davidmigut@gmail.com <davidmigut@gmail.com>; hconrad@sjcfl.us <hconrad@sjcfl.us>; aschindler@firstcoastnews.com <aschindler@firstcoastnews.com>; rross@sjcfl.us <rross@sjcfl.us>; sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com <sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com>; sheltonhull@gmail.com <sheltonhull@gmail.com>; pat.rice@news-jrnl.com <pat.rice@news-jrnl.com>; Peter@FloridaPolitics.com <Peter@FloridaPolitics.com>; sunshine@floridafaf.org <sunshine@floridafaf.org>; waltbog@aol.com <waltbog@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Dec 3, 2021 1:59 pm
Subject: My Request No. 2021-84: Florida House Redistricting

Dear Chairman Leek, Representatives Geller, Stevenson and Renner, and Senator Hutson:

1. Would you please be so kind as to send me PDFs of all Florida House documents on proposed Florida House redistricting maps, including but not limited to research, memos, ex parte contacts and drafts, and all requests for drafts of reapportionment plans, redistricting plans, or amendments and any and all supporting documents?  

2. Please waive the exemption in current law.

3. Please recommend that the Florida House, as one of its first orders of business, adopt Representative Gellder's bill, HB 6063, removing the current exemption for redistricting.

4. I am a citizen-journalist, blogging from St. Augustine since 2006.  

5. I have filed to run for the Florida House of Representatives, District 17, seat currently represented by Rep. Cynthia Ward Stevenson,

6. I am appalled by the existence of an Open Records law exemption for redistricting, 11.0431(2)(c), which is contrary to the genius of a free people.  In 1992, 83% of Florida voters (3.8 million) voted to adopt Article I, Section 24 of our Florida Constitution. 

7. As James Madison wrote in his August 4, 1822 letter to W.T. Barry, “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both.”

Thank you.

With kindest regards, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Ed Slavin

904-377-4998

Florida State Representative CYNTHIA WARD STEVENSON with disgraced ex-Sheriff of St. Johns County DAVID SHOAR, who legally changed his surname from "HOAR" in 1994.