In an editorial this past Sunday, the Osceola News Gazette has declared that the dust has settled for the special election between Tom Griffin and Wade Davis with Mr. Griffin being elected to the St. Cloud council seat. We agree that Mr. Griffin deserves congratulations on his hard-fought victory and that the residents of St. Cloud also deserve a round of applause for the high voter turn out and participation in the election. We do not feel, however, that this should be then end of the discussion on this election. The dust has not really settled on some of the dark issues that were raised during these campaigns.
One of the issues that was raised, that has not been addressed, is that of a school board member threatening a candidate if they did not go along with a development project. There was also confirmation by several candidates that the developer of the same project of interest to the school board, was shopping candidates with the promise of campaign contributions for a favorable nod on the project. The WayneWho Staff finds it odd that the same news organization that reported these revelations would now act like nothing ever happened.
We feel that the citizens of St. Cloud made the right call in their choice to fill the vacancy, but we firmly believe that the local election process has been shown to be tainted at best. Along with getting back to the business at hand, all local governments should be taking a long hard look at election and ethics reforms. Reports of problems election after election continually remove doubt on our elections being fair and in the best interest of the citizens whom these elections serve. Although Mr. Davis believes that large amounts of campaign contributions do not sway the integrity of a candidate, it is obvious that the voters did not feel the same way. Integrity in our election process is what gives our country its greatest strength and should not be swept under the rug because the a victor has been declared. Questions remain and answers are owed.
One of the issues that was raised, that has not been addressed, is that of a school board member threatening a candidate if they did not go along with a development project. There was also confirmation by several candidates that the developer of the same project of interest to the school board, was shopping candidates with the promise of campaign contributions for a favorable nod on the project. The WayneWho Staff finds it odd that the same news organization that reported these revelations would now act like nothing ever happened.
We feel that the citizens of St. Cloud made the right call in their choice to fill the vacancy, but we firmly believe that the local election process has been shown to be tainted at best. Along with getting back to the business at hand, all local governments should be taking a long hard look at election and ethics reforms. Reports of problems election after election continually remove doubt on our elections being fair and in the best interest of the citizens whom these elections serve. Although Mr. Davis believes that large amounts of campaign contributions do not sway the integrity of a candidate, it is obvious that the voters did not feel the same way. Integrity in our election process is what gives our country its greatest strength and should not be swept under the rug because the a victor has been declared. Questions remain and answers are owed.
14 comments:
Well, if you are to believe other local blogs, there are now other county candidates involved in trying to get the "Project" passed. I think Griffin showed he would be tough on this kind of nonsense, so I think he will do the right thing. You are correct though, it does make you question the process.
Maybe the newspaper needs to send a reporter to the school board members to ask them if they were the one. Or maybe Tom needs to just say who it was.
THIS IS WHO THE GOOD'OLE BOYS STAY IN POWER. THE OSCEOLA AD-ZETTE COVERS UP WHAT THEY DO UNTIL THAT FINALLY GET BUSTED. THEN THEY ACT LIKE IT WAS SUCH A SHOCK WHEN IT HAPPENS.
I think the question of integrity is what cost Davis this election.
Every taxpayer in Oscoela county should keep a close eye on the school board. They are totally out of touch with reality.
They give back millions to the state due to their negligence, while forcing the cities and county to pay for their mistakes.
Two down, now let's replace the rest!
Campaing contributions are part of politics, but you are correct that when it becomes this blatant you have to question the motives. The allegations in the newspaper about the school board member threatening Tom Griffin really should be investigated. This is why ethics reforms are needed.
If we get two new school board members that want to change the status quo, we will have Stone and McKay who want to keep the status quo. That means Jay Wheeler will probably be the School Board Chairman and will always be the deciding vote. So, Jay, you better be prepared come next year. You will have a great opportunity to implement your vision for Osceola County Schools.
Griffin is better than Davis, but again we see that the voters were forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. But that is a great point Wayne Who brings up. Where is the accountability from the press? Where are their investigative skills? At least Wayne Who is keepin'em honest. That's more than we can say for the papers.
Ethics? What is that? Do they actually practice that in Osceola County politics?
The "other" blog reported it also. I have heard from St. Cloud candidates and others that Fred Hawkins (candidate for County Commissioner District 5) and the developer Jonathan Wolf were going around before the election prodding people for their stances on the Preserve. Talk about ethics reform. Hawkins works with Omni Waste and Waste Services Inc. and is the vice-chair for the Education Foundation. Conflict of interest? Kinda like a certain county comissioner who's "Lane" comapany builds roads for the county. Kinda like a certain Mayor in Kissimmee. Special Interests anyone? It's time to get these people out of our local government.
Very appropriate picture Wayne Who!
Perfect depiction of our local politicians.
Did the Kissimmee City Commission vote to shut down the Farmers Market?
The discussion was about giving the Farmer's Market to Main Street to run and to take it away from the Downtown Business Association (DBA). Mike Trim of the DBA admitted that they had stopped advertising the Farmer's Market as not to create a parking problem in downtown. Every successful downtown I have been to, regardless of the size, has a parking problem.
The Commission doesn't want to shut it down, they want to save it from the current management, the DBA.
Someone needs to look at Griffin and Transition House. He brings released convicts from all over the state to our community and when they break the rules he releases them into our community. And he used some of the residents in rehab as campaign workers. Maybe now he'll use City Workers to mow his grass.
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