Tonight the Kissimmee Osceola Chamber of Commerce has its "Osceola Hob Nob" scheduled at 5:30pm in the Kissimmee Civic Center. This is a chance for the average citizens to feel like big time lobbyists by funneling their hard earned money to a special interest group. The $20.00 entrance fee for "access" to the candidates and the top business leaders tied to those candidates would be better spent, in our opinion, in your gas tank. The chamber has all of the money it needs.The big finish to the night is the straw poll in which you have to pay your entrance fee to vote. Sounds like a DRI housing vote at the county chambers, but who are we to judge. While the evening promises to be a shining example of the separation of real voters from the inner circle of those who work to rake our county over to their benefit, we recommend you skip the cheerleading session and spend your money elsewhere. That is unless you just really enjoy the keystone cop nature of how our local politicos act. Hey, there might be some fireworks between Commissioner Gemskie and Commissioner Irizarry or County Commissioner Bill Lane and Candidate Fred Hawkins, the guy who promised Bill he would not run against him. On second thought, your $20.00 might be well spent.
22 comments:
You really don't have to pay any money for these tickets. Just ask your favorite candidate if you can have one. Most candidates have several. There are always a lot of freebies around. You can probably get a free ticket from Mike Horner if you promise to vote for him.
Anyway, these things are well worth the money to see what lengths all the candidates and elected officials go to for this dog and pony show.
You couldn't have picked a better picture that represents the kind of control these Good Ole' Boys think they still have!
The Chamber should be ashamed for putting on this event. Thanks Wayne for exposing this travesty. Can you believe the chamber is putting on an event where you can meet the candidates and they have the audacity to charge people for food and drinks.
Whatever you do stay away from this event. Wayne will tell you who to vote for – Jonathan Harrell of course.
Why dont they just let you go in and vote for free, or maybe for a smaller fee, and if you want food or drinks pay a higher fee? That seems to make more sense...
Although, I dont think it really matters, not too many people are going to waste there evening going to vote for something that doesnt count... They might if the food was free!
Osceola Politicians and over priced food dont seem to be a great combination. Ill save my vote for the real election, the one that counts!
I would agree that it is a travesty that you have to pay to meet a local candidate. I would also like to know how much it cost the city to "Sponsor" this event in the time of budget cuts? Is the Chamber paying full price for renting out the Civic Center, or are the taxpayers picking up the tab, and then having to pay again for access to a rubber chicken dinner and politicians that can't answer the most basic questions. Yes, travesty is the right word.
I agree with the above comment.
Vote for Jonathan Harrell. I am.
Chuck sucks and the other guy apparently can't run his own campaign, he has to steal it.
Wayne, Why do you have to throw a stab at Fred Hawkins every chance you get? Why can't you just give him a fair shot like you do to all the other candidates that you prefer. ANYWAY, I attended the Hob Nob and I had a blast. I would like to thank all the candidates for attending. AND BY THE WAY, I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT MY COUNTY COM. (DISTRICT 5) NEVER EVEN SHOWED!!!!!!!!!! I GUESS MR. BILL LANE WAS TOO BUY TO SPEAK TO THE RESIDENTS!!! ANYWAY FRED HAWKINS WON THE EVENT WITH OVER 50% GREAT JOB FRED HAWKINS!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe it, Chuck Dunnick won.
Wayne, why do you have to throw Fred Hawkins a stab every chance you get????????? Well I attended the Hob Nob and it was a great event. I was very upset that I did not get to talk to my county com. (Bill Lane). I guess he was too busy with his personal life. Just to let you know that Fred Hawkins won the event with over 50% of the vote. GREAT JOB FRED HAWKINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The comment stating nobody would vote in incorrect. I would bet there was around 300 people that voted
The whole thing last night was a farce. Dunnick winning? Soto losing? Wendell winning?
Break it down to District voting as see the difference!
I noticed people voting more than once. They had extra tickets that weren't used and using them to vote at least twice. Last night told me nothing other than it was run like the SOE office is being ran now. Good ole boys at work!
It was interesting to see that Destiny was their in force. That project must be in real trouble. Maybe that is why Bill Lane never showed up. The Destiny guys told him to go hide so they could work the room.
It was interesting to see that Destiny was their in force. That project must be in real trouble. Maybe that is why Bill Lane never showed up. The Destiny guys told him to go hide so they could work the room.
Looks like the Hawkinds cheerleading squad found the blog. Hey Fred, why don't you post on your blog how excited you were that all the little people showed up help you win last night. It would at least be something new.
The whole thing was a farce? Sounds like your team lost and you are bitter! Of course they don't only have district voters vote or don't police the area to make sure someone doesn't come thru twice. If you also notice Republican's can vote for Dem's and vice versa. They even put the 2 Republican's & 1 Democrat on the ballot for SOE. This isn't official! It's a straw poll guys, not the real deal. Don't blame SOE office for this, the Hispanic Chamber of commerce straw poll was the same way.
The whole thing was a farce? Sounds like your team lost and you are bitter! Of course they don't only have district voters vote or don't police the area to make sure someone doesn't come thru twice. If you also notice Republican's can vote for Dem's and vice versa. They even put the 2 Republican's & 1 Democrat on the ballot for SOE. This isn't official! It's a straw poll guys, not the real deal. Don't blame SOE office for this, the Hispanic Chamber of commerce straw poll was the same way.
Of course Fred won, he's already in the pockets of the special interests that were there, just like Chuck. Interestingly enough, Chuck, Fred and Judy were the only candidates who had booths at the Nob. We all hope they could win an unofficial straw poll in a room full of chamber folks. Congrats guys and gal!
I think the whole straw poll thing was not handled well. I think Horner should have allowed Chalifoux's name on the ballot with a disclaimer that all votes for Chalifoux will not be counted. Mike is in trouble if he only gets 75% of the vote at a Chamber function.
Actually the Hispanic Chamber put all the candidates against each other. District 3 had all 7 of the candidates in one box.
I wonder if Bill Lane didn't show up because Destiny put him in timeout for the night. Maybe it's good that Bill Lane didn't not show up, because he tends to be unfriendly towards citizens. Considering Destiny gave Bill 40,000 dollars for his campaign, I bet Bill would take the night off. I think it's a crying shame that an elected offical would have the nerve to take 40K from a business, and then think the public is stupid enough to beieve that "no special favors" would be given to Destiny. People wake up. This is something you see on the Sproanos. Maybe Bill was too busy putting signs on county-right-of-ways, or on vacant lots. I hope everyone looks into this district 5 race a little harder
I wonder when Bill Lane is going to catch the hint that Randy Johnson (property owner at Neptune Road and Old Canoe Creek, across from St Cloud Police Department) does not support him and his signs on his property. The property owner has removed Bill Lane's signs twice now and Bill's people keep putting them up. I find it hard to believe that an elected offical would just keep violating people's property. Bill you might want to take a hint, I don't think your signs are welcomed there!!
CHECK BILL LANE'S CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT ON THE OSCEOLA COUNTY SUPERVISORS WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THAT MONEY FROM DESTINY!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW BILL I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. NOW IF DESTINY COULD VOTE, YOU MIGHT WIN, BUT GUESS WHAT, DESTINY IS FROM SOUTH FLORIDA AND CAN NOT VOTE. MAYBE THEY CAN MOVE HERE QUICK AND YOU MIGHT WIN. WE ALL NEED TO LOOK INTO VOTING FOR FRED HAWKINS, HE IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB!!!!!!!!!!
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