TheLakeBlog.com

Campione endorsement process exposed by Orlando Sentinel

As published in the Orlando Sentinel Lauren On Lake Blog 10/28/2010 . Campoine's behavior continues to illustrate why the developer's attorney is not in the best interest of Lake County's future.         

Was there a trade-off for endorsement? 

            Several weeks ago, County Commissioner Elaine Renick got a telephone call from Paul Williams, a District 4 candidate who was defeated in the Republican primary in August.

            Renick said that Williams apologized to her for endorsing Leslie Campione for the District 4 seat after his loss.

            Williams told her that Campione and her father, longtime developer Keith Shamrock, promised during a lunch meeting after the primary that Campione would create a job program for out-of-work black youths. Renick said that Williams remarked that he was in need of a job, implying that he’d be the one to run it.

            Asked about the conversation, Williams denied that his endorsement was procured by a promise.

            “The conversation that I had with Elaine Renick as you described it is simply not true,” Williams replied in an e-mail. “I am endorsing Leslie because I believe she is the best candidate.”

            Renick blasted back with her own email:

            “Although I was disappointed by your endorsement of Leslie, your total lack of integrity leaves me speechless,” Renick wrote.

            The commissioner later played a recorded phonemail message from Williams that backed up her version of the story. Whoops! It is best to keep stories consistent when one is being recorded.

            Renick suggested to Williams that she replay the message for him and wrote, “How about a lie detector test, Paul? That would be interesting, huh?”

            Campione said that she and her father did have lunch with Williams but never made him any promises in return for an endorsement. She said that he and her dad, a sports fan, talked about football a lot.

            “There was never anything about creating a job for him or a program — nothing like that,” Campione said in an interview later.

            Oh, dear. Someone is fibbing somewhere, aren’t they?

*** Breaking News *** Orlando Sentinel endorses Egor E.K. Emery for Lake County Commission

We received an email from the Egor E.K. Emery Campaign today indicating the Orlando Sentinel endorsed Egor EK Emery for Lake County Commission, District 4. We couldn't agree more. The Sentinel summarized the situation perfectly. Orlando Sentinel endorses Egor Emery along with Lake business and community leaders Republicans and Democrats say Emery is the best candidate, local issues are not partisan and simply need the best candidate. Orlando Sentinel Endorses Egor E.K. Emery for Lake Commission District 4 - October 12, 2010 "Democrat E.K. Emery is more likely to stand up to the county's powerful development interests than is Republican Leslie Campione, a real-estate attorney who also has represented several cities. Of the two, it's clear that Mr. Emery will be a more reliable check on the County Commission's residential growth excesses, especially now that two key environmental defenders have been voted out. Mr. Emery understands that Lake can't build itself out of economic trouble with more rooftops. He's an advocate of nurturing small businesses and targeting new industry that'll bring in workers to fill all those empty homes. Ms. Campione has deep roots in the county but it's not hard to figure out why development interests are pumping money into her campaign. We endorse E.K. Emery"   Over the past 10 days Lake County leaders and business people piled on endorsements for Egor Emery running for Lake County Commission, District 4. Orlando Sentinel - 10/12/2010 Elaine Renick, Lake County Commissioner Cindy Barrow, Chairman, Lake County School Board Scott Ales, Former Mayor of Eustis, V.P. Automotive Sales, IronPlanet.com David Yeager, Former Mayor of Minneola Ken LaRoe, CEO, First Green Bank Choice Edwards, Former elected Republican, Indiana House of Representatives Rob Kelly, President Citizens Coalition, CEO MedEvolution Dear Fellow Voters - My main opponent is a developer's lawyer with strong ties to the residential homebulding industry. When her family's business (Shamrock Homes) was acquired by M/I Homes in 2005, family members became employees of M/I, and Ms. Campione's law practice became a closing agent for M/I Homes. In 2010 M/I Homes received $31 million dollars in taxpayer bailout money through the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 (NY Times story). I am not tied to the development industry and I'll be able to better represent Lake's citizens to achieve genuine economic development, support our small businesses, create jobs, and protect our natural resources. I own a small business (Daytona Safety Crew, Inc.) and I work for Sun Cycles, Tavares, in sales and information technology. Don't let Campione buy her way onto the County Commission with tons of donations from the TARP2bailed-out overdevelopment industry. Please consider a donation of $20, $50 or more to a maximum of $500. All donations are appreciated and you can make one quickly and securely at my website (through secure PayPal service). I ask for your vote for Lake County Commission, District 4. Please visit my website www.EgorEmery.com for more information. Sincerely, Egor E.K. Emery www.EgorEmery.com Egor E.K. Emery for Lake County Commission, District 4 Campaign | www.EgorEmery.com | Eustis, FL Paid political advertisement approved by E.K. Emery, Democrat, for Lake County Commission, District 4

Robert Jenner for Water Authority says retiring Board Trustee, Nancy Fullerton

October 17, 2010

TO:  The residents of Lake County
FROM:  Nancy H. Fullerton,  Lake County Water Authority Board of Trustees, District 2
PHONE: 352 394 1839

RE:  Lake County Water Authority elections, District 2

                                               * * * * * * * * * *
I’ve been your elected representative to the Lake County Water Authority Board for eight years and now must retire due to term limits. Who will be elected to my position on the Board. is extremely important to me, to the citizens of Lake County and to the protection of our treasured lakes and rivers.    

The choice is simple if the voter’s decision is based on the qualifications of the three candidates.  Only one candidate—Robert Jenner—is qualified and worthy of responsible consideration. He has spent  months proving his commitment by attending Water Authority Board meetings in order to be current on projects and budget issues. He does what a candidate should do—campaign for the office.  He listens to the concerns of the public at the many forums and provides information about himself and his goals.

People learn that he is a University of Florida graduate, has a degree in geology with graduate studies in coastal engineering, was a business owner  providing environmental services involving wetland delineation and a Florida certified teacher of Technology Education. Robert Jenner is extremely well qualified!!!

In contrast, his two opponents filed to run in the last hours of filing. They have not campaigned. They have attended no Water Authority meetings. They have not interacted with the public at forums and events except for one where the candidate stated to the audience that she was running because she grew up on the Clermont Lakes.

Such a narrow viewpoint regarding the duties and responsibility of a Water Authority Board member should be unacceptable to those who have grave concerns about controlling and conserving the freshwater resources of Lake County.

Historically, the Water Authority Board has been a nonpartisan office. In 2006 amidst great political controversy, a voter referendum changed the Board to a partisan elected office. My view has always been that the Board should be a voice that is independent of party politics, that water protection decisions should be based on science and a commitment to restoration and prevention projects that improve surface water quality. 

We have in this election an R, a D and an NPA. I appeal to you to vote for Robert Jenner --regardless of party labels--because he is the best qualified candidate. His commitment to the protection, preservation and improvement of our water resources for the benefit of all is needed on the Water Authority Board. 

Please VOTE for ROBERT  JENNER who I trust to continue Water Authority  projects that maintain and improve the water quality of our lakes, rivers and streams.

Thank you for supporting me these eight years.  

Sincerely, Nancy  

Orlando Sentinel Endorses EGOR E.K. EMERY FOR LAKE COUNTY COMMISSION

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

Today the Orlando Sentinel endorsed Egor E.K. Emery for Lake County Commission, District 4.

"Mr. Emery understands that Lake can't build itself out of economic trouble with more rooftops. He's an advocate of nurturing small businesses and targeting new industry that'll bring in workers to fill all those empty homes.

Ms. Campione has deep roots in the county but it's not hard to figure out why development interests are pumping money into her campaign.

We endorse E.K. Emery."

-Orlando Sentinel 10/12/2010

Read full story at Orlando Sentinel Endorses Egor E.K. Emery for Lake County Commission 

 

If you vote for Amendment 4, you'll turn purple and get fat (and other exaggerations)

St. Pete Times' Howard Troxler is on the money again! Full story at http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/if-you-vote-for-amendment-4-youll-turn-purple-and-get-fat-and-other/1125684

If you vote for Amendment 4, you'll turn purple and get fat (and other exaggerations)

By Howard Troxler, Times Columnist

If this crazy constitutional amendment passes, it will destroy Florida.

Florida will go out of business. We will lose our jobs. Other states will beat us.

Yep, those were the dire warnings that we heard from Florida's business leaders …

Back in 2004, when they tried to scare voters into rejecting a $1 increase in Florida's minimum wage.

This year, we're hearing the same kind of thing about Amendment 4 on the November ballot, the "Hometown Democracy" idea.

Amendment 4 simply says that local voters in Florida should have the final say over some growth decisions.

But to hear Florida's business community tell it, such an idea would be the end of the world. The state might well sink into the ocean.

Phooey. Nuts. Hockey pucks.

If Hometown Democracy passes, here is what will not happen:

People will not quit building things in Florida.

And we will not have to hold 8,000 local elections a year. Or a million. Or whatever it is they're claiming.

Remember that Amendment 4 requires an election only for changes to a city or county's "comprehensive plan," which is the basic map for how a community should look - industrial here, commercial there, and so forth.

So if Amendment 4 passes, the first thing that will happen is:

Many developers will tweak their proposals to avoid the need for plan amendments and elections.

And this is exactly the idea. They can still build - consistent with the plan.

The way it works now, any time anybody wants to build something, they just go to the City Council or County Commission and get the plan changed.

The plan is not driving our growth - we're just changing our plan to fit the growth.

The second thing to consider if Amendment 4 passes is that:

Local governments will still screen proposed developments, and decide for themselves how many elections to hold.

This is an often-overlooked aspect of Amendment 4. We are not turning every proposal into a willy-nilly election popularity contest. The experts will still review these things. The local government can still reject them. What we're adding is a voter veto over their final approval.

Third, if Amendment 4 passes:

Florida communities will prove perfectly capable of making these decisions in local elections.

In fact, I think we will adapt to the new system rather quickly, and that it will even work to developers' advantage at times.

Winning public passage will become a routine part of the process of winning approval for big projects - a relative drop in the bucket compared to the existing costs, and the already lengthy process, of winning regulatory approval.

In some cases, it even will be better for developers to make their case to an entire community, rather than fighting one particularly noisy or influential neighborhood.

Wouldn't all of us in, say, Hillsborough or Pinellas County be better off with Project X? Wouldn't our entire city of (insert name here) benefit from this new (mall, restaurant, theater)?

Listen.

If you're agin' it, you're agin' it.

If you think this is a bad idea and that your local County Commission or City Council should make these decisions, and that if we don't like what they do, then we just should not re-elect them, that is a perfectly fine opinion.

But if you are on the fence about Amendment 4, and are wondering whether all this doom and gloom and predictions of the end of the world are true - I think they are a bunch of hooey, and that the opponents so ridiculously overstate it that they hurt their own cause.

Study finds kids think they'd read more if they had an e-reader, drive better if they had a Porsche

Scholastic's recently released a study with some interesting findings. The company interviewed 1,045 children aged six to 17 and their parents about reading habits. One of the interesting tidbits is that the children who don't read for fun very much (once a week or less), about a third of them said they would read more if they had an e-reader. Two thirds of the entire group, however, said they wouldn't want to give up printed books entirely. Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, the study also found that as children grow up, the amount of time they spend reading dramatically decreases, as time spent texting and talking on the phone increases. Hit up the source links for the entire report.

Switched

Scholastic, Scholastic study (PDF)

'Amendment 4' Would Give Voters Say on Overbuilding

First, yesterday's New York Times's front page and the MIT Tech News!

NowThe Atlantic (Monthly) weighs in, totally in favor of Amendment 4! Be sure to read below.

Want to save Florida's economy and your job (and also what you love about this beautiful State)?  Then vote YES on A4, and ignore the developers' nasty yard signs and expensive TV ads (paid for by your Stimulus Funds)!

Florida's 'Amendment 4' Would Give Voters Say on Overbuilding

Sep 28 2010, 6:19 PM ET
Florida was one of the states hit hardest by the collapse of the housing market. In August it had the fourth highest density of homes repossessed by banks. Its real estate prices continue to struggle as inventory grows. To make matters worse, however, builders continue producing more and more houses and condos. But a new referendum called "Amendment 4" that will be voted on in November might help Floridians to have a say on at least that part of the problem.

How the Amendment Would Help

Why do developers continue to build homes even though there's weak buyer demand and an already bloated inventory? The local governments continue to cooperate with them, providing incentives to allow them to build, and blindly approving land use changes so they can create more excess housing and commercial space. Amendment 4 would allow Florida residents to restrain at least some of that overbuilding. It would require voter approval for land use changes. For examples, if a developer wants to convert a farm to a 50-story condominium, then voters must give the nod.

A New York Times article by Damien Cave on the amendment today explains just how serious the overbuilding problem is in Florida with some specific examples:

Even now, with about 300,000 residential units sitting empty around the state, the push to build continues. Since 2007, local governments have approved zoning and other land use changes that would add 550,000 residential units and 1.4 billion square feet of commercial space, state figures show.

A rural area like Jackson County has room for 996 years of residential growth at current rates, according to a 2009 state analysis. Charlotte County has 162 years of growth in its plan, while St. Lucie County has the capacity to house its growing population for the next 212 years.

So why are county commissioners and other local politicians approving these projects? The developers lobby hard and have deep pockets to help their campaigns. In a Miami Herald op-edfrom earlier this week, a local attorney Tom Connick, who is in favor of the amendment, writes:
If Amendment 4 fails, it will mean that the same broken system that has hurt our quality of life because of overdevelopment will continue. The broken system is one in which local elected officials are influenced by developer money, and developer lobbyist money will continue to exclusively decide land-use changes, with citizens not having a vote.

And of course, overbuilding is precisely what led to Florida deep economic problems to begin with.

Criticisms

So what are some of the criticisms of Amendment 4? One opposition group websiteprovides "frequently asked questions" containing several complaints. The first is that "this 'Vote on Everything' amendment would force Floridians - not the representatives they elect - to decide hundreds of technical comprehensive plan changes each year." Well, yes, that's kind of the point. Voters would definitely have to do the work, but they could also more directly affect their economic destiny. When a major vote comes up for a large new development that will further increase their housing inventory, they have the power to outweigh political lobbying by developers.

The next item on the web page dramatically states: "the Vote on Everything amendment would cause Florida's economy to permanently collapse." This is a pretty amusing claim, because there's no possible way to substantiate it. Even if it did cause a decline in economic activity, surely the economy would not "collapse" entirely, and obviously not "permanently." Less construction will direct some investment away from the real estate industry, but that money will instead move to growth industries that could produce sustainable jobs for Floridians -- unlike mindlessly building ad infinitum.

Another complaint is that the amendment will kill jobs -- as many as 267,247, according to a study that the opposition group commissioned. First, in the short term, few construction jobs would be lost. Developers already have an approved pipeline of over 550,000 residential units at 1.4 billion square feet of commercial space, as the above NY Times excerpt says.

There may be fewer construction jobs in the medium-term with less building. Yet the cost of saving those jobs is too great. Even more jobs in other industries would ultimately be lost than saved in construction if developers continue to live in their false-dream of an unending real estate bubble. Additional inventory will drive down real estate values and cause higher taxes due to subsidies for developers and excessive infrastructure requirements. These consequences of overbuilding will further depresses the economy, giving its residents less money to spend and resulting in weaker sentiment, which will harm growth.

Even if Amendment 4 is not a perfect solution, it does offer an alternative to the status quo, which obviously has not served Florida well. In Augustit had the fifth highest state unemployment in the U.S. at 11.7%, well above the national average. Nonsensical overbuilding is a failed approach for the state's economy, but as long as the local governments rubberstamp all developer requests, nothing will change.

The Atlantic                                       

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/09/floridas-amendment-4-would-give-voters-say-on-overbuilding/63727/

Daniel Indiviglio- Daniel Indiviglio is a staff editor at TheAtlantic.com, where he writes about credit markets, regulation, monetary & fiscal policy, taxes, banking, trade, emerging markets and technology. Prior to joining The Atlantic, he wrote for Forbes. He also worked as an investment banker and a consultant.

Daniel Indiviglio is a blogger and editor for the Atlantic Business Channel, where he provides insight, analysis and opinion on the intersection of business, finance, economics, and politics. Some of his specific writing interests include: credit markets, regulation, monetary & fiscal policy, taxes, banking, trade, emerging markets and technology. Prior to joining The Atlantic, he wrote for Forbes. Before journalism, Daniel spent several years as an investment banker and consultant for financial services firms. Before that, he graduated from Cornell where he triple majored in economics, philosophy and physics. He resides in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Egor E.K. Emery - Education leads the way to economic recovery

By Egor E.K. Emery

I am running for Lake County Commission because our future depends to a great extent on what path we travel today. We have a new Comprehensive Plan, intended to guide us as we evaluate proposals presented for approval.

The new plan recognizes that land use decisions affect our economy and quality of life; specifically: transportation, utilities, public services, water resources, existing land uses, and education. It is critical that the plan be implemented, not ignored.

I began to be involved in issues in Lake County at a time when few  recognized the need for co-ordination between land use changes and classroom construction. The Comprehensive Plan of 1991, which I had some involvement in, is silent on education issues. That plan is still in effect today, although the School Board and County Commission have built a framework of cooperation in an attempt to avoid the mistakes of the past.

I joined with other citizens to bring about some of the changes needed. In fact my daughter, a graduate of Eustis High School and now at UF, attended her first School Board meeting as a baby in my arms. It took intense lobbying and overwhelming citizen involvement to stop subdivision approvals until there was classroom space for the students. It has taken the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars to build the schools that were needed.

We fought hard to get schools built. We continue to fight to get everyone to recognize the importance of a high quality educational system to our economic competitiveness. The employees of the Lake School District are a major part of our economy, as well as a major part of our economic development strategy.

There is virtually no way for us to attract new businesses to our community without an educated workforce. High quality businesses, capable of adding to our tax base, will not come to Lake County unless high quality schools are available for employees' children.

As a friend of many teachers, and a parent of two students, I realize that the great teachers my kids have had over the years consider their work more than just a job. But it is a job, and we used to offer some security in exchange for the relatively low salaries.

I disagree with those that claim that job security is a great threat to teacher performance. I also disagree that a single test score measures anything of value. This past Summer my kids and I were honored to join teachers in protesting Senate Bill 6 in Tavares, and we will continue to lobby for reforms that actually help teachers perform better in the classroom.

There is not enough space here to cover other important issues, such as safe routes to school and other transportation issues I have worked on over the years as a member of various appointed committees. The fact remains that there are many ways the County Commission impacts schools and I look forward to the opportunity to make a positive difference.

My youngest child will graduate from Eustis High School at the end of this school year. Like many parents, I hope that when he completes his education he will have an opportunity to return to, and prosper in, Lake County.

For more information about my campaign for Lake County Commission, DIstrict 4, please visit www.egoremery..com.

If you can make a donation of any size, I would very much appreciate it. Fast and secure donations can be made at my campaign website.

I ask for your vote for Lake County Commissioner, District 4.

And now the political disclosure statement that is needed at election time Paid political advertisement approved by E.K. Emery, Democrat, for Lake County Commission, District 4

The Alliance to show award winning film Division Street Oct. 7

Join us, Thursday, October 7th, at 7pm, to see the award winning nature documentary film, Division Street.  Roads are the largest human artifact on the planet, they have fragmented wild habitats, promoted suburban sprawl, and changed our sense of community.

Eric Bendick, Webby award winning filmmaker and writer, takes us from pristine roadless areas to concrete jungles highlighting sustainable road projects and wildlife solutions for the future.

Parts of Division Street, were filmed in Central Florida - giving a unique prespective to our road issues.

The Alliance to Protect Water Resources program is on Oct. 7 is in Jenkins Auditorium in downtown Clermont. More information, please call 352-394-1839 or 321-436-4932.

Peggy Cox, Program Chair
352-429-1042

Alliance To Protect Water Resources

pegcox48@yahoo.com

 

Clermont reopens waterfront beach to public

CLERMONT -- It's been seven years since children and families were last seen splashing around and building sand castles at the local beach and swimming area at Clermont's Waterfront Park.

The frolicking brought smiles to the faces of city officials.

"It went really well," Assistant Manager Darren Gray said. "We got a lot of positive comments, and despite the slightly cloudy conditions on Saturday, the turnout was great."

See the whole story