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From The Observer News
(www.observernews.net) Top Stories By Melody Jameson
August primary voters will be looking at one of three ballots, depending on political party affiliation. Democrats will receive a listing of candidates seeking election under that party banner from which to make choices, Republicans will mark a ballot listing their party’s candidates, and voters of any other party affiliation will receive the ballot listing only non-partisan candidates such as those running for judicial seats. This election also will be the first opportunity for South County voters to use a new voting system designed to provide a reliable paper trail in the event of any malfunction. The new system involves a paper ballot given to each voter for marking, said Jennifer Marks, county elections public information specialist. When marking is completed, the voter places the ballot in an optical scan machine which tabulates the vote and automatically stores the ballot in a secure machine vault. The August ballot is not yet certified by state authorities, but the South County voting picture is beginning to take shape. And, the seat appearing to be the most hotly contested is the at-large county commission post currently held by Brian Blair. Blair, a Republican, has drawn opposition from another GOP member, Don Kruse, as well from three Democrats, Kevin Beckner, Denise Layne and Joe Redner. The winner under each party’s banner by a simple majority or plurality will advance to the single November ballot offered all voters, Bridge noted. No run-off election is slated this election season. Competition also is shaping up for the Florida House of Representatives seat in District 67, now held by Ron Reagan, a Republican. Kirk Faryniasz, another Republican, has qualified for the race, as have Richard Jackson and Ronald Rathbun. Jackson is a registered Democrat and Rathbun qualified as a write-in candidate. A second county commission seat representing South Hillsborough and being contested is the District 4 post currently held by Al Higginbotham. This Republican also has picked up opposition in the candidacy of Pete Gifford. However, Gifford did not declare a party affiliation and the two candidates will appear on the November general election ballot, Bridge said. This is much the same case with other local positions, including U.S. Representative in District 11 and U.S. Representative in District 12, as well as Hillsborough County Tax Collector and Supervisor of Elections. Current U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Democrat representing District 11, is being challenged by Eddie Adams, Jr., a Republican. Adam Putnam, the Republican U.S. Representative for District 12, is being opposed by Democrat Doug Tudor. The two contests will appear next on the November ballot. Similarly, Hillsborough’s present Supervisor of Elections, Republican Buddy Johnson, is being challenged by Phyllis Busansky, a Democrat, but because there is no same-party opposition, the two will make their first ballot appearances in November. And, while two candidates qualified for tax collector, they also will not stand for the voters’ choice until November, due to no declared party alliance. Doug Belden, current tax collector and a Republican, will be opposed by Beverly P. Harris, no party affiliation declared. On the other hand, sitting Hillsborough Property Appraiser Rob Turner is being challenged by two other candidates. Turner, a Republican, has drawn opposition from another GOP member, Rob Townsend, and from Democrat Ken Ayers. The Turner-Townsend contest will be on the August ballot, with the victor facing Ayers in November. Several additional, well known political figures, up for re-election this year, will not appear on any ballot because they have no opposition. These incumbents are, in effect, already tapped to continue in office for another term. They include: Seth McKeel, state representative for District 63, Clerk of Circuit Court Pat Frank, and Hillsborough Sheriff David Gee. A number of circuit court judicial candidates also will be on the August ballots. Caroline J. Tesche and Jason D. Montes are vying in Group 1 while Samantha Ward and Miriam Velez are after the Group 2 judge spot. In Group 7, Kevin Carey and Catherine M. Catlin are running for the post. Lisa D. Campbell and Linda Courtney Clark are seeking voters’ nods for the Group 21 seat as Martha J. Cook and Constance Daniels vie for the Group 20 posting. The non-partisan district 7 county school board position – an at- large seat - also will be on August South Hillsborough ballots. Stephen Gorham, Carol W. Kurdell and Jason Mims all have qualified as candidates. The deadline for registering to vote in the August primary is July 28. Early voting is scheduled between August 11 and August 23, with August 20 the last date on which an absentee ballot can be requested. The general election is scheduled for November 4. ©Melody Jameson 2008 © Copyright 2008 by The Observer News Publications and M&M Printing |
