Register, and vote in the Primary Election
To the editor:
Dear friends of Pine Island and Matlacha,
As residents of our beautiful Islands, we are surrounded by water. That water quality is in serious decline, and it is causing problems our eyes can see and our nose can smell. The water is muddy brown, and is darker and lasts longer than before. That thick plume of yuk invades our blue-green Gulf waters. Sport and commercial fishing is reduced. Manatee sightings are down. Shell fish are less. Red tide is more frequent and longer lasting. Our eyes water and our throats burn. Dead fish and rotting piles of sea weed cover our beaches more than ever. The smell makes us nauseous. We all have stories of flesh eating bacteria.
We are afraid to swim in the water.
This is a massive problem that has been slowly developing. It will take a huge dedicated effort and a long time to fix. Some of our local politicians have been in denial or supported limited action. The time for more action is now. There is a crucial Primary Election coming up on Aug. 30. Yes, I said Primary Election. Since this area of Florida is predominantly Republican, many of the political offices don’t even have a Democrat opponent. However, there are two or more Republican candidates for each of the offices, and one of them would better serve our interests. Below is the list of political offices, and the candidates who champion improving our water quality. Please vote for the bold candidates.
U.S. Congress District 19: For Chauncey Goss (R).
Not Francis Rooney (R). Only one Democrat will be on Nov. 8 Election Ballot.
Florida State Senate District 27: For Jason Maughan (R).
Not Lizbeth Benacquisto (R). No Democrat will be on Nov. 8 Election Ballot.
Florida State House District 76: For Charles Messsina (R).
Not Ray Rodrigues (R). No Democrat will be on Nov. 8 Election Ballot.
Lee County Commissioner District 3: For Dick Anderson (R).
Not Larry Kiker (R). No Democrat, but 1 write in will be on Nov. 8 Election Ballot.
Lee County Commissioner District 5: For Frank Mann (R).
Not Ken Dobson (R). No Democrat will be on Nov. 8 Election Ballot.
NOTE: In Florida, you must be listed as a Republican on your Voter Registration to be able to vote in the Republican Primary on Aug. 30. If you are Democrat or Independent, you must change your “Party Affiliation” to vote for the above candidates. This is easy to do, and you may switch back to the party of your choice before the next National Election. You can do this the same way after the Aug. 30 Primary.
Go to the Florida Division of Elections Website. You can double click on the link below or copy and paste it to your address bar. dos.my-florida.com/elections/for-voters/voter-registration/register-to-vote-or-update-your-information/
Scroll down to paragraph 4; “How to Update Your Voter Registration.” Go to instruction; “1. Fill in your Voter Registration Application online by clicking on the link; (English PDF). Type the information on the form, and “X” the “Party Affiliation” box, “Republican Party of Florida”. Then print the form, sign, date, stamp and mail it to: Sharon L. Harrington, Supervisor of Elections 2480 Thompson Street, P.O. Box 2545 Fort Myers, FL 33902
If you are a Snowbird, and are north of Florida, you should request an “Absentee Ballot.” The Lee County Supervisor of Elections Office told me that you can include it in the mailing envelope for your “Update Voter Registration” form. Type or print a note, “I request an Absentee Ballot to be mailed to me for the Aug. 30, 2016 Primary Election.” Include your name and Summer address, and hand sign and date it.
Technically, the mail in Absentee Ballot Request deadline is July 26. To be safe, you should mail your “Update Voter Registration Form,” and your note requesting an Absentee Ballot by July 19.
Thank you for protecting our Islands coast and waterways.
Roger Wood