Friday, June 25, 2021

Election Time is Coming – Will You Vote?

 



FLORIDA  
WEST COAST        

Opinion by:  
E. Eugene Webb PhD 

In southern West Coast Florida counties, there will be some cities conducting primary elections for mayors and other local officials.

These elections often don't draw much interest from the voting public, but there's an old adage in politics that says. “The government that affects you the most is your local government.”

Below is a table showing seven southern Florida West Coast counties and the breakdown of registered voters along with the links to the supervisor of elections website.

If you live in one of these counties and would like some general information about upcoming elections, voter registration, mail in ballots, and absentee ballots, this link is the source for Election information in your County.

 

COUNTY

REGISTERED VOTERS

WEB SITE LINK

Republicans

Democrats

Others

Pasco

158,671

116,820

120,364

https://www.pascovotes.gov/

Pinellas

246,386

249,990

207,100

https://www.votepinellas.com/

Hillsborough

287,857

357,863

277,262

https://www.votehillsborough.org/Home/id/39

Manatee

120,517

  83,647

  74,283

https://www.votemanatee.com/

Sarasota

148,746

101,114

  95,143

https://www.sarasotavotes.gov/

Lee

216,814

135,184

155,554

https://www.lee.vote/

Collier

121,159

  57,267

  60,350

https://www.colliervotes.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 Source: County Supervisor of Elections Active Registered Voters as of 6/23/21    

For general election information and how elections are conducted on a statewide basis you can check out the Florida Division of Elections. The Florida Division of Elections facilitates coordination and interpretation of election laws and establishes uniform standards to ensure fair and accurate elections in Florida.

For the best up-to-date information on local, state, and federal elections visit https://floridapolitics.com/.

In both upcoming election cycles 2021, and 2022 we are likely to see a growing number of new faces entering the political arena from a broad spectrum of political views and ideas. If recent trends are any indicator, we could see large numbers of candidates in races for Mayors, City Commission members, County Commission members, State House and Senate representative seats as well as U.S. Congressional races, which will take place in 2022.

Incumbency has always been a powerful benefit in this second, third and fourth tier elected posts in our state, federal, and local governing bodies.

I think we're going to see a change in that this year. In many cases, incumbency may be as big a detriment as it has been an asset in the past. And therefore, I would certainly encourage you as a voter, to take a strong look at the candidates who may be running for your local mayor, or your local county commission seat, or your Florida State House or Senate seat. The person that's been serving there for the last little bit may not necessarily be the best person to represent your interests going forward.

Our society is changing at a dramatic rate. In fact, somebody a lot smarter than me once said, “In government change is not really the issue it's the rate of change that's the problem.”

In the past, government has been afforded the privilege of being somewhat sleepy based and having ample time to make decisions that affect people's everyday lives.

The public is growing weary of that approach to governing, and this new crop of political candidates at least proposes to change that.

It's unclear if they'll be able to do so, but one thing is for certain, voting for the people that have been there in the past will only assure that what's been going on in the past will continue.

In most political circumstances, a new face may well be better able to provide new solutions to even some of the oldest problems.

You, like many others, may tend to just pass on this election.

I would encourage you to please not do that. Every one of these offices is important. Every one of them elected will cast votes in your community, in your county, in your state that will somehow affect you. If you want to have your say represented, then pick a candidate who represents you and vote for them.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

Disclosures:

 

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