Lake election kerfuffle is laughable
So Lake County Republicans are outraged at so-called “elections fraud” perpetrated by one of their own against one of their own? (“Lake Republicans censure tax collector and his brother over alleged ‘elections fraud’”) They’re apoplectic over county tax collector David Jordan allegedly scheming to get his brother, Mark, elected to the county property appraiser’s post, currently held by Carey Baker. This is laughable on so many levels.
First, it’s certainly not elections fraud to last-minute file for an election. That’s merely adhering to filing deadlines. Some might even say that is good “strategery.”
Second, the incumbent is rolling the dice as a write-in candidate because he seemingly didn’t want to pay the filing fees that help fund elections offices. One would think he would support our elections system since he was seeking to retain his elected position. Oh well, Publix is always looking for baggers.
Third, the level of hypocrisy here is stunning. The same folks who lauded (or at least have been silent to) the use of ghost candidates in tight partisan races are now boo-hooing over the Jordan brothers’ sly maneuvering.
Finally, this provides a hearty laugh to those of us who are sick of the underhanded, sneaky, and illegal elections ploys for which the GOP is famous. It is satisfying to see them eating their own.
Kathy Putnam Orlando
Lake saga ought to be a movie
I’m enjoying the GOP battle for Supervisor of Elections. I’d say it’s a great plot line for a novel, but the character development leaves something to be desired. I don’t have sympathy for the main character, Carey Baker. He should’ve been paying the $10,000 for the last elections that he ran unopposed. He should have been aware that someone would foil his complacency. And the rest of the characters are all stereotypical GOP politicians.
Renice Jones Edgewater
Pine Hills doesn’t deserve ‘Crime Hills’ moniker
Hate and discrimination are revealed in a myriad of ways. Today the spread of each causes concern for a civil society. A recent item in the May 28 Ticked Off section brought back memories of what a few misplaced, hateful words leave as a legacy.
Years ago, a TV reporter dubbed the Pine Hills community as Crime Hills. All these years later we still suffer under the stigma of those words. National corporations such as Target, Publix, Winn Dixie, and Walmart pulled out of Pine Hills. Our property values are always below others in Orange County and our schools are shunned because of undocumented fear of violence. We have quality schools and educators as well as great students. God bless them. Please think before you speak. Remember the words of Jesus, “I ask that you love one another.” I love Pine Hills (warts and all), my home for 54 years.
Joan Ricketts Orlando
Don’t blame Fauci
Some Republicans blame Dr. Anthony Fauci for being too strict and changing COVID-19 precautions that caused economic and educational upheaval.
His advice to wear masks and frequently wash your hands, maintain six feet of separation and avoid group gatherings may not have been completely necessary. But it probably significantly reduced the amount of severe sicknesses and death.
Suppose Dr. Fauci said at the outset that we don’t have exact scientific information about this new disease, so do whatever you want for a year or so, while we gather more information. Then we can be more accurate about what you should have done.
In the meantime (he might have said but didn’t), just tolerate whatever severe sickness and death occurs, because that will give us more information to provide more accurate advice.
Carl Schneider Delray Beach
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