The United States flag flying over the beach in Naples, Fla., on Aug. 18, 2017 during a vigil for Heather Heyer, a demonstrator murdered by white supremacist James Alex Fields during a peaceful protest in Charlottesville, Va., six days earlier. (Photo: Author)
Sept. 30, 2024
This is the most important ballot you will ever cast.
No matter your age, you have never before voted in an election this historic. Its outcome will establish your future and that of all your descendants.
This is a defining election. It will determine whether the United States of America remains a democracy or tumbles into dictatorship. It will determine whether Americans remain free, “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights” or become slaves and servants to an autocratic, unrestrained tyrant. It will determine whether America remains a great power in the world or a shriveled vassal of other nations.
And every position on every ballot is critical. Down-ballot positions will determine who will hold power, who can get things done, who will govern—or, if democracy is abandoned, who will rule. Amendments and referenda will determine how you will be governed. Amendment 4 will determine whether women in Florida retain the right to choose their healthcare and make their own decisions or not.
Accordingly, The Paradise Progressive is making these endorsements for ballots appearing in the state of Florida and especially the Southwest region of Collier and Lee counties.
Uncontested or decided elections are not included. National and statewide elections, including for judges and constitutional amendments, come first. County offices for Collier and Lee counties follow.
The Paradise Progressive has always maintained that endorsing candidates is the duty of any publication or media outlet that regularly and responsibly covers elections, governance and representation. It is in this spirit these endorsements are being made.
As with all endorsements, these are only recommendations. They were entirely determined by The Paradise Progressive without consultation or input from any political party or organization. They favor candidates who support democracy regardless of formal party affiliation.
This post appears in two sections: the endorsements presented as a list followed by their explanations below. Voters should remember that they can consult this list on their mobile electronic devices at any time, even while voting.
The List
President
Kamala Harris-Tim Walz – DEM
United States Senator
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell – DEM
Representative for Congress, District 17
Manny Lopez – DEM
Representative for Congress, District 19
Kari Lerner – DEM
Representative for Congress, District 26
Joey Atkins – DEM
Justice of the Supreme Court
Renatha Francis – No
Meredith Sasso – No
Sixth District Court of Appeal
Paetra Brownlee – No
Roger Gannam – No
Joshua Mize – No
Jared Smith – No
Keith White – No
Constitutional Amendments
Amendment 1 – No
Amendment 2 – No
Amendment 3 – Yes
Amendment 4 – Yes
Amendment 5 – No
Amendment 6 – No
Collier County
State Representative, District 80
Mitchel Schlayer – DEM
State Representative, District 81
Charles Robert “Chuck” Work – DEM
State Representative, District 82
Arthur Oslund – DEM
Board of Commissioners, District 3
Burt Saunders – REP
Collier County Referendum
Yes
Lee County
State Senate, District 33
Christopher Proia – DEM
State Representative, District 77
Cornelius Fowler – DEM
State Representative, District 78
Howard Sapp – DEM
State Representative, District 79
Denise McCleary – DEM
City of Fort Myers, Ward 6
Cindy Banyai – NON-PARTISAN
Discussion and explanation
As its name implies, The Paradise Progressive approaches its coverage from a particular political perspective. For thorough, unbiased and neutral information about all these races and candidates, see Sparker’s Soapbox, whose author, Sandy Parker, does an outstanding job providing a comprehensive and objective overview.
For President
Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Timothy Walz (D-Minn.) have the experience, maturity, intelligence, commitment to democracy and loyalty to the United States, the Constitution, and American values to fulfill the duties and the responsibilities of the two highest offices in the country.
For Senate
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) will make an outstanding United States senator who will effectively and energetically represent the interests of Florida and all its people. (See: “Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, ready for the Senate and on a roll.”)
The incumbent, Sen. Rick Scott (R), has repeatedly failed to pursue the interests of the state and the people of Southwest Florida, especially in the wake of disasters when his votes most counted. He has advocated sunsetting important social safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. (For coverage of Scott’s record, see: “Rick Scott meets the Peter Principle” and “Rick Scott, already in a hole, digs deeper.”)
For Representative for Congress, District 17
Manny Lopez will bring much-needed civility, reasonable compromise, bipartisanship, and concern for the common good to this district covering Charlotte County and part of Sarasota County. He provides a needed contrast to the extreme ideological rhetoric and policies of its current holder.
For Representative for Congress, District 19
Kari Lerner will bring care, concern and attention to the issues facing this district covering coastal Southwest Florida from Cape Coral to Marco Island. She will ably represent its people in Congress. (To read more about Kari Lerner, see “Kari Lerner: The courage and conviction to serve in Congress.”)
In contrast, the incumbent, Byron Donalds, has proven incompetent, ineffective and indifferent to the district and its people while using it as a stepping stone for unrealistic personal ambitions that were of no benefit to his constituents. (Click here to see The Paradise Progressive’s coverage of Byron Donalds since his candidacy in 2020.)
Representative for Congress, District 26
Joey Atkins is a lawyer and former sports agent and was raised in West Palm Beach, giving him a commitment to the area of eastern Collier County, Immokalee and Miami’s western suburbs that is now the 26th Congressional District. He intends to concentrate his efforts on improving life for constituents in the district, restoring infrastructure and making life more affordable.
Justice of the Supreme Court
Justices Renatha Francis and Meredith Sasso are two justices on the Florida state Supreme Court who concurred with the argument that the wording of Amendment 4 was too vague to go to voters. The majority of the court found the wording clear and understandable. If the words of what is a very plain, simple and obvious amendment are too complex for these two justices they don’t merit retention.
Sixth District Court of Appeal
Florida has an ideologically conservative judiciary that for all intents and purposes does not serve as a check or balance on the executive branch and the legislature. All the judicial candidates up for retention are members of the Federalist Society and share its conservative philosophy. They cannot be counted upon to rule impartially and objectively. Gov. Ron DeSantis has packed the courts with his ideological soulmates.
As a practical matter, if these justices are rejected, the likelihood is that they will be replaced by similar ideological believers, perhaps more extreme ones. Nonetheless, a significant vote of rejection would send the message that Florida voters are wise to these games and want fairer, more open-minded judges staffing their judicial branch.
Constitutional Amendments
Amendment 1: Voters can vote “yes” or “no” on this amendment. However, there should be a third option: “HELL NO!” Amendment 1 seeks to make school board elections in the state partisan. It was proposed by Southwest Florida’s own state Rep. Spencer Roach (R-79-Fort Myers), who is leaving elected office after this year. This is beyond a bad idea; it is pernicious, malicious and atrocious. Not only would currently non-partisan school board positions be politicized throughout the state, it would likely lead to partisan curricula in classrooms. This is a terrible idea and should be rejected decisively.
Amendment 2: No. This amendment to the Florida Constitution establishes hunting and fishing “as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife.” If passed it would likely be used by gun advocates to challenge all laws regulating hunting, restricting gun ownership or mandating background checks. There are very reasonable, constitutional regulations on hunting and fishing now and no need for a constitutional amendment that would lead to extensive litigation and controversy.
Amendment 3: Yes. This allows the sale and possession of recreational marijuana to adults over 21 years. This is endorsed with some trepidation: it will likely, as critics charge, complicate enforcement of sober driving laws and some people, as with any substance, will abuse it. However, it will also regulate marijuana sales, provide revenues to the state and reduce the number of arrests for petty, non-violent crimes.
Besides, there are a lot of people in this state who really need to mellow out.
Amendment 4: Yes. This clear, simple and understandable amendment returns the right of choice to women, where it belongs, and gets government out of a role it should not be playing.
Amendment 5: No. This amendment would increase the homestead exemption for property taxes, allowing it to rise with the rate of inflation. The homestead exemption was created to attract people to settle in Florida. However, it is no longer necessary for that purpose, it is adequate as is, and it does not need to be expanded.
Amendment 6: No. This amendment would repeal public financing for political campaigns for statewide positions like Governor, Attorney General and Cabinet offices. Public financing is a useful option to ensure the widest possible spectrum of candidates.
Collier County
State Representative, District 80
Mitchel Schlayer’s commitment to fighting corruption, protecting freedom of choice, protecting the environment and opposing censorship merits his election.
State Representative, District 81
Charles Robert “Chuck” Work, is a very experienced attorney who has held high office in the US Justice Department and is now ready to put his experience and expertise in the service of this district’s constituents. For a full profile of Work, see “Chuck Work: From prosecuting Watergate to campaigning for Florida’s District 81.”
State Representative, District 82
Arthur Oslund is committed to the right to choose, protecting the region’s water and defending local autonomy. When it comes to voting rights and ballot access he states: “eroding democracy is not conservative, it is treasonous!”
Board of Commissioners, District 3
Burt Saunders is a veteran lawyer, lawmaker and Collier County commissioner. He has frequently taken lone, sensible stands against extreme, damaging proposals from more radical commissioners. He merits re-election.
Collier County Referendum
Yes. This school district referendum would “continue tax-neutral flexible funding for Collier County Public Schools.” It will enable school administrators to move money between capital accounts and operational ones, giving them greater flexibility in budgeting and spending.
Lee County
State Senate, District 33
Christopher Proia is pro-choice, supports increasing affordable housing, universal healthcare, ending medical bankruptcy and improving public health and disease prevention.
State Representative, District 77
Cornelius Fowler is a union leader committed to upholding living wages, affordable housing, and quality education.
State Representative, District 78
Howard Sapp is a retired air traffic controller who supports quality education, affordable housing, addressing homelessness and preserving clean, quality water.
State Representative, District 79
Denise McCleary is a veteran of the US Army National Guard and Reserves who was deployed during Operation Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom. She served as Chief of Audit Operations with the New Jersey National Guard. She wants to bring her extensive accounting and organizational experience to bear in service to the constituents of District 79. She is committed to making insurance affordable, providing access to affordable housing and expanding healthcare for Floridians, including Medicaid.
City of Fort Myers, Ward 6
Cindy Banyai is a committed activist who has previously run for Congress in the 19th District. She’s now seeking to put her experience and knowledge in the service of Fort Myers. Her priorities include investing in the community and putting families first, keeping development smart and affordable, mitigating the effects of climate change, supporting small business and ensuring clean water.
Liberty lives in light
© 2024 by David Silverberg