Our state house candidates

[Talk Host]

This post transcends politics. It is a matter that affects all of us in the Villages. There is a primary race coming up next month between two candidates for our district to represent us in the Florida State House of representatives. The candidates are Marlene O'Toole and Will Pruitt.

I have never met Marlene O'Toole, but I have had some dealings with Will Pruitt. It was fully my intention to write an editorial and post it here in regard to my position on his candidacy. I have been thinking about the wording now for about six months.

I don't have to think about it anymore. The Villages Daily Sun has done extensive research and has taken care of the chore for me through their reporters.

[Becky]

TH, not being in TV at the moment, I did a search of the Village News and came up with an article from the 16th about his having a homestead exemption. I take it this is not the article you are referring too? Could you please enlighten us a little more? Would love to read it! Thanks!

Becky

[Taltarzac]

TH, not being in TV at the moment, I did a search of the Village News and came up with an article from the 16th about his having a homestead exemption. I take it this is not the article you are referring too? Could you please enlighten us a little more? Would love to read it! Thanks!

Becky




It is on today's front page of The Villages Daily Sun and continues quite extensively on A6. It is by reporter Matt Dixon of the Daily Sun.

I would e-mail him to see if he can send you a copy of this as I do not see it on their web-site and it would be copyrighted so I cannot post it here. Matthew.Dixon@thevillagesmedia.com

[Becky]

Thank you Tal! Have emailed him! ;D

Becky

[Talk Host]

As I expected, very few people care about this. Members are not even reading it. This is why we get nitwits in office.

[JohnN]

Talk Host,
Well sometimes I think nitwits are in office because that's all that run.

Regarding this topic, I've read it and am interested but I'm not there and don't know the candidates and issues well (and can't vote there anyway). I was hoping your thread might start some discussion on the merits of the two candidates - above and beyond the news article.

Thanks for posting it, I hope the better person wins.

[graciegirl]

Well spoken John. :bigthumbsup:

[Muncle]

As I mentioned several months back when the subject was first broached in the forum, I did meet O'Toole once, at the Chili Cook-off 1 1/2 yr ago. She impressed me with her personality, intelligence, and the volunteer work she was doing. I admit I was leaning in her favor.

Then a few months back, after the door-to-door canvasing issue arose, I began to see television spots for the charity/foundation that Pruitt and his wife run -- don't know if they were paid ads or PSAs. They seemed much more about Pruitt than the organization. These were very much campaign commercials and I couldn't help but wonder who was paying for them.

[Becky]

I did email the author of the article and he very nicely sent it to me. Matt ( the author) said it would be on the web site tomorrow. I can't vote in TV yet either but sure was interesting reading! Guess there's more than one kind of snake in TV! Thanks TH for cluing us in!

Becky

[barb1191]

Since we're not in TV for the summer, I looked online for the Sun to read the article about Pruitt and it wasn't there. Did I miss it? If not, Hmmmm, so the online version of the Sun isn't as complete in news/articles as the hardcopy. Surprised at that......b

[Talk Host]

I read the article in full. I would never vote for him if the article is to be believed. And I still don't want him showing up at my door. Isn't he the dude that insisted on being able to do just that? Wonder if it will be in his old uniform?


Sam,

I will defend his right, and that of any candidate, to campaign door to door. They have a very short time to "sell their wares" and if voters never get a chance to meet them in person, then they not be able to make an educated decision in the voting booth. Our elections are the purest form of "freedom of speech." The right to campaign is a constitutional guarantee and I believe that neither state nor local law nor CDD covenant can supersede that. As homeowners, I believe we have the right to post signs supporting our canddiates.

[Taltarzac]

I did email the author of the article and he very nicely sent it to me. Matt ( the author) said it would be on the web site tomorrow. I can't vote in TV yet either but sure was interesting reading! Guess there's more than one kind of snake in TV! Thanks TH for cluing us in!

Becky


I will try to link the article from TOTV if I see it first on The Villages Daily Sun web-site. I did not see it yet today at about 8:45 a.m.

[Taltarzac]

I will also defend his right to campaign. As far as I am concerned though, he does not have
the right to come onto my property to solicit my vote or anything. I realize we give up a lot of privacy when we move to any setting such as TV, but I think my little patch of ground should be my oasis. If he can come on it, why not the Fuller brush man? There are many places he can campaign. I personally do not want him on my doorstep. You can invite him in for coffee if that makes you happy. ;) Guess it all goes back to the chocolate and vanilla deal. Mind you, it's just not him, I want no pol at my door unless I specifically invite them.


Samhass? You could always try to convert him to some weird religion if he comes to your door. :joke:

[Talk Host]

I am not unfriendly in the least. My friends can stop by any time they please.


What if "your friend" is running for office. Can he (she) knock on the door.

[beady]

Oh Tal, I love your idea ...just start preaching to the missionaries...course that could be time consuming....maybe Sam's neighbors idea is better...answer the door naked and invite them in for tea with the requirement they remove their clothes. I think they will move on rather quickly... 1rnfl 1rnfl

[swrinfla]

:agree: :agree: :agree: with samhass.

My bottom line is: I avoid all politicians like the plague. Should any friend become or be one of these types, he/she'd know from the start that politics is a dirty word in my house, and the subject is verboten!

My next-door neighbor up north was a good friend who ran and was elected to the city's Board of Aldermen (after her first husband was murdered by a car-jacker at their front door). She knew of my restrictions, and the only time we ever discussed politics was when I asked her to do something for me and the street. We had a good relationship, and I intended to keep it that way!

No politicos at my door!

SWR

[Taltarzac]

Here is a link to the Villages Daily Sun article about Will Pruitt. http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/articles/2008/07/21/news/news02.txt

[barb1191]

Thank you, Tal, for the Daily Sun article on Pruitt. Certainly doesn't sound favorable for his political future.

barb

[Villages Kahuna]

...the guy who was running in a primary for the U.S. House of Representatives a couple of years ago. His personal website said that he was unemployed, but had a long history of being a community activist and hippy, including a stint sitting on a flagpole. And this was on the guy's own website!

Having juxtaposed the two candidates...Pruitt sounds worse!

[zcaveman]

Just out of curiosity, what areas of the Villages are in the O'Toole - Pruitt voting area?

[Village Kid 2]

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/district.aspx?MemberId=4240&SessionId=57

Parts of Lake, Sumter, and a small part of Marion. See website. It's district 42.

[Talk Host]

Voters in the Villages will decide who wins this election.

[jtdraig]

You gotta at least understand who is running and who will represent you. I was active in Connecticut working for a great State Rep who has been successful and that success has been reflected in accrues to his District and the service he provided. Here in our District, I think we have a good opportunity to send Marlene o'Toole to Tallahassee. I haven't met her but I like what I see. I always have encouraged people to at least make the effort to do their personal vetting of the candidates and vote accordingly. Personally, I don't have a problem with allowing candidates to meet their potential constituents. You can always decline the opportunity to speak with them. Our Representation in the Legislature is important..and we should take a few moments from tee times, happy hour, clubs, etc. to vet our candidates and then vote.

[Brian]

...the guy who was running in a primary for the U.S. House of Representatives a couple of years ago. His personal website said that he was unemployed, but had a long history of being a community activist and hippy, including a stint sitting on a flagpole. And this was on the guy's own website!

Having juxtaposed the two candidates...Pruitt sounds worse!

There must me another website out there because I can't find any of this information. Post a link please because there seems to be a lot of disinformation about Will Pruitt going around and not just from our "newspaper" down here.