Congratulations to TOTV member, Don Wiley!

[Michael 61]

Congratulations to one of our own here on TOTV, Don Wiley, on winning your seat back to be our county commissioner! We’re blessed to have someone of your integrity representing us.

[Rainger99]

Looks like Don ain’t moving for at least 4 years!


Sumter County election results in the Florida Primary on Aug. 20, 2024 (https://www.clickorlando.com/results-2024/2024/08/20/sumter-county-election-results-in-the-florida-primary-on-aug-20-2024/)

[JoMar]

Congratulations to one of our own here on TOTV, Don Wiley, on winning your seat back to be our county commissioner! We’re blessed to have someone of your integrity representing us.

I think he still needs to win in November.

[Kenswing]

I think he still needs to win in November.

Nope. There’s nobody left to run against.

[Stu from NYC]

Congrats

[JoMar]

Nope. There’s nobody left to run against.

Then congratulations to Don! Guess the Dems didn't think they had any opportunity.

[dewilson58]

Congrats!!!!

[Rainger99]

Nope. There’s nobody left to run against.

That is right. Commissioners who won today are elected. November elections for them.

[dewilson58]

A clear, strong statement made by voters.

[Bogie Shooter]

Congrats.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Congratulations DW...

Thank you for your service to Dist. 5 Oren Miller, Craig Estep. Proud to have both of you in TV community!

Lazich/Butterfield is a photo finish. Great race by both of you ladies!

[M2inOR]

Congrats!

[Tvflguy]

I simply do not understand one thing. How the hell does he have the time to do everything he does??? The guy is a dynamo. What a credit to The Villages. Thanks Don.

[Altavia]

Congratulations Don, your hard work, dedication and contributions to the community are greatly appreciated!

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

Congratulations - now you can breathe!

[Northwoods]

I'm thrilled that Don won!
I know some people claim that the Developer's "puppets" won. I think smart voters knew that Don will fight hard for Sumter Co. residents.

[Michael 61]

I'm thrilled that Don won!
I know some people claim that the Developer's "puppets" won. I think smart voters knew that Don will fight hard for Sumter Co. residents.

He’s done that in the past and will again! I’m so glad to see that the overwhelming majority of Sumter County voters support him.

[Goldwingnut]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Going to take a much needed evening off tonight. Tomorrow the works starts on organizing Thanksgiving Dinner for the VPSD fire stations. If anyone is interested in helping with being a station coordinator or with helping organize the upcoming fundraiser please drop me a private message.

Thanks again.

[Ecuadog]

Hooray!

[Ignatz]

Congrats sir!

[golfing eagles]

Congratulations Don!!!!!:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:

[Veracity]

Congratulations, Don Wiley, on your landslide win! Your time in office proved that you are, by far, the best person for the job and the voters have recognized and rewarded all your hard work. Indeed, a well deserved victory! :thumbup:

[Bay Kid]

Way to go Don.

[Normal]

Nice job. Solid running and dedicated ethic. Congrats Don.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Thank you.

While it may have seemed unfair, it was what was required under Florida law and the state constitution, Governor DeSantis did the right thing in following the law and I support his actions as we are a State and a country governed by our laws.

This statement has my vote every time versus any other candidates who don't take responsibility for following the law, the constitutions, and we are a nation devoid of kings.

Congratulations

[Kenswing]

Nope. There’s nobody left to run against.

Hmmm. The paper this morning is stating that Don will face William Statom, a write in candidate in November.

[Bill14564]

Hmmm. The paper this morning is stating that Don will face William Statom, a write in candidate in November.

That's probably true, but:
1. There will only be one name on the ballot, a voter would need to remember that there is a write-in candidate, remember the name, and then take the time to write it in.

2. Had you heard of William Statom before reading the name in the paper? I suspect we will not hear from him at all.

[Shipping up to Boston]

That's probably true, but:
1. There will only be one name on the ballot, a voter would need to remember that there is a write-in candidate, remember the name, and then take the time to write it in.

2. Had you heard of William Statom before reading the name in the paper? I suspect we will not hear from him at all.

Correct

I have seen some spectacular/successful write-in or 'sticker' campaigns up north. All were the result of some sort of scandal...with the balloted candidate. Another, still rarely, a race with no candidates on the ballot that prompts such an action as well. In Dist.1, there is no such scandal. That said, it's like a lottery ticket...the odds are usually insurmountable. So my (unsolicited) advice to the write in candidate....the people have spoken and their voices should be respected.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Correct

I have seen some spectacular/successful write-in or 'sticker' campaigns up north. All were the result of some sort of scandal...with the balloted candidate. Another, still rarely, a race with no candidates on the ballot that prompts such an action as well. In Dist.1, there is no such scandal. That said, it's like a lottery ticket...the odds are usually insurmountable. So my (unsolicited) advice to the write in candidate....the people have spoken and their voices should be respected.

*Excuse me....Dist. 5

[PugMom]

sending congrats! we did good. :wave:

[Velvet]

Well done! Congratulations!

[Pballer]

He’s done that in the past and will again! I’m so glad to see that the overwhelming majority of Sumter County voters support him.

You should correct this statement to say that the overwhelming majority of Republican Sumter County voters support him - Republicans were the only ones allowed to vote. The rest of us come November will have a choice between him and some bs write-in candidate whose name will not even be printed on the ballot. What a sham.

[Marathon Man]

You should correct this statement to say that the overwhelming majority of Republican Sumter County voters support him - Republicans were the only ones allowed to vote. The rest of us come November will have a choice between him and some bs write-in candidate whose name will not even be printed on the ballot. What a sham.

Not a sham at all. Anyone could have registered as a Democratic candidate. Perhaps you could consider that for the next election and eliminate the 'sham'.

[Marathon Man]

I'm thrilled that Don won!
I know some people claim that the Developer's "puppets" won. I think smart voters knew that Don will fight hard for Sumter Co. residents.

Well said. I tell ya, I don't understand why some people continue to live in TV when they have such a distain for all things developer. Life is too short to spend it inventing ways to be unhappy.

[Two Bills]

The American voting system is quite complicated to us foreigners.
So correct me if I am wrong, but aren't write in candidates used to stop members of a rival party voting in a selection vote, when there is no opposition candidate?

[Pballer]

Not a sham at all. Anyone could have registered as a Democratic candidate. Perhaps you could consider that for the next election and eliminate the 'sham'.

First I am registered as an independent. Second, it's a sham when almost half the population is disenfranchised when they have no voice in an election unless they agree to join a political party they have no interest in joining. If the only candidates running were Republicans except for the bs write-in candidate whose name will not even be printed on the general election ballot, they should have skipped the Republican primary and just have had all the Republican candidates run in the general election.

[Kenswing]

You should correct this statement to say that the overwhelming majority of Republican Sumter County voters support him - Republicans were the only ones allowed to vote. The rest of us come November will have a choice between him and some bs write-in candidate whose name will not even be printed on the ballot. What a sham.

Blame Miller for that. He used to be a Democrat but changed parties.

[golfing eagles]

First I am registered as an independent. Second, it's a sham when almost half the population is disenfranchised when they have no voice in an election unless they agree to join a political party they have no interest in joining. If the only candidates running were Republicans except for the bs write-in candidate whose name will not even be printed on the general election ballot, they should have skipped the Republican primary and just have had all the Republican candidates run in the general election.

Then the democrats should have chosen some candidates and held a primary. They "disenfranchised" themselves. Why? Because they knew to a certainty that any democrat would be defeated in November. And that's EXACTLY what representative democracy entails. THE PEOPLE vote for the candidate that best expresses their views. If 80% of the population identifies with a particular party, that party's candidate wins.

[Bill14564]

Again, those people could have held their own primary.

Again, not worth the effort to argue the point.

[BrianL99]

Then the democrats should have chosen some candidates and held a primary. They "disenfranchised" themselves. Why? Because they knew to a certainty that any democrat would be defeated in November. And that's EXACTLY what representative democracy entails. THE PEOPLE vote for the candidate that best expresses their views. If 80% of the population identifies with a particular party, that party's candidate wins.

I always laugh when folks in TV get onto this subject ... like there's some big secret in TV that we all didn't know when we moved here.

IMO, one of the huge reasons for TV's success, is they've created the largest homogenous community in the world.

We're all about the same age. Grew up in similar ways, in the same generation We all come from a reasonably similar socio-economic strata. In spite of some the nitty-gritty, minor disagreements on here (& 1 or 2 well-known contrarians), TV likely has the highest rate of political conservatism in the USA. I haven't looked lately, but I think Registered Republicans probably out-number Democrats, at least 4:1? I suspect actual voting patterns would show an even higher % of Republicans. None of that includes those who spend the majority of their time in TV, but vote elsewhere.

If you don't have an (R) next to your name, you'd have a hard time getting elected Dog Catcher in TV.

I recently had lunch with a friend who's Florida's top Political Consultant. He's directed FL campaigns for Obama, Biden and a zillion lower races. When we got to joking about me living in TV, his response with a laugh was, "we've struggled making to make inroads into The Villages". No kidding.

& truthfully, the vast majority of Villagers bought homes here, specifically because of the socio-economic-political atmosphere, some just don't admit to it.

[graciegirl]

Congratulations to one of our own here on TOTV, Don Wiley, on winning your seat back to be our county commissioner! We’re blessed to have someone of your integrity representing us.

I absolutely agree 100%!!!

[graciegirl]

First I am registered as an independent. Second, it's a sham when almost half the population is disenfranchised when they have no voice in an election unless they agree to join a political party they have no interest in joining. If the only candidates running were Republicans except for the bs write-in candidate whose name will not even be printed on the general election ballot, they should have skipped the Republican primary and just have had all the Republican candidates run in the general election.

No sir. Not half by far. Read the registered voters page. Overwhelming majority of Republicans live in The Villages.

AND Sumter county has the highest voter turn out of all of the counties in the entire State of Florida.

[Shipping up to Boston]

The conviction against Oren Miller was overturned. When the conviction was overturned, Oren Miller should have been reinstated immediately. This did not happen. The entire Oren Miller "perjury" case looked suspect from the start. Seems like the powers that be where out to get him. Miller spent 75 days in jail. Don Wiley will win in November. Don is a nice guy, but he needs to let this go already.

Official reinstated after conviction overturned | Ocala Gazette (https://www.ocalagazette.com/official-reinstated-after-conviction-overturned/)

Agree wholeheartedly!

Oren Miller is a good man and quintessential Villager. Hes a neighbor to all of us.

The fact that 'some' continue to attempt to whine about their 'circumstances' vs all thats been put on that man....to quote someone on here 'says more about them than it does about him'! This is how poisonous politics are in general... but in TV specifically!

[Fredster]

Congratulations Don!:pepper2:

[golfing eagles]

Again, not worth the effort to argue the point.

Translation: "I surrender" (in utter defeat) :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[golfing eagles]

Agree wholeheartedly!

Oren Miller is a good man and quintessential Villager. Hes a neighbor to all of us.

The fact that 'some' continue to attempt to whine about their 'circumstances' vs all thats been put on that man....to quote someone on here 'says more about them than it does about him'! This is how poisonous politics are in general... but in TV specifically!

I don't think many believe that Oren is a "bad" person. In fact, I applaud him for standing up for his beliefs. However, his beliefs are not representative of the majority of Villagers, hence the election results. That's the way representative democracy works.

[Caymus]

The American voting system is quite complicated to us foreigners.
So correct me if I am wrong, but aren't write in candidates used to stop members of a rival party voting in a selection vote, when there is no opposition candidate?

Write in voters are mainly a form of protest. Historically Micky Mouse, Goofy and current sports stars receive many of them.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Thank you.

While it may have seemed unfair, it was what was required under Florida law and the state constitution, Governor DeSantis did the right thing in following the law and I support his actions as we are a State and a country governed by our laws. The question to this day that still sits in my mind on the entire issue is that there was an election held after my initial appointment by the Governor and the people of Sumter County again, as they had done 2 years prior, voiced their opinion and exercised their rights as citizens to chose their leaders; how was it justified to overturn this election? The only answer I ever received from the attorneys was "it should have never happened", an unacceptable answer, you cannot change history. This is of course now all history itself and there is nothing that can be done to change it, so we shall move past this and look forward to tomorrow.

You always seem to forget DW.....that ‘initially’ you were the Governors.....second choice! (see below)


Wiley will replace Diane Spencer in the District 5 seat on the board.

Spencer was appointed by DeSantis back in March to fill the seat left vacant by Oren Miller, who was suspended while awaiting trial on a felony perjury charge.

Spencer was initially slated to finish the four-year terms of former Commissioner Miller, who won office in November 2020 after defeating an incumbent in the Republican Primary. But, she put in her resignation letter after less than two weeks in office, citing a medical emergency, according to The Villages Daily Sun. Spencer also withdrew her candidacy for the District 5 seat.

[dewilson58]

The conviction against Oren Miller was overturned.

Yep, he was convicted............. thanks for the reminder.

[dewilson58]

You always seem to forget DW.....that ‘initially’ you were the Governors.....second choice! (see below)



Living in the past........................He was jus voted in and creamed the convicted one.

[Shipping up to Boston]

I don't think many believe that Oren is a "bad" person. In fact, I applaud him for standing up for his beliefs. However, his beliefs are not representative of the majority of Villagers, hence the election results. That's the way representative democracy works.

Absolutely....and speaking for myself, I respect the voters voice on this one. That’s why we do this Doc.

I’m just one of those weirdos that still looks for the independent and unaffiliated in these contests. I know...I know, I’m a relic.

[Bill14564]

No sir. Not half by far. Read the registered voters page. Overwhelming majority of Republicans live in The Villages.

AND Sumter county has the highest voter turn out of all of the counties in the entire State of Florida.

Which voters page are you referring to?

The Sumter County Supervisor of Elections page shows 59% Republican leaving 41%, or almost half. Certainly a majority but overwhelming?

The page also shows a 33.86% turnout. The Florida Elections Watch page also shows 33.86% for Sumter but shows 18 counties with a higher turnout.

[dewilson58]

Congratulations to one of our own here on TOTV, Don Wiley, on winning your seat back to be our county commissioner! We’re blessed to have someone of your integrity representing us.

Back on track.....................CONGRATS DON!!!!