Originally Posted by toeser (Post 1819782)

No, they won't. One is my neighbor and he is loaded with integrity. You should not post things like that about people you do not know.

Originally Posted by jojo (Post 1819937)

I also have a neighbor with the highest integrity who was elected and agree with your response. He is not anti-developer but will not be bought. He does not have an agenda other than serving the people.

Originally Posted by johnsre (Post 1819743)

I think Hacienda Hills is in Lake County

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna (Post 1819623)

Somewhat surprisingly, the three candidates that challenged the three developer-supported Incumbents for positions as Sumter County Commissioners won the Republican Primary convincingly. The challengers will have to win the General Election in November, and there will be lots of developer-designed and funded challenges, probably for write-in candidates. The upcoming weeks will be interesting as this will be the first time in at least a decade when the Sumter County Board won’t be cleanly “in the pocket” of The Villages Developer.

What’s at risk for the Developer? Lots of things. Without a lot of study, how about...

—A repeal of the major change which has the new roads and infrastructure in the new southern end of The Villages funded by the taxpayers rather than the Developer as had been the practice until this year. The result of the change was a 25% increase in property taxes. The challengers all ran with the repeal of those tax increases as a major plank in their platforms.

—The possible repeal of the “One Sumter” procedure for the election of County Commissioners. The change in the electoral process goes back almost fifteen years and was designed and sponsored by the Developer. The result of the electoral change was that the County Board could be controlled by three members, all of whom have turned out to be choices of the Developer and financed by them. The result of course was pretty much complete control of the Board in getting anything the Developer wanted approved.

—There are lots of other decisions facing the County Commissioners that will effect all Villages residents living in Sumter County (the vast majority of us). Not the least important issue might be approval of the re-zoning of the Hacienda Hills CC parcel to permit the construction of a high-rise 286-unit apartment building.

So it’ll probably be important for all of us to begin to pay lots more attention to local Sumter County politics. You can be certain that the Developer will be very creative approaching the General Election and beyond, trying to regain control of the Sumter County Board. Keeping local politics in the control of the taxpayers will take our collective, continual attention.

Originally Posted by DeanFL (Post 1819632)

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WOW! Personally we changed from 'No Party' Affiliation' to 'Republican' in order to vote in the Primary. We are both Independents, but after research it was apparent that the 3 incumbents do(did) not deserve to be in those posts any longer. Some videos we saw of several Committee meetings, and how they treated our citizens (and in turn us all) soured us so much we HAD to vote.

This is good news - sure hope that we end up with more sincere and honest reps.

I must say - today we went online and switched back to NPA.

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Originally Posted by Ndomines (Post 1819959)

After seeing the past performances of the Commissioners Open meetings is it any wonder they got the boot?
Apparently they forgot that it’s the people not special interests they represent. OR maybe they never forgot who they represent.
KUDOS to the developers for all they have accomplished I only wish they had lived up to the promise of the small town, age restricted lifestyle as envisioned by Mr Schwartz.
Now we have URBAN SPRAWL.
Traffic jams, people living in The Villages who are under 40 with very loud mufflers on their motorcycles, pounding sub woofers going by in their loud cars, everyday lawn mowers running that never seem to get the neighbors lawns done. When we bought our home, and like so many others, we were told this is the last of new construction.
It’s impossible to turn back the clock but it is possible stop the lies and get about the business of
Making sure folks get what they paid for.

Originally Posted by PennBF (Post 1819923)

Is there a "Recall" procedure in Florida, where in case you have an elected official that is not truly representing the people can be recalled? I am thinking of the last 2 Commissioner's which we are stuck with until 2022?:ohdear:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1819752)

Just remember, you can still vote Democrat in all general elections. And (as I discovered too late) if there's a primary with one party running with no other party opposing it, you can vote in that primary no matter what your affiliation is.

In other words:

If the Republican party has 3 candidates running and there's a Primary to determine which one gets the nomination..

and if there is no Democrat running for that particular position...

then the primary becomes a "universal primary" and every registered voter in the district can vote for that primary.[/QUOTE

Not exactly. The Florida constitution provides for a Universal Primary Contest if the winner of the a primary will face NO opposition in the General Election, i.e., not necessarily opposition from a Democrat. For that reason, the Developer and his puppets ran fake write-in candidates Wahl and Prince-- thereby disenfranchising over 45,000 voters who should have, under the law, been entitled to vote in yesterday's primary.

Originally Posted by Advogado (Post 1819645)

Good job, voters of Sumter County: 3 down! 2 to go! In 2022, we need to finish the cleansing of the County Commission by voting out the two remaining Developer puppets--Breeden and Gilpin.

Let's watch what happens between now and the departure of Butler, Burgess, and Printz after the general election in November. They may try to poison the well for the incumbents by tying the County into as many sweetheart contracts with
the Developer as possible.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1819650)

I'm unaffiliated and didn't realize until too late that there were primaries for local elections (most of our town elections in my town up north were one Dem vs. one GOP and sometimes an independent, so there weren't ever any primaries needed - several seats ran unopposed and maybe would get 10 write-ins on election day for someone else).

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna (Post 1819623)

Somewhat surprisingly, the three candidates that challenged the three developer-supported Incumbents for positions as Sumter County Commissioners won the Republican Primary convincingly. The challengers will have to win the General Election in November, and there will be lots of developer-designed and funded challenges, probably for write-in candidates. The upcoming weeks will be interesting as this will be the first time in at least a decade when the Sumter County Board won’t be cleanly “in the pocket” of The Villages Developer.

What’s at risk for the Developer? Lots of things. Without a lot of study, how about...

—A repeal of the major change which has the new roads and infrastructure in the new southern end of The Villages funded by the taxpayers rather than the Developer as had been the practice until this year. The result of the change was a 25% increase in property taxes. The challengers all ran with the repeal of those tax increases as a major plank in their platforms.

—The possible repeal of the “One Sumter” procedure for the election of County Commissioners. The change in the electoral process goes back almost fifteen years and was designed and sponsored by the Developer. The result of the electoral change was that the County Board could be controlled by three members, all of whom have turned out to be choices of the Developer and financed by them. The result of course was pretty much complete control of the Board in getting anything the Developer wanted approved.

—There are lots of other decisions facing the County Commissioners that will effect all Villages residents living in Sumter County (the vast majority of us). Not the least important issue might be approval of the re-zoning of the Hacienda Hills CC parcel to permit the construction of a high-rise 286-unit apartment building.

So it’ll probably be important for all of us to begin to pay lots more attention to local Sumter County politics. You can be certain that the Developer will be very creative approaching the General Election and beyond, trying to regain control of the Sumter County Board. Keeping local politics in the control of the taxpayers will take our collective, continual attention.

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna (Post 1819623)

Somewhat surprisingly, the three candidates that challenged the three developer-supported Incumbents for positions as Sumter County Commissioners won the Republican Primary convincingly. The challengers will have to win the General Election in November, and there will be lots of developer-designed and funded challenges, probably for write-in candidates. The upcoming weeks will be interesting as this will be the first time in at least a decade when the Sumter County Board won’t be cleanly “in the pocket” of The Villages Developer.

What’s at risk for the Developer? Lots of things. Without a lot of study, how about...

—A repeal of the major change which has the new roads and infrastructure in the new southern end of The Villages funded by the taxpayers rather than the Developer as had been the practice until this year. The result of the change was a 25% increase in property taxes. The challengers all ran with the repeal of those tax increases as a major plank in their platforms.

—The possible repeal of the “One Sumter” procedure for the election of County Commissioners. The change in the electoral process goes back almost fifteen years and was designed and sponsored by the Developer. The result of the electoral change was that the County Board could be controlled by three members, all of whom have turned out to be choices of the Developer and financed by them. The result of course was pretty much complete control of the Board in getting anything the Developer wanted approved.

—There are lots of other decisions facing the County Commissioners that will effect all Villages residents living in Sumter County (the vast majority of us). Not the least important issue might be approval of the re-zoning of the Hacienda Hills CC parcel to permit the construction of a high-rise 286-unit apartment building.

So it’ll probably be important for all of us to begin to pay lots more attention to local Sumter County politics. You can be certain that the Developer will be very creative approaching the General Election and beyond, trying to regain control of the Sumter County Board. Keeping local politics in the control of the taxpayers will take our collective, continual attention.

Originally Posted by njbchbum (Post 1819950)

Not according to Sumter County tax record!
Owner's Name THE VILLAGES OPERATING COMPANY
Site Address 1200 MORSE BLVD, LADY LAKE, FL 32159

Originally Posted by Halibut (Post 1820160)

Was there perhaps some sweet gerrymandering to have a facility with a Lady Lake address and zip code be part of Sumter County?

Originally Posted by Northwoods (Post 1820142)

Hacienda Hills... The Developer wants to build a nice apartment complex with a pool (SWIM UP BAR) and restaurant. All residents have access. Or... you can have a parking lot. You don't get to dictate what is on that site. (Neither do the new commissioners).

Remember Katie Bell's? You want the Developer to build a restaurant for Villagers so they can order a water with lemon and split the entree.

So many people complain that The Developer is abandoning the older sections of The Villages. The Developer is willing to provide housing for some of the older residents that don't want the maintenance of a house anymore. The complex will feature a new pool and a new restaurant.

But many of you don't want that. You would prefer a parking lot.

Originally Posted by merrymini (Post 1819904)

Florida is a closed primary state. That means that if you are not affiliated with either party, you cannot vote in a primary. There should be a referendum on the November ballot for Florida to become a open primary state, allowing independents to vote in primaries. I will vote for this because, I believe, independents have the right to vote in primaries just like everyone else.

Originally Posted by Heyitsrick (Post 1820296)

I don't understand this line of thinking. Yes, I know there are open primary states, so it's a fait accompli in those cases. But why should people who are not part of a particular political group be able to help determine whom that group decides to run as candidates?

In my view, if you really want to have a say, then join that party. Or, support candidates from another party to run against whomever the other party has chosen.

You've stated that you have "no party affiliation". So why should you have any power in a primary that's selecting people who do have a party affiliation? It's like "I have no desire to join your club, but I want to be able to help decide who gets to run for office in your club". I don't get that.

Originally Posted by merrymini (Post 1820320)

I do not join a party because I pick the people individually from either party that I feel best represents the interests of the constituents they will stand for. I do not swallow the fish whole but by being NPA, I do not get to vote in ANY primary and do not think that is FAIR. Both parties do not want NPA’s to vote because by not being affiliated, they cannot tie you to their party. I could switch parties continuously and vote In primaries all the time but would prefer to have that right as an NPA.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1819999)

Yes, LOUD lawnmowers without mufflers. In my opinion ALL lawnmowers in TV land should be electric. Soon all cars and trucks will be. I hope lawnmowers soon follow.

Originally Posted by Northwoods (Post 1820142)

Hacienda Hills... The Developer wants to build a nice apartment complex with a pool (SWIM UP BAR) and restaurant. All residents have access. Or... you can have a parking lot. You don't get to dictate what is on that site. (Neither do the new commissioners).

Remember Katie Bell's? You want the Developer to build a restaurant for Villagers so they can order a water with lemon and split the entree.

So many people complain that The Developer is abandoning the older sections of The Villages. The Developer is willing to provide housing for some of the older residents that don't want the maintenance of a house anymore. The complex will feature a new pool and a new restaurant.

But many of you don't want that. You would prefer a parking lot.

Originally Posted by Northwoods (Post 1820142)

Hacienda Hills... The Developer wants to build a nice apartment complex with a pool (SWIM UP BAR) and restaurant. All residents have access. Or... you can have a parking lot. You don't get to dictate what is on that site. (Neither do the new commissioners).

Remember Katie Bell's? You want the Developer to build a restaurant for Villagers so they can order a water with lemon and split the entree.

So many people complain that The Developer is abandoning the older sections of The Villages. The Developer is willing to provide housing for some of the older residents that don't want the maintenance of a house anymore. The complex will feature a new pool and a new restaurant.

But many of you don't want that. You would prefer a parking lot.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1820417)

I liked Katie Belles, as did a lot of people. I was a fun place. But you are right. The developer gets to "dictate"! And that makes us......What?

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 1820425)

Gets me that people say that Katie Belles closed due to people coming in and not ordering anything.

All management had to do is have a certain minimum charge per person and the problem goes away.

Originally Posted by biker1 (Post 1820439)

The old Katie Belle’s did have a minimum you had to spend for some performances. Some performances also had a charge for each seat at a table. I am not sure what the new Katie Belle’s was doing in that regard. The old Katie Belle’s was a lot of fun with the right band. I saw Uncle Bob there a number of times.

Originally Posted by KRM0614 (Post 1820397)

Nothing will change. Money is the pivotal driver in everything here. There may have been a vision 40 yrs ago however TV strayed from that exponentially. The lack of honesty the aggressive sales tactics the control of the messaging thru media just makes the vision merely that. Everything here is nothing like the commercials.

Originally Posted by Topspinmo (Post 1820378)

Dream on! Not in our life time.

Originally Posted by Topspinmo (Post 1820386)

A apartment or two fine, but they will be popping up like assisted living on every corner. At some point this will affect resales. So, if you can’t sale you’re home you can’t move into apartments. Laugh now but wait when they pop up of CR42 in open fields, polo fields, glenview, lopez, and work way south when developers properties become to runs down and defunct?