CEO Tallahassee's General Election Voter Guide

Mark Mulligan

(R) - 48 yrs old

Education: Doctorate Degree, Mass Communication (Florida State University, 2008)
Experience:
Construction and Real-Estate Development
Small Business Owner Sales and Marketing
Educator

On the Issues:

No voting history on record.
Education, Jobs, Healthcare, Crime, Children's Welfare – No position found.

Candidate's focus issues:

Energy Independence
Immigration
National Debt and Spending
Social Security
Taxes

Allen Boyd

(D) - 63 yrs old

Education: Bachelor's Degree Business (Florida State University, 1969)
Experience:
Florida House of Representatives
Vietnam Veteran - US Army
Farmer, Small Business Owner

On the Issues

Information taken from candidate site and voting history.

Education

"Funding education is reachable through sensible and responsible budgeting that makes education a priority instead of an afterthought."
-- supported College Opportunity and Affordability Act, 2008
-- supported grants to fund modernization, renovation, repair to public school facilities

Jobs

--Supported the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008 (HR 5351) saying, "This legislation marks a major investment in innovation and American job creation while still adhering to the fiscally responsible pay-as-you-go budget rules."

Health Care

"Health care in our country should be affordable and accessible for everyone."
Supported reauthorization of State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), 2007.

Crime

Nothing found

Children's Welfare

Nothing found

Sources:
http://www.markmulliganforcongress.com/,
http://www.house.gov/boyd/
http://www.boydforcongress.com/getinformed/issues.cfm

Alan Williams

(D) – 32 yrs old
Education: Masters of Business Administration- Florida Agricultural University
Experience:
Aide to the Mayor
Leadership Tallahassee Class 25
United Way of the Big Bend, Board of Directors

On the Issues:
The candidate's website provided the following information on our issues:

Education: Investing in education; parent involvement; competitive teaching wages. Increased funding for universities and colleges.

Jobs: Better wages and benefits. Promoting small businesses, incentives for companies with new jobs and better pay.

Health Care: Accessible healthcare and increased funding for Gadsden's hospital and indigent care.

Crime: None found.

Children's Welfare: None found.

Robert Maddox

(R) - 28 yrs old

Education: Florida College, Lively Vo – Tech – Business Computer Programming, (2005)

Experience: Current Computer Programmer – URS

On the Issues:

Education: Candidate feels there is a lot of waste in education, yielding disappointing results. Wants to increase efficiency and investigate alternative education ideas.

Jobs:

Jobs are an indicator of the economy. Wants to get government out of the way of companies who want to add to the area.

Health Care:

Biggest healthcare challenge is unavailability for people who don't work for a large company with accessible benefits.

Crime:

Crime is a multi fold issue. We must look at the law to reform the community. We should revise the prison system, prisons do more harm than good. Many criminals exit prison more violent than they entered. We need alternatives for punishment.

Children's Welfare:

Address the welfare system, reform the structure and make requirements to receive government funds.

Lisa Raleigh

– Age Unknown

Education: Florida State University College of Law, 1990 (Jurist Doctorate with Honors)

Experience: United States Navy,

Current Special Counsel, Office of the Attorney General

On the Issues

Education: The judiciary can work with schools through the "Justice Teaching" program to help with civic education

Jobs: Be a good employer to employees of the judicial system;
Healthcare: N/A
Crime: (See attached)
Children's Welfare: Be sensitive to the needs of child witnesses

Frank E. Sheffield

62 yrs old

Education: Jurist Doctorate, (Florida State University College of Law, 1972)

Experience: United States Army Reserves 1968-74 (Honorable Discharge, Sgt.)

Owner, Frank E. Sheffield, P.A. September 1980-date

On the Issues

Response to all Issues: Education, Jobs, Healthcare, Crime, Children's Welfare – "Education, supervision, discipline, and fair and impartial treatment."

Sean Desmond

- 34 yrs old

Education:

J.D., Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida, 2000

Experience:

Assistant State Attorney for Leon and Franklin counties

Private Practice

Prosecution Experience

On the Issues

(The following questions were asked by the Tallahassee Democrat)

Ensuring all parties get an equal hearing, regardless of income, education or whether they have an attorney:

"The most important qualities of a Judge are the ability to listen, be fair and remain humble. I have always reminded myself that the issue concerning the person in front of me was the most important issue in that person's life at that time and that I should listen to them completely, which I do."

Reaching Speedy Decisions:

"Reaching speedy decisions is extremely important to the proper administration of justice and those involved in the process. It is also, however, extremely important to assure that decisions are not made in haste."

Nina Ashenafi Richardson

44 yrs old

Education

J.D., F.S.U. College of Law, 1991

Experience:

President-Tallahassee Bar Association, 2004-05.

Staff counsel to the Florida Education Association for 17 yrs

Legal Aid Foundation

Pro Bono Work

On the Issues

(The following questions were asked by the Tallahassee Democrat)

Ensuring all parties get an equal hearing, regardless of income, education or whether they have an attorney:

"Our constitution states that our courts shall be open to every person and that justice shall be administered without delay. Every citizen should have equal access to the courts regardless of their circumstance."

Reaching Speedy Decisions:

"It is imperative that cases before the court be handled in an effective and efficient manner. Justice delayed is justice denied."

Akin Akinyemi

(D)

Education:

FAMU School of Architecture

Experience:

Owner, Akin & Associates Architects, Inc

Leadership Tallahassee Class 21

City of Tallahassee Minority Business Enterprise Advisory Council

Sponsor of U.S. Green Building Council- Florida Capital Region Chapter

Education: Feels funding is the most important issue affecting education; Hopes to find new sources of revenue.

Jobs: Believes that Tallahassee should try to attract and keep skilled workers, small businesses and businesses. Also feels government should promote entrepreneurship develop small businesses.

Health Care: Believes insurance should be regulated better and that attracting physicians and other health care providers to our area may alleviate lack of availability/affordability in health care; Wants more funding and education to help increase prenatal care.

Crime: Mentions lack of accountable government can lead to societal issues (crime, homelessness, budget cuts, etc.) and that striving for government accountability can improve Leon; mentions economic development as a remedy for crime

Children's Welfare: To prevent gang violence, believes in providing youth with alternatives to gangs (jobs/skills training, parental/mentor support, and self-esteem improvement)

Ed DePuy

(R)

Education: FSU School of Criminology

Experience:

Incumbent, elected November 2004 after being appointed to Commission in 2001-02 by Jeb Bush;

United States Marine Corps

Florida Highway Patrol, State Attorney's office, Seminole/Brevard/Leon County Sheriff;

Former Division Director for the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation;

On the Issues

Education: None found

Jobs: "Supports encouraging local business expansion and inviting companies to come in from outside the community to create job opportunities." (TDO);

Says: "we need to work to enhance the businesses that are already located in our community." (TDO)

Health Care: None found

Crime: Focused on merging Leon County Sheriff and Tallahassee Police Department 911 Operations (in addition to more general city/county merging/consolidation)
Children's Welfare: None found.

Brian Acosta

Education

2005 A.A Santa Fe Community College

2005-Present Florida A & M University

Current Occupation

Doctor's Aid

Community Involvement

None Listed

When asked by the League of Women Voter about solutions to water pollution from road runoff, rural areas, septic tanks, Georgia, and other sources Mr. Acosta said:

"A team should be set up to formulate ideas to these problems"

Sean McGlynn

Education

1977 B.S. Louisiana State University-Biochemistry

1989 M.A. Florida State University-History

1995 Ph.D. Florida State University-Biology, Area III Ecology

Current Occupation

Ochlocknee River Soil and River Conservation District 1 Supervisor

Owner, McGlynn Laboratories, Inc

Community Involvement

Florida Lake Management Society

Big Bend Sierra Club

Leon County Science Advisory Committee

When asked by the League of Women Voters about solutions to water pollution from road runoff, rural areas, septic tanks, Georgia, and other sources Mr. McGlynn said:

"Water pollution can be dealt with by implementing Best Management Practices (BMP's). A lot of this requires public education. The Think About Personal Pollution or TAPP, which was started by the ORSWCD and over which I was the Grant Manager, until the program was adopted by the City of Tallahassee, is a perfect example of what can be done. If everyone had the education to see the importance of and to know how to do it property. I know this is utopian but everyone did his or her part it would certainly help."

Sponsor: The Florida Legislature

On the Ballot:
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to delete provisions authorizing the Legislature to regulate or prohibit the ownership, inheritance, disposition, and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship.

What it really means:
This is an attempt to allow an alien who can't become a citizen to keep his or her inheritance/disposition/real property without approval or regulation of the Legislature.

If you Vote Yes: The bill will allow aliens who are ineligible for citizenship to retain any form of inheritance, disposition, and possession of real property that is given to them with out the approval of the legislature

If you Vote No: The bill will not allow illegal aliens who are ineligible for citizenship to retain any form of inheritance, disposition, and possession of real property that is given to them with out the approval of the legislature

Sponsor: Florida4Marriage.org

On the Ballot:
“This amendment protects marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and provides that no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized. The direct financial impact this amendment will have on state and local government revenues and expenditures cannot be determined, but is expected to be minor.”

What it really means:
Florida law currently prohibits marriages between persons of the same sex and defines “marriage” as the legal union between one man and one woman. The proposed amendment would place into the Florida Constitution language that defines “marriage” as the legal union of one man and one woman. The amendment would further prohibit the State from recognizing any other legal union that is treated as marriage or is the equivalent of such a relationship.

If you Vote Yes: Florida’s Constitution will define marriage as the legal union between one man and one woman. State will not recognize any other legal union that is treated as marriage or its equivalent.

If you Vote No: The amendment will not take effect.

Sponsor: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission

On the Ballot:
Authorizes the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit consideration of changes or improvements to residential real property which increase resistance to wind damage and installation of renewable energy source devices as factors in assessing the property's value for ad valorem taxation purposes. Effective upon adoption, repeals the existing renewable energy source device exemption no longer in effect.

What it really means:
Home improvements can increase the value of the home and thus the taxes paid on the home. Certain improvements, like strengthening a home’s resistance towards wind damage and installing renewable resource devices should not be factored into the assessment of the home’s value, for tax purposes. There is already a law that exempts renewable energy source device improvements. If this amendment passes, then the existing law will no longer be in effect.
Need to know about this amendment:
It only applies to improvements to homes, not to new construction.

If You Vote Yes: You support leaving homes at their current value (before the renovations) for tax appraisal.

If You Vote No: You support including the value of the home improvements in the tax appraisal.

http://www.votesmartflorida.org/mx/hm.asp?id=Nov08_Amendment3
http://tallahassee.fl.lwvnet.org/StateBallots.htm
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2004/11/02/47372.htm
http://www.local10.com/politics/17503262/detail.html

Sponsor: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission

On the Ballot:
Beginning in 2010, legislature must make real property designated for conservation easements or other conservation protections exempt from tax. Land used for conservation (but not perpetually designated as conservation land) must be assessed only based on its character or use. The benefits of the amendment are subject to conditions, limitations and reasonable definitions established by general law.

What it really means:
Land used for conservation only will be property tax free.
Land used currently, but not exclusively for conservation will be assessed for taxes according to its current (conservation) use only.

If you vote yes: Landowners that will always be using their land for conservation will be given a tax break. Landowners that are using their land for conservation right now, but not necessarily always, will pay property taxes based on a lower conservation land rate while they use the land for conservation.

If you vote no: Taxes will be imposed upon property owners of land regardless of its uses.

Sponsor: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission

On the Ballot:
Provides for assessment based upon use of land used predominantly for commercial fishing purposes; land used for vessel launches into waters that are navigable and accessible to the public; marinas and dry stacks that are open to the public; and water dependent marine manufacturing facilities, commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction and repair facilities and their support activities, subject to conditions, limitations, and reasonable definitions specified by general law.

What it really says:
Water Front Properties should not be assessed, for tax purposes, based upon "highest and best value" instead of the being taxed for what the property is being used for currently.

"Need to knows" about waterfront properties: Maritime-related businesses are very profitable in Florida, thus water front real estate is highly desirable for building and developing industry. Currently, that land is taxed based on that "highest and best use," even if it is not developed as such. Therefore, small businesses are being taxed the same amount as large businesses based on this "best value" principle rather than on the actual value of the property.

If You Vote Yes: You support taxing waterfront property based on its current use. A yes vote changes the existing law; properties will no longer be assessed based on their "highest and best use" or on their potential development use. They will be assessed based on their current usage.

If You Vote No: You support taxing waterfront properties as what it could be or might be in the future. A “no” vote would keep the current law in effect; taxing water front properties for their "highest and best use" even if it is not the current use.

www.local10.com/politics/17503983/detail.html
www.broward.org.sue
The League of Women Voters

Sponsor: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission

On the Ballot:
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require that the Legislature authorize counties to levy a local option sales tax to supplement community college funding; requiring voter approval to levy the tax; providing that approved taxes will sunset after 5 years and may be reauthorized by the voters.

What It Really Says:
Counties will be authorized to impose a tax that will help fund local community colleges. Local voters can vote on whether they want the tax or not. If the tax is approved, it will go away after 5 years unless reauthorized by the local voters.

If You Vote Yes:
This option for community college funding will be added to the Article VII, Section 9 of the Florida Constitution. Voters will have the option vote on whether or not they want the tax to be imposed. After five years, voters will be able to say whether or not they want the tax to continue.

If You Vote No:
This option is not added to the Constitution. There will be no option to vote on this tax and no tax imposed.

* http://www.votesmartflorida.org/mx/hm.asp?id=nov08_Amendment8
* http://election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/fulltext/pdf/12-9.pdf
* http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Florida_Amendment_8_(2008)
* http://www.facc.org/facc/2007_Funding_Highlights.asp?SnID=2
* https://www.msu.edu/~urazoya/papers/ead876finalpapercommunitycollegefunding.pdf
* http://www.communitycollegecentral.org/financetoolkit/FundingApproachesinSelectedStates.pdf