The filing deadline for the August and November Elections was last Friday.
Seminole County Democrats will have FOUR things to vote for on the August 30 Primary Ballot
18th Circuit Judge Group 9
Florida Constitutional Amendment 4
Our U.S. Senate Primary is probably going to be the nastiest in the country and will be the main driver of democrats to the polls in August. We all have our take on that race but what I want to do is focus on the three down ballot elections that will not get as much attention and could have others stumped at the polls.
Here are my recommendations for anyone who cares to see them. My hope is they at least give everyone some insight into the races on our August Ballot.
Longtime Incumbent Dede Schaffner is running against Challenger Abby Sanchez who happens to be a member of this group.
They are both republicans although Sanchez was a democrat until 2013. I knew about this before the Seminole County Post broke the story a while back as I do a lot of research on candidates.
From what I have researched and heard, Abby Sanchez is a very good teacher and someone who has worked hard to make a difference for the kids. She also has fought to get the salaries of teachers raised which is really needed an era where republicans are demonizing Teachers Unions.
When I first saw Sanchez's platform, I thought she was a progressive and when I did further research, was disappointed to see yet another School Board Candidate switch parties for an non-partisan race.
My feeling is she knew how things were in this county and like other School Board candidates in the past, she switched her party affiliation from democrat to republican because she felt it would increase her chances of furthering what looks to be a good part of her lives work.
It is said that Dede Schaffner and her late husband were two of the people who worked very hard to build this establishment here in Seminole County that has disenfranchised many of us from having a vote in some elections including Clerk of Courts and Comptroller and Tax Collector races this year.
This is also the same establishment who has made it hard for anyone other than a republican to run for office and get elected in this county.
The School Board here is by no means conservative republican though, it is more moderate and centrist. To her credit, Dede Schaffner has been more to the center than regular republicans probably would be.
In the end, this establishment needs to be taken down and while Abby Sanchez did pander with her party switch which I do not condone and fib about it a bit at that forum, she paid for it with that article in the Seminole Post.
It does not change the fact two candidates are on the ballot for this seat. I feel it is my responsibility as a voter and most of all to the children who go to Seminole County Schools to make the best decision.
Abby Sanchez has been an educator and activist for a good chunk of her life and the school board could use someone with both of these attributes rather than someone who seems to have served too long, is the status quo and is the leader of the establishment.
Recommendation: Vote for Abby Sanchez
18th Circuit Judge/Group 9
This is a three way race between Steve Henderson, Bob Moletteire and Christina Sanchez.
Christina Sanchez came in second place in a three way race for an 18th Circuit Judge seat back in 2014. Sanchez is a registered republican who has never stopped running since her loss and has racked up a bunch of endorsements from republican elected officials.
Since it is very hard to get 50 percent plus one in a three way race this race is likely to go to a run off.
Given Sanchez' s establishment endorsements and that fact she has been running over two years means she will likely get one of the two spots in the run off.
This leaves us progressives with a choice between Moletteire and Henderson.
I have done my research on the two candidates and based on it, Moletteire is definitely the better better.
He is a registered democrat, has great credentials (check his website) and let's just say my research turned up some interesting things that make me believe he will be a good progressive judge. If you want more information, you can privately message me.
Steve Henderson is a second option if Molettiere does not make the runoff although in my opinion, no where near as good of an option as Molettiere.
Recommendation: Vote for Bob Moletteire
Amendment 4: Solar Energy Tax Break
I still do not know why the Florida Legislator put this on the August ballot rather than the November ballot. If anyone has information, please let me know.
This amendment was actually put on the ballot by The Florida Legislator by a unanimous vote in both chambers and has wide bi-partisan report among liberal and conservative groups.
It's basically tax breaks for solar and renewable energy like solar panels.
Tax breaks and solar energy. That is something both democrats and republicans can agree on
.
Summary of down ballot primary race recommendations
School Board District 3: Abby Sanchez
18th Circuit Court Judge/Group 3: Bob Moletteire