February 15, 2011 Below is my letter to Scott Callahan noting I am voting for Steve Leary in the March 8th election. Scott, I viewed the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board interview and will be supporting Steve Leary. I doubt my decision as a single voter is particularly meaningful to you or to Steve but I wanted to share my thinking with you as you were generous with your time and attention when we met and spoke about your interest in running. You say the Mayor has done a “mediocre” job. You equate leadership with accommodation in your critique. This can…
Category: Elections
The End is Near
August 26, 2010 It has taken several years and much effort to wake the people of Winter Park to the reality that righteous nonsense, lies, and hypocrisy are not a substitute for experienced judgment and leadership. Many more citizens are beginning to recognize the reality. Purveyors of divisive prattle in Winter Park are revealing themselves. (Click the image then press “Ctrl +” or “Ctrl -” to resize within a browser window.) The facts can be found here. Please help as we seek honorable, experienced, and capable people to serve our city in the March 2011 city commission election. Talk to…
Dishonorable
August 22, 2010 Karen Diebel, former Winter Park Vice Mayor and candidate for US House Seat in Florida District 24, believes in individual freedom, individual responsibility, smaller government, and financial restraint. I am a supporter. Craig Miller, an opponent of Diebel’s in the Republican primary for the District 24 US House seat, along with former and current Winter Park city commission members Margie Bridges and Beth Dillaha, believe in character assassination and personal vendettas. Miller mailed a letter to District 24 voters written by Bridges and Dillaha. The authors know this letter contains false and misleading claims about Diebel. The…
More Wasted Time for Winter Park
August 12, 2010 Ms. Dillaha offered another one of her missives in today’s Winter Park/Maitland Observer: http://wpmobserver.com/WPMObserver/article.asp?ID=4319 What possible good can a city commissioner do by repeatedly, publicly, and falsely criticizing another member of the commission? (Answer: None. It can only do harm.) The continual “work sessions” called by Ms. Dillaha are meaningless efforts by one commissioner or set of commissioners to sway the opinion of other commissioners, not to get “work” done as she asserts. Each commissioner has the individual responsibility to do their home work, question city staff, establish their position on every issue and then vote. That’s…
For those interested in the facts….
The most important issue in the recent election (both for new city commission members and charter amendments) was the future of our Comprehensive Plan and thus, our city. I repeatedly pointed out the flaws in Comprehensive Plan. Interestingly, the first City Commission meeting following the election included proposed Comprehensive Plan changes from city planning staff (recommended by the city attorneys) to many of the prohibitions and other elements of the Comprehensive Plan I previously expressed concerns about. This list is by no means complete but it is a beginning toward restating our Comprehensive Plan in ways that may encourage compatible…
Time for Leadership in Winter Park
March 8, 2010 Commissioner Anderson’s letter in support of Carolyn Cooper demonstrates the need for real leadership at City Hall. Mr. Anderson’s letter simply accepts that the city will be forced to reduce spending, and thus service levels in order to balance future budgets without raising taxes. It is precisely this forced reduction in service levels that puts our quality of life and residential property values at risk. Mr. Anderson’s “plan” by default is to reduce spending until some undefined events magically occur that increase property values and economic activity, in the hope this will increase revenues needed to maintain…
Vote “no” on super-majority (Amendment #10)
February 4, 2010 Why do those supporting a super-majority vote in Winter Park insist on referring to those who disagree with them as “development-related special interests” (My Word: “Vote ‘yes’ for a super-majority,” Orlando Sentinel, Tuesday)? A broad spectrum of citizens with varied interests and experiences are rightfully questioning Amendment 10. On Tuesday, Winter Park voters will decide whether to require a super-majority vote (4-1) of city commissioners when changing land-use policies within our comprehensive plan. A “no” vote in opposition to Amendment 10 will assure that a minority will not control future land use in Winter Park. Winter Park’s…
Time to Stop the Nonsense
February 25, 2010 You received a flyer in the mail today promoting a yes vote on Amendment #10 on March 9th. Florida law requires a filing with the City Clerk identifying the people responsible and the sources of financing for political communications. Also, an individual can send political communications provided they identify themselves. The flyer you received was attributed to “Ten for Winter Park.” Per my phone calls today, neither the City of Winter Park nor the Orange County Elections office has any information on this organization. [Update: “Ten for Winter Park” registered with the City on March 3, 2010…
What Kind of City Do YOU Want?
If you can get past the law suits we are exposed to by Cooper’s master plan (the Comprehensive Plan) you may wish to consider the tone and substance of the plan and how it will impact our relationship with those who may consider investing in our city. Remember that Cooper is running for a seat on our City Commission based on her authorship and support for this plan, and that Tom McMacken has pledged his allegiance to this plan. The Cooper and McMacken plan, also embraced by Commissioner Beth Dillaha, prohibits almost everything and encourages almost nothing. It is this…
Cooper’s Comprehensive Incompetence
My concern with Carolyn Cooper used to be about bad policy. It now includes incompetence. She tells us she understands land use issues and then writes rules that expose the City to law suits. The people of Winter Park need to understand the magnitude and consequences of problems generated by Cooper’s influence as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission before they vote. Click Here: The Winter Park City Attorney on February 8, 2010 confirmed that Cooper’s Comprehensive Plan has down zoned a substantial number of properties and that at least one property owner has a valid and substantial…