OUR VIEW: Your vote will matter in 2018

Tuesday
Jan 2, 2018 at 4:14 PM Jan 2, 2018 at 4:14 PM

In an era when world events could turn cataclysmic with one errant missile or a confrontational tweet, it is difficult to make predictions about the year ahead with any certainty.

But, barring catastrophe on a grand scale, Floridians and the people of Bay County will make significant decisions in the voting booth this year.

Following are summaries of some defining outcomes to be determined. (We will address them in future editorials.)

• Elections

Like it or not, 2018 is an election year. While the presidency is not on the ballot — Florida voters will face a barrage of contests that take on additional meaning due to President Trump’s performance. The race for one of Florida’s two seats in the U.S. Senate is likely to be close, contentious and costly. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, whose races could be more competitive than in the recent past due to Trump and the tax bill, will be up for re-election.

Statewide, a new governor will be elected for the first time in eight years and seats in the state House will be open. The state's Chief Financial Oficer, Bay County's Jimmy Patronis, appointed by Gov. Rick Scott, will face competition to hold the seat another four years.

Locally, a majority of the school board seats - Districts 2, 3 and 5 - and two county commission seats, Districts 2 and 4, are up.

Then we have Super Tuesday April 17 where a bevy of seats are up for re-election across Panama City Beach, Callaway, Mexico Beach and Springfield. Panama City Beach, coming off a tumultuous year as it goes to antics at its meetings, has started early with vocal city critic and Facebook talk show host Burnie Thompson already announcing he has moved into the city and is going to run for Ward 3 along with Geoff McConnell, Southeast operations manager of defense contractor Avian LLC; Marlin “Skip” Stoltz, Domino’s Pizza sales and marketing director and Colleen Swab, owner of California Cycles.

• Constitutional amendments

A 37-member Constitution Revision Commission has been meeting, as required every 20 years in Florida, and will propose amendments to the state’s guiding document for consideration by voters in November.

Most amendments to the state constitution have substantial, long-lasting impacts on the lives of Floridians. For instance, the CRC has considered proposals that would restrict personal-privacy rights, change the threshold for the Legislature to raise taxes, and extend the state’s prohibition on smoking in most indoor restaurants to “vaping” devices.

In order for a proposal to amend the constitution, it must be approved by a super-majority of the CRC and then endorsed by more than 60 percent of Florida’s general-election voters. The commission’s public hearings resume in February. For more information, go to www.flcrc.gov.

It will be a busy year for conscientious voters — an important one for those who want to rise above the rancor.

Tuesday
Jan 2, 2018 at 4:14 PM Jan 2, 2018 at 4:14 PM

In an era when world events could turn cataclysmic with one errant missile or a confrontational tweet, it is difficult to make predictions about the year ahead with any certainty.

But, barring catastrophe on a grand scale, Floridians and the people of Bay County will make significant decisions in the voting booth this year.

Following are summaries of some defining outcomes to be determined. (We will address them in future editorials.)

• Elections

Like it or not, 2018 is an election year. While the presidency is not on the ballot — Florida voters will face a barrage of contests that take on additional meaning due to President Trump’s performance. The race for one of Florida’s two seats in the U.S. Senate is likely to be close, contentious and costly. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, whose races could be more competitive than in the recent past due to Trump and the tax bill, will be up for re-election.

Statewide, a new governor will be elected for the first time in eight years and seats in the state House will be open. The state's Chief Financial Oficer, Bay County's Jimmy Patronis, appointed by Gov. Rick Scott, will face competition to hold the seat another four years.

Locally, a majority of the school board seats - Districts 2, 3 and 5 - and two county commission seats, Districts 2 and 4, are up.

Then we have Super Tuesday April 17 where a bevy of seats are up for re-election across Panama City Beach, Callaway, Mexico Beach and Springfield. Panama City Beach, coming off a tumultuous year as it goes to antics at its meetings, has started early with vocal city critic and Facebook talk show host Burnie Thompson already announcing he has moved into the city and is going to run for Ward 3 along with Geoff McConnell, Southeast operations manager of defense contractor Avian LLC; Marlin “Skip” Stoltz, Domino’s Pizza sales and marketing director and Colleen Swab, owner of California Cycles.

• Constitutional amendments

A 37-member Constitution Revision Commission has been meeting, as required every 20 years in Florida, and will propose amendments to the state’s guiding document for consideration by voters in November.

Most amendments to the state constitution have substantial, long-lasting impacts on the lives of Floridians. For instance, the CRC has considered proposals that would restrict personal-privacy rights, change the threshold for the Legislature to raise taxes, and extend the state’s prohibition on smoking in most indoor restaurants to “vaping” devices.

In order for a proposal to amend the constitution, it must be approved by a super-majority of the CRC and then endorsed by more than 60 percent of Florida’s general-election voters. The commission’s public hearings resume in February. For more information, go to www.flcrc.gov.

It will be a busy year for conscientious voters — an important one for those who want to rise above the rancor.

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