Let’s Talk Elections, both Chapter and State

The chapter ballots will be mailed on August 17th. Please don’t set it aside ‘for later’. Mark that puppy and send it back immediately. The problem is, later doesn’t come. It’s depressing to go to the mail box several weeks after the new Board members have been sworn in and find a ballot that has just arrived. So, make us all proud by sending in those ballots, marked correctly and on time. And, after taking care of our election, look to your power in November, as a voter you have a lot of influence. That is, if you get heard during the traditionally low-turnout midterms. While PVA is politically neutral, favoring no one candidate, we do promote government policies that benefit veterans and the disabled. Elections are the best time to speak to politicians; it’s when they listen.

Floridians will pick a new Senator this year. There are over 20 candidates for the junior senatorial seat, including the contest between Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio.

With Crist running for the Senate, Florida will get a new Governor. Again, over 20 folks are qualified and active in that race, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Clear frontrunners are Rick Scott, Bill McCollum and Alex Sink.

All seats in the House of Representatives are up for grabs, and all State Representatives. Half of the State Senate’s 40 seats are in the 2010 elections. Then there are the elections for political offices that few notice, but have profound effects on daily lives; local courts and governments. For example, the federal government has a huge role in enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act when there are issues, but city and county governments have a larger role in ensuring building accessibility to avoid these issues. The VA has programs for helping veterans, but elected county judges usually see them before the VA.

Talk to the people running for offices. Savvy political candidates make it easy. Most have websites that list how to contact them. What they hear repeated during the campaign will show in their political decisions. If political candidates hear “veterans with disabilities” often, they’ll remember when in office.

We know that a comparatively small number of people have the greatest influence on government, and not because of the money given to campaigns. Those who speak to candidates and politicians get to influence decisions. Those who don’t…

To find out who’ll be on your ballot, call your local supervisor of elections’ office, or visit the web site. Also visit http://election.dos.state.fl.us to learn about Florida elections.
The CFPVA is promoting passage of the proposed Floridians with Disabilities Act. If passed by the incoming State Legislature and signed by the new Governor, it would codify the ADA into state law, giving the Florida Commission on Human Relations new powers to mediate resolutions to accessibility issues.

Additionally, the chapter wants the incoming Florida Legislature to change a single word in FS 316.008. That proposed change would be from ‘may’ to ‘shall.’ That change would mean all of Florida’s cities and counties would have to create special directed funds from fines paid for violating reserved parking. These funds would go to benefit the disabled. If it’s passed, the next time you see someone getting a ticket for parking in a space marked “Parking by Disabled Permit Only” you may be deprived the space, but you’ll know the funds will come to the disabled in other ways. A significant victory for our team!

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