Lake County commissioner's record shows little concern for kids...

Lauren, Thank you for telling the truth about Stivender. She epitomizes what a politician shouldn't be. I've also noticed that anytime i"ve ever asked a question or made a statement that she didn't agree with there would no be no response. Your own your own when you have any dealing with county government. Don't ever expect Stivender to ever take any action on your behalf.

Thank you Lauren, for telling it exactly the way it is. Debbie, can not disenfranchise the majority of voters in Lake County like she did when she ran for commissioner with the write-in sham. Much harder to rig a non-partisan race then it a partisan one.

This is a MUST READ for every voter in Lake county!!!!!!
I know I will do whatever I can to keep this "candidate" away from our schools! This will definatley include any backing I can afford to her opponent.

We must control growth and the resulting conflict to our education system.

Doesn't Lake already have someone in education with a record like this? Hmmm?

It sounds like Ms. Stivender had better get some strong support from the media for her campaign and from others who support her.

Let's see, the others running are: Wiseman (former LCSB-and nah, no way!).

And there is Glass-a lady with true class, this unknown teacher knows very well from that which she endeavors to change and improve on in our Lake County Schools. She has my vote.

I'd like to see an objective (but with Lauren's great and entertaining slant) commmentary about all those running.

I look forward to seeing it this summer.

So what we need form our schools is to above all develop critical thinking skills. I don't think Debbie and her friends want critical thinkers.

I understand your position, but how do you support Connor for County Commisioner? Isn't it the same theory? I think it is time for some new names in our local politics.

DITTO!

Somebody wrote:

I understand your position, but how do you support Connor for County Commisioner? Isn't it the same theory? I think it is time for some new names in our local politics.

I realize that Ms. Ritchie is doing all she can for Mr. Conner and his campaign but enough is enough already. People of Lake County better recognize the media bias taking place here. Every real conservative should know that media tries to dictate their own agenda and if they are for someone for example Obama and tear down another person for example McCain then as good conservatives we should know that we are being swayed. I want people to realize that Lauren Ritchie is know different then any other media person. She needs to start being neutral or for everyones sake here just keep her liberal minded, uneducated opinion to herself. Orlando Sentinel better understand how bad things can be when their opinion commentators interfere with local govt.

The Repbublican Lake County(and the nation in general) have shown no concern for anyone. The past 7+ years have been an embarassment. Our president is a war criminal. I hope the Nuremburg Commision follows through and indicts him.

VoTe Democratic

Florida Mike wrote:

The Repbublican Lake County(and the nation in general) have shown no concern for anyone. The past 7+ years have been an embarassment. Our president is a war criminal. I hope the Nuremburg Commision follows through and indicts him.
VoTe Democratic

My God man, do you have a coherant thought?

I know that we have to cover this with every column, but this is an EDITORIAL. She is a COLUMNIST. It is not unbiased reporting of the news because it is not supposed to be. The writer gets paid to give her OPINION. I also love how you call her "uneducated". Stick to Fox News.

Citizen of Lake wrote:

I realize that Ms. Ritchie is doing all she can for Mr. Conner and his campaign but enough is enough already. People of Lake County better recognize the media bias taking place here. Every real conservative should know that media tries to dictate their own agenda and if they are for someone for example Obama and tear down another person for example McCain then as good conservatives we should know that we are being swayed. I want people to realize that Lauren Ritchie is know different then any other media person. She needs to start being neutral or for everyones sake here just keep her liberal minded, uneducated opinion to herself. Orlando Sentinel better understand how bad things can be when their opinion commentators interfere with local govt.

Thank you, BNO, for explaining to the ignorant that Ms. Ritchie is not a reporter. Her column is ALWAYS her opinion.

BNO wrote:

I know that we have to cover this with every column, but this is an EDITORIAL. She is a COLUMNIST. It is not unbiased reporting of the news because it is not supposed to be. The writer gets paid to give her OPINION. I also love how you call her "uneducated". Stick to Fox News.
<quoted text>

I am not typically inclined to opine in the newspaper or its website, but I was just so shocked by the prejudiced commentary offered by columnist Lauren Ritchie that I was motivated to respond. I have served on boards and committees with Commissioner Debbie Stivender; a couple of them she served in an official capacity and the others as a volunteer and private citizen. In every instance, she has contributed time, money, and other resources available to her. Often, she is the first to suggest solutions to pressing matters. I offer this example of her commitment to our community. The Department of Children and Families had recently become involved with a Lake County family that included 7 minor children. They were living in a rotten, mold-infested mobile home. But for the actions of Commissioner Stivender, the children would have been displaced from their parents and placed into foster care. She did this all while battling colon cancer and enduring chemotherapy treatments. Time and again Commissioner Stivender has declined public recognition for her efforts in support of Lake County’s children and families, but the very least I can do is offer my firsthand account of leadership skills in action.

BNO and Leesburger for your education Lauren Ritchie does not editorialize. Editorials go the editorial page.The editorial page contains several elements,including, as the name suggests,the editorials - the opinions or positions of the newspaper on major issues of local or national public policy, such as pending legislation or social or political issues. A columnist like Lauren Ritchie gives opinions, usually his or her own. A columnist is expected to gather accurate information, just as a reporter does, and then comment on that information. A columnist has more latitude and license than a reporter and is not constrained by the rule of impartiality that governs news writing. While they are subject to the editing and approval of one or more editors, columnists can write just about what they please, as long as it remains within the boundaries of good taste and public acceptability, as defined by the paper. Ms.Ritchie has strong opinions about many subjects and she also has motives behind those opinions. She sometimes has a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situationin my opinion.

Citizen of Lake wrote:

I realize that Ms. Ritchie is doing all she can for Mr. Conner and his campaign but enough is enough already. She needs to start being neutral or for everyones sake here just keep her liberal minded, uneducated opinion to herself. Orlando Sentinel better understand how bad things can be when their opinion commentators interfere with local govt.

How can you call anyone uneducated with grammar and spelling errors like you have in your post?

NativeSun is either Debbie Stivender, or is insane. It takes a simple look at her record to know what Lauren says is true.

Oh, so Stivender voted FOR Bella Collina: No wonder she won't help unincorporated Montverde residents battle Town of Montverde Mayor Troy Bennett's illogical closing of a public roadway for private benefit....BC is clearly involved, albeit not at the forefront.

Thanks for the insight!

Tom was trying to say in his last sentence, that the column he wrote was his opinion. However, since he's a nobody, nobody cares.

Please, someone come forward to run for the school board seat that Mr. Conner is leaving that is a for-real fiscal conservative but with prior business experience, maybe a former CEO and experience in running a billion-dollar business that would be in it for the kids and not to serve their own interests and not those of their puppeteers. Mr. Wiseman was part of the school board crowd that helped create the present mess with their see no eveil, speak no evil, and hear no evil attitudes.
Ms. Stivender is a college drop-out that has primarily only worked for greedy attorneys and fed off the public trough at their behest. Objectively, her record speaks for itself. As to the Tavares High School teacher, I don't know anything about her, but one thing appears to be certain, the Lake School system is a billion-dollar business that is Lake's largest employer and being a school teacher should not qualify her for being on the board of directors to this now complex business enterprise. So please step forward if you have business experience, a college grad or MBA, or retired with extensive accountability experience to do what needs to be done. No more political hacks please!