We think: Kosmas, Blythe, Putnam and Stearns would serve voters...

I'd like to thank the Orlando Sentinel for taking time to research the candidates and make endorsements. Unfortunately, the Sentinel did not make an endorsement in the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District race.

At a time when water quality and water supply are near the top of our local concerns, it is critical that voters know the candidates in these non-partisan races.

Since joining the District in May, I have worked hard to reinvigorate the board by hosting river clean-ups and educational outreaches.

I have also been a vocal opponent of Seminole County's plan to pull millions of gallons of water per day from the St. Johns River to provide an irrigation source for new sprawl.

My opposition is based on scientific studies being conducted by the St. Johns River Water Management District that indicate the plan will lead to loss of wetlands and associated wildlife, increases in toxic blue-green algae along the river and increasing concentrations of pollutants and salinity.

This plan is bad for water quality, bad for wildlife and bad for our tourism-based economy. It is also a perfect example of irresponsible governance. Seminole County invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in this controversial project before securing the needed permits and is now spending tens of thousands more in legal fees to defend a lawsuit by Jacksonville and the St. Johns RiverKeeper.

This waste of taxpayer money could have been avoided by partnering with other local governments instead of moving ahead with a plan that commissioners knew in advance would spark a "water war."

Instead of putting the St. Johns and Wekiva Rivers at risk, Seminole should instead be implementing meaningful conservation measures and working with our coastal neighbors to ensure that desalinization plants are built with sufficient capacity to meet Central Florida's long-term needs.

Based on our current water usage and projected future growth, it is critical that we begin planning for the long-term. I have a vision and a plan for meeting our future water needs while protecting our environment. Please visit my website, www.votestevebarnes.com to learn more.

Thank you,
Steve Barnes
Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, Group 2 Supervisor

C'mon Sentinel. We are waiting for your Barack Hussein Obama endorsement. It will interesting to see how you ignore his lack of experience. I'm also waiting anxiously to see how you dismiss his relationships with such "great" Americans such as William Ayers and Jeremiah Wright.
I know John McCain isn't the best alternative but he never worked for an organization with such criminal intent as ACORN.
I really feel for you guys and gals at the Editorial board. Any credibility you have left is about to be wasted away.

Kosmas may have been a possibility, but her "ads" killed that. Still have no idea what she stands for.

Sentinel endorse Keller and the wackos come forth with conspiracy theories, threats and sarcasm. The Sentinel endorses Feeney's opponent and there is no love. C'mon, wackos. Be fair!

Steve Barnes SSWCD wrote:

"St. Johns River to provide an irrigation source for new sprawl","loss of wetlands and associated wildlife, increases in toxic blue-green algae along the river and increasing concentrations of pollutants and salinity", "perfect example of irresponsible governance", "meaningful conservation measures",

Isn't it interesting that in the midst of an economic and real estate meltdown, we have someone advocating more restrictions. The ONLY way out of this mess is by growth, growth, growth. You may not like it, Steve. Your devotees (who already live here and have their piece of Florida) may not like it, but it's the only way. The withdrawl from the St. John's is the proverbial pee-pee in the ocean. Here's a SIMPLE solution to the water situation. Why not raise the fees to use water to the point people stop using it? Then price it accordingly to conserve or not. Right now, the price is so subsidized, no one knows what people are willing to pay or not pay for water. That's a simple and easy solution. Until then,I view people like you as control freaks who want to tell everyone else what to do. Why not try a market approach?

I believe the Sentinel did the voters a disservice by endorsing Adam Putnam. Mr. Putnam has indeed benefited himself and his party at the expense of his district. How can one explain a 98.7% Putnam voting record in support of President Bush. Surely the Sentinel is not endorsing Mr. Bush's disasterous eight-year reign, even though Mr. Putnam has done exactly that -- as evidenced by his voting record. By the way, calling for AG Gonzalez to resign, while not removing any of the harmful laws Mr. Gonzalez helped put in place, isn't leadership. It's damage control.

Mr. Tudor's inexperience in the world of politics is his greatest strength. Once elected, if he takes the same rabid partisanship as Mr. Putnam did, he too should be removed from office. Until then, I am willing to take a chance on an unknown, rather than voting for someone who has voted for the very policies which have our country in such dire straights.

I encourage every FL-12 resident to look at Mr. Tudor's resume, positions, and goals prior to casting his or her ballot. www.teamtudor.org

Sincerely, Mark Rogers

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A new discussion about the ups and downs of this current season!

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No holds barred! Redskins haters and Cowgirls are invited too!

Enjoy!

You abandon Congressman Tom Feeney because he is one of the few in congress that doesn't comprimise his Consevative Values and Principles...Just Pathetic Orlando Sentinal that you throw the one true Conservative in Central Florida under the bus. Guess what...Most people in this country were against the Wall Street Bailout, Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants, and Drilling here in America for our own Oil. Those ARE NOT RADICAL STANCES you just have been diluted by Bush Conservatism which is acually Fiscal Liberalism in disguise. You all make me sick that's why congress has an 8% approval rate because comprimise is valued over principled stances and accually listening to your constituants.

Blather wrote:

<quoted text> Isn't it interesting that in the midst of an economic and real estate meltdown, we have someone advocating more restrictions. The ONLY way out of this mess is by growth, growth, growth. Until then,I view people like you as control freaks who want to tell everyone else what to do.

Actually, I am not against growth. I just believe that policy should be based on science, not wishful thinking and that new growth should follow common-sense rules that protect both our environment and our economy.

For instance, new homes should be required to have cisterns that collect rain water and grey water from washing machines. That combination would provide all the water needed for irrigation while lowering water bills and protecting our aquifer. Sadly, these types of proposals are opposed by government agencies that make significant amounts of money delivering water to homes. They don't want people going "off the grid."

Secondly, the danger to the St. Johns is real. Thirty years ago, no one thought the aquifer would be facing such a chronic shortage. Thirty years from now, we could very well be facing the same kind of negative impacts on the river. As a fiscal conservative, I believe it is wiser to be good stewards of what we have than to waste tax dollars on a risky scheme that could devastate our tourism-based economy.

This plan has already cost Seminole tens of thousands in legal fees thanks to a suit brought by Jacksonville. If it is allowed to go foward and causes the types of problems the water management district's own scientists predict, it will cost million more in tax dollars to clean up the mess.(Think the Everglades, the Kississimmee River and lakes Jesup and Apopka.)

We can protect our environment and our economy - it doesn't need to be one or the other.

Steve

Myer Rickless wrote:

You abandon Congressman Tom Feeney because he is one of the few in congress that doesn't comprimise his Consevative Values and Principles...Just Pathetic Orlando Sentinal that you throw the one true Conservative in Central Florida under the bus. Guess what...Most people in this country were against the Wall Street Bailout, Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants, and Drilling here in America for our own Oil. Those ARE NOT RADICAL STANCES you just have been diluted by Bush Conservatism which is acually Fiscal Liberalism in disguise. You all make me sick that's why congress has an 8% approval rate because comprimise is valued over principled stances and accually listening to your constituants.

Yeah, Feeney has stuck to the "Conservative Value" of corruption throughout his tenure. Who doesn't want four more years of corruption?

By the way, a little education is a good thing and judging from your grammar and spelling, you've had very little.

I think newspapers that back any political candidate are irresponsible and are only doing so to get more readers.

O.S. made thoughtful even-handed arguments for each of the candidates endorsed above and made very rationale observations about strenghts and weaknesses.

I was pleasantly surprised to see O.S. support Dr. Blythe for Congress. He's run a grass-roots campaign with almost no funding, and done it with class. Hope the endorsement helps him.

I agree. Steven Blythe is far and away the better candidate, and better person for this position.

The last thing we need is another puppet to the corporate lobby.

Posey is a real estate guy, and is backed by major health insurance companies... If you read the past, you can see the future here folks. He has all the financial backing that the corporate lobby can buy. So much for representing "Us."

Steve Blythe has been the clear choice for congress for months. I have met with him in person, and asked some tuff questions. As a person that has very strong views that could be placed in both parties, I trust his common sense and intelligence to find the median we must have to succeed.

A little late in their endorsement, but better late than never.

Wow, I cannot believe this paper would endorse Adam Putnam. How can you endorse someone who has willy-nilly followed George Bush, voting with this failed President almost 100% of the time? Are you aware of the disastrous results of this Presidency? Do you think Iraq is a success? Did you like being lied to about it? Have you checked the economy lately? is it working for you?

I don't know how bad things would have to get before some people change their minds.

Doug Tudor's military experience and education in Government and the Law make him far more qualified than Putnam. I don't need more of the same, I'll give the new guy a chance - he couldn't possibly do worse.

Where Are The Wackos wrote:

Sentinel endorse Keller and the wackos come forth with conspiracy theories, threats and sarcasm. The Sentinel endorses Feeney's opponent and there is no love. C'mon, wackos. Be fair!

Yeah well the Sentinel almost never endorses a Democrat. It usually takes the Republican being indicted or under serious investigation like Mr. Feeney (who needs a Congressman with his own "defense fund"?) before they'll cross party lines and endorse a Democrat like Senator Kosmas.

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

Kosmos got $10000 from Charlie Rangel, D-NY. Why would someone at his level contribute to a big nothing like her. Other than picking on Tom Feeney what does she stand for?

Bill Posey has been on the government teet his entire life. It's time to send him into the private sector so he can get a better grasp on the reality working families face today.

Vote Frank ZIlaitis District 15

As your United States Representative, Frank Zilaitis will promote and defend the Constitution of the United States and principles of:
Individual Liberty
Constitutional Government
Sound Money
Free Markets
Non-interventionist Foreign Policy
Are you tired of two-party politics and the political gridlock for which it stands?
Are you tired of political party bosses choosing candidates before you have had an opportunity to vote?
Are you tired of deficit spending and the inflation tax?
Are you tired of unconstitutional "no-win" police actions in foreign countries?
Do you want a person, not a political party, working on your behalf in Washington, D.C.?

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

So we should split the democrat vote up to lose to another right wing republican? I think at this time in our country, we cannot, under any circumstances, allow the republicans to stay in office. They have almost ended this country.

The last thing we should do is vote third party this year and allow the evangelical right to make us live their fantasy one minute longer.