Tag Archive for Jacobs

Memorial Day 2011 : Orange County Courthouse Ceremony

May 30, 2011 Uncategorized No comments

This morning, I had the honor of attending the Memorial Day Ceremonies at the Orange County Courthouse. There, members of the community took time to reflect on the memory of those who, have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend freedom. It was another beautiful ceremony and you have got to be so proud and blessed to be part of this community. Here are some photos, take a moment to think of those we’ve lost, and I wish all of you peaceful and pleasant Memorial Day.

The Colors on display

Representatives from Multiple Organizations and Lawmakers attended

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs

County Commissioner Jennifer Thompson

Sergeant Major gave a fine speech

Honoring Those We've Lost

Attendance was standing room only, again this year

Post Ceremony

Orange County has always been great to Vets. Have a restful Memorial Day.

Puerto Rican Affairs Summit II

May 22, 2011 Uncategorized No comments

It’s hard to believe how fast the time flies. On Friday, the 2nd Summit of Puerto Rican Affairs took place in Kissimmee. As you might recall, there was a post about last year’s summit on this blog and I’m glad they did it again this year.

The Summit covers Hispanic initiatives in business, education, and politics. Leaders from those areas host panel led discussions about what to expect, how to get involved, and how to improve quality of life for Hispanics living in Florida. Leaders from all levels of government, and yes, candidates running for office stop in and listen to the community about their concerns.

This year with redistricting and a painfully slow economic recovery awareness on the issues and gaining an audience with lawmakers is more important than ever.

Bill Nelson was the keynote speaker and he was a little more partisan than I would have liked. He used the podium to attack the controversial elections bill and criticize the Republican led house on medicare reform.

It was another terrific summit and attendance was up. Let’s hope that this summit grows and is even more successful next year.

Here are a couple of photos.

Terrific attendance this year.

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs was one of the many leaders who attended the summit

Keynote Speaker Senator Bill Nelson speaking to the media

Dyer/DPAC Leadership Out of Touch

April 23, 2011 Uncategorized 2 comments

Yeah it’s another DPAC post.

There was more drama yesterday concerning the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, when OC Mayor Teresa Jacob’s turned down Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s plan for funding DPAC.

The creative math involved with coming up with the extra dough, was suppose to be through re-routing tourist taxes; the Orlando Sentinel reported. Basically, it was put DPAC at the front of the line when receiving the money from the tax and take your chances with the economy when you’ve got to keep the lights on, in one of the most successful convention centers in the world.

It could best be compared with your wealthy friends asking you to drop everything and take a cruise around the world, when the fridge is empty and the mailbox is full of bills.

Things are starting to clear up a little. The reason that the DPAC backers and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer are shrugging at Jacob’s reservations about moving forward is, because they’ve forgotten what it’s like to be on a budget.

We’re talking about a culture that donates a million dollars, like most of us buy a box of girl scout cookies. They’re out of touch and they want the county to take trips we can’t afford, and can’t understand why.

After all, when we’re laying off deputies and cutting back on job creating initiatives, they’ll be going to the symphony.

WFTV published this report.

More lack of transparency, and more maybe’s and if’s.

“I’ve lost some of my confidence in DPAC” Jacobs says. Well, me too.

Mayor Dyer? Out of town (again) and apparently out to lunch.

“If this were my project, we wouldn’t be in this situation.” Jacobs added.

I believe her. Like most of us she’s got a checkbook to balance and if DPAC wants to take some chances, she is not going to make us pay for them.

Jacobs still right about DPAC

April 13, 2011 Uncategorized No comments

The Orlando Sentinel reported this morning that the missing 30 million dollars needed to get started on the new performing arts center has now become the missing 16 million dollars.

Creative accounting, project changes, and private donations were responsible for the 14 million dollar budget haircut, and the construction board was even nice enough to offer personal loans to cover the difference.

All of this sounds great right? If we’re careful and patient, we’ll be throwing on our nice threads and enjoying world famous ballets, and musicals.

The problem is that the construction board and other DPAC advocates want to do it right now!

You see, on May 9th the construction bids expire and like a movie starting at 7pm, the prices will sky rocket.

Based on what I’ve told you it would seem like Mayor Jacobs is just being a stick in the mud when it comes to the arts. That simply isn’t true, instead she’s being careful with the county’s money and exercising patience on what is a want and not a need in the community.

They’re trying to rush things, but the Mayor hasn’t even gotten a report that the center would even be profitable once it opens or, a plan if we run out of money. This was a condition to begin with.

Ok, here are some red flags that popped up after reading the story.

They shaved 14 million off of the budget. They can’t identify anymore cuts, that would cover the increase of letting the bid expire and being sure that this is even a responsible investment?

It’s very generous of the board to offer a loan to cover the 16 million dollar difference. These are loans, what kind of interest can the county expect from these private loans? You don’t become wealthy by making poor investments. These loans will ultimately benefit the construction board.

Landing this project would be a huge win for contractors. Why not let the bids expire, make sure it’s a responsible investment (again) and hire a different company that will cover the price increase of the materials?

We’re so anxious to dust off our opera glasses, that we would blindly walk right into a potential money pit.

Let’s take our time on what is a “want” and not a “need” in Orange County.

Families in Orlando love musicals like Wicked. Let's take our time and not to worry about how we're paying for it.

Orange County Commission fumbles Board Appointments

March 29, 2011 Uncategorized 5 comments

Last week, I wrote about one of the largest groups in Orange County being ignored for appointment to the county redistricting board.

It’s apparent that the exclusion of Puerto Ricans from the county redistricting board is a drop in the ocean, when it comes to questionable county appointments and,that the whole process altogether is broken.

What I witnessed this morning when I tuned into the Orange County Commission meeting on Orange TV (a wonderful service by the way) was a spotlight shined on one of the ugliest problems that I thought we had taken a step away from, with the past elections.

Board appointments used to gain favor with special interests and used as social calls to hang out with buddies.

As expected several members from the Puerto Rican community appeared before the Orange County Commission. They’re concerns were heartfelt, points valid, and they produced facts that really bothered me and lowered my confidence in Orange County Government.

Everyone on the commission had something to say. If not out of genuine concern, definitely for political survival. It’s best to go right down the line.

Mayor Teresa Jacobs:Announced that she was forming an oversight task force and that there was a Puerto Rican on that board and that one of her redistricting appointees was married to one. She brought up her campaign promises and that she wanted to work with all members of Orange County.

District 1 Commissioner Scott Boyd: He was actually prepared to move on but, had a short statement voicing his concern on the topic.

District 2 Commissioner Fred Brummer: He mentioned that it’s pretty hard to live in District 2 and not get appointed. He gave out his personal email and the name of his contacts and said that anyone that was interested would be able to serve.

This simply isn’t true.

I applied to serve, when I lived in Brummer’s district. Communication is difficult with his office. I called his office to asked about the possibility of saving a shelter, that assists battered women and his assistant didn’t take down any of my information and couldn’t sound less interested.

District 3 Commissioner Lui Damiani:The Governor Charlie Crist appointee didn’t comfort many of his constituents, providing excuses instead of solutions. “I like to work with people I know” he announced.

If you’re working with the same people all of the time, aren’t you shutting out the new voices that want to serve? Do we need to start looking at term limits, when it comes to volunteering at county government?!

District 4 Commissioner Jennifer Thompson:Someone, who I have defended on this blog before, was behind the most disturbing mistake of this entire process. District 4, which has the largest Hispanic population in Orange County had the most questionable appointees.

Not Puerto Rican? Fine, but from the largest Hispanic district in Orange, they are from the culture right?

No? Okay, well I understand. They are everyday, concerned citizens who want to make the county better right? No!? Then who are they?

Commissioner Jennifer Thompson appointed a chamber of commerce colleague and an attorney who is employed, from a major advocate of developers.

Absolute non-sense.

Commissioner District 5 Ted Edwards:My experience with Commissioner Edwards is that he can be very blunt and straight forward. He was actually quite concerned and touted his work with a diverse group.

Commissioner District 6 Tiffany Moore-Russell:Confessed that her appointees were African-American but was very receptive to the concerns of the speakers appearing before the board.

Mayor Jacobs closed on the issue stating that the group in attendance “should not walk away” from the process.

Well, when everyday, concerned citizens, want to serve and get pushed aside for developers and golfing buddies, that’s what they do. Good people are discouraged and ideas that make a community stronger are lost.

When they say they are concerned, I don’t believe them. Perhaps, I was naive to believe them in the first place. I hope they can prove me wrong.

My heart goes out to the speakers of that meeting today. They fought the good fight, but when the special interests pull out the checkbooks and start making lunch reservations…Well.. The battle was lost before it began.

Mayor Jacobs right to ask tough questions about Peforming Arts Center

February 11, 2011 Uncategorized No comments

Happy Friday everyone! What are everyone’s plans for the first football free weekend in six months? I’ll be working and working on some great content for next week.

I always like to end my week on a bright note but, this time that won’t be the case.

You see, as far as the plans for the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center go, everyone is more concerned about what they’re going to wear or say on opening night that they’ve forgotten that the project needs to be funded first. This kind of thinking is not uncommon in development, as the politicians in Florida can be very eager to add an accomplishment like this one to their resumes in time for re-election.

Except for Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

Yesterday, Mayor Jacobs sent Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer a memo citing “serious financial and construction-related concerns about DPAC” It’s also been reported that Mayor Jacobs and her staff has found 10 million dollars in potential savings for this performing arts center that has encountered financial hardship at every turn.

Mayor Dyer in turn called a press conference and displayed poor poise in bringing up that he had been blind-sided by the memo and that the city has done it’s part. He also said that he didn’t think the project was financially feasible either.

You know, I don’t care for Mayor Dyer very much but why didn’t he bring this up sooner? He’s been in office for years, Jacobs has been in office for a month. Now I’m not trying to pin one against the other, a city running on all cylinders in concert (no pun intended) is a great city.

One of the first field trips I took during my early time in Orange County Schools was a trip to Bob Carr to see the symphony. Now, naturally I was a young man and I didn’t appreciate it then. I do now and the city needs a new performing arts center.

We’ve just got to be smarter and more honest with ourselves, when it come to paying for it and getting it built.

Let's build it and let's build it right...

Rick Scott vs. The Media: Reloaded

February 3, 2011 Uncategorized No comments

Just because I’m in the lab, doesn’t mean that I’m not keeping up with all things political here in Florida and there are certain triggers that can be distractions. Things that I’m compelled to write about because I’ve got the expertise or because I feel I have something to contribute the conversation. There are subjects that I just feel strongly about and I just can’t wait to hit publish on this thing.

- When Senator Rubio goes to Afghanistan and does a great job documenting his visit.

- When “the powers that be” want Mayor Jacobs to fold on a promise to build the performing arts center, when we don’t have any money.

- When they finally decide to make the dog-gone Alafaya Trail wider on the approach to Avalon Park.

There was one article yesterday in the Orlando Sentinel political blog, regarding one of my favorite topics, one that I have been talking about for almost a year now and one that I have the solution to.

How does the media deal with a multi-millionaire Governor that doesn’t want anything to do with them?

I tested the waters with the Scott administration before the inauguration. I interviewed with the Naples Daily News (Scott’s hometown newspaper) and questioned the very purpose for holding such a lavish celebration during hard times. “It is to buy support, and to look at it any other way is naive,” I said. I basically walked right on to the pages of Scott’s hometown newspaper and “tried” him.

His team’s response “no”.

No fancy rebuttal with statistics or rhetoric about the occasion. Just a one word reply. It was a reply through E-mail at that.

So, here we are. What is the media suppose to do for the next four year’s when the Governor puts up the velvet rope in Tallahassee and all you can do is fish quotes out of Twitter townhalls?

Two of my senior colleagues Dick Batchelor and Lou Frey (both first class guys, that I’ve shared segments with) were both on WMFE Intersection and suggested a course of action that I disagree with. Take the questions to other members of the cabinet with higher political aspirations. Is that really the way to go?

You’re going to ask the Commissioner of Agriculture about Rick Scott’s plan for education?

You’re going to ask the Attorney General Pam Bondi about the Governor’s plan for bringing businesses (and jobs) to Florida?

I don’t believe that playing telephone with economic policy is the way to go. I’ve got a better plan and it’s going to be a lot easier and effective than asking the CFO what the Governor thinks about the everglades.

49% and 35%

The percentage of the vote that he took on election day and his current approval rating. People forget in this whole mess that half the state didn’t vote for him. It’s tough but it will only be a matter of time until the Governor has to start playing ball with the media to properly communicate his message. Heck, I do media monitoring everyday and he is consistently getting slammed by every paper and television outlet in the state. It might be that the real solution to a media shy Governor is time. So, put up with the vague releases and social media smoke screen for a while longer, it will eventually disappear.

Unless, he does what he says he can do, then you guys will just have to deal.

Time is the only solution that will get the velvet rope in Tally removed

I’m also still working on a big project and I think it’s gonna turn out pretty well. I will write again next week.

Governor Rick Scott and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs Take Office

January 5, 2011 Uncategorized No comments

It’s been a fast start to the New Year. We’ve got two new House Representatives and a United States Senator getting sworn in today and yesterday we had our new Governor Rick Scott and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs take office.

Let’s Get To Work: Rick Scott Sworn in as Florida’s 45th Governor

We’ll start in Tallahassee, where Florida’s new Controversial Governor took the oath of office outside of the capitol. “Job Creation is the Mission” and “Taxation, Regulation and Litigation” are the “three forms of the axis of unemployment” were some of the sound bytes thrown out by the new Guv. Crowded by the legions of political insiders and supporters, our new Governor spoke for 20 minutes and only had to deal with one heckler who called him a “criminal”. Governor Scott grinned, looked down at his notes and continued.

Rick Scott is sworn in as Florida's 45th Governor

It was certainly a pleasure to see the Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll (In my opinion the real star on that ticket) get sworn in and as well as the rest of the cabinet featuring Attorney General Pam Bondi, Florida CFO Jeff Atwater and Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam.

AG Pam Bondi, CFO Jeff Atwater and Ag Commish Adam Putnam were also sworn in on Tuesday

Governor Scott has a lot of critics already taking shots at him and his policies. Local opinion leaders and fellow pundits here in Orlando are concerned. They’re saying his approach to important issues are clumsy and potentially harmful. I wasn’t a fan of how he ran his campaign, but I know he’s got the potential to do good things. We’ll just have to see where his priorities are. Let’s just make sure we get that check from the insiders to Operation Wounded Warrior and help some Veterans can we?

The Inagural ball was one of the events funded by special interests donors. I hope there was enough left for Operation Wounded Warrior.

Teresa Jacobs sworn in as Orange County Mayor: Just think, a year ago she wasn’t even in the race but on Tuesday, Teresa Jacobs succeeded Richard Crotty to become the next Mayor of Orange County closing out, a race that I have spent over the last year writing about. A dozen debates, conversations, one-liners and even an arrest came to a conclusion at the Orange County Convention Center when the gavel was handed over to Jacobs, who will look to bring ethics and efficiency to the forefront of County Government.

Also sworn in at the Ceremony, re-elected County Commissioner Tiffany Moore-Russell, re-elected County Commissioner “Grumpy” Fred Brummer, County Commissioner Jennifer Thompson who replaces term limited Linda Stewart and County Commissioner Ted Edwards who replaces Bill Segal.

There is a lot more optimism surrounding Mayor Jacobs than with our new Governor. A former 8 year county commissioner who asks the hard questions, has been a favorite with the media and even former opponents who all believe that the Orange County is in good hands.

Tomorrow I’ll have coverage of what is going on (as I type this) right now in Washington and the sideshow which is stealing some of the thunder from new members of our Congress.

On Tuesday Teresa Jacobs became the new Mayor of Orange County

The Year’s End: Top Quotes from Florida Politics in 2010

December 28, 2010 Uncategorized No comments

Yeah, we’re gonna do another list post, but this one is going to be one of my favorites. I’m going to run down some of the most popular, funny, and controversial quotes from Florida’s politicians over the last year. These are in no particular order, so I’m just gonna line up them up.

Here we go!

“The Taliban has been there for years and years, I mean, hundreds of thousands of years.” – Kendrick Meek during the Senate Debates- One of my favorites, after I heard it I was laughing for the next 20 minutes

“I will not accept, nor will I seek the head coaching position at Florida” – Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty, 10 minutes after Gator coach Urban Meyer resigned.- Great timing by the Mayor

During a forum from two candidates for OC Commissioner:
“I pray to god everyday, to help lead me into a better future with my wife and children”- Mayor Doug Kinson

“I prayed to god and he told me to run for Orange County Commission”- Ted Edwards

——-
“Personally, she has no children and lives with her 60-year-old eye-doctor boyfriend.”- John Stemberger on the now Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi- Not very Christian or smart, Stemberger..

“Sandy Adams has some strange ideas”- Suzanne Kosmas attack ads- I’ll make sure to bring that up after she’s sworn in….the most ineffective attack ad of the year

“College kids don’t care about Bill Clinton, they’re worried about Twilight Vampires and Katy Perry”- myself during a FOX 35 segment

“He’s a good boy”- Ester Scott -Absolute Money…probably won her son the election…

“The reason Pine Hills isn’t getting any money is because my opponents have spent all of it, in the Emerald city (Orlando) on (performing) art centers” Matt Falconer during the Pine Hills OC Mayor Debate-

““I think you will find that I am the most even tempered, mom type, that you could put in to office and will do exactly that what you want me to do, you won’t see me veered away by special interests”- Former Commissioner and OC Mayor Candidate Linda Stewart- A first class commissioner all of the way.

“Son, who are you working with this year?” “I’m working with the Republicans, Dad” …”Hell no, son! I knew I should have been around more, when you were growing up!”- My dad

The Charlie Crist Section (Yes, he gets his own section): I could have done a whole post on just his quotes.

“I’m a Jeb Bush Republican”

“I don’t caucus with Republicans or Democrats, I caucus with the people of Florida”

“I’m not on either team. I’m a free agent, a free agent for the people of Florida”

“That’s hurtful, you don’t know me. You don’t know whats in my heart”- after Rubio’s “You didn’t go Independent because of your beliefs you went independent because you took a poll”

“I married a nice Jewish girl”- referring to his lovely wife Carole Crist

The Guv and his wife, Carole

“Today I am calling this legislature, The do nothing legislature”

“I’m an old Quarterback, when you walk up the line, you got to call an audible” ”

“You can find me on line 9 of your ballots”- oh boy…

I really could go on and on…

“(Don’t) Submit to me”- Dan Webster in maliciously edited Taliban Dan ad by the Alan Grayson campaign- When Alan Grayson finally went too far..

“Die Quickly” and “Republicans want you to die”- Alan Grayson during the health care debates

“Alan Grayson isn’t going to decide how this race goes, I’m going to decide how this race goes”- Dan Webster at the West Orlando Tea Party Forum

“The Rent is too damn high”- NY Governor Candidate Jimmy McMillan- Ok, not in Florida, but I felt the need to include it

“I think they were tone-deaf,”- Alex Sink on the White House’s political approach during the election year.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t start shouting Polo or we’d all be in trouble”- Marco Rubio during his victory speech

“Bi-partisanship is a fallacy” – Congressman Alan Grayson- You can’t think that way…

“So, we can have notes, we can have people that work for us give us messages?”- Rick Scott during Textgate aka Debate Gate vs. Alex Sink

Textgate would probably be my choice for biggest political moment of the year..

“I will not drop out of this race for any reason,” Meek said. “I am nominated by the Democrats of the state of Florida. I am in this race to run to be the next United States senator. And no, I am not running for second.”- Kendrick Meek

“I can’t promise you I am going to run for office (get elected) and then go and break the law, I have to follow the law, and the state sets the laws.”- Teresa Jacobs- Orange County Mayor-Elect

“It doesn’t matter if your dad was a bartender or if your mom was a maid. You can accomplish anything if you work hard and play by the rules” – Marco Rubio

“Your an entertainer right?” – Commissioner Bill Segal to myself during an OCYR meeting- and it looks like that is going to stick…Hey at least it’s a great conversation starter at parties!

and I could go on and on…..it has been a great year for political quotes and I could have easily doubled the quotes in this post easily….I’ve enjoyed writing about it.

This is going to be my last post for 2010. This has been such a great year for me and this blog. Thanks to all of my family, friends, the media here in Orlando, and to the readers. Keep an eye out for me on television as we move closer our new lawmakers taking office at the beginning of the year. God Bless…

“Let’s Get To Work”- Governor Elect Rick Scott

The Year's End: Top Quotes from Florida Politics in 2010

December 28, 2010 Uncategorized No comments

Yeah, we’re gonna do another list post, but this one is going to be one of my favorites. I’m going to run down some of the most popular, funny, and controversial quotes from Florida’s politicians over the last year. These are in no particular order, so I’m just gonna line up them up.

Here we go!

“The Taliban has been there for years and years, I mean, hundreds of thousands of years.” – Kendrick Meek during the Senate Debates- One of my favorites, after I heard it I was laughing for the next 20 minutes

“I will not accept, nor will I seek the head coaching position at Florida” – Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty, 10 minutes after Gator coach Urban Meyer resigned.- Great timing by the Mayor

During a forum from two candidates for OC Commissioner:
“I pray to god everyday, to help lead me into a better future with my wife and children”- Mayor Doug Kinson

“I prayed to god and he told me to run for Orange County Commission”- Ted Edwards

——-
“Personally, she has no children and lives with her 60-year-old eye-doctor boyfriend.”- John Stemberger on the now Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi- Not very Christian or smart, Stemberger..

“Sandy Adams has some strange ideas”- Suzanne Kosmas attack ads- I’ll make sure to bring that up after she’s sworn in….the most ineffective attack ad of the year

“College kids don’t care about Bill Clinton, they’re worried about Twilight Vampires and Katy Perry”- myself during a FOX 35 segment

“He’s a good boy”- Ester Scott -Absolute Money…probably won her son the election…

“The reason Pine Hills isn’t getting any money is because my opponents have spent all of it, in the Emerald city (Orlando) on (performing) art centers” Matt Falconer during the Pine Hills OC Mayor Debate-

““I think you will find that I am the most even tempered, mom type, that you could put in to office and will do exactly that what you want me to do, you won’t see me veered away by special interests”- Former Commissioner and OC Mayor Candidate Linda Stewart- A first class commissioner all of the way.

“Son, who are you working with this year?” “I’m working with the Republicans, Dad” …”Hell no, son! I knew I should have been around more, when you were growing up!”- My dad

The Charlie Crist Section (Yes, he gets his own section): I could have done a whole post on just his quotes.

“I’m a Jeb Bush Republican”

“I don’t caucus with Republicans or Democrats, I caucus with the people of Florida”

“I’m not on either team. I’m a free agent, a free agent for the people of Florida”

“That’s hurtful, you don’t know me. You don’t know whats in my heart”- after Rubio’s “You didn’t go Independent because of your beliefs you went independent because you took a poll”

“I married a nice Jewish girl”- referring to his lovely wife Carole Crist

The Guv and his wife, Carole

“Today I am calling this legislature, The do nothing legislature”

“I’m an old Quarterback, when you walk up the line, you got to call an audible” ”

“You can find me on line 9 of your ballots”- oh boy…

I really could go on and on…

“(Don’t) Submit to me”- Dan Webster in maliciously edited Taliban Dan ad by the Alan Grayson campaign- When Alan Grayson finally went too far..

“Die Quickly” and “Republicans want you to die”- Alan Grayson during the health care debates

“Alan Grayson isn’t going to decide how this race goes, I’m going to decide how this race goes”- Dan Webster at the West Orlando Tea Party Forum

“The Rent is too damn high”- NY Governor Candidate Jimmy McMillan- Ok, not in Florida, but I felt the need to include it

“I think they were tone-deaf,”- Alex Sink on the White House’s political approach during the election year.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t start shouting Polo or we’d all be in trouble”- Marco Rubio during his victory speech

“Bi-partisanship is a fallacy” – Congressman Alan Grayson- You can’t think that way…

“So, we can have notes, we can have people that work for us give us messages?”- Rick Scott during Textgate aka Debate Gate vs. Alex Sink

Textgate would probably be my choice for biggest political moment of the year..

“I will not drop out of this race for any reason,” Meek said. “I am nominated by the Democrats of the state of Florida. I am in this race to run to be the next United States senator. And no, I am not running for second.”- Kendrick Meek

“I can’t promise you I am going to run for office (get elected) and then go and break the law, I have to follow the law, and the state sets the laws.”- Teresa Jacobs- Orange County Mayor-Elect

“It doesn’t matter if your dad was a bartender or if your mom was a maid. You can accomplish anything if you work hard and play by the rules” – Marco Rubio

“Your an entertainer right?” – Commissioner Bill Segal to myself during an OCYR meeting- and it looks like that is going to stick…Hey at least it’s a great conversation starter at parties!

and I could go on and on…..it has been a great year for political quotes and I could have easily doubled the quotes in this post easily….I’ve enjoyed writing about it.

This is going to be my last post for 2010. This has been such a great year for me and this blog. Thanks to all of my family, friends, the media here in Orlando, and to the readers. Keep an eye out for me on television as we move closer our new lawmakers taking office at the beginning of the year. God Bless…

“Let’s Get To Work”- Governor Elect Rick Scott

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