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Pasco County, New Port Richey Officials Pass; Tampa Bay Sierra Club, Broward Commission Fail

July 13, 2015 - 11:30pm

Welcome to The Dean's List -- an Ed Dean-style look at who Florida's political achievers were (and weren't) in the last seven days. What you see here is strictly my opinion, not necessarily the editor's or the rest of the staff at Sunshine State News.  

THOSE WHO MADE THE LIST
 
Pasco County School Superintendent Kurt Browning. The school district is expected to receive $20 million in new revenue with much of that coming from increased property values. Some county school board officials take the added revenue as a green light to spend more money. Not so fast, says Browning. The superintendent warned that he did not want the school district to become “bloated” by spending money just because it’s there. Nice to see fiscal conservatism in action. 
 
Port St. Lucie Mayor Greg Oravec. Port St. Lucie spends more money than it takes in. In fact, last year it spent over $3.5 million more than was allocated. That simply doesn’t work. Earlier this month, the City Council voted for an 18 percent tax increase with Oravec as the sole dissenting vote. Oravec wants to have a citizens budget advisory board so the city can get the local community’s input before any taxes are raised. So far, the board has not been formed.

Winn Dixie. Kudos to this grocery chain for sending profits generated during the busy Independence Day holiday sales to the Wounded Warrior Project's Independence Program. The Independence Program is intended to help war veterans who need to rely on their families and loved ones for support due to physical and psychological injuries
 
THOSE WHO DIDN’T MAKE THE LIST. 

Tampa Bay Sierra Club. This environmental group backs raising a proposed local gas tax increase of 5 cents per gallon to fix road maintenance, claiming it will raise $25 million a year. But Brian Willis, the founder of Connect Tampa Bay, insists the gas tax proposal would do little to solve the county’s transportation problems. Opponents of the proposed gas tax increase say a better way would be to adopt a half-penny sales tax, which would raise $117 million. The Sierra Club has traditionally supported higher taxes on gas, arguing it will decrease vehicle emissions.
 
The Broward County Commission. Uber says Broward County’s over-the-top regulations will make the company end business there. The commission wants to run background checks and driver fingerprinting even though Uber already does that. Governments usually set the cab fares, which Uber is pushing back against. The county countered with wanting to force Uber to obtain chauffeurs’ licenses for its drivers and require vehicle permits. This is going to get uglier and there’s no hint of a quick resolution. 
 
Melbourne City Councilwoman Teresa Lopez. Every year, Honor America organizes Melbourne’s annual Independence Day parade. The nonprofit group also operates the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum, the Melbourne Military Memorial Park, Veterans Day parades and ceremonies for Memorial Day and Flag Day. But at this year’s parade, Lopez spotted a Confederate flag and grew offended. The Confederate Sons Association and the Sons of Confederate Veterans were part of that parade and had the flag. Honor America's Executive Director John Tice, a city councilman in West Melbourne, pushed back, insisting Lopez is grandstanding and taking the issue out of context.

Ed Dean, a senior editor with SSN whose talk-show can be heard on radio stations across Florida, can be reached at ed@sunshinestatenews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @eddeanradio.

Comments

Just so you are aware that not everyone in Broward supported the overreaching regulations placed on TNC's. I released the following statement: I am writing the following response to those who will be affected by the statement that Über released today. I have been supportive of Broward County residents and visitors having the opportunity to utilize all modes of transportation for hire. For me this has never been about politics - only public safety. Both the riders and drivers agreed that we should know who is driving our loved ones around. However, when regulations become so onerous that it appears as if government is looking to exact a punishment against those who look to make their lives better, then I have to break with the majority. I DID THAT BY VOTING AGAINST THESE OVER-REACHING REGULATIONS...EVERY TIME. Our goal should be to bring back this ordinance and make the necessary changes that allow for open competition without jeopardizing public safety. Join me in suggesting this solution in Broward County. I invite you to read the recent articles by the Sun Sentinel identifying the voted that were taken and describing me as the most pro-Uber commissioner. Thank you! Thanks for listening, Chip LaMarca Broward County Commissioner

Ms. Lopez simply was tossing a dart into the air and hoping it would stick, somewhere. This is another example of someone being elected to a position and not knowing how to conduct themselves. She's an embarrassment to the city!

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