Sunday, November 05, 2006

FLORIDA DIGEST NOVEMBER 5, 2006

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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2006/11/05/m1a_flagov_1105.html
The Palm Beach Post
Governor race tightens: Crist still leads confidently, but Davis gains
By Brian E. Crowley
Palm Beach Post Political Editor
Sunday, November 05, 2006
TAMPA - Maybe Jim Davis should just go ahead and declare victory. Name atransition team. Act as if Charlie Crist has no real chance of becomingFlorida's 44th governor Tuesday.That was some of the thinking going on in the Davis campaign last week afterthe Democratic candidate for governor finally began to emerge as a seriousthreat to Crist.
After months of lagging behind the Republican nominee, Davis supporters aresensing a political tailwind. They are buoyed by what they believe were twovery successful television debates and the new, sharper edge of the Daviscampaign.
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Candidates' policies
November 5, 2006
A look at some of the key policy differences between Charlie Crist and JimDavis:
EDUCATION
Crist -- Keep A-F grading system for public schools; continue using FCATtoreward teachers and schools and decide which students get promotedandgraduate; spend $150 million to give 10 percent pay raises to the top25percent of Florida's teachers; fight for constitutional amendment tobringback private school vouchers.
Davis -- Dump A-F grading system and use variety of indicators todetermineif a school is excellent, achieving or needs improvement; use FCATas adiagnostic tool to see where students need help and let parents seegradedexams; spend $700 million to give an average $3,835 salary boost toallteachers; opposes giving state money to private schools except foreducationof disabled students.
PROPERTY INSURANCE ...
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The Miami HeraldNovember 5, 2006
CAMPAIGN 2006 | AMENDMENTS
5 proposed amendments likely to pass
Five of six proposed constitutional amendments are likely to pass Tuesday,including one that would make it harder to amend the Constitution.
BY GARY
Voters appear poised to approve five out of six constitutional amendments onTuesday's ballot, a new Miami Herald poll shows. But the survey shows thatsupport has dropped substantially over the past month for a controversialmeasure that would make it harder to change the state Constitution in thefuture.The poll shows that support for Amendment 3 -- which would require allfuture constitutional amendments to pass by a 60 percent margin instead ofthe current simple majority -- has dropped sharply in the past month.
In late September, a Miami Herald poll found 67 percent favor the amendment; 27percent oppose.
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The Miami Herald
November 5, 2006
Posted on Sun, Nov. 05, 2006
ATTORNEY GENERAL CHARLIE CRIST HOLDS COMFORTABLE LEAD IN GOVERNOR'S RACE
BY MARY ELLEN KLAS AND BETH REINHARD
The GOP seems poised to continue dominating Florida's statewide electedoffices, according to a Miami Herald poll.
In the top-billed race for governor, Republican Charlie Crist leads DemocratJim Davis 48 percent to 38 percent. Republican candidates also lead incampaigns for attorney general, agriculture commissioner and, by a smallmargin, chief financial officer.
But the large number of fence-sitting voters could tilt the contests -- ifthey go to the polls Tuesday feeling hostile toward the GOP establishment inWashington and Tallahassee. Florida Democrats, buoyed by one of theirstrongest statewide tickets in years and nationwide discontent with theRepublican Party, are trying to regain a toehold in Tallahassee.
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The Miami Herald
November 5, 2006
U.S. CONGRESS, DISTRICT 22
Shaw versus Klein: Costly and critical
The outcome of the race between Clay Shaw and Ron Klein will help determinewhether Republicans or Democrats control the U.S. House of Representatives.
Over the years, Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw has faced some tight battlesfor reelection, but this year's contest with state Sen. Ron Klein has beenthe closest and most expensive yet.The race has drawn national attention, in part because it's one of a handfulof congressional contests in the United States that could determine whetherthe GOP holds onto the House of Representatives or Democrats take charge.For weeks, it's been too close to call, no matter who does the polling. AHerald poll conducted last week found that Klein leads Shaw 49.2 to 39.6percent, with 6 percent of voters remaining undecided. The poll has a marginof error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
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The Miami HeraldNovember 5, 2006
BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION
Race for Broward's District 4 seat is most heatedAs two commissioners defend their seats, a former state legislator hasoutspent a doctor in a race for an open seat.
BY AMY SHERMAN
A former state legislator has raised far more money than her opponent in therace to fill an open seat on the Broward County Commission, while twoincumbents also have raised six figures in the final stage of the campaign.The race between County Commissioner Jim Scott, a longtime electedRepublican official in Broward, and Democratic activist Ken Keechl, has beenthe hottest race among the three.Scott had raised nearly $400,000 by mid-October while Keechl raised about$180,000 -- about two-thirds from himself.
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The Miami Herald
November 5, 2006
BROWARD COUNTY
Broward ballot includes tax questionsBroward voters will decide on two tax measures when they go to the polls.They'll also indicate an opinion on two nonbinding referendums.
BY ERIKA BOLSTAD
Some hotly debated money matters should grab Broward voters' attention atTuesday's elections.
There will be four final choices when voters get to the end of their ballots.Two questions ask if they want to raise taxes for improved mass transit anda new courthouse.Two others are nonbinding; they're being used to gauge public opinion forfuture government decisions.. Voters are being asked to approve a $450 million bond issue to build a newcourthouse tower and upgrade older parts of the existing courthouse. Theaverage homeowner would pay an estimated $35 a year for the project.
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The Miami HeraldNovember 5, 2006
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 91
Bogdanoff faces newcomer Chiari in House raceRising hurricane insurance premiums and property taxes are among the mainissues facing the coastal District 91.
BY DARRAN SIMON
State House District 91 candidatesBogdanoff faces newcomer ChiariLast month, state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff sat down for a picnic in a SouthFlorida park with about 50 kids from Port Charlotte who supported her recentanti-bullying bill.Bogdanoff's bill, which would require school districts to create and enforceanti-bullying policies, passed the House last legislative session butstalled in the Senate. If relected on Tuesday, Bogdanoff said she plans toreintroduce the bill so parents can feel at ease that their children will besafe from bullies at school.
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The Miami Herald
November 5, 2006
SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 6
Rubinstein, Hope go directly to voters in Broward School Board raceIncumbent Marty Rubinstein and challenger Phyllis Hope are facing off forthe Broward School Board District 6 seat.
BY HANNAH
a.. District 6 candidatesIt was a little more than a week before the election for School BoardDistrict 6, and opponents Marty Rubinstein and Phyllis C. Hope had the sameidea.''My name is Hope. Please vote for me,'' Hope said to an early voter at thePlantation courthouse late Monday afternoon.''Sir, you coming out to vote? What city do you live in?'' Rubinstein askeda man Monday at an early voting site in Tamarac.
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The Miami Herald
November 5, 2006
SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 1
Three run to fill empty seat on Broward School BoardThe race for the District 1 School Board seat is a three-way contest for anoffice voters already cast their ballots for once this year.
BY NIRVI SHAH
A teacher and two veteran politicians are nearing the end of their briefcampaign to represent Southeast Broward on the School Board.The three candidates for District 1 are spending the last days on thestreets and knocking on doors to secure precious votes and avoid a runoff.The race pits self-made auto repair and towing millionaire and longtimeDania Beach city Commissioner C.K. ''Mac'' McElyea against special educationteacher Terry Snipes, whose own learning disability went undiagnosed as achild, and Eleanor Sobel, a former teacher and longtime state representativewith her own line of skin care products.
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The Miami HeraldNovember 5, 2006
Eight left in battle for seats on Broward benchEight candidates are vying for four new spots on the Broward bench.
BY NIKKI WALLER
The eight candidates running for four new judgeships in Broward Circuit andCounty courts have been a constant presence at polling sites since earlyvoting began.As Tuesday's general election nears, the candidates are courting countyvoters with TV and radio ads and visiting all-important voter havens such asCentury Village.In Circuit Group 57, Pompano Beach Mayor John C. Rayson is running againstMichele Towbin Singer, a veteran assistant public defender in Miami whostepped down from her job to run. In Group 58, Marina Garcia Wood, a Browardmagistrate who resigned to run, is up against former prosecutor Mardi LeveyCohen.
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The Miami HeraldNovember 5, 2006
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/front/15933603.htmPoll shows Shaw trailing Klein in U.S. House race
BY ERIKA BOLSTAD AND LESLEY CLARK
Veteran U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw trails his Democratic challenger by 10 points ina Miami Herald poll that underscores the difficulties Republicans face asthey try to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives amidincreasing voter unrest.The poll of 401 likely voters in one of the hottest congressional races inthe country shows that the war in Iraq is a major factor in how people willvote. That's a problem for Shaw, who voted for the war and has labored todistance himself from President Bush.Republicans have sought to keep the congressional races focused locally, butthe survey results suggest that Tuesday's election has ''morphed into areferendum on President Bush and the war on Iraq,'' said pollster JohnZogby, who conducted the survey for The Miami Herald.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorial/sfl-editafbrowardballotnov05,0,2390919.story?coll=sfla-news-editorial

Summary of recommendations

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board - State and Broward

November 5, 2006

Summary of recommendations

U.S. SENATE
Bill Nelson - D

U.S. HOUSE
District 22
Clay Shaw - R

GOVERNOR
Charlie Crist - R

ATTORNEY GENERAL
Walter "Skip" Campbell - D

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Adelaide "Alex" Sink - D

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SERVICES
Charles Bronson - R

FLORIDA SENATE
District 32: Jeremy Ring - D

FLORIDA HOUSE

District 91:
Ellyn Bogdanoff - R

District 93:
Perry Thurston - D

District 97:
Susan Goldstein - R

District 99:
Elaine Schwartz - D

COUNTY COMMISSION
District 1: Kristin Jacobs - D
District 3: Stacy Ritter - D
District 4: Jim Scott - R

SCHOOL BOARD
District 1: Eleanor Sobel
District 6: Marty Rubinstein

COUNTY COURT
Group 31: Ellen Feld
Group 32: Brenda Lynn Di Ioia

CIRCUIT COURT
Group 57: John C. Rayson
Group 58: Marina Wood

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
R. Fred Lewis - Retain
Barbara Joan Pariente - Retain
Peggy A. Quince - Retain

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
Bobby W. Gunther - Retain
Fred A. Hazouri - Retain
Larry A. Klein - Retain
Barry J. Stone - Retain
Carole Y. Taylor - Retain

PARKLAND CITY COMMISSION
District 4: Mark Weissman

SOUTHWEST RANCHES TOWN COUNCIL
District 1: Al Avello

WESTON CITY COMMISSION
Seat 4: Murray Chermak

Copyright © 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorial/sfl-editafpalmballotnov05,0,4138520.story?coll=sfla-news-editorial

Summary of recommendations - Palm Beach

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board

November 5, 2006


FLORIDA SENATE
District 28: Ken Pruitt - R
FLORIDA HOUSE
District 83:
Carl Domino - R
District 85:
Shelley Vana - D
District 86:
Maria Sachs - D
District 99:
Elaine Schwartz - D
COUNTY COMMISSION
District 2: Jeff Koons - D
District 6:
John E. Carroll - R
TAX COLLECTOR
Pete Carney - R
COUNTY COURT
Group 19: Frank S. Castor
CIRCUIT COURT
Group 13: David E. French
BOYNTON BEACH MAYOR
Jerry Taylor
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
R. Fred Lewis - Retain
Barbara Joan Pariente - Retain
Peggy A. Quince - Retain
DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
Bobby W. Gunther - Retain
Fred A. Hazouri - Retain
Larry A. Klein - Retain
Barry J. Stone - Retain
Carole Y. Taylor - Retain
Copyright © 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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DISTRICT 22 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION
Shaw vs. Klein: Who is paying for one of the nation's most expensivecampaigns?
By Brittany Wallman
South Florida Sun-SentinelNovember 5, 2006
FORT LAUDERDALE -- Clay Shaw's top campaign contributor was the WayneHuizenga empire. Ron Klein got his biggest chunk of money from Ansca Homes,a homebuilder.Shaw's top ZIP code for donations was his hometown, Fort Lauderdale. Klein'swas his hometown, Boca Raton.Business givers favor Shaw. Labor unions like Klein.
For voters still evaluating whom to vote for in the congressional District22 race -- incumbent Republican Clay Shaw; state Sen. Ron Klein, theDemocrat; or longtime Libertarian Neil Evangelista, running without a partylabel -- a look at where their money came from may offer more information.
The Broward-Palm congressional district race is fueled by unprecedenteddollars for the two major party candidates, neither of whom has ever raisedthis much money before. With Shaw and Klein each topping $4 million incontributions, and the major political parties and independent groupsspending millions as well, this race could hit the $12 million mark.
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In Broward, number of independents continues to grow
By Anthony ManPolitical Writer
November 5, 2006
Independent voters, tired of politics as usual, are a pivotal bloc thatcould determine the outcome of several close contests on Tuesday. And thereare more independents this year than ever.
Party leaders and political scientists said independents -- a large andgrowing force of often disaffected voters -- could be pivotal in the CharlieCrist-Jim Davis race for governor, the Ron Klein-Clay Shaw congressional contest, and the Susan Goldstein-Martin Kiar race for a Broward seat in thestate House.
Both major parties know they need to court independents. "They arepotentially huge in swinging the races to one side or another," said U.S.Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston.Broward Republican Chairman Shane Strum agreed: "Independents play a biggerrole in this election cycle than they ever have before."
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On Sunday evening (November 5) while the people in Britain will besetting off fireworks to celebrate Guy Fawkes - the man who tried toblow up Parliament in the 17th century there will be fireworks of adifferent nature at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts when TheFlamingo Freedom Band, Florida's only Gay and Lesbian concert band, willbe celebrating their 20th anniversary with a show called, "Strike Up theBand."

The concert starts at 7:30pm at the Amaturo Theatre and will featurespecial guests the FortLauderdale Gay Men's Chorus, the Rough Ridersof South Florida, and the South FloridaLambda Chorale. The musicalselections will be from Broadway and Beyond, including West SideStory,Candide, and Les Miserables. Come enjoy popular music from composerslike LeonardBernstein, Aaron Copland, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and GeorgeGershwin. Tickets are $25 and$40 and are available now at
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The Miami Herald
If Davis wins, he can thank Charlie Crist
By BETH REINHARD
Political guru James Carville recently gave a great quote about candidatesstumbling in acampaign's waning days, running on too much caffeine and notenough sleep.''Oftentimes,'' hetold The New York Times, 'the campaigns and candidateswould say, `What do you think Ishould do?' And my answer is one word:less.''Less would have been more for Florida'sfront-running candidate forgovernor, the normally pitch-perfect Republican Charlie Crist,during thisfinal week of the campaign.
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The Washington Post
Fla. Candidate Battles the Anti-GOP TideHouse Hopeful in Heavily Republican District Tries to Rally DisenchantedVoter Base
By Michael Grunwald
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 5, 2006; A05
BRADENTON, Fla., Nov. 4 -- Vern Buchanan is the Republican congressionalcandidate in thisheavily Republican district, hoping to succeed a onetimeGOP icon, Rep. Katharine Harris. Theself-made businessman has given hiscampaign $5.5 million, the third-largest cash dump in thehistory of Houseraces. He has campaigned with President Bush, first lady Laura Bush, Gov.JebBush and Vice President Cheney; today's guest was former New York mayorRudolph W.Giuliani.But he's still in trouble.
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STRIKE UP THE BAND:THE FLAMINGO FREEDOM BAND'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THEFORT LAUDERDALE GAY MEN'S CHORUS, THE ROUGH RIDERS OF SOUTH FLORIDA, AND THESOUTH FLORIDA LAMBDA CHORALE
The Flamingo Freedom Band, Florida's only Gay and Lesbian concert band, willbe presenting a fall concert entitled Strike Up the Band on Sunday, November5, 2006 at 7:30pm at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Thisconcert will celebrate the band's 20th Anniversary and will feature specialguests the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus, the Rough Riders of SouthFlorida, and the South Florida Lambda Chorale. The musical selections willbe from Broadway and Beyond, including West Side Story, Candide, and LesMiserables. Come enjoy popular music from composers like Leonard Bernstein,Aaron Copland, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and George Gershwin. Tickets are $25 and$40 and are available at www.browardcenter.org. This One Night Only eventhas been made possible by generous funding through the Community Foundationof Broward County, the Broward County CulturalDivision, Pride SouthFlorida, and the Broward Center Arts Access Program.
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by Steve Rothaus
President Bill Clinton a surprise guest at Task Force Recognition Dinner in South Beach Former President Bill Clinton paid a surprise visit Saturday night at theNational Gay and Lesbian Task Force Recognition Dinner in South Beach. Left, he greets civil rights giant Julian Bond, who received the Task Force's National Leadership Award. Clinton shook lots of hands and then swiftly departed the Loews Miami BeachHotel, where the 10th annual Recognition Dinner took place.Other honorees: Bob Cole (Miami Herald Humanitarian Award) and TWN (Community Service Award).
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