Letters to the editor: Do some homework before mailing ballot, stepping into voting booth
Letters to the editor present the opinions of readers on news stories and other pieces published by The Sun.
Be prepared to vote
On opening our vote-by-mail ballots, we might have been surprised by an unexpectedly long list of voting choices. This election is not just about a governor and local commissioners! We need to decide on state Cabinet members, Soil and Water District Board members, judges up for retention and amendments to the Florida constitution. It will take some homework before mailing the ballot or stepping into the voting booth.
I suggest that a good place to start is online at www.vote411.org. This nonpartisan site supported by the League of Women Voters has information for races on your ballot. It includes judges, with a link to the annual Florida Bar Retention Poll, a survey of the performance of the judges by attorneys who have experience working with them. Explanation of the amendments is also provided.
A candidate forum sponsored by the Bob Graham Center and the Alachua County League was held at UF’s Pugh Hall on Oct. 9, a recording of which can be found online at bit.ly/league2022forum. Thanks to The Sun for its ongoing series on the candidates, another valuable resource. Be prepared and vote by Nov. 8.
Kathy Kidder, Gainesville
Letters to the editor:
UF cannot be an echo chamber for whatever party is in power
UF should use unoccupied apartments to house hurricane victims
Gainesville has unfair taxing system, consolidation would help fix
Vote for neighborhoods
If you value single-family neighborhoods and disagree with the City Commission’s recent vote to eliminate that zoning category throughout the city in order to allow multi-story apartments to be built in all neighborhoods, then your vote for DeJeon Cain in the Nov. 8 election can make all the difference.
Last summer I contacted candidates in the primary election for City Commission. I asked if they would sign a statement saying that, if elected, they would work to reverse the current City Commission’s vote to eliminate single-family zoning. Most candidates said “yes” and signed my statement, as did Cain.
Cain is running for District 3 city commissioner. His opponent, Casey Willits, never responded to my efforts to contact him. Willits, in contrast with Cain, has said that he supports elimination of single-family zoning.
Our next City Commission can try to restore single-family zoning by reversing the reckless decision by the current commission. If Cain is elected, we’ll have a solid majority of city commissioners who said that they will work to reverse the current commission’s irresponsible decision to allow multi-story apartments in all neighborhoods.
Vote for neighborhoods by voting for DeJeon Cain.
Carol Lippincott, Gainesville
Hateful rhetoric
You will miss it. That’s democracy. We won’t have democracy if we continue the hate and outright lies.
I’ve written that hate is prolific in our society. I received an anonymous letter stating the hate that I described comes from the Democrats. I am a Democrat, but I am an American first. Policy disagreements are one thing. Spewing falsehoods and hateful rhetoric is indecent, ungodly and divisive.
I would like to understand why some politicians promote such rhetoric.
Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed in Michigan, “Democrats want to kill Republicans.” This is false. This creates anger and hate (see Germany during the 1930s — Adolf Hitler). Why not talk about what she wants to accomplish in Congress?
Donald Trump said McConnell has a death wish. What does that infer?
Tommy Tuberville’s recent comments stated, “Some people are soft on crime, they’re pro-crime, they want crime." Can any reasonable person believe this?
Elaine Golman, Gainesville
Beyond the pale
Why is it that the Democrats always use racism in every discussion? If you don’t agree with them on any topic, you’re a racist, domestic terrorist or a semi-fascist.
When hurricane Ian struck Florida, it did so indiscriminately of race or financial background. Vide President Kamala Harris wants to help the unfortunate victims of the hurricane according to race and financial means. We are all Americans and for the Biden administration to even suggest helping according to race is beyond the pale.
Illegal immigrants are coming to this country by the thousands each day and we no longer have a sovereign country. We have our own homeless and veterans who need care, and much of the money drained from the government is going to illegal immigrants. You complain of DeSantis busing immigrants but not a word when Biden in the dead of night brought airplanes full of illegal immigrants to our cities.
It only took Biden two years to destroy our economy and energy industry while dividing its people at every turn. Silence on this administration is not an option.
Eileen Maren, Gainesville
Join the conversation
Share your opinion by sending a letter to the editor (up to 200 words) to letters@gainesville.com. Letters must include the writer's full name and city of residence. Additional guidelines for submitting letters and longer guest columns can be found at bit.ly/sunopinionguidelines.
Journalism matters. Your support matters.
Get a digital subscription to the Gainesville Sun. Includes must-see content on Gainesville.com and Gatorsports.com, breaking news and updates on all your devices, and access to the eEdition. Visit www.gainesville.com/subscribenow to sign up.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Letters on voting, Gainesville City Commission, Marjorie Taylor Greene
