Write-in candidates suppress votes in Martin County; vote wisely in Indian River County

Residents lack representation because of ghost candidates

I am a resident of Martin County Election District 1, represented by Commissioner Doug Smith. However, I have been prevented from voting in the past three District 1 elections because of "ghost candidates" who signed up as write-in candidates for the general election.

"Ghost candidates" appear at the local election office to submit papers to run in the general election and then disappear, never to be seen again. They do not participate in campaign activities and their names do not appear on any ballots. They are used to close party primaries and to prevent participation in elections by voters with no party affiliation or voters registered with parties that have no candidates in particular races.

Since I have been prevented from voting in District 1 primaries, I have been denied the right to participate in the selection of the person who represents me — and many other District 1 residents ― on the Martin County Commission.

The Legislature has tried, but failed, to change the rule that allows "ghost candidates" to close primary elections. This is probably because ― like Smith, who says he supports the rule — many state lawmakers win election because so many voters are shut out of the process.

The end result is that many voters are prevented from participating in elections and many residents have no true representative on the county commission.

Virginia Sherlock, Stuart

Choose carefully who you pick in local elections

It’s time to take a fresh look at candidates in the coming primary. Whether you’re new to Indian River County or a longtime resident, start making decisions for yourself.

For far too long, the same people have called the election shots ― they’ve supported their friends and family members and kept the "good ole boy" network (including some "ole girls") alive and well.

I call them “the families,” because they run the elections and positions of power within our communities like a crime syndicate. They "appoint" people to entry-level positions and then support them as they rise through the ranks to bigger and better positions of power. They’re all on the same team and seldom stray from the pack. Social ostracism can be frightening in a small town.

Any outsider or newcomer who deigns to challenge them is quickly overwhelmed by cash pouring into the campaign coffers of the "chosen one." Negative press stories are circulated by liberal, local “journalists” and bloggers. Large nonprofits and membership organizations protect their benefactors, circling the wagons around the “chosen one” with campaign assistance.

Bottom line, money talks and nobody walks … and the old guard have deep pockets and thrive on control. We’ve seen it in putting buddies on commissions to spread their power and pushing for city contracts, where they’ll benefit financially.

This August primary, everyone should take a close look at the candidates — their education, backgrounds and platforms. Are they buddies of the "good ole boys" or truly concerned about the welfare of our communities? Has scrutiny of the incumbent’s performance and tax spending been thwarted by obfuscation and professional courtesy of superiors? Who do they really answer to? Not the taxpayers.

You'll know them by their friends, and you get who you vote for, so vote wisely this election,

Susan Mehiel, Vero Beach

Biden fine at state of union, but debate set him up to fail

Looking at the CNN Biden-Trump debate requirements, it's like they were designed to set up Joe Biden to stumble.

How?

1.  CNN allowed only two minutes for candidate responses.

2.  Biden's list of government programs, limited to two minutes, required him to speak quickly.

3.  Biden's stutter happens when he is put in a position of speaking too fast.

My husband stuttered as a youngster. I once asked him how he had controlled this to speak clearly.

His reply: "I was taught to speak slowly."

CNN's time limit set a condition that forced rapid speech by candidates.

As a registered Republican, I support fair competition. With this time limit, the debate favored Donald Trump's rapid speech.

So I guess I'll look again at Biden's State of the Union speech, when he spoke for more than an hour. Then he spent about 20 more minutes greeting congressmen and senators at the Capitol, before and after his speech.

Ruth Sullivan,, Vero Beach

Read psalms when considering plight of nation

George Washington and Dwight Eisenhower, when they were sworn in as president of the United States, had their hands on Psalm 127. The first stanza says: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain; unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."

Our nation was founded in 1620 with a covenant by the Puritans pledging to be useful to the Lord. Those of us who acknowledge that covenant cannot impose it on others, but we can demonstrate love and care for others that might inspire them to ask why we are so considerate of them.

It's not us; it's the Lord working through us can then be our answer.

One final word: John F. Kennedy was going to recite Psalm 126 in Dallas the day he was assassinated.

Stanford Erickson, Vero Beach

Use knowledge to stop march into third-world status

After reading several recent letters to the editor, it’s clear people are deficient of knowledge and understanding. It may be lack of education, biased news feeds or an unwillingness to research before putting pen to paper.

Unfortunately, all of these perpetuate ignorance.

Here are some mischaracterizations that must be pointed out. We are a constitutional republic, not a democracy. Our republic gives authority to we, the people, to elect our representatives, and we still have a say in who is elected, at least for now. On the other hand, a democracy is based solely on majority vote. The primary reason our founding fathers gave us the electoral college is so the majority can’t negate the vote of the minority. A republic provides individuals with a voice and rights where a democracy leads to tyranny. History reflects this.

For those parroting Donald Trump is a convicted felon and believe it was a fair trial is another example of ignorance. For one to be a convicted felon, one must be sentenced. Trump had a trial, was found guilty on all counts, but has not been sentenced.

The judge, district attorney and biased jury members were compromised by words, deeds, relationships and affiliations. Now the sentencing date has been pushed back due to new information and U.S. Supreme Court rulings.

Breaking news: Trump is not the problem. His policies were good for all Americans. It’s the ignorance of people. Being led blindly down a path of government dependency leads to enslavement. We are free to be as productive as we choose. Capitalism and lower taxes are the tide that lifts all boats. Illegal entry is against the law, not anti-immigration.

The Trump haters who are turning our republic into a third world country due to their boundless thirst for power and control should be ashamed.

Karen Hiltz, Sebastian

Trump assassination attempt: Lots of blame to go around

Could the attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump have been prevented? Probably.

People reported a man with a gun on the roof of a building, but security reacted too slowly.

Reports are that Trump and Robert Kennedy asked for more security, but the Biden administration refused them. Both Kennedy and Trump are challenging Joe Biden.

One Democrat representative, Bennie Thompson, even wanted to strip Trump of all security because he was a convicted felon.

But in reality, the seeds for this act began the moment Trump and Melania came down the escalator. That was the moment the left began manipulating the public’s opinion of Trump.

The rhetoric against Trump is all so negative. Trump is Hitler, a fascist, a threat to democracy, a dictator and a liar.

In addition, for the past eight years, we have heard media and Democrats falsely accused Trump of being in collusion with the Russians, calling for an insurrection on Jan. 6, when in reality it called for a peaceful and patriotic march to the Capitol, of being a threat to democracy, and that, if elected, it would be the last election because he wouldn’t leave office.

Celebrities and some Democrats have called for violence on Trump.

Remember Kathy Griffin holding the severed head of Trump, Snoop Dog ‘s mock execution of Trump?

Then we heard Biden saying it is time to put a bull's-eye on Trump.

Is it any wonder someone would think such a person deserves to be killed?

They have tried to jail him, bankrupt him. They have used lawfare against him, but Trump continues to stand tall.

Yes, there is a lot of blame to go around.

Trump is an amazing man.  We need a strong man who loves the country in the White House.

 Betsy DiBenedetto, Vero Beach

Spiritual message in shooter's miss?

He aimed for the head. He hits the ear.

Me thinks, God just voted for Donald Trump.

Just a thought.

Jim Grant, Jensen Beach

Vilifying Trump with lies leads to what we saw

The assassination attempt against Donald Trump has brought condemnation of violent rhetoric by both Republicans and Democrats.

How hypocritical it is of the Democrats to engage in this rejection. For years now, they have likened Trump to Adolf Hitler, warned of a Third Reich government, voting rights taken away, back-alley abortions and the loss of democracy. And do not think for one minute that behind closed doors, some were hoping the assassin was successful.

Letters in this newspaper have seen numerous false comparisons against Trump. A good example is a recent letter claiming the first 180 days of a Trump presidency is to change the United States into, in Trump's words, "a Unified Reich".

Trump never uttered that phrase. It was posted by a junior employee of the Trump campaign and removed the next day. It was not authorized by Trump or any of his staff.

These kinds of erroneous reports can motivate someone to act out heinous deeds. Your paper needs to stop printing Nazi and other dictatorial comparisons to Trump or anyone else. I have criticized Biden as being vile and despicable, because he is. But I have never likened him to any mass murderer as your liberal letter writers do with Trump.

Anthony Napolitano, Jensen Beach

Watch what you say; Lord at work?

I saw the news coverage of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. How did the Secret Service devolve into what it has become?

For example: when Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981, he was rushed into a vehicle and on the way to help within seconds. In Pennsylvania, the ground crew seemed brave and quick, but it took minutes to get him off the stage and into a vehicle.

Apparently, his campaign had asked for more Secret Service personnel, which was denied — as any protection was denied to Robert Kennedy Jr. ― who lost a father and uncle to assassination.

We do notice the attributes of diversity, equity and inclusion embedded into today's Secret Service, including a woman in the command seat. I counted five women agents in dark suits, with their flowing locks pulled back into either buns or ponytails.

When Joe Biden called for a “bull's-eye” to be placed on Trump and Nancy Pelosi demanded, “Trump must be stopped,” are there any repercussions or responsibility assigned to their orders? Other Democratic socialists label Trump as a threat to democracy, a future dictator, authoritarian, even Hitlerian. Could these actions be construed as signals to those who are gullible, unhinged? A red flag to a raging bull?

Republicans do call Biden befuddled, confused, etc., but don't offer commands to violence.

It is time for heads to roll, instead of name-calling and red-flag waving. The buck stops here ― at the desk of today's Secret Service.

Many Americans believe this to be God's hand at work. Many think a miracle occurred. Obviously, the marksman was accurate, since he hit his target. But Trump's style of moving, particularly his head, saved him by a millimeter. Was something else afoot?

Audrey Taggart, Hobe Sound 

No need to worry about dramatic warming of planet

I write in response to an article I read in your newspaper, "A troubling first: Rising seas blamed for disappearance of rare cactus in Florida."

Beyond one or two millimeters or so per year, there is no threatening sea level rise going on. Remember the Maldives? According to “climate catastrophe” adherents, it should be underwater by now and there has been nothing significant occurring there.

The writer is guilty of “drinking the Kool-Aid.”

There is no imminent climate catastrophe in the making. Heat waves are not more extreme than in the past, hurricanes are not more frequent or intense, sea levels are not rising abruptly, the Arctic snowpack is getting thicker, not thinning.

You owe readers facts regarding the weather, not left-wing weather propaganda.

Paul Vallier, Stuart

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Indian River, Martin counties have voting issues; assassination try