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ABATE of Florida Inc SOUTHWEST CHAPTER
31
53, said. "You hope a lot of people come out
so there's no question."
Truman Wilson will. Wilson, 86, a Fort
Myers resident since 1934, when he made
the long trip south from Ontario, Canada,
said this election is the most important of his
life since1964.
"It was real significant to me that
Barry Goldwater become president, and I
went down the drain on that," Wilson said
with a chuckle.
Goldwater lost to Lyndon Johnson.
This year Wilson will be supporting McCain.
This election is about "digging out the
right people for the right answers, and I think
that's what this election will really prove."
Lee residents will have a lot of
answers on other issues, too, issues more
close to home.
Perhaps there will be no surprises in
the county commission, sheriff or property
appraiser races. The popularity of Sheriff
Mike Scott and Appraiser Ken Wilkenson
could carry them to big wins, the way it did
in the Republican primary in September.
And the incumbent Republican
commissioners Bob Janes, Ray Judah and
Frank Mann won their primary battles, where
a victory historically has meant success in
the general election.
Uncertainties come with the
constitutional amendments. There could be
nine, with issues ranging from a stronger
ban on gay marriage to a controversial tax
swap that's struggling to stay alive. To pass,
an amendment needs 60 percent approval
from voters.
The tax swap, Amendment 5, has
been most controversial. Its supporters are
led by the state Taxation and Budget
Reform Commission, the appointed 25-
member board that meets every 20 years
and can put items on the ballot. Commission
members, including Wilkenson, say it will cut
everyone's tax bill about 25 percent by doing
away with the revenue the Legislature
designates for every school district's
operating budget, and it will cap taxable
values on all non-homesteaded properties at
5 percent, or half today's cap.
A penny sales tax increase, an
abolishment of tax exemptions on items
such as luxury box seats at sports stadiums
and an expected economic stimulus would
cover the estimated $9 billion shortfall in
education funding, taxation commission
members say.
Opponents, led by Senate Tax and
Finance Chairman Mike Haridopolos, say it's
a bait-and-switch that would give Florida one
of the highest sales tax in the country at 7
percent and potentially harm education
funding.
So far, opponents are wining. A Leon
County judge threw out the amendment
earlier in August. The Florida Supreme
Court is expected to make a final decision
later in September.
Even if that one goes down, there are
other important ones, including Amendment
6, which would protect waterfront mom-and-
pop businesses from the property value
assessments levied on neighboring
condominium complexes. In other words,
small businesses will be assessed for their
current use, not their highest and best use.
"I would hope (everything) will
generate more and more interest in the
electoral process," Wilkenson said. "I'm
always embarrassed when we have a low
turnout. In Iraq, they turned out at around 86
percent under the threat of a gun."
Here's what's going to be on the November
Ballot:
President: John McCain,R. Barack Obama,
D
Congress, District 14 (Lee County, Naples
area, part of Charlotte County): Jeff George,
NPA (no party affiliation). Connie Mack*
(incumbent). Burt Saunders, NPA.
State Senate, District 27 (parts of Lee,
Charlotte, Hendry, Glades and Palm Beach
counties): Dave Aronberg,D*. Matt
Caldwell,R. Aniana Robas, G.
State House, District 71 (parts of Lee,
Charlote and Sarasota counties): Betty
Gissendaner,D. Ken Roberson,R.
State House, District 72 (parts of Lee,
Charlotte and DeSoto counties): Judy
Juliano, D. Paige Kreegel, R*.
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