- April 18, 2024
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+ Flagler County Tea Party does not endorse candidates
Dear Editor:
During the recent Palm Coast city redistricting debate, the Flagler County Tea Party once again was misrepresented by some candidates and their supporters who gave the perception that one candidate or another is endorsed by the tea party. And the tea party continues to be vilified at public meetings by some elected officials and appointed committee members.
The tea party is not a political party. Its Executive Committee does not endorse candidates of any party for any election.
The tea party mission is clear. The successful process developed for the 2010 election resulted in electing office holders on federal, state and local levels that reflect its core values: constitutionally limited government, fiscal responsibility, free markets and strong national defense. This process strongly supports our mission to attract, educate, organize and mobilize fellow citizens.
The Flagler County Tea Party encourages its members and the public to visit its website for up-to-date information relating to elections, candidates and legislation, participate in the process, then vote for the candidate that most reflects their values.
On behalf of its 1,100 members, I thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight.
Tom Lawrence, chairman
Flagler County Tea Party
+ Dangerous trend: Low interest in voting in Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
As an early voting poll volunteer at the library on the first day of early voting for the Palm Coast City Council races, I’d like to share my experiences today with you and your readers.
It was a great opportunity to meet and talk with all the candidates. But sadly, once again, voter turnout was at a trickle. Here are some of the excuses I heard:
“What election?”
“I didn’t bring my ID” (Yet the person drove up in a vehicle).
And the most frequent: “I don’t vote.”
My question to your readers is, “What would you do if you heard all elections were canceled?”
Recently, the governor of North Carolina stated: “Maybe we should suspend all elections until the economy returns to normal so that all politicians could concentrate on that instead of running for re-election.”
How many realize how dangerous this statement is?
There are approximately 49,000 registered voters here in Palm Coast. In the last election for mayor, only a little more than 5,000 bothered to vote. A little more than 2,000 people decided who your mayor will be and the direction this city will head. His opponent lost by approximately 500 votes.
I don’t want to hear one more American tell me how bad Wall Street, the banks or big corporations are. The people responsible for this mess, the members of U.S. Congress, are becoming politicians for life because you are either too lazy, too ignorant, or just not interested in exercising the most precious right in the world — your right to vote.
One candidate for City Council, Jason DeLorenzo, is the chief lobbyist for the builders. To most, that is a huge conflict of interest. Do you think a lobbyist is a good idea for any governing body? This is a decision you must make. Please don’t give that right to just a few.
Linda J. Hansen
Palm Coast
+ Sign vandalism shows racism is alive and well in Flagler County
Dear Editor:
Three of City Council member Holsey Moorman’s campaign signs were removed from highly visible locations in Palm Coast.
One sign was so heavy, it could not have been moved by one person’s effort. All three signs were recovered: two intact, the third painted blue.
There are cameras at two of the locations where the signs were removed. If a motorist can be cited for violating a traffic signal, then it should be fairly easy for the culprits to be caught.
We call upon the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to be more vigilant. Now that they have been made aware of this ongoing issue, we expect that this will not occur again.
I am sure that Mayor Jon Netts and the city manager would prefer that Palm Coast not have such negative publicity while they are encouraging businesses to consider our city and for retirees and others to relocate to the area.
This community is becoming more diverse. Diversity should be represented in all arenas, including politics.
If prejudice could be set aside, Palm Coast could be the model for many cities. Today, it is a reminder of past times. This does not bode well for our future.
Linda Sharpe Haywood, president
Flagler County NAACP
