- April 29, 2024
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The Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates, along with the Flagler County Association of Realtors, will host the county’s inaugural Flagler Votes Forum 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at 4101 East Moody Blvd., in Bunnell.
All declared candidates are invited to attend.
The forum is a first step toward the chamber becoming a community action agency, which is an intention Board Chairman Garry Lubi presented to the Palm Coast City Council and Flagler County Board of County Commissioners earlier this month. As such, the chamber will also begin writing political endorsements.
Identified as the group’s No. 1 strategic task for the next two to three years, enhancing the chamber’s impact on government is meant to help it define its role as a voice for the local business community, Lubi told the County Commission. The chamber is also exploring possible ways to implement accountability measures for local government.
The all-day July 28 forum will offer voters the opportunity to register to vote onsite and learn more about some of the big local and state items on this year’s ballot, such as the School Board’s half-cent sales tax referendum. It will also give residents the chance to meet political candidates in both formal and informal settings.
Mini forums will be held throughout the day, in offices, and candidates will also set up tables, for more casual conversation.
A preliminary agenda of all presentations is listed below:
9:05 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.....................School Board
9:50 a.m. to 10:30 a.m...................State House District 24
10:35 a.m. to 11:00 a.m................Judges
11:05 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.................Sheriff
11:45 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.................Lunch break
12:10 p.m. to 12:25 p.m.................Clerk of Court
12:30 p.m. to 1:25 p.m....................County Commission
1:30 p.m. to 1:40 p.m.......................State Senate District 6
1:45 p.m. to 1:55 p.m........................U.S. Senate
2:00 p.m.to 2:35 p.m.........................U.S. House District 6
2:40 p.m. to 3:00 p.m........................Supervisor of Elections
Food and drinks will also be for sale by local nonprofits
For more, call or 437-0106, or visit www.flaglerchamber.org.
Other forums
The next public forum, for county judge candidates, is planned for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, at 7 N. Old Kings Road, hosted by the Ronald Reagan Republican Assembly of Flagler County, with additional events planned for after the primary.
No rules, just right
Even though all election candidates are voted into seats based on district, every voter in every district is permitted to vote for any candidate they like, despite the district in which the voter resides. The only restriction is based on party affiliation, which is clarified on the sample ballot that was mailed to each home.
Campaign notes
In February 2002, judge candidate Don Appignani was fined $1.903.50 by The Florida Bar, for conflict of interest-related charges surrounding the Elian Gonzalez trial.
It was recommended that Appignani receive a public reprimand and be charged the fine for administrative fees.
According to the Florida Bar’s report: “(Appignani) was not acting out of any dishonest or selfish motive in this case.”
He also had no previous disciplinary measures or convictions.
Also, County Commissioner Milissa Holland, who is running for the Florida House District 24 seat, was late in turning in her latest financial reports to the state. She said it was because of a clerical mix-up.
“It was an oversight and a mistake, but we’d gotten it in,” she said, noting that she called state offices the morning of the deadline and had the reports submitted that afternoon.
No fines were incurred.
