Editorial 570

Can it be election time already? Ready or not, here it is! On January 31, voters head to the voting booth for the first time in the New Year. Registered Republicans will go to the polls that day for the Presidential Preference Primary Election. However, January 31st is not just for Republicans-it’s for everyone on Fort Myers Beach! Every registered voter in Fort Myers Beach can and should go to the polls to vote on the Bond Referendum regarding Town Hall that is being held that same day, same voting locations. The risk of holding a referendum at any time other than a general election is that turnout is low. I’m not sure why that is, each and every election is asking voters a question. Shouldn’t we answer it? For a country that loves to share anonymous opinions, as witnessed by the proliferation of anonymous blogs, online comments and radio call-in shows, it seems odd that the best opportunity to offer an anonymous opinion is not used more often-the ballot box. Maybe it’s true that we don’t really want to solve our problems, we just want to complain about them. But I sure hope not. Get out there and vote January 31, whether it’s for your choice of Republican Presidential candidate and the Beach Referendum or just the Beach Referendum. Vote! You can vote early. This year that means Jan 21-28 at early voting locations. There are five of them in Lee County; the closest is at the Election Center South Branch across from Bell Tower Shops at 13180 S. Cleveland Ave. You can see all 5 locations at leeelections.com. Look for the VOTE box and choose "When Do I Vote?” Absentee ballots may be requested up to 6 days before an election by calling 239- LEE-VOTE. No excuses-VOTE!

***** The Florida Legislature is now in session and has already shown signs of activity. There are bills moving through the committee process to provide citizens the right to be heard at public meetings. SB 206 and HB 355 are in response to court rulings that found that Florida’s "Sunshine Law” requires public meetings but does not provide the public’s right to speak at those meetings. The proposed bills allow time limits and as well as limits large groups to having a representative speak. The bills also address how citizens give notice they would like to speak. A big step toward citizen’s rights in the Sunshine State. The Legislature is also working on other big items such as redistricting, immigration and gambling, with bills introduced. Meanwhile, a dozen or so laws passed last year are involved in court challenges including those dealing with elections, welfare drug testing, guns, teacher pay and tenure. Several of these legal challenges are expected to end up in front of the Florida Supreme Court. Hopefully the legal challenges will make legislators more careful in their exercise of power this session. Having the Florida governor, House and Senate overwhelmingly of one party upsets the usual checks and balances of the two party system. And calls for more self control. If you can pass a bill and get it signed by the Governor, does not necessarily make it a good bill. A lot of attention is focused on Washington these days. We’re in an election year, approaching a Republican Primary so that makes sense. However, citizens should not overlook their local and state government. The issues that impact your community and your daily life are debated and decided much closer to home than DC. Be a part of the discussion. ***** You may notice the addition of a new face on the right side of this page. Go ahead look, I’ll wait. By popular demand, Dana Reid will be bringing us a glimpse of his world each week. Dana’s World, which debuted on these pages a year ago, has been delighting Sand Paper readers every other week with his unique and humorous take on everyday life. Look for Dana’s World each week in the Sand Paper in 2012. A long time Islander, Dana really knows this Island and its people and isn’t shy about sharing that knowledge with the rest of us. Let’s see where Dana’s World takes us next…