Candidate Profiles: State House, District 89 | County Commission, Seat 4 | Florida Senate, District 34
By Steven J. Smith
The polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 4, as voters across our area will once again cast their ballots for candidates, constitutional amendments and countywide questions.
Statewide and regional races include governor and lieutenant govaernor, attorney general, chief financial officer, commissioner of agriculture, the Florida Congressional District 22 seat and the Palm Beach County School Board District 4 seat. Those candidates are:
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Rick Scott/Carlos Lopez-
Cantera (Republican,
incumbents)
Charlie Crist/Annette Taddeo (Democrat)
Adrian Wylie/Greg Roe
(Libertarian)
Farid Khavari/Lateresa A. Jones (No Party Affiliation)
Glenn Burkett/Jose Augusto Matos (No Party Affiliation)
Attorney General
Pam Bondi (Republican, incumbent)
George Sheldon (Democrat)
Bill Wohlsifer (Libertarian)
Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Atwater (Republican, incumbent)
William “Will” Rankin
(Democrat)
Commissioner of Agriculture
Adam Putnam (Republican, incumbent)
Thaddeus Thad Hamilton (Democrat)
Florida Congressional District 22
Lois Frankel (Democrat, incumbent)
Paul Spain (Republican)
School Board District 4
Tom Sutterfield
Erica Whitfield
Three constitutional amendments and two countywide questions are on the ballot for a yes or no vote.
Constitutional Amendments
Amendment No. 1, Article X, Section 28: Water and land conservation — Funds the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to acquire, restore, improve and manage conservation lands by dedicating 33 percent of net revenues from the existing excise tax on documents for 20 years.
Amendment No. 2, Article X, Section 29: Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions — Allows the medical use of marijuana for those with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician.
Amendment No. 3, Article V, Sections 10, 11: Prospective Appointment of Certain Judicial Vacancies — Allows the governor to fill judicial vacancies by appointing a justice or judge from a slate of nominees.
Countywide Questions
Both questions reauthorize existing property tax
levies and do not raise taxes, according to the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County.
Question 1: The Children’s Services Council — A “yes” vote approves continuation of its Special Taxing District status and assures the CSC has a dedicated source of funding. A “no” vote removes the CSC funding guarantee, removing certainty that the county could absorb the cost in its current budget.
Question 2: Palm Beach County School Board — A “yes” vote authorizes the School Board to continue levying a tax of $.25 per $1,000 of taxable value that funds teachers and programs such as arts, music, physical education, career and academic programs through Fiscal Year 2019. A “no” vote decreases funding for those programs.
For more information on candidates, polling places, sample ballots and more, visit www.pbcelections.org or call the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office at 656-6200.
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