Presentation By Elizabeth Rentel, Andy Cross and Jim Gemmill November 2006 Mid-Elections

Introduction 1.How to make an informed vote 2.Who is running for Governor 3.Who is running for Senate 4.Constitutional Amendments 5.Wrap up

BECOMING AN INFORMED VOTER Its your right! Unless you’re a felon! Help the process Issues and elected officials affect our daily lives – everyone cares about at least one issue Why should I vote?

1. What does each candidate plan to do? –Don’t just listen to key phrases, “I’ll lower taxes” or “I’ll get health care for you and your cat” –Find out the what and how, look for specifics Five Questions to ask yourself before voting?

2. Where is your info coming from? Approach speeches, sound bites, and friendly advice with caution – people are inherently biased and often have agendas Check credible sources and use lots of them; newspapers, candidate websites, etc… Make the choice yours

3. What will be on the ballot? Don’t walk into the booth with one person to vote for Find out about all the candidates and issues you have a chance to vote for or against Check websites for issues and candidates

4. Are you voting for the candidate or the issue? Don’t vote for a candidate because of one issue Make a list of all the issues you care about and match them up with the candidates Think about importance of certain issues for you and your candidate

5. What candidate is best for the office? Don’t get sucked in by smooth talkers and pretty faces – these aren’t primary criteria for candidate picking Think about the office, what it does, and the kind of person it needs Truthfully though, if you’ve gone through questions 1-4 your choice has probably been made

Critical Thinking Democrat, Republican, Moderate? Who’s running for governor? What needs to be changed?

Governor’s Race DAVIS CRIST This Time It’s Personal

Charles “In Charge” Crist Born 1956 in Altoona, PA Graduated FSU in 1978 Law Degree from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, AL State Director for U.S Senator Connie Mack Elected Commissioner of Education in 2000 Attorney General of Florida since 2002

Jim “The Anti Crist” Davis 4 th Generation Floridian Graduated from Washington & Lee University Law Degree from University of Florida Law School Attorney from Florida House of Representatives from U.S. Congress since 1996

What Have They Done So Far? Helped pass STOP Bill Implemented Reform in Florida Classrooms Advocate for Consumers and Innocent Victims

What Have They Done So Far? Helped funding to create more jobs, better roads Created Transition to Teaching Act Architect of 1997 Federal Budget

Important Issues

Important Issues - Crist Fighting Identity Theft, Fraud, and Spam Family Values Business and Legal Reform Environment and Economy Safe and Affordable Medicine Protecting Consumers from Illegal Profiteering Safety of Floridians

Important Issues - Davis Hurricane Protection School Accountability Health Care Minorities Seniors Environment and Everglades

Believers of Crist NRA Florida Doctors Connie Mack Contractors State Police Seminole County Tourism Officials

Who’s Got Jim’s Back? National, Federal, and Statewide Leaders Elected Officials Labor Organizations

Crist or Davis?

Florida Senate Bill Nelson Dem. vs. Katherine Harris Rep.

Bill Nelson Current office holder Party: Democratic Party Previously was an Attorney Previously politically: FL House, ; US House, ; FL Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Fire Marshal, Military Service: USA, ; USAR, , Education: BA Yale University, 1965; JD University of Virginia, 1968 Religion: Protestant

Katherine Harris Party: Republican Party Previously was a Commercial Real Estate Broker Previously politically: FL Senate, ; FL Secy. of State, ; US House, present Education: BA Agnes Scott College (GA), 1979; MA Harvard University, 1996 Religion: Presbyterian

Key Votes Bill Nelson

Katherine Harris Key Votes

Platforms Commerce Environment Health Homeland Security Reproductive Rights Seniors Veterans Issues Commerce Consumer Affairs Education Environment Health Quality Homeland Security Seniors Secure Veterans Issues Bill Nelson Katherine Harris

Constitutional Amendments TitleSponsor 06 1 A STATE PLANNING AND BUDGET PROCESS The Florida Legislature 06 2 R TERM LIMITS The Florida Legislature 06 3 A REQUIRING BROADER PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS OR REVISIONS The Florida Legislature 06 4 APROTECT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUTH, FROM ADDICTION, DISEASE, AND OTHER HEALTH HAZARDS OF USING TOBACCO Floridians For Youth Tobacco Education, Inc R INDEPENDENT NONPARTISAN COMMISSION TO APPORTION LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WHICH REPLACES APPORTIONMENT BY LEGISLATURE Committee for Fair Elections 06 6 A INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION The Florida Legislature 06 7 A PERMANENTLY DISABLED VETERANS' DISCOUNT ON HOMESTEAD AD VALOREM TAX The Florida Legislature 06 8 A EMINENT DOMAIN The Florida Legislature

Conclusion Florida Gulf Coast University How the Presentation changed Solutions?

References posedConstAmend.shtml ceprofile_FLORIDASENATE.html