THE CAPTAIN REPORTS.......


ELECTION UPDATE AND OTHER THOUGHTS:


We are T-Minus 96 hours until the start of voting here in the State of Florida and early voting has already begun in several states. In 19 days, we will know who will lead our country for the next four years.

The polls seem to indicate that it could be one of those year's where it's "throw the bums out" and if that rings true, then all incumbents are in deep doggie doo. Names like Mario Diaz Balart, Lincoln Diaz Balart and Ileana Ros Lehtinen, and others may be looking for a new line of work come January.

Why do the polls indicate that Congress has about a 10% positive rating in 2008? Just look at the Congressional seat in District 16 held by Timothy Mahoney. It was barely two years ago when the Incumbent Mark Foley resigned in disgrace after allegations came to light that the Congressman was carrying on a text message affair with male congressional pages. Mahoney ran against him, tauted his clean background and campaigned against such corruption. Fast-forward to 2008 and Mahoney has been the lead story in the news for the past 48 hours. The mistresses are now lining up to tell their stories about how they had affairs with Mahoney. The first one to come to light was an affair that allegedly took place during Mahoney's campaign against Foley. It is now being alleged that Mahoney, through his attorney, paid "hush" money to the victim to buy her silence.


Locally, we have one judicial contest, GROUP 19, with Yvonne Colodny v. Steven Millan. Below is my June 19, 2008 analysis with some updated information.

YVONNE COLODNY .....

Assistant Public Defender Yvonne Colodny has been a member of The Florida Bar for nine (9) years. She has been an APD for that entire time. She graduated from FSU Law School and has gone on to serve in just about every Division of the PD's office. Ms. Colodny filed to run in April of 2008.

Ms. Colodny has put together a campaign war chest many politicians would envy. Her campaign totals as of the end of September show $295,430, including $169,900 raised from 549 contributors and an additional $125,530 in loans. Colodny has already spent $233,169 with Balsera Communications Group the primary beneficiary of her expenditures. They have reaped a grand total of $132,000 from her campaign

You can read all about Yvonne Colodny on her web site at colodnyforjudge.com.

STEPHEN MILLAN ....

Steve has BTDT (as one of our readers likes to sign). In 2006, he challenged incumbent Judge Karen Mills Francis in Group 11 of the County Court. Millan got trounced in that election by double digits, losing 56% - 44% (76,565 - 59,513). Now he seeks your vote to the Circuit Court. Steve has been a member of The Florida Bar for 17 years. Mr. Millan's area of practice is primarily Criminal Defense law. He filed in January of 2007, right after the 2006 winners were sworn in.

Millan is the polar opposite of Colodny when it comes to fundraising. He has raised a total of $42,916 as of August 1, 2008. That money comes from 204 contributors; he has not loaned his campaign one cent! Millan has spent $38,595, with his biggest expense going to Quantum Results, which received $7,500. I do not profess to totally understand the campaign finance laws as they relate to reporting, but FS 106 and the administrative laws seem to require that Millan should have filed a few more reports since August 1, 2008?

You can check out Millan at millanforjudge.com.

OTHER THOUGHTS .....

GERSTEIN JUSTICE BUILDING - LOT 26

I couldn't believe my eyes this week when I pulled my expensive sedan into Lot 26 at the GJB and saw a new black top and lines, yes lines, separating the lanes. It was comical to see how the cars were still parking haphazardly, even with the clearly marked lanes; I guess it will take a while getting used to having to actually park inside the lines.

BASEBALL - WORLD SERIES

If the Tampa Bay Rays win one more game, FOX Sports will probably go into cardiac arrest. Outside of Philadelphia and the Tampa Bay area, the estimates are that about nine people will watch a Phillies v. Rays World Series. And we all wanted so much to see the Dodgers and Manny against his former team, the Red Sox.

FLORIDA'S SUPREME COURT

Governor Charlie Crist gets to name yet another Supreme Court Justice with the recent announcement of the retirement of Justice Harry Lee Anstead. Anstead sits on an at-large seat, so the seat is open to anyone. Will our local favorite son, Judge Kevin Emas, make it to the final cut of five names again, like he did this summer before being beaten out by newly named Justice Charles Canady? Or will Crist go in a completely different direction? It seems that Crist is trying to send a message to the Supreme Court JNC with his letter to them where the Governor emphasized his belief that "our state's judges should reflect the racial, gender and geographic diversity of the people that they serve." Both of his summer nominees have been white males. The "Hispanic" seat left vacant by Justice Cantero remains ready to be filled.

CAPTAIN OUT .......