Last chance to defeat OHPA Partisan Election Bill in committee: an updated opinion

Submitted by Mike Harrison

March 30, 2015 8:30 a.m.

The FLAC meeting may not be ‘noticed’ until later on Monday, but I have spoken with Staff who assure me that the next meeting is on Wednesday April 1, and that HB 1201 will be on the agenda. Thanks for your help.

The Federal and Local Affairs Committee meeting is our last chance to defeat HB 1201 which seeks to make Partisan the elections to the Ocean Highway and Port Authority. It meets on Wednesday April 1 at 9:00 am and consists of 11 Republicans and 6 Democrats. Votes thus far have been along party lines, so I think we can count on most of the Democrats voting HB 1201 down. So we only need to get 3 or 4 of the Republicans to rise above the party line and support the idea that Partisan elections will not help either OHPA or the Port and we have 9 votes – a majority.

On Tuesday, I’ll be spending the day meeting with as many of the committee members as I can to make the point that the OHPA needs all of the electorate to participate, both to provide more candidates and to reduce the unhealthy estrangement that has developed between OHPA and the community.

May I ask Fernandina Observer readers who are opposed to Partisan elections for the OHPA to express their feelings to the FLAC members. They are:

Dennis.Baxley@myfloridahouse.gov

Debbie.Mayfield@myfloridahouse.gov

Charles.VanZant@myfloridahouse.gov

Larry.Ahern@myfloridahouse.gov

Doug.Broxson@myfloridahouse.gov

Jimmie.Smith@myfloridahouse.gov

Neil.Combee@myfloridahouse.gov

Tom.Goodson@myfloridahouse.gov

Lake.Ray@myfloridahouse.gov

Danny.Burgess@myfloridahouse.gov

Eric.Eisnaugle@myfloridahouse.gov

David.Santiago@myfloridahouse.gov

Kevin.Rader@myfloridahouse.gov

Bobby.DuBose@myfloridahouse.gov

Kristin.Jacobs@myfloridahouse.gov

Kionne.McGhee@myfloridahouse.gov

Sharon.Pritchett@myfloridahouse.gov

Daphne.Campbell@myfloridahouse.gov

(Names in italics are Democrats; those in regular font are Republicans.)

The best time to send these e-mails is between now and 9:00 am Tuesday

Mike Harrison is a resident of Old Town and a member of the city's Historic District Council. He and his wife Jennifer are actively engaged in many civic endeavors to improve their neighborhood and the city.