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Bob Robertson

Election Day is here! And so is everything you need to know

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Today is Election Day where Florida will elect a governor, an attorney general, a chief financial officer and an agriculture commissioner among others. Locally, however, voters will have to decide on representatives in Tallahassee, as well as who will represent their interests on the county commission.

In last week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, we offered an election primer, which you can read by clicking here. But do you want to know more?

Here is a collection of stories related to the various candidates and government leaders The Laker/Lutz News has published over the past year, both in print, and online. We’ve covered all the races extensively, and provided some government news at the same time, which helped earn us the state’s best local government reporting coverage this past year by the Florida Press Association.

Did we miss a story? Feel free to search the site using our internal engine using key words that most interest you, and chances are, we’ve covered it.

Be sure to keep reading our site tonight as we provide up-to-the-minute coverage of the election, before we break it all down in the Nov. 12 print editions of The Laker/Lutz News.

GOVERNOR’S RACE

Scott wants closer look of Ebola threat (10/26)
Although one nurse already under quarantine feels the measures are too restrictive in other parts of the country, Gov. Rick Scott has issued an executive order that could go as far as putting people under quarantine he feels is at high risk for Ebola.

Beverly Ledbetter with Charlie Crist
Beverly Ledbetter with Charlie Crist

Crist has slim lead in Saint Leo poll (10/23)
With a less than two weeks until voters have to make a final decision on who they should send to (or keep in) Tallahassee, a new poll from the Saint Leo University Polling Institute shows Democrat Charlie Crist with a slight lead over incumbent Republican Rick Scott.

Crist campaign gets Pasco County boost (10/16)
Mike Fasano has made no secret his dislike for Gov. Rick Scott. But now he’s taking that opposition to television. The Charlie Crist gubernatorial campaign has released a new commercial featuring the Pasco County tax collector and former state legislator, taking a shot at Scott while publicly endorsing Crist, who Fasano calls “a good man.”

Browning parts from Scott, stands by Common Core Standards (10/2)
Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning is standing by the Common Core State Standards, despite a recent decision by Gov. Rick Scott to put the kibosh on the state’s participation in a consortia developing assessments for those standards.

Lopez-Cantera holds no punches against Crist (10/2)
Carlos Lopez-Cantera is Florida’s second-in-command behind Gov. Rick Scott, but there are still pockets of the state he has only heard about.

Gov. Rick Scott taking part in groundbreaking in Lutz.
Gov. Rick Scott taking part in groundbreaking in Lutz.

Fact Check: Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera’s campaign visit to Zephyrhills (9/30)
Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera made a campaign stop on behalf of Gov. Rick Scott in Zephyrhills Sept. 22, speaking in front of the Conservative Club of East Pasco.

Local projects spared from Scott’s veto pen (6/2)
Gov. Rick Scott left nearly $69 million of this year’s state budget on the cutting room floor, but various projects throughout Pasco and Hillsborough counties were given a reprieve.

CABINET RACES

Pasco’s free lunches take to the road (7/3)
It’s hard to imagine getting through most days without that noontime break for lunch. That packed sandwich, frozen entrée, or maybe even a quick trip to a local eatery, is something many people take for granted each day. But for 36,000 students in the Pasco County school district, that trip to the cafeteria may be the only nutritious meal they have all day, paid for through federal tax dollars.

Private businesses don’t have to open records to public (6/19)
While government typically hires its own people to perform various functions, there are many times when officials contract with private companies to get that work done. But does that mean the records of those businesses are now public record, like they are for the government? The answer is no, Attorney General Pam Bondi has decided.

Bondi saves Fasano’s prescription drug program with $2M pledge (5/5)
Every year since Gov. Rick Scott took office, Mike Fasano says he’s had to fight to keep the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program alive.

CONGRESSIONAL RACES

Local congressmen support president’s ISIL plan (9/18)
In a rare move, the U.S. Congress supported an initiative by President Obama Wednesday, voting to authorize limited military action against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or more commonly known as ISIL. Despite the U.S. House approving the measure 221-192, the area’s two local Republican congressmen are still saying they’re not happy with how Obama is handling the conflict in Syria and Iraq.

Local congressional districts should remain unchanged (8/7)
Florida lawmakers are back in Tallahassee for a special session this week after a judge in Leon County declared the boundaries for two Congressional districts were unconstitutional.

Cusp of history: Pasco leads way to amend Constitution (1/15)
It’s nearly impossible to get Democrats and Republicans in Congress to agree on anything these days, but a state senator from Pasco County might have a way to bring them together — even if it’s to campaign against his plan.

STATE LEGISLATURE RACES

Buy local? Not state House political candidates (11/2)
They have both championed jobs and money to flow into their district in Pasco County, but are two politicians seeking a place in Tallahassee practicing what they’re preaching?

Burgess: There’s no place like home … rule (10/23)
Danny Burgess was nervous as he straightened his tie and tried to review in his head everything he was going to say. It was his first debate in his race for a seat on the Zephyrhills City Council, and he had an uphill battle to convince older voters that electing an 18-year-old to represent them was the right way to go.

Burgess won’t defend Duke Energy, despite donation (10/9)
A state regulatory agency ordered the company to refund $54 million to customers last week, yet many Duke Energy customers remain unhappy about being charged for $3.2 billion in failed nuclear power plant projects. And one candidate for the Florida House is feeling the heat.

From teacher to candidate, Ledbetter just can’t say no (7/31)
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And when there’s a need, there’s Beverly Ledbetter. The retired educator has made Dade City her home since the days of Richard Nixon, inspiring thousands of students at Pasco Junior High School and later Pasco High School for more than three decades. Along the way, Ledbetter found herself in the most unexpected jobs, whether it be coaching the school’s soccer team, or helping educators through her work with the teachers’ union.

Express route to downtown Tampa in jeopardy, HART says (7/24)
The number of people who depend on HART’s Route 51X connecting Pasco County to downtown Tampa is dwindling. And so is the organization’s money. So it’s probably no surprise to some of the remaining riders that officials with Hillsborough Area Regional Transit want to make some significant changes to the route, possibly removing the express route altogether. But at the very least, adding some local stops to finally bring such mass transit service to the New Tampa area.

Danny Burgess and Beverly Ledbetter at a recent candidate forum.
Danny Burgess and Beverly Ledbetter at a recent candidate forum.

Legg, lawmakers build path to collegiate high schools (6/26)
High schools have come a long way in preparing students for schools, with Florida especially hanging its hat on dual enrollment opportunities that allow many juniors and seniors to earn college credit before receiving their high school diploma.

Paperwork snafu costs Diaz chance for Tallahassee (6/20)
Danny Burgess no longer has to worry about a primary battle in his quest to succeed Will Weatherford in House District 38.

PHSC project one of Florida TaxWatch’s ‘turkeys’ (5/27)
Will Pasco-Hernando State College get that performing arts center it has been hoping for? Not if the governor is paying attention to political activist group Florida TaxWatch.

Winners and losers from tough Tallahassee session (5/23)
Amphibians like frogs and toads can create thousands of tadpoles each season, but only a few actually survive to become adults just like their parents. That could be the perfect way to describe how lawmaking works in Tallahassee. Hundreds of bills are introduced during each session of the Florida Legislature, but very few survive.

Danish pushing Scott to sign child welfare law (5/6)
State Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa, is urging Gov. Rick Scott to sign a bill into law he says will help strengthen the speed and quality of child abuse and neglect investigations in the state. Danish is pushing S.B. 1666, which includes parts of a House bill he introduced this year, and other child welfare initiatives. The bill quickly made it way through both chambers, receiving no dissenting votes in either the House or the Senate.

Future of Pasco lives and dies with municipal airports (4/17)
The expansion of State Road 56 into Zephyrhills could be key to a major economic boom for Pasco County, and two candidates seeking to replace state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, in Tallahassee agree state-level leadership must be in place to make sure it happens.

Burgess invites Tampa mayor to rediscover Wesley Chapel (4/11)
Danny Burgess has just a few more days as mayor of Zephyrhills before he goes full-time into a state House campaign. But before he goes, he has a message for Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn: Wesley Chapel is no longer a “bedroom community.”

Lawmakers propose a little help at the gas pump (3/20)
There are more than 9,000 gas stations in Florida, but only 350 of them offer any type of help for someone who might not be able to pump their gas on their own. Two lawmakers, however, are looking to change that — and are using Hillsborough County as a model.

Eastern Time, Central Time … Florida Time? (1/30)
Spring forward. Fall back. Using the seasons as a guide, Americans have used those expressions to figure out when they should set their clocks back an hour, or forward an hour, to switch between standard time and daylight saving time.

Burgess eyes Tallahassee, but path may not be easy (12/11)
Although there always was a chance he could run for re-election, Danny Burgess knew he had just a short time as mayor of Zephyrhills when he was elected unopposed earlier this year. He will step down from that office in April with an eye on a much bigger prize: replacing Will Weatherford as the area’s state representative in Tallahassee.

PASCO COUNTY COMMISSION RACE

Moore, Remsberg spending money outside Pasco (11/3)
Bringing money into the county is something politician after politician has brought to campaigns and local government for years, and the Pasco County Commission race between Mike Moore and Erika Remsberg has been no different.

Left Behind: Bus services screeches to a halt on Monday (10/16)
Monday was Columbus Day, a holiday with federal status, but one that’s not recognized by many employers, including state and even Pasco County officials. Yet, many offices in the county were closed, including Pasco County Public Transportation, while the employees from those departments attended a daylong retreat and appreciation day.

Mulieri endorses new replacement, crosses party lines (10/16)
No one could ever accuse Pat Mulieri of simply following the herd. Two months ago, she took a stand in the Republican primary, endorsing underdog Bob Robertson from a group of candidates looking to replace her on the Pasco County Commission.

Mike Moore waving signs in Land O' Lakes.
Mike Moore waving signs in Land O’ Lakes.

Moore raises $34K in two weeks, but is it too much? (10/10)
A huge $22,500 haul from developers and real estate professionals over the last two weeks has given Pasco County Commission candidate Mike Moore his best fundraising week of the campaign, raising a whopping $34,250.

Both want jobs, but disagree on how to get them (10/9)
One of the biggest challenges facing the Pasco County Commission in recent years is how to create more jobs here, and not force nearly half the population to travel elsewhere to find work. It’s likely a problem that won’t be fixed over the next four years, but that hasn’t stopped the two candidates looking for a seat on the commission to share their ideas on how it might happen. They are just quite different.

Partisan politics infest county commission race (10/2)
It’s been four years since a Democrat has served on the Pasco County Commission, but Erika Remsberg hopes to change that with just one election in November. However, she has a formidable opponent in the form of Republican Mike Moore, who not only has out-fundraised her 19-to-1, but seems to be the shoo-in to replace the retiring Pat Mulieri in District 2.

Littlefield joins forces with Moore in commission race (9/25)
They may have been foes during the primary, but former state Rep. Ken Littlefield has taken sides in the November election, joining the campaign of Republican candidate Mike Moore in his efforts to replace the retiring Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission.

Moore tops $100,000, makes district race most expensive (8/22)
With just days before voters will choose just one of three candidates to represent the Republican ticket in the Pasco County Commission District 2 race, Mike Moore will clearly take the fundraising title after a final push this week put him over $100,000.

Moore brings big voice to Pasco, but is ready to listen too (8/21)
Money talks, especially in a political campaign. And with nearly $100,000 at his disposal throughout his primary campaign, Mike Moore has had a pretty loud voice.

Let them go? (8/7)
It pretty much started when John Gallagher was caught in heavy traffic on Interstate 75. The morning rush is exactly that, the morning rush. But Gallagher, then the Pasco County administrator, realized that these were primarily people who lived in his county, but were heading south to work jobs in Hillsborough and even Pinellas counties.

Erika Remsberg
Erika Remsberg

Remsberg ready to give commission a much-needed intervention (7/31)
The first step in finding out who will replace Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission begins at the Aug. 26 primary. There voters will choose between three politically focused men — Ken Littlefield, Mike Moore and Bob Robertson — to represent Republicans in the November election.

Commission candidate among those appointed to planning council (4/1)
Michael Moore is one of six appointments announced Monday by Gov. Rick Scott to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Moore, who is seeking Pat Mulieri’s seat on the Pasco County Commission, is the owner of VR Business Sales/Mergers & Acquisitions of Wesley Chapel. He was appointed for a term that began Monday, and would end in October 2015.

GOP commission candidates debate policy for the first time (3/13)
He served eight years in the Florida House, a few weeks on the state’s Public Service Commission, and some additional time working in Gov. Charlie Crist’s administration. So why would Ken Littlefield, who is approaching his 70th birthday, want to try once again to replace Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission?

OTHER ELECTION NEWS

Pasco, Hillsborough offers free rides to polls (11/3)
Want to vote, but not sure how to get there? Well, whether you live in Pasco County or Hillsborough, a chance to cast a ballot is just a free bus ride away.

Pasco gets 25 percent head start into Nov. 4 (11/2)
Early voting in various places around Pasco County ended Saturday, and although there’s still room to receive more mail-in ballots on Monday, county elections supervisor Brian Corley has to be happy with the turnout so far.

Political mailer pits neighbor versus neighbor (10/30)
A political mailer sharing the voting habits of neighbors might not be a new trick for the 2014 elections, but it’s one that has some residents questioning how much of their personal information should be made public.

Strong early voter turnout so far in Pasco (10/30)
Brian Corley likes what he’s seeing for the 2014 election so far. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, more than 21 percent of registered voters in Pasco County have dropped a ballot in the voting box, and there’s still two full days of early voting left.

Inaccurate campaign fliers confusing voters (9/29)
Thousands of voters in Pasco County and across the state opened their mailboxes this weekend to find a flier from the Gov. Rick Scott campaign telling them their absentee ballots should have arrived. Yet, there were no absentee ballots waiting for them.

Voters speak their mind on the primary election (8/26)
Despite the best efforts of election officials to get people out to the polls for the Aug. 26 primary, turnout — at least in Pasco County — is likely to be below 15 percent.

Campaign Crunch: Politicians reveal where their dollars are coming from (8/14)
Erika Remsberg has not raised a lot of money for her bid to replace Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission — and she never expects to.

Voters are mad, and it could affect turnout this November (7/3)
There’s one question Susan MacManus gets more than any other as we head into a contentious election season. And despite her long and impressive credentials as a political scientist, even she can’t answer it.

Moore, Remsberg spending money outside Pasco

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Bringing money into the county is something politician after politician has brought to campaigns and local government for years, and the Pasco County Commission race between Mike Moore and Erika Remsberg has been no different.

In fact, both have ideas on how to attract more jobs and higher wages to the area, as well as bring in an influx of money to help businesses grow and prosper. Yet, when it comes to their own spending habits, some might scratch their heads on how much they are willing to spend with local businesses and local people.

Since the end of February, the District 2 race to replace the retiring Pat Mulieri has raised $135,000 between the two candidates, with nearly $169,000 already spent in that period. Yet, Moore only devoted 32 percent of his total expenditures inside Pasco, while Remsberg wasn’t much better at 39 percent.

Those numbers got far worse for Moore after his primary victory over Ken Littlefield and Bob Robertson, where of the $53,500 he spent, only about $13,000 — or 19 percent — went to help Pasco businesses. Remsberg stayed consistent after the primary, $2,240, or 37 percent, locally.

Since the end of February, both candidates have sent $115,000 out of the county. That’s some $30,000 more than they want taxpayers to give them each year in salary for sitting on the dais, and enough to fund five full-time and one part-time jobs that pay $10 an hour.

“First, I was disappointed my local spending amount was so low,” Remsberg told The Laker/Lutz News in an email. “Must be because the Tarpon union printer I used was just over the border. Secondly, I think reporting the amounts donated is more important than the percentages. Given the vast difference in amounts donated to our contributions, I think percentages do not paint the picture as well as the dollar amount does.”

An early Monday morning request to Moore for comment was still pending return.

Twice in October, Moore had a week where he spent more than $20,000, with less than 6 percent of that going to local businesses. Instead, during those two periods, he spent $37,323 with Majority Strategies in Ponte Vedra for advertising, and nearly $3,000 with Allegra Marketing in Tampa for printing.

Even food preparation was not something Moore could find locally, spending $2,224 for food at a fundraiser, supplied by Catering by the Family in Tampa.

Remsberg also had a bad week in October where nearly 95 percent of her spending was done outside of Pasco. It was there she spent nearly $1,100 with Image Media in Tarpon Springs for printing. Before that, she had taken some of her printing work to Tampa, where she spent more than $925 with Gunn Printing in July.

Since the end of February, Moore has raised more than $123,000 in cash, far more than the $11,600 Remsberg raised over the same time. However, more than half of Moore’s donations have come from people and groups associated with real estate, development and construction.

To date, those groups have given Moore nearly $63,000 in contributions, with more than $40,000 of it coming since the primary. At the same time, Remsberg has picked up just $350 from contributors like that, all of it coming from an operating engineer union. That accounted for 3 percent of her total contributions.

“A campaign mostly financed with money from developers creates a conflict of interest when the candidate will be ruling on issues affecting those developers,” Remsberg said. “Pasco County loses significant revenues on incentives for development causing Pasco County residents to pick up the bill. We do not have enough money to fix our roads in Pasco, but we can spend money helping developers pay for the roads they are building for their own projects.”

Voters will have a chance to decide between Moore and Remsberg on Nov. 4.

Mulieri endorses new replacement, crosses party lines

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No one could ever accuse Pat Mulieri of simply following the herd.

Two months ago, she took a stand in the Republican primary, endorsing underdog Bob Robertson from a group of candidates looking to replace her on the Pasco County Commission.

Pat Mulieri
Pat Mulieri

Robertson lost the primary, so that left the door open for Mulieri to choose yet another underdog — one that is not even a Republican.

Although she stopped short of giving her official endorsement, Mulieri has at least thrown her support behind the Democrat in the county commission District 2 race: Erika Remsberg. It also marked the second time Mulieri chose not to go with the race’s frontrunner — at least financially — Republican Mike Moore.

“I met with Erika,” Mulieri told The Laker/Lutz News. “She is bright, knowledgeable and caring. We have quite a bit in common,” including being from New York, and earning master’s degrees from New York-based schools.

Mulieri also liked the fact Remsberg is a teacher, who works as a liaison to homeless children.

“The next years, there will be many exciting changes in Pasco,” Mulieri said. “The new commissioners have to be ready to do the job. She will respond to citizens and work to solve problems. I believe she will keep learning. She may not have all the answers, but will work to resolve issues.”

Remsberg said she was humbled by Mulieri’s backing.

“Pat has told me she is supporting me, and that she and (husband) Jimmy are both voting for me,” Remsberg said. “I spent a couple hours with her at (Pasco County Animal Services) talking about the county, talking about the commission, and county goals.”

Remsberg has received help from another former commissioner as well. Michael Cox is actually the last Democrat to serve on the board until Henry Wilson Jr. ousted him in 2010. Wilson lost his seat in August in an open primary against another Republican, Mike Wells Jr.

While she won’t name names, Remsberg said others from across the aisle are boosting her as well.

“I am getting more support from Republican voters,” she said. “I believe that my bipartisan message is resonating with people from both parties.”

Moore, who out-spent Remsberg more than 19-to-1 in the campaign, said Thursday in a statement that he is honored to receive the support of many government and community leaders, listing nearly 20 of them. They included Pasco County sheriff Chris Nocco, state Sen. Wilton Simpson — who also has made sizable contributions to Moore’s campaign — and groups like the Pasco County Professional Firefighters Local 4420, and West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association.

The differences between Democrat and Republican did not faze Mulieri in deciding to support Remsberg, the retiring commissioner said.

“We may have some philosophical differences, but she will be the people’s commissioner, and that is needed,” Mulieri said. “Someone to listen, find answers, and realize that commissioners work for the citizens. They are our boss.”

This story was updated 10/16/2014, at 6:10 p.m., to include comment from Mike Moore.

Littlefield joins forces with Moore in commission race

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They may have been foes during the primary, but former state Rep. Ken Littlefield has taken sides in the November election, joining the campaign of Republican candidate Mike Moore in his efforts to replace the retiring Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission.

Moore, who faces Democrat Erika Remsberg in the November election, revealed the new team during a recent Conservative Club of East Pasco meeting.

“I am helping Mike in the general election,” Littlefield said, adding with a laugh, “I’m bringing back the (Moore political) signs that I stole.”

Littlefield and Zephyrhills financial analyst Bob Robertson were defeated in the August primary by Moore, who raised more than 10 times the money they did. Littlefield attacked Moore throughout the primary on a variety of topics, including the amount of money he was raising from people in the development community.

Moore has raised $10,500 in the first two weeks of September, bringing his campaign total to nearly $113,500. All but about $1,500 of it came from a group of development companies under common ownership, Lew Friedland of Tarpon Springs. Moore has a little more than $13,000 in cash available, according to campaign finance reports.

Remsberg raised $475 during that same time, bringing her total to just under $6,500. She has about $460 in the bank for her campaign.

Wells makes history with win, Moore ready for next stage

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The Pasco County Commission has had its share of lopsided victories in the last 30 or so years. But there’s never been one like the District 4 race last week between current commissioner Henry Wilson Jr., and Mike Wells Jr.

Last week’s primary election attracted less than 15 percent of registered voters. But that’s all that was needed to elect one county commissioner, and nominate another one for the November election. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Last week’s primary election attracted less than 15 percent of registered voters. But that’s all that was needed to elect one county commissioner, and nominate another one for the November election.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

More than 36 percentage points separated Wells from Wilson, the largest margin of victory since 2010 when Commissioner Pat Mulieri defeated independent candidate Clay Colson to keep her seat on District 2 by 40 percentage points.

Winners who pick up more than 60 percent of the vote in races typically are incumbents like Mulieri, who captured 61 percent of the vote in 1998, and 62 percent in 2002. But rarely, if ever, is the candidate who hits that milestone the challenger looking to unseat the incumbent.

Wilson won his seat in an upset win over Mike Cox in 2010, surprising nearly everyone with 52 percent of the vote. This time around, with most of the attention on the open seat left by Mulieri’s retirement in District 2, there was a question on whether or not Wilson would even be challenged by anyone else.

That is until early April when Wells, the son of former county commissioner and current county property appraiser Mike Wells Sr., decided it was time to run.

“We need leadership there, and we need it right now,” Wells told The Laker/Lutz News last month ahead of the primary. “We lost Ann Hildebrand on the commission a few years back, and now Ted Schrader says he is retiring in a couple years. Quite frankly, that creates a vacuum that needs to be fixed.”

Wells would take the seat with 68 percent of the vote, the biggest win of any commission candidate over an incumbent since at least 1980. The former Enterprise Rent-A-Car area manager and current real estate agent won every precinct in the county, and never trailed Wilson as the results were tabulated last week.

“When I started this journey very late into the campaign season, I did so because I wanted the opportunity to help as many people in Pasco County as I could,” Wells wrote on his Facebook page after the election. “So I went into the community and met with you. We met, we talked, you talked, and I listened. I’m still holding on to all of our conversations, and all of your stories.”

Because this seat was decided during primary season, Wilson will continue as a commissioner until November. He told The Laker/Lutz News that he will spend that time doing what he has done all along: serving the people of Pasco County, and “looking out for their best interests.”

“As far as my future, right now we are trusting God for what he has planned ahead of myself and my family, and am excited to see where that journey will take us.”

One other commission seat remains up for grabs, and that’s the one being vacated by Mulieri, who is retiring after 20 years. Mike Moore, who raised far more money than his opponents, took a first step toward that seat with a primary win.

“I am humbled by the support our campaign has received from so many people from across Pasco County,” Moore said. “I also deeply appreciate all the volunteers who have worked very hard toward our victory this evening.”

Moore won a little more than 50 percent of the vote in a campaign where he raised more than $100,000, and received support from outside political groups that purchased airtime on local television stations featuring Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco.

Finishing as the runner-up for the second time in the primary is former state Rep. Ken Littlefield, who earned 28 percent of the vote.

“It was an impressive win by Mike Moore,” Littlefield said. “To prevail in a three-candidate primary with over 50 percent of the vote is a notable feat and deserves congratulations.”

Littlefield will continue to do what he has done the last five years, he said: “Get up early, put a tie on, and go work for Hodges Family Funeral Home.

“I enjoy the work, and at this time, have no plans to run for public office,” he said.

Bob Robertson, a financial analyst who lives in Lake Bernadette in Zephyrhills, left the door slightly more open for a possible future run.

“It was important to me to offer myself without accepting funds from anyone that might compromise me later,” he said. “Hopefully now, life returns to some sense of normal. As to future plans, impossible to know at this point.”

Moore now faces Erika Remsberg, who won the Democratic nomination for the District 2 commission seat without opposition.

Published September 3, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Wilson ousted by Wells, Moore heading to November

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There hasn’t been an incumbent victory in Pasco County Commission’s District 4 seat since 2002. And that streak will continue through at least 2018.

PoliticalAgenda-Mike Wells Jr
Mike Wells Jr.

Henry Wilson Jr., who surprised everyone four years ago to unseat incumbent Mike Cox, was no match for Mike Wells Jr., who took the election in the open primary Tuesday, and will become the newest member of the county commission later this year.

With all precincts reporting by 9:32 p.m., Wells had 68 percent of the vote, while Wilson finished with 32 percent.

Wells is the son of former county commissioner and current property appraiser Mike Wells Sr., and raised a little more than $86,000. Wilson far exceeded his collections of 2010, bringing in donations of $40,000.

Everyone was able to vote in that commission race since there was no November challenger, and the winner would take his seat on the commission.

Mike Moore
Mike Moore

In the other county commission race, Mike Moore took the first step in his bid to replace the retiring Pat Mulieri in District 2.

Moore took 55 percent of the vote to slide past former state Rep. Ken Littlefield and Zephyrhills financial analyst Bob Robertson. Once again, money talked, with Moore topping the $100,000 mark in donations, far ahead of either competitor.

“I am humbled by the support our campaign has received from so many people from across Pasco County,” Moore said in a statement. “Now we look forward to the general election in November, and I am excited about the opportunity we have to share our campaign message with even more voters in the coming weeks. We are focused on creating jobs and building a better future here in Pasco County, and I look forward to seeing each of you on the campaign trail.”

Moore will now face Erika Remsberg in the general election. Remsberg, running as a Democrat did not have a primary opponent.

Modem trouble caused the winners to have to delay their celebrations a little bit, as the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections office had to wait nearly 30 minutes for the final six precincts to start providing their finished reports. Beyond that, counting was quick, and returns flowed in rapidly — most within the first 30 minutes after polls closed.

In the lone school board race, Steve Luikart easily brushed off a challenge by former Pasco County Department of Health director Marc Yacht to win re-election. Luikart had 73 percent of the vote, compared to 27 percent by Yacht.

Pasco County Commission, District 2
Mike Moore –      12,080 – 55%
Ken Littlefield –     6,015 – 28%
Bob Robertson –   3,721 – 17%

Pasco County Commission, District 4
Mike Wells Jr. –      29,009 – 68%
Henry Wilson Jr. – 13,553 – 32%

Pasco County School Board, District 5
Steve Luikart – 29,721 – 73%
Marc Yacht –    11,150 – 27%

Circuit Judge, 6th Circuit, Group 1
Susan St. John – 25,787 – 66%
Laura Snell –       13,522 – 34%

Circuit Judge, 6th Circuit, Group 2
Alicia Polk –                  22,274 – 55%
Ken Lark –                    11,769 – 29%
Alan Scott Rosenthal – 6,472 – 16%

Circuit Judge, 6th Circuit, Group 16
Kim Sharpe –       22,072 – 54%
Brian Battaglia – 18,622 – 46%

Circuit Judge, 6th Circuit, Group 21
Phil Matthey –     21,437 – 53%
Amanda Colon – 18,908 – 47%

Circuit Judge, 6th Circuit, Group 35
Bruce Boyer – 25,371 – 65%
Jon Newlon –  13,936 – 35%

It’s time to vote! Primary election day is here

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Precincts all over Pasco and Hillsborough counties as well as the rest of the state are welcoming voters today as candidates find out whether they’re moving on to November, winning their seat outright, or packing up and going home.

Whether a Democrat, Republican or independent, there is a ballot for everyone, at least in Pasco County where at least one race — Pasco County Commission District 4 — is an open primary race between Republicans Mike Wells Jr. and Henry Wilson Jr. That means all registered voters can choose between the two, no matter what their party affiliation, or lack thereof, is.

The winner of that race will earn a four-year term. Wells, son of former Pasco County commissioner and current Pasco County property appraiser Mike Wells Sr., is looking to win his first election in his first try. Wilson is trying to become the first incumbent to win re-election in District 4 since Steve Simon in 2002.

All voters also will have a chance to decide a school board race between Marc Yacht and incumbent Steve Luikart. Yacht is a former director with the Pasco County Department of Health. Luikart is a former educator and school administrator, and is seeking out his second term.

Democrats and Republicans will have a chance to make their selections for governor. On the Republican side, incumbent Rick Scott is in a primary race against Yinka Abosede Adeshina and Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder. For the Democrats, it’s former governor Charlie Crist against Nan Rich.

Republicans will have one other race to look at, the primary for the District 2 county commission seat to see who will run in November to succeed the retiring Pat Mulieri. Ken Littlefield, Mike Moore and Bob Robertson are all looking to get that nomination, with the winner facing Democrat Erika Remsberg in a couple months.

When heading out to the polls, Pasco County elections supervisor Brian Corley says to remember that Florida law requires two forms of identification at the polls containing a signature and a photograph. A driver’s license, which has both, would be enough to satisfy the requirement, Corley added.

Those without proper identification will be given a provisional ballot. In order for that ballot to count, however, the voter will have to show proper identification no later than 5 p.m. on the second day following the election.

The Laker/Lutz News, honored earlier this year by the Florida Press Association for its local government coverage, has extensively covered the Pasco County elections. To get caught up, click on any of the links below.

Nearly 6,000 turn out for early voting – 8/23/14
Wilson still collecting checks from development community – 8/22/14
Moore tops $100,000, makes district race most expensive – 8/22/14
Littlefield not ready to retire from public service just yet – 8/21/14
Moore brings big voice to Pasco, but is ready to listen too – 8/21/14
Community service morphs into government service for Robertson – 8/21/14
Campaign Crunch: Candidates reveal where their dollars are coming from – 8/14/14
Wells seeks next generation of leadership on commission – 8/14/14
Wilson depending on divine hand in re-election quest – 8/14/14
Let them go? – 8/7/14
County’s vo-tech program needs some TLC, Luikart says – 8/7/14
Yacht says school district needs protection from itself – 8/7/14
Corley warns of ‘misleading information’ from voter group – 7/18/14
Simple ways offered to make voting hassle-free – 7/17/14
Voters are mad, and it could affect turnout this November – 7/3/14
Littlefield challenges experience of his commission opponents – 7/3/14
Mulieri endorses candidate to replace her – 7/2/14
Voters can ride the bus for free to polls – 6/26/14
Commission race an open primary, other candidates qualify – 6/26/14
Paperwork snafu costs Diaz chance for Tallahassee – 6/20/14
Voters to decide between Wells, Wilson in August – 6/20/14
Moore tops Wells in monthly campaign financing – 5/13/14
Wells comes out swinging in commissioner race – 5/8/14
Altman officially files for school board re-election – 5/7/14
Mike Wells challenges Henry Wilson for commission seat – 4/4/14
Commission candidate among those appointed to planning council – 4/1/14
Commission candidates (mostly) avoid elevated toll road debate – 3/7/14
Wilson not convinced Pasco needs elevated road – 2/6/14

Moore tops $100,000, makes district race most expensive

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With just days before voters will choose just one of three candidates to represent the Republican ticket in the Pasco County Commission District 2 race, Mike Moore will clearly take the fundraising title after a final push this week put him over $100,000.

Mike Moore is a Wesley Chapel-based entrepreneur that says he can bring his business experience to the Pasco County Commission. He faces a primary against Ken Littlefield and Bob Robertson in an effort to succeed the retiring Pat Mulieri on the commission. (Courtesy of Mike Moore)
Mike Moore

Combined with the efforts of fellow Republicans Ken Littlefield and Bob Robertson, the three candidates have raised $134,348, already making it the most expensive District 2 race in the past decade. It tops the $121,111 raised in the 2006 election, and the $116,669 collected in 2010 — both won by Pat Mulieri. And those numbers included the general election.

Moore goes into the primary election day with just under $103,400, picking up $4,400 between Aug. 9 and Aug. 21. That includes $1,000 from the political action committee HCA West Florida Division, and $1,500 from Orsi Development and Springfield Homes in New Port Richey.

In all, Moore has spent just under $100,000 of that, with less than 45 percent of those funds — or $44,376 — staying inside Pasco County. Moore spent nearly $50,000 on advertising, all but nearly $3,000 of it, however, with a Ponte Vedra Beach company called Majority Strategies Inc. He also spent more than $15,000 — or about 15 percent of his money — with an Odessa company called Capital Consulting.

Robertson picked up a little more than $2,000 in his final two weeks of campaigning ahead of the primary, bringing his total to just under $15,600. That includes $500 each from Dobies Funeral Homes in Holiday, as well as listed Tampa property manager Lloyd Riales and also Eric Gilbertson, a volunteer director with the Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills.

Bob Robertson has stayed closely involved in the community, and wants to continue being the public advocate Pat Mulieri was on the board. In fact, the Zephyrhills financial analyst earned an endorsement from Mulieri heading into the Aug. 26 primary. (Courtesy of Bob Robertson)
Bob Robertson

Robertson has spent $14,270 of those funds, half of it locally. However, business cards and signs, among other things, were purchased outside the county — and sometimes the state — including $921 to a Texas company called Signs on the Cheap, and just under $2,300 to Delivery Signs of Orlando. Robertson, however, did do social media and other work locally with the Wesley Chapel company The Busy Buddy to the tune of $1,155.

When it came to advertising, Robertson spent far less than Moore, just $233, or less than 2 percent of his total expenditures.

Despite Friday being the deadline for final primary campaign reports, Littlefield did not file his financials by 6 p.m. with the Pasco County supervisor of elections office. Before that, he had raised $10,450 — about half of what he did four years before in his primary against Mulieri. That includes about $7,600 Littlefield put in of his own money, and not including about $9,000 in a listed in-kind donation on his own behalf for what he said was printing and postage.

Ken Littlefield, during his years as a state lawmaker, giving a speech on the floor of the state House in Tallahassee. Littlefield wants to continue serving government at the Pasco County Commission. (Courtesy of Florida House)
Ken Littlefield

Littlefield spent $10,300, with 57 percent — or $4,967 — taking place locally. Most of his non-local spending was done through Gulf Coast Imprinting in Largo.

After being asked by The Laker/Lutz News about why there was a delay in filing, Littlefield said via email that he was just getting home from work, and planned to file “after dinner.”

Republican voters will have a chance to choose from among the three candidates Aug. 26. The winner will face Democrat Erika Remsberg in the general election.

Community service morphs into government service for Robertson

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Bob Robertson is a man who has an uncanny ability to pop up almost everywhere. Community meetings, charity events, volunteer drives — if it’s something that can help others, Robertson is there.

Bob Robertson has stayed closely involved in the community, and wants to continue being the public advocate Pat Mulieri was on the board. In fact, the Zephyrhills financial analyst earned an endorsement from Mulieri heading into the Aug. 26 primary. (Courtesy of Bob Robertson)
Bob Robertson has stayed closely involved in the community, and wants to continue being the public advocate Pat Mulieri was on the board. In fact, the Zephyrhills financial analyst earned an endorsement from Mulieri heading into the Aug. 26 primary.
(Courtesy of Bob Robertson)

That’s part of what called him to run for the Pasco County Commission — a chance to make a difference. And that, for him, starts with getting people excited about their local government once again.

“The bigger issue is that people are totally disengaged, even to the extent that this campaign we’re in, we have to try and explain to people the voting process. People feel that government isn’t working for them, and I want to change that.”

Robertson worked to do that during his years on Lake Bernadette’s community development district, becoming a steward for the funds residents there pay for the management of their community, especially when it comes to infrastructure. It’s not anything like helping to manage a county with nearly a half-million people — but it’s a tremendous learning experience.

Especially when it comes to sorting through all kinds of needs, and then trying to find the money to help pay for it.

“Tax revenue has gone down, and property values have gone down. Hard choices have been made, and are still going to be made,” Robertson said. “We have to decide between what we need and what we want, and we need to create a vision of that.”

There has been a lot of talk over whether to raise taxes at the gas pump by a nickel, or even to increase property taxes to help pay for new road construction. Robertson said he’s not too interested in raising taxes, but he’s also a realist.

“Property taxes have been going down pretty considerably since 2007,” he said. “Some are down by about 35 percent. And when you then talk about raising the gas tax a nickel, it kind of puts all of that into perspective.”

However, the county has to be cautious about how they approach any potential gas tax, Robertson said. While the impact to residents might be minimal, the effect it would have on businesses — especially those that purchase large amounts of fuel — could be devastating.

“The business community side is where you get the unintended consequences,” Robertson said. “If you making your living in an area like landscaping, for instance, they are running around and buying gasoline for their equipment. They are not necessarily using the roads.”

Overall, however, the county needs to focus more on mass transit, to help get people around, and get more cars off the roads. While some areas — like the southern tier of Pasco — is becoming more urbanized, the bus system is not keeping up in making sure transportation options are in place, Robertson said.

“We need to look at what our southern neighbors are doing,” Robertson said of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. “We need to work in concert with them to figure out what’s working and what’s not, and to make sure that we can connect everyone to all parts of the region.”

It also means making sure there are good-paying jobs. Robertson has cited statistics he says are from government research that has the average weekly wage in Pasco at $624. Hillsborough and Pinellas pay about $200 more.

“Our residents are not in the economic position to be able to afford many of the wonderful things that we want to be able to offer in the county,” Robertson said, referring to generating more tax revenue for services. “Yes, we need these additional residences to be built up around the county to help with the tax base, but we also need to have people moving in that are making enough to boost the value of our property here in Pasco.”

Robertson has hardly raised the most money among the three candidates seeking the Republican nomination for county commission’s District 2. However, he knew from the beginning he would be the underdog.

“I see myself, at least, as the quintessential grassroots candidate,” he said. “The other two guys are politicians, but I present a different look. And you need to be different if you want to stand out in the crowd.”

BOB ROBERTSON:
Republican candidate for Pasco County Commission, District 2

OCCUPATION
Owner, The Financial Center

ELECTED OFFICE
Lake Bernadette Community Development District, 2008-14

FAMILY
Cindy Robertson, wife
Cassie, daughter
Melissa, daughter

RESIDENCE
Zephyrhills, nine years

FUNDRAISING
through Aug. 8
$13,549

Published August 20, 2014

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Campaign Crunch: Politicians reveal where their dollars are coming from

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Erika Remsberg has not raised a lot of money for her bid to replace Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission — and she never expects to.

Mike Moore, left, and Ken Littlefield have run nearly polar opposite campaigns for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Commission, at least when it comes to fundraising. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Mike Moore, left, and Ken Littlefield have run nearly polar opposite campaigns for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Commission, at least when it comes to fundraising.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Through July 25, the lone Democrat seeking a spot on the commission has collected $4,425 on direct donations, better only than the $2,350 raised by Ken Littlefield — one of three people Remsberg may face in the November election. And it’s practically pennies compared to the nearly $162,000 both Mike Moore and Mike Wells have combined to raise for their own races so far.

But Remsberg isn’t worried. While other candidates are getting the $1,000 maximum from many donors, she is averaging far less than $100 per contribution. And that’s a proper grassroots campaign in her eyes.

“I have been at a financial disadvantage since I started,” Remsberg said. “I had to make careful decisions about how I spend money.”

More than 80 percent of Remsberg’s donations have come from people living inside Pasco County, according to campaign finance records, maintaining what she says is her commitment to find support first among county residents. But not everyone has taken that approach, like one of the Republicans seeking Mulieri’s seat, Bob Robertson.

The financial analyst from Zephyrhills has raised a little more than $10,000 in donations in his primary fight against Littlefield and Mike Moore. But less than 20 percent of that has come from the county, or even from Florida, for that matter.

“I think part of what that says is that my sort of boundaries of life are a little broader than Pasco County,” Robertson said. “These are people who know me, who believe in me, and really have nothing to gain from me personally. They are just interested and being supportive of what I’m doing and what I believe.”

Many of those donations have come from Robertson’s native Maryland, and have consisted of smaller donations — well below the $1,000 maximum — from people Robertson has called friends and family. He would prefer his local amount of donations to be higher, but his focus has been more on making sure he doesn’t collect money from those who have business with the county, especially developers.

Robertson, in fact, has only collected $250 — or less than 3 percent — of his donations from those who work in land development or sales directly associated with it. That was a check from contractor Terry Cradick of Pepper Contracting, who Robertson told The Laker/Lutz News last week that he’s actually returning, because he since has found out Cradick does business with the county.

It’s keeping his hands clean from those looking to make money with the county that has kept Littlefield away from not only those donations, but most contributions in general. The former state legislator has practically bankrolled his entire election, with just minimal support from donors.

“I’ve made sure that any money that I’ve taken, that they didn’t have the potential of appearing before the board” of commissioners, Littlefield said. “I certainly can’t speak for them, but I’m sure those donors are looking for a foot in the door, and I’m not giving them one.”

That philosophy is different with the remaining commission candidates, however, including the lone incumbent looking to keep his seat — at least by actions, if not by rule.

Henry Wilson Jr., is trying to stave off a challenge to his seat from Mike Wells Jr., the son of county property appraiser Mike Wells Sr. The open primary Aug. 26 will let anyone choose between the two, regardless of the voter’s political affiliation.

In a candidate forum last week in Dade City, Wilson tried to distance himself from Wells by telling the audience he wasn’t collecting money from developers and real estate agents.

“The first time around (in 2010) they didn’t support me, and the second time around (in 2014) they still didn’t support me,” Wilson said. “Those builders and developers are not Pasco County residents. I need to be business-friendly with them. But my support, I want it to come from our residents here.”

Except Wilson is getting support from the developer community. More than $10,000 of his donations, or just under 30 percent, come from that group. That percentage is close behind both Wells and Moore, who each have had about a third of their campaign funded by those in the developer community.

When presented that statistic, Wilson clarified his earlier statement, focusing instead on where geographically the money came from.

“I have some local people, some local developers, who gave to me,” he said. “But the national firms, the national companies, they’re the ones who aren’t giving.”

But of the developers who have contributed to Wilson, less than 15 percent listed addresses from Pasco County, according to an analysis of campaign finance records.

These developers are small businesses that can’t be ignored, Moore said, in an email.

“It’s humbling to know that so many people and small businesses believe in our cause, and have been willing to make phone calls, knock on doors, donate funds and put up yard signs,” he said.

Wells is not ashamed of the support he’s received, adding that everyone deserves a voice, especially when they are contributing more than $350 million in new construction to the county.

“Contractors, builders, Realtors, road builders, etc., are playing a major role in fueling our county’s economic engine,” Wells said, in an email. “These business people have invested heavily, and have a real interest to see their county run properly.”

Developer/Real Estate Contributions
The percentage of each candidate’s total donations through July 25 for each Pasco County Commission candidate related to new property development, including contractors, engineers, real estate agents and the people who represent them.

Mike Moore – 36.6% ($32,600)
Mike Wells – 31.6% ($23,050)
Henry Wilson – 29.0% ($10,400)
Bob Robertson – 2.5% ($250)
Ken Littlefield – 0.0% ($0)
Erika Remsberg – 0.0% ($0)

Source: Pasco County campaign finance records

Local Contributions
The percentage of each candidate’s total donations through July 25 for each Pasco County Commission candidate where the source of funds was from within the county.

Ken Littlefield – 91.5% ($2,150)
Erika Remsberg – 80.8% ($3,575)
Mike Wells – 66.7% ($48,645)
Henry Wilson – 56.1% ($20,135)
Mike Moore – 55.4% ($49,303)
Bob Robertson – 19.5% ($1,972)

Source: Pasco County campaign finance records

Published August 13, 2014

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