The Laker/Lutz News

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Steve Luikart

Results are in for Florida’s primary

By

Florida’s voters went to the polls last week in a primary that captured national attention when Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum stunned political prognosticators by defeating the predicted winner Gwen Graham.

If he wins in November, Gillum would become Florida’s first black governor.

On the Republican side of the ledger, Congressman Ron DeSantis — endorsed by President Donald J. Trump — carried the day, defeating Adam Putnam, a longtime Florida politician, who had served as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and five terms in Congress, representing Central Florida.

Locally, 85,907 voters cast their ballots in Pasco County, representing a 24.84 percent turnout of the county’s 345,879 registered voters.

“The turnout was considerably higher than I expected and, in this case, I’m never more happy to be wrong,” Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley said, via email.

The 2018 Primary turnout represented a 66 percent increase from the last midterm primary in 2014, Corley said.

“It’s apparent the voters are more engaged than in previous cycles,” the supervisor of elections added.

Hillsborough County experienced a slightly higher turnout, with 219,118 ballots cast, representing a 26.16 percent turnout of the county’s 837,681 registered voters.

DeSantis and Graham garnered the most votes in the governor’s race among Pasco voters, while DeSantis and Gillum were the top vote-getters in that race in Hillsborough County.

While many races on the ballot were true primary choices, with voters deciding which candidate should represent the Democrats and Republicans in the general elections, the races for judges and school board members were nonpartisan, meaning winners could be named if a candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote.

That happened in two of the three Pasco County School Board races on the ballot.

Allen Altman and Cynthia Armstrong were both re-elected to another term, which the winner of the seat vacated by retiring Steve Luikart will be decided in the general election, with a run-off between Megan Harding and Tara M. O’ Connor.

The Pasco race for the Circuit Judge 6th Judicial Circuit, Group 4, also will require a run-off in November between Davis Ellis and Roxanne Fixsen. In that race, none of the three candidates secured more than 50 percent of the vote.

TOP VOTE-GETTERS IN KEY RACES

Pasco County Republicans
Federal
U.S. Senate: Rick Scott

State
Governor: Ron DeSantis
Attorney General: Ashley Moody
Commissioner of Agriculture: Baxter Troutman
State Representative District 37: Ardian Zika

Pasco County Democrats
Federal
U.S. Rep. District 12: Chris Hunter

State
Governor: Gwen Graham
Attorney General: Sean Shaw
Commissioner of Agriculture: Nicole ‘Nikki’ Fried
State Senator District 20: Kathy Lewis

Local races, No Party Affiliation
Pasco County
Circuit Judge 6th Judicial Circuit
Group 9: Christine Helinger
Group 36: Doneene D. Loar
Group 40: Thomas H. “Tommy” Minkoff
Group 45: Rebecca Hamilton

County Judge
Group 7: Kent Compton

Pasco School Board
District 1: Allen Altman
District 3: Cynthia Armstrong
District 5:  A run-off will be held between Megan Harding and Tara M. O’Connor in the November general election.

Hillsborough County Republicans
State races
Governor: Rick DeSantis
Attorney General: Ashley Moody
Commissioner of Agriculture: Baxter Troutman
State Representative, District 64: James Grant

Local races, Republican
Hillsborough County Commission, District 2: Ken Hagan
Hillsborough County Commission, District 5: Victor Crist
Hillsborough County Commission, District 7: Todd Marks

Hillsborough County Democrats
Federal
U.S. Congress, District 12: Chris Hunter

State races
Governor: Andrew Gillum
Attorney General: Sean Shaw
Commissioner of Agriculture: Nicole ‘Nikki’ Fried
State Senator, District 20: Kathy Lewis

Local races, Democratic
Hillsborough County Commission, District 5: Mariella Smith
Hillsborough County Commission, District 7: Kimberly Overman

Hillsborough County School Board (No political affiliation)
District 1: William Henry Person and Steve Cona will have a run-off in the November general election
District 2: Stacy Hahn
District 4: Melissa Snively
District 6: Karen Perez and Henry “Shake” Washington will have a runoff in the November general election.

Complete results can be found at PascoVotes.com and VoteHillsborough.org.

Published September 5, 2018

Boundaries approved for new schools

By

The Pasco County School Board has approved boundaries for the new Cypress Creek Middle/High School, despite considerable controversy.

The board also adopted boundaries for Bexley Elementary School, without any opposition from the public.

Boundaries have been set for Bexley Elementary School, which is under construction off of State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes. The school, scheduled to open in the fall, will help reduce crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools.
(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Cypress Creek Middle/High School, being built off Old Pasco Road, is scheduled to open in fall 2017. Initially, it will be for students in grades six through 11, but it will add grade 12 during the second year.

There won’t be a senior class the first year because this year’s crop of juniors will be allowed to complete their high school career at their current school.

The board adopted Cypress Creek’s boundary on a 4-1 vote, with Steve Luikart dissenting. Luikart said he thinks the district can find a better way to reassign students that would avoid disrupting students’ lives.

“Have we done the very best we can in looking at rezonings? I have reservations there,” Luikart said.

But, board vice chairman Cynthia Armstrong, and board members Colleen Beaudoin and Alison Crumbley said they have to do what’s best for the majority of the district’s students.

Beaudoin said: “It’s our job on the board to look at the big picture.”

“No decision that we make is going to make everybody happy,” Armstrong said.

Crumbley said she doesn’t want to move students at all, but the district’s robust growth gives it no choice.

Board Chairman Allen Altman also noted he had received hundreds of emails and heard scores of proposals.

Altman added: The one thing they had in common is that no one suggested a plan that involved moving his or her own child.

Ultimately, the board adopted Superintendent Kurt Browning’s recommendation.

The boundary changes affect Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel and Sunlake highs schools and John Long, Rushe and Weightman middle schools.

The rezoning aroused deep emotions.

Most of the controversy stemmed from Browning’s support of an option to keep all of the Seven Oaks students at John Long and Wiregrass Ranch, and to move part of Meadow Pointe students to Weightman Middle and Wesley Chapel High.

Speakers alternately praised or skewered the superintendent, depending on where they live.

Some criticized Browning for failing to follow the boundary committee’s recommendation. They questioned his motives. They challenged the school district’s data.

Meadow Pointe parents urged board members to allow their children to stay at Wiregrass Ranch High.

Seven Oaks parents, on the other hand, praised Browning’s approach, saying it made the most sense.

Parents pleaded with board members not to disrupt their children’s lives. Students urged board members to let them stay at the school they love.

While Browning deviated from the boundary committee’s final recommendation, even the boundary committee changed its recommendation during the process.

In the end, though, the majority of board members rejected Luikart’s proposal to gather more information before voting, and agreed with Armstrong’s assessment that a decision must be made.

No one signed up to speak during the public hearing on the Bexley boundaries.

The elementary school, being built off State Road 54, is scheduled to open this fall. It is intended to reduce crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools. The proposed boundaries also provide additional students for Lake Myrtle Elementary.

Published January 25, 2017

 

School boundaries gain preliminary approval

By

The Pasco County School Board has given preliminary approval to new school boundaries for the 2017-2018 school year.

The board’s action came after a contentious public hearing on the proposed boundaries for Cypress Creek Middle/High School, set to open in fall 2017.

The proposed boundaries for Bexley Elementary, being built off State Road 54, on the other hand, drew no public opposition.

Bexley is intended to reduce crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools. The proposed boundaries also provide additional students for Lake Myrtle Elementary.

Kurt Browning

Cypress Creek Middle/High School will open initially for students in sixth through 11th grades, and will add a senior class during its second year of operations.

Its proposed boundaries will affect Rushe, John Long and Weightman middle schools, and for Sunlake, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high schools.

Despite considerable opposition, school board members supported Superintendent Kurt Browning’s recommended option for the Cypress Creek Middle/High boundaries.

Some speakers criticized Browning and questioned his motives for disregarding the boundary committee’s recommended option and substituting his own recommendation.

Others, however, applauded Browning, saying his option makes the most sense.

In a letter to parents, Browning said his recommended option would result in the least disruption and avoid the possibility of Seven Oaks being rezoned twice in as few as four years.

School board member Steve Luikart did not support any of the proposed boundaries.

Instead, Luikart said if students need to be rezoned, it should only be at the end of elementary school or middle school.

Rezoning them at any other time is disruptive, Luikart said.

School Board Chairman Allen Altman said after reading scores of emails, he came to the conclusion that even people living in the same community can’t agree on the best solution.

In the end, board members have to do their own due diligence, Altman said.

Colleen Beaudoin, who joined the board this year, was taking part in her first rezoning process. She said she found it heartbreaking to see neighborhoods pitted against each other.

Board members Cynthia Armstrong and Alison Crumbley said they understand that parents don’t want their children rezoned, and they emphasized they don’t take the issue lightly.

While some people were thrilled by the board’s vote to back Browning’s recommendation, others were clearly dejected.

The board is slated to take final action on school boundaries for 2017-2018 at its Jan. 17 meeting.

For more information, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/planning/rezoning/.

Published December 28, 2016

Pasco homeowners to see slight dip in school taxes

By

The Pasco County School Board has given first-round approval to a proposed $1.2 billion budget that includes a slightly lower tax bill for homeowners.

Under the proposed rate, the owner of a $125,000 home, after deducting the homestead exemption, would pay $677.30 in taxes. That’s $33.60 lower than the homeowner paid last year.

Construction activity is well under way on a new high school on Old Pasco Road, which will open initially as a high school and a middle school in the 2017-2018 school year. It is one of the district’s biggest capital improvement projects this year. (Image courtesy of Pasco County Schools)
Construction activity is well under way on a new high school on Old Pasco Road, which will open initially as a high school and a middle school in the 2017-2018 school year. It is one of the district’s biggest capital improvement projects this year.
(Image courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

School board members voted unanimously for the proposed budget, but won’t take final action on the proposed rate until a second and final hearing, set for 6 p.m., on Sept. 13. That hearing will be in the School Board Meeting Room, at 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

While the budget has received first-round approval, school board members Steve Luikart and Alison Crumbley said there need to be some changes.

“It is a work in progress,” Luikart said.

“We’re identifying some of the areas that we have needs in,” he said, noting he was in a meeting with district staff to discuss how to move some funding to provide additional support for some of the district’s lower-functioning schools.

The district also needs to take action to address its graduation rate, which slipped, Luikart said.

“Those are two priorities,” he said. “We’ve got to do whatever it is that we have to change.”

It could mean adding more staff or providing some new curriculum to address the needs, he said.

“That’s something they’re looking into,” he said.

The board also has an executive session set for Aug. 16 to discuss collective bargaining.

“We’re still trying to get the highest percentage we can, for our employees,” he said. “We’re one of the only counties left in the state that has a total health package that the district picks up.”

Sometimes there’s a push for a bigger salary increase, but Luikart said he’d rather go with a lesser percent increase, in order to preserve the health benefits.

School Board member Alison Crumbley said it’s imperative that the district’s budget reflect the needs of the students within the classrooms of the district’s 21 D schools.

The school grades came out after much of the budget had already been put into place, so the district is now looking at things that need to be redirected, Crumbley said.

The budget’s proposed general fund is around $596 million. That’s $21.6 million more than it was last year, representing a 3.77 percent increase.

This school year, it opened Wiregrass Elementary in Wesley Chapel, and added two magnet programs at Centennial Middle and Bayonet Point Middle schools.

It also is opening two new special education centers, Achieve Center of Pasco and Achieve Center at Richey.

Other items included in the budget are a $1.6 million digital classroom allocation for computers, iPads and digital supports.

The district’s 2016-2017 budget for capital projects totals about $284 million, which is a decrease of $48.3 million, representing a drop of about 17.6 percent.

The capital project appropriations are for High School GGG, being built on Old Pasco Road, which is set to open next school year. It will open initially as a middle school and a high school on the same campus.

Elementary School B, in Bexley Ranch, is also under construction to help relieve overcrowding in Central Pasco schools.

Major remodeling also is planned at Land O’ Lakes High School, Woodland Elementary and Marchman Technical College.

The budget also includes scores of other improvement projects at schools around the district.

Published August 17, 2016

Grades slip at numerous local schools

By

The Florida Department of Education has released its annual school grades, and the news was not good for numerous Pasco County schools in The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area.

“As soon as I saw the information, I was pretty distraught,” said Pasco County School Board member Alison Crumbley.

“This has to really be broken down,” she said, noting she has requested a school board workshop to address the issue. “We need to pick this apart. This is priority one — priority one, to figure this out.”

The district needs time to analyze the results, Crumbley said, so she requested the workshop be held following the board’s Aug. 2 meeting.

Overall, 10 central and east Pasco elementary schools slipped by one letter grade. Six elementary schools maintained the same grade as last year, and two improved by a letter grade. Pine View Elementary had the biggest drop, slipping from an A to a C. Sanders Elementary, which opened last school year, received a B. Quail Hollow, which reopened last year, received a C.

All seven middle schools, meanwhile, maintained the grades they received last year, including three As, at Rushe, John Long and Pine View.

But, the news was not as good at the high school level. Four high schools in east and central Pasco dropped a grade, while two remained the same.

No Pasco high school within the newspaper’s coverage area received an A grade. Last year, Wiregrass Ranch High, Land O’ Lakes High and Sunlake each received an A, but this year, they each dropped to a B. Wesley Chapel High, which had a B last year, dropped to a C.

Meanwhile, each of the Pasco charter schools, serving the newspaper’s coverage area — Academy at the Farm, Countryside Montessori and Imagine School at Land O’ Lakes —received an A, mirroring the score they each received last year.

Crumbley said she’s trying to understand why some schools performed at the same level, or even improved, while others slipped.

“Nothing is really straight up, cut-and-dried, in this business, and I do know that,” Crumbley said. “But by the same token, we have to get to the bottom of this. We have to. Period.”

School board member Steve Luikart also expressed concerns.

“Some of the schools slipped and the district slipped. We went from B to C,” Luikart said.

On one hand, Luikart said, “it’s hard to throw mud at something, when you’ve got a change of criteria every year … It’s impossible to nail down data, when the criteria is not consistent.”

On the other hand, he continued: “We’re still competing with everyone else in the state,” he said.

“We’re going to have to look at what we’ve got to do differently to head it back in a different direction. There’s no doubt about that,” he said.

“I’m definitely concerned. It’s very disappointing,” Luikart said.

This chart provides scores for east and central Pasco County schools.

Elementary schools
Centennial Elementary                         2016: D           2015: C
Chester W. Taylor Jr. Elementary                   2016: C           2015: C
Connerton Elementary                         2016: C           2015: B
Denham Oaks Elementary                               2016: C           2015: B
Double Branch Elementary                             2016: B           2015: A
Lacoochee Elementary                         2016: D           2015: F
Lake Myrtle Elementary                                  2016: B           2015: A
New River Elementary                                    2016: B           2015: B
Oakstead Elementary                                       2016: A           2015: A
Pasco Elementary                                            2016: D           2015: D
Pine View Elementary                         2016: C           2015: A
Quail Hollow                                                  2016: C           2015 (Not open)
Rodney B. Cox Elementary                             2016: D           2015: F
San Antonio Elementary                                 2016: C           2015: C
Sanders Elementary                                        2016: B           2015 (Not open)
Seven Oaks Elementary                                  2016: B           2015: A
Veterans Elementary                                       2016: B           2015: A
Watergrass Elementary                                    2016: C           2015: B
Wesley Chapel Elementary                              2016: A           2015: A
West Zephyrhills Elementary                          2016: D           2015: C
Woodland Elementary                         2016: D           2015: C

Middle schools
Centennial Middle                                           2016: C           2015: C
Charles S. Rushe Middle                                2016: A           2015: A
Dr. John Long Middle                                    2016: A           2015: A
Pasco Middle                                                  2016: C           2015: C
Pine View Middle                                           2016: A           2015: A
Raymond B. Stewart Middle School               2016: C           2015: C
Thomas E. Weightman Middle School            2016: B           2015: B

High schools
Land O’ Lakes High                                       2016: B           2015: A
Pasco High                                                      2016: C           2015: C
Sunlake High                                                  2016: B           2015: A
Wesley Chapel High                                       2016: C           2015: B
Wiregrass Ranch High                                    2016: B           2015: A
Zephyrhills High                                             2016: C           2015: C

Charter schools
Academy at the Farm                                      2016: A           2015: A
Countryside Montessori Academy                  2016: A           2015: A
Imagine School at Land O’ Lakes                   2016: A           2015: A

Published July 20, 2016

 

New school boundaries approved

By

Pasco County School Board members adopted boundaries for Elementary School W in Wesley Chapel, despite objections by parents living in Northwood and Arbor Woods.

In approving the boundaries, the board members also approved a plan by school district staff to add gifted services to Denham Oaks Elementary School in Lutz.

Parents had objected to their children losing gifted services, and the district responded – at the recommendation of board member Allen Altman and other board members – by adding the services at Denham Oaks.

Some parents also voiced concerns about a waiting list for the child care program at Denham Oaks, but Superintendent Kurt Browning said additional staff is expected to be hired for the program.

The board’s unanimous vote on the school boundaries came despite concerns voiced repeatedly by parents who wanted to keep their children at schools within their Wesley Chapel community.

They said shifting their children to the Lutz school would disrupt their established day care arrangements. They also said it would be harder for commuting parents to make it to after-school events.

Some said they had moved into their neighborhoods specifically because of the schools serving them. And, they also voiced concerns about the impacts that the boundary change would have on their child’s assigned middle school and high school.

Parents also asked if children entering fifth-grade could be grandfathered in, which some board members said the district should try to do, if possible.

Ray Bonti, assistant superintendent for support services, said the district has a past practice of allowing parents of children going into fifth-graders to apply for school choice to attend that school.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong, who made the motion to approve the boundary change, said she realized the boundary change “is painful for the parents.”

But, she added, “We do have to sometimes make very difficult decisions.”

Board member Altman, who seconded the motion, said offering the gifted services at Denham Oaks is important. The district may not be able to alleviate geographic impacts of boundary shifts, but should do what it can to ensure that students have the same academic opportunities, he said, during the first public hearing on the boundary change.

Board member Alison Crumbley noted that, “Those of you who came out tonight, you’re the kind of parents that make schools really good. You could be the core of leaders, and your children, I’m sure, too, in the school. And that’s a really valuable asset.”

Steve Luikart, another board member, who is a former educator said, “When the parents get on board and say, ‘Whatever it is, we’re going to make the best of it.’ Their students will make the best of it. It’s going to start in the home.

“We’re having to make decisions that we don’t like making. But, the mending is going to start at home. It will be up to you as parents to make that transition as easy and as simple as possible,” Luikart said.

But, he also noted that the school district will do what it can to help.

Published December 23, 2015

 

 

 

AMIkids Pasco has a second chance

By

 

The Pasco County School Board has terminated its contract with AMIkids Pasco, effective Jan. 29, for services the organization is providing to 46 students, who come from across Pasco County.

While voting to end the contract, the board made it clear that it will consider reinstating it, if AMIkids Pasco can demonstrate substantial improvement in its performance by Jan. 12.

The board’s action came at the recommendation of school district Superintendent Kurt Browning, who informed the board there are “some pretty significant issues” that need to be addressed.

AMIkids Pasco has been given a chance to correct deficiencies, or its contract with Pasco County Schools will end on Jan. 29. The school board voted to terminate the contract, but also indicated that it will revoke that action, if AMIkids Pasco shows substantial improvement by Jan. 12. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
AMIkids Pasco has been given a chance to correct deficiencies, or its contract with Pasco County Schools will end on Jan. 29. The school board voted to terminate the contract, but also indicated that it will revoke that action, if AMIkids Pasco shows substantial improvement by Jan. 12.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“The Jan. 12 date is really kind of the deadline for AMIkids (Pasco) to demonstrate to us that they can turn the ship around and they can provide the quality of service to those students,” Browning said.

The program serves 25 therapeutic emotional/behavior disability students and 21 students in the Department of Juvenile Justice program.

The facility opened this year in a campus of portables on U.S. 41, north of State Road 52 at 18950 Michigan Lane in Spring Hill.

If the organization can demonstrate considerable progress, Browning said he will recommend that the board revoke the termination, allowing AMIkids Pasco to carry on.

If the district isn’t satisfied, nothing else would need to be done, and the district would assume responsibility for the site on Jan. 29, Browning said.

The district leader said discontinuing the district’s relationship with AMIkids Pasco is not the preferable option for him or for Pasco County Schools.

But, Browning added: “The bottom line is how the children that we’re responsible for educating are being served. That’s first and foremost my priority.”

While hoping the issues can be resolved, Browning said, “there’s a great deal of work to be done.”

He outlined his concerns in a Nov. 30 letter to AMIkids Pasco.

O.B. Standee, president of AMIkids, urged the board to reject Browning’s recommendation, instead giving the organization time to correct deficiencies.

Standee said AMIkids Pasco was given the opportunity because of its track record.

“We help kids that have struggled in school and in the community, and we help them find and develop their potential,” said Standee, whose organization has worked with Pasco County Schools since 1993.

“Because of our historic success, the school district talked to us about expanding our services to not only the alternative school kids, but kids with disabilities, requiring specialized behavioral and emotional services,” he added.

He acknowledged startup issues.

He said he was willing to forego a 60-day cancellation notice — and would put that in writing — if the board would give him an opportunity to correct the issues.

He voiced concerns about retaining staff, if the board approved Browning’s recommendation.

“We don’t want to just meet the needs of the district. We have a vision of making that a model program,” he added.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong said she knows that AMIkids Pasco has done some good work.

But, she added: “I was very disappointed when I was reading the issues that came up.”

Board member Steve Luikart said he has been impressed by AMIkids Pasco in the past.

“I’m a supporter, but I will tell you that it’s disappointing. I wish you the best of luck in turning that around.”

Board member Alison Crumbley said the current issues are troubling.

“I was dismayed, extremely upset. They’re serious insufficiencies,” Crumbley said.

She also said that Browning’s recommendation offers AMIkids Pasco a chance to work out the problems. “It does give you a second chance,” she said.

Joanne Hurley
Joanne Hurley

Board Chairwoman Joanne Hurley put it like this: “There’s a lot in that that you have to tackle in order to get the board to change any recommendation. But, I think you can do it, based upon your past history with the district. I think it’s within your power to fix both the educational and the financial issues, and get back on track.

“I feel it’s necessary as a board to take the action that we’re taking in the best interest of students, with the idea that it can always be undone if you demonstrate success,” Hurley said.

Armstrong rejected Standee’s idea of allowing to end the contract without notice.

“There’s no way we’re going to come in and lock the doors and say, ‘O.K., you’re out, we’re in.’ That would not be in the best interest of the students to have that type of transition,” Armstrong said.

Published December 9, 2015

 

Still in effect: No changes to county’s athletic transfer policy

By

Pasco County’s athletic transfer policy for athletes isn’t going anywhere.

Earlier this month, the Pasco County School Board declined to make any changes to the policy, which requires students who switch schools to sit out a calendar year before playing for their new school. They can appeal the one-year ban, but unless they meet certain criteria, the student isn’t playing.

Students who change schools are subject to Pasco County’s athletic transfer policy, which could mean sitting out a calendar year before playing for their new school. That affects all high school sports, including the more popular ones, such as football. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Students who change schools are subject to Pasco County’s athletic transfer policy, which could mean sitting out a calendar year before playing for their new school. That affects all high school sports, including the more popular ones, such as football.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The purpose of the policy is to prevent students from changing schools simply due to athletic considerations. However, some consider it stringent and controversial. The policy brings both positives and negatives to the table, said Land O’ Lakes High School athletic director Karen Coss.

Having the policy adds an extra check between the school and the Florida High School Athletic Association, she said.

“Having that extra check is a benefit. Without a policy, the schools make their own decisions, which can be ill-informed, or they need to navigate the FHSAA bylaws and policies,” Coss said.

On the other hand, schools have to identify affected students in order to request an appeal, Coss said. There’s also additional paperwork, which can put a further burden on an athletic director’s time.

Many athletic directors also are teachers — Coss teaches American government and human geography, for example — so the extra work can be challenging.

School board member Steve Luikart has been a critic of the policy as it’s being applied. But some have portrayed him as being against the policy itself, he said, and that’s not the case.

“I was never trying to rewrite something,” Luikart said. “We don’t have real big issues with the policy. We’ve had some big issues with the procedures and how they’re being implemented.”

Luikart believes there is some ambiguity in terms, such as what constitutes an enrolled student or a transfer student, he said. As a result, there are athletes being forced into an appeals process based on these interpretations when they should already be eligible to play sports.

“I’m under the impression that, according to the FHSAA, if a student lives inside their attendance zone, and they live with a legal guardian and they’ve enrolled in school on the first day of school, then they’re an enrolled student,” Luikart said. “There is no definition of being transferred from one place to the other.”

For the public, one of the sources of confusion is in relation to the FHSAA and the county. They aren’t the same organization, and while they work together to create athletic opportunities for students, they have different roles.

“The county is not determining eligibility,” Coss said. “They are deciding if they will allow the student to participate in sports. Some students still have to be ruled on by the FHSAA in addition to the county, so it is possible that a student is permitted to participate by the county, but ineligible by the FHSAA, and vice versa.”

Creating a policy and applying it can be two different things, and it’s the application that has concerned Luikart. It’s also the source for some degree of optimism.

Instead of expressing disappointment that the policy wasn’t changed or rescinded at the last meeting, Luikart feels like they’re working on a clearer explanation of how to apply it.

While nothing formal has been sent to the board to review, he’s heard that some adjustments in the procedures could be made. At that point he’ll review the adjustments and see if it fits with what he considers a fairer implementation of the policy.

In that regard, even though the policy is still in place and no changes to it were made, Luikart believes he got what he wanted.

“I thought I won,” he said. “My whole argument was that the process was flawed. The procedures were totally flawed.”

Published September 17, 2014

 See this story in print: Click Here

Wilson ousted by Wells, Moore heading to November

By

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

By

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