Deadline here for mail ballots
Any voter wishing to avoid having to head to a precinct on election day April 8 has until April 2 to request a vote-by-mail ballot in Pasco County.
After that, beginning April 3, voters who wish to vote a paper ballot prior to election day can pick up their ballot at any of the three supervisor of elections offices in the county, or at their respective city halls.
Local elections are taking place in three municipalities: Dade City, St. Leo and Zephyrhills.
Those picking up ballots on behalf of someone else will need a written request from the voter, designating them as the person authorized to carry out that ballot, the Pasco County elections office said in a release. The designee will be asked to provide photo ID, and to complete an affidavit before the ballot can be released.
Designees are limited to picking up two ballots in addition to their own, unless the additional ballots are for immediate family members.
Elections office locations locally are at 14236 Sixth St., Suite 200, in Dade City, as well as 4111 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Room 105, in Land O’ Lakes.
For information, visit PascoVotes.com.
Burgess, Diaz to speak at Republican club
Republican Florida House candidates Danny Burgess and Minnie Diaz are set to speak at the Wesley Chapel Republican Club April 10 beginning at 6:30 p.m., at Wesley Chapel Hyundai, 27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd.
For information, email Mike Moore at .
East Pasco Democrats meet
The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet April 21 at 7 p.m. at The Commons, 38130 Pretty Pond Road in Zephyrhills.
The speaker will be Lynn Providence of Legal Shield talking about identity theft.
For information, call (813) 838-0767.
Poll workers needed for August, November elections
Energetic? Service-oriented? Then the Pasco County supervisor of elections may be looking for you.
Poll workers are needed for both the primary election Aug. 26 and the general election Nov. 4. Positions are paid, but potential candidates will need to be able to stand, bend, stoop, lift approximately 30 pounds, and have normal vision and manual and physical dexterity.
Applicants also need to write and read English, have an email address, and be able to work the entire day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
All positions receive mandatory paid training the month preceding both the primary and general elections.
For information, call (800) 851-8754, or visit PascoVotes.com.
Bill would make gas pumping easier for some
State Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa has joined forces with state Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, to ensure those with disabilities can get the appropriate help they need at the gas pump.
H.B. 185 and S.B. 1184 are modeled after a Hillsborough County ordinance that requires decals on pumps that provide information on how to “call for assistance.” Hillsborough passed its bill in 2012, and other counties have followed suit.
“This is a cost-effective option that will assist countless persons with disabilities across the state who struggle to refuel their gas,” Danish said in a release.
The bill has received support from several organizations, including the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, Paralyzed Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans and AARP, according to a release.
Last week, H.B. 185 cleared its last committee hurdle before heading to the floor.
Danish is seeking re-election in District 63 against former state Rep. Shawn Harrison, who has outraised Danish just under $72,000 to $61,000 through February, according to state election records.
Burgess leads February fundraising
Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess is $9,000 closer to winning the state House seat currently held by Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, after leading fundraising efforts in February.
The latest influx of cash brings Burgess to $35,135 for his campaign so far. That’s well ahead of his Republican primary opponent Minerva Diaz, who has a campaign chest of just under $2,500 after pulling in $160 in February.
Although she’s nowhere near the level Burgess is, the lone Democrat who has filed to run for the seat so far — Beverly Anne Ledbetter — raised just over $1,600 in February, bringing her total to $4,081.
For Burgess, $2,500 of his February haul came from outside his district, including $1,000 from OD-EyePAC, a political action committee representing optometrists. Contributing $500 each were the Committee for an Innovative Florida founded by former Republican State Rep. Shawn Harrison, government relations firm Robert M. Levy & Associates out of Miami, and the Rebuild Florida political action committee, also out of Miami.
Burgess also has apparently received an endorsement from the Zephyrhills News, that newspaper taking the unusual step of writing a $500 check to the candidate. Media companies typically avoid financially supporting political candidates.
Ledbetter’s largest donation came from out of her district as well. Kim McLaughlin, described in campaign finance filings as a union representative from Burbank, Calif., donated $200 to the Democrat.
Ross releases campaign video
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, released his first Web video for the 2014 re-election campaign, featuring footage from his announcement tour Jan. 21. It also highlights the work he has done in Congress over the last three years, as well as his future legislative priorities.
“It’s been an honor and privilege to represent my friends and neighbors in Washington these past three years,” Ross said. “I first ran for Congress because Washington was broken. While we have made some progress, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. I’m asking the people of Hillsborough and Polk counties to send me back to Congress for another term so we can continue working to get our country back on track.”
The video also highlights Ross’ work to help cut the federal budget, simplify the tax code, and reduce the size of government to stimulate the economy.
So far, Ross is facing Democrat Alan Cohn in the general election, and neither has yet to draw a primary challenger.
Browning throws support behind Burgess
Pasco County Schools superintendent Kurt Browning endorsed outgoing Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess in his run for the Florida House seat currently held by Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
“Danny grew up in East Pasco like I did, and is a product of the Pasco County School system,” Browning said in a release. “He has an energetic and humble demeanor about him that doesn’t come around too often.”
Burgess faces Minerva Diaz in the Republican primary in August, the winner set to run against Democrat Beverly Ledbetter in November.
