City Commission Candidates on internet access and net neutrality-vote now - 3/14
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maureen reschly
Mar 7, 2017, 4:19:47 PM3/7/17
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Hey Hackers,
Before you vote on or before March 14th for city commission seats in district 2, 3 and the at large seat for which all Gainesvillians can vote, find out about your candidates Gainesville Regular Election and what they say about internet access in our town and net neutrality. Questionnaires.pdf
maureen reschly
Mar 13, 2017, 8:39:33 PM3/13/17
to gainesville...@googlegroups.com
Hey Hackers!
Don't forget to vote tomorrow! Gainesville Regular Election Here is what they had to say on city internet access and net neutrality. Questionnaires.pdf
Progressive and Berniecrat candidates are Jenn Powell in at large seat 2 (anyone in Gainesville can vote for this one), Harvey Ward in Dist 2 and David Arreola in Dist 3.
In the opposite corner of the ring are the corporate (Chamber of commerce) funded Warren, Carter and Clawson.
Here is some more info.
A local PAC is influencing Gainesville's March 14th city elections.
First, some history: In summer of 2016, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce announced the formation of a political committee, Gainesville Regional Business Political Committee (or what most of us would call a PAC). The Chamber sought to unseat two progressive incumbents from the county commission (targeting one heavily) andformed the PAC in order to freely raise and spend money to do so. The political backdrop of this effort was Plum Creek/Weyhauser’s years-long attempt to develop a large amount of their land in rural eastern Alachua County. In March of 2016, the county commission voted 3-2 to reject the plan for a development in the Windsor area. If one seat could be flipped in the county commission election, the plan would be approved.
The Chamber promised to raise $2 million dollars over three years and spend $200,000 on the August 2016 primary election (with write-ins on the November ballot, the primary decided the presumed winner). In Alachua County, contributors are restricted to $250 per election to an individual candidate. No such restrictions exist for contributors to PACs. The PAC outspent what a single candidate typically raises with hundreds of donors.
As of February 2017, the Chamber PAC has raised $175,250,00, mostly from construction, development, and real estate companies. Since December 2016, the Chamber PAC has spent $32,740.83 on political consulting, polling, advertising, and campaign contributions to influence the Gainesville City elections. All of this information is public record.
The visible expenditures in the Gainesville city election by the Chamber PAC are direct mailers to voters, advertising with the Sun, and advertising on Facebook.
Why does the Chamber PAC spend money on the city election? The biggest issues are development and GRU. Gainesville is seeing a lot of development, which is the business of the primary contributors to the Chamber PAC. Development isn’t inherently good or bad. However, commissioners make decisions on regulations, allowing rules to be waived, providing tax incentives, or providing direct money to developers. The re-development plan for Butler Plaza was much better before progressive, sustainable urban development-focused commissioners left the commission. Another issue is that the Chamber wants local control taken away from citizen-owned GRU.
What can you do against PAC money in this local election? VOTE. If you have voted, INFORM others about the election and get your progressive friends to vote on Tuesday at their polling place (by the way, voter records are public, so others can see if someone has or has not voted). VOLUNTEER. Candidates are running hard to the finish line. Jump in to canvas, make calls, wave signs, run errands, anything in the next two days.
If you own a business, think about leaving the Chamber and explain why. Or explain why you won’t join the Chamber next time you are being recruited.
Want to see the Chamber PAC’s records? Search for Gainesville Regional in the first search box here:http://dos.elections.myflorida.com/committees/
What to read about articles and opinion about the Chamber PAC ?
Group aims to push business-friendly candidates:
http://www.gainesville.com/news/20160805/group-aims-to-push-business-friendly-candidates
First money from Chamber PAC flows to local candidates:
http://www.gainesville.com/news/20160820/first-money-from-chamber-pac-flows-to-local-candidates
Thomas Hawkins: Chamber group creates political arms race (opinion):
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160818/thomas-hawkins-chamber-group-creates-political-arms-race
Robert Walpole: Chamber group won’t wilt under attacks (opinion):
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160918/robert-walpole-chamber-group-wont-wilt-under-attacks
Larry Keen: Chamber group seeks compliant officials (opinion):
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160810/larry-keen-chamber-group-seeks-compliant-officials
Big money drowns out voters’ voices (editorial):
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160810/editorial-big-money-drowns-out-voters-voices
Voters rebuke chamber group (editorial):
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160901/editorial-voters-rebuke-chamber-group
Also:
Minutes from the Chamber of Commerce Board of Director’s meeting about forming the PAC:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q9dxyeqkzhj55km/ChamberBODMinutesMay282016.pdf?dl=0
Email invitation to Chamber PAC meet and greet:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i8wlczobhcq94k0/ChamberPACEmailInvite.png?dl=0
First, some history: In summer of 2016, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce announced the formation of a political committee, Gainesville Regional Business Political Committee (or what most of us would call a PAC). The Chamber sought to unseat two progressive incumbents from the county commission (targeting one heavily) andformed the PAC in order to freely raise and spend money to do so. The political backdrop of this effort was Plum Creek/Weyhauser’s years-long attempt to develop a large amount of their land in rural eastern Alachua County. In March of 2016, the county commission voted 3-2 to reject the plan for a development in the Windsor area. If one seat could be flipped in the county commission election, the plan would be approved.
The Chamber promised to raise $2 million dollars over three years and spend $200,000 on the August 2016 primary election (with write-ins on the November ballot, the primary decided the presumed winner). In Alachua County, contributors are restricted to $250 per election to an individual candidate. No such restrictions exist for contributors to PACs. The PAC outspent what a single candidate typically raises with hundreds of donors.
As of February 2017, the Chamber PAC has raised $175,250,00, mostly from construction, development, and real estate companies. Since December 2016, the Chamber PAC has spent $32,740.83 on political consulting, polling, advertising, and campaign contributions to influence the Gainesville City elections. All of this information is public record.
The visible expenditures in the Gainesville city election by the Chamber PAC are direct mailers to voters, advertising with the Sun, and advertising on Facebook.
Why does the Chamber PAC spend money on the city election? The biggest issues are development and GRU. Gainesville is seeing a lot of development, which is the business of the primary contributors to the Chamber PAC. Development isn’t inherently good or bad. However, commissioners make decisions on regulations, allowing rules to be waived, providing tax incentives, or providing direct money to developers. The re-development plan for Butler Plaza was much better before progressive, sustainable urban development-focused commissioners left the commission. Another issue is that the Chamber wants local control taken away from citizen-owned GRU.
What can you do against PAC money in this local election? VOTE. If you have voted, INFORM others about the election and get your progressive friends to vote on Tuesday at their polling place (by the way, voter records are public, so others can see if someone has or has not voted). VOLUNTEER. Candidates are running hard to the finish line. Jump in to canvas, make calls, wave signs, run errands, anything in the next two days.
If you own a business, think about leaving the Chamber and explain why. Or explain why you won’t join the Chamber next time you are being recruited.
Want to see the Chamber PAC’s records? Search for Gainesville Regional in the first search box here:http://dos.elections.myflorida.com/committees/
What to read about articles and opinion about the Chamber PAC ?
Group aims to push business-friendly candidates:
http://www.gainesville.com/news/20160805/group-aims-to-push-business-friendly-candidates
First money from Chamber PAC flows to local candidates:
http://www.gainesville.com/news/20160820/first-money-from-chamber-pac-flows-to-local-candidates
Thomas Hawkins: Chamber group creates political arms race (opinion):
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160818/thomas-hawkins-chamber-group-creates-political-arms-race
Robert Walpole: Chamber group won’t wilt under attacks (opinion):
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160918/robert-walpole-chamber-group-wont-wilt-under-attacks
Larry Keen: Chamber group seeks compliant officials (opinion):
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160810/larry-keen-chamber-group-seeks-compliant-officials
Big money drowns out voters’ voices (editorial):
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160810/editorial-big-money-drowns-out-voters-voices
Voters rebuke chamber group (editorial):
http://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20160901/editorial-voters-rebuke-chamber-group
Also:
Minutes from the Chamber of Commerce Board of Director’s meeting about forming the PAC:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q9dxyeqkzhj55km/ChamberBODMinutesMay282016.pdf?dl=0
Email invitation to Chamber PAC meet and greet:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i8wlczobhcq94k0/ChamberPACEmailInvite.png?dl=0
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