Politics

Palm Beach County Caribbean American Voters’ Guide – General Elections

PALM BEACH COUNTY – Since 2000, a group of concerned Caribbean-Americans in South Florida, has developed Voters’ Guides to help you 1) select the better candidates who may promote the interests of Caribbean-American people in South Florida, and 2) provide guidance on constitutional ballot amendments.

We have watched various political news programs, read local and national newspapers, attended town hall meetings, and consulted with non-partisan advocacy organizations and local community leaders.

We have assessed the candidates based on their positions on a variety of issues, including, but not limited to, the economy, education, the American justice system, civil rights, healthcare, social services, affirmative action, economic opportunity among others.

Please note that none of the following recommendations should substitute for your own evaluation and research based on your own personal interests and values.

For more information, call Dr. Marcia Magnus, Caribbean American Politically Active Citizens, Founding President 954 454 7473.

See also:  Broward County Voters’ Guide or Miami-Dade County Voters’ Guide

 

Palm Beach County Caribbean American Voters’ Guide

 2016 Palm Beach County General Elections Ballot

PRESIDENT AND VP DEM: Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine

US SENATOR DEM: Patrick Murphy

US CONGRESS (D 18): Randy Perkins

US CONGRESS (D 20): Alcee Hastings

US CONGRESS (D 21): Lois Frankel

US CONGRESS (D 22): Ted Deutch

FL State Senator (D25): Joe Negron

FL State Senator (D30): Bobby Powell

FL State Senator (D31): Jeff Clemens

State Rep (D82): Mary Lynn Magar

State Rep (D85): Robert Simeone

State Rep (D86): Matt Wilhite

State Rep (D90): Lori Berman

State Rep (D91): Emily Slosberg

Justices of the FL Supreme Court

Retain Justice Charles Canady YES

Retain Justice Jose Labarga YES

Retain Justice Ricky Poston YES

4th District Court of Appeal

Retain Judge Cory Ciklin YES

Retain Judge Dorian Damoorgian YES

Retain Judge Jonathan Gerber YES

Retain Judge Robert Gross YES

Retain Judge Stephen Levine YES

Retain Melanie May YES

Circuit Judge – 15th Judicial Circuit (Group 4): Gregory Tendrich

PORT OF PALM BEACH (Group 3): Jean Enright

County Court Judge – Group 11: Dana Marie Santino

COUNTY COMMISSIONER
DISTRICT 1: Tony Bennett
DISTRICT 3: Dave Kerner
DISTRICT 5: Mary Lou Berger

School Board (NP) (District 1): 11: Barbara McQuinn

PB SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
GROUP 2 Daniel Sohn
GROUP 3 Patricia Pat Edmondson
GROUP 4 Rob Long

GREATER BOCA RATON BEACH & PARK DISTRICT
SEAT 1: Dennis Frisch
SEAT 3: Erin Wright

INDIAN TRAIL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
SEAT 2: Gary Dunkley

SEAT 4: Betty Argue

JOURNEY’S END COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT SEAT 1: Bonita Plested

COUNTYWIDE QUESTION: Yes for Penny Sales Tax

2016 Florida Constitutional Ballot Amendments
Amendment 1 – Solar Energy NO

A NO vote on Amendment 1 would:
• Leave in Florida statutes the right for consumers to own or lease solar-power equipment on their property to generate electricity for their own use.
• Leave open the possibility that homeowners and businesses could buy or lease solar-power equipment.
• Halt a potential constitutional barrier to new laws that would broaden the solar-power market by allowing solar companies to sell electricity directly to consumers.
• Protect existing rules that allow net metering, where utilities credit a retail rate to customers generating excess solar power that is returned to the electric grid.

Amendment 2 – Use of Medical Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions: YES
A YES vote on Amendment 2 would:
• Create a constitutional right for people with specific “debilitating” conditions – such as cancer, epilepsy, AIDS, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis – to use marijuana as long as a physician has certified they have one of the specified conditions.
• Require parental consent before a minor could be certified by a physician to receive medical marijuana.
• Permit caregivers to assist patients with marijuana treatments as long as that person possesses a caregiver identification card issued by the states. Caregivers must undergo a background check and are not allowed to use marijuana themselves.
• Require patients and caregivers to get a state-issued ID.
• Retain state and federal prohibitions on recreational marijuana use, as well as prohibitions on operating vehicles and boats while under the influence.
• Create “medical marijuana treatment centers” to cultivate and dispense drugs to certified patients or caregivers.
• Shield physicians from criminal or civil actions for issuing patient certifications.

Amendment 3 – Tax Exemption for Disabled First Responders: YES
Source: The Florida Legislature
A YES vote on Amendment 3 would:
• Authorize the Legislature to grant a property tax exemption on homestead property to first responders who are totally and permanently disabled from injuries sustained in the line of duty.
• Allow the Legislature to decide whether the exemption should provide full or partial relief from property taxes.
• Require a determination that the first responder’s disability was caused by his or her service in the line of duty.
• Have an undetermined impact on local property tax revenues.

Amendment 5 – Homestead exemption for low-income seniors: YES
A YES vote on Amendment 5 would:
• Ensure that low-income seniors who qualify for a city- or county-approved property tax exemption do not lose that exemption if the value of their home exceeds the $250,000 limit.
• Be retroactive to include seniors who received the exemption starting in 2013.
• Cost cities and counties that currently grant the exemption an estimated $2.3 million in fiscal year 2016-17; $500,000 in 2017-18; and eventually $1.2 million in 2020-21

South Florida Caribbean News

The SFLCN.com Team provides news and information for the Caribbean-American community in South Florida and beyond.

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