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The November 2012 Newsletter of the Southwest Chapter of ABATE of Florida
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NOVEMBER 2012 Volume XXXII, Issue III
ABATE of Florida, Inc. ~ Southwest Chapter
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Presidents Message
Minutes
Membership Report
Calendar
Events
Classifieds
NCOM Bytes
Legislative Report
EVERY VOTE COUNTS!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
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Hello Everyone,
Another month gone by but good news, rainy season is just about over. In the coming
months there will be countless events in this area for you to enjoy. Please consider
helping out with ABATE events when you can. We are on track for our Christmas ride.
Please help us with collecting donations for the Vets. Doreen Burns will be making a
quilt from Southwest Chapter t-shirts for the Veterans home wall, Thank you Doreen
for taking on this project.
We now have the yearly “bike” tickets from State office. Tickets are only $5 bucks and
the winner will take home approx. $6800.00 of the $10,000.00. Drawing to be held at
bike week in Daytona at the ABATE campground Saturday March 16, 2013 at 12
noon. Contact me if interested in selling a book of 10 or more. Traffic is building out
there as snow birds trek down. Be cautious and aware of your surroundings, keep a
safe distance and always leave room for a way out, unless some idiot with total
disregard pulls out in front of you, slams on their brakes and leaves the scene, just
sayin’.
Keep safe, ride proud
Wayne
ABATE of Florida, Inc.
Southwest Chapter
PO Box 60745, Fort Myers, FL 33906-6748 southwest.abateflorida.com
President Wayne Cerra 239-989-3349 [email protected] Vice President Jimmie Dennis 239-440-4213 [email protected] Secretary Tracy Davis 239-645-7936 [email protected] Treasurer Todd “KC” Burns 239-634-3080 [email protected] Sergeant At Arms Ken Coon 765-464-9542 [email protected] Membership Trustee John Ottervanger 239-699-2814 [email protected]. PR/Communications Wayne Cerra 239-989-3349 [email protected] Legislative Ken “Teddybear” Miller 239-693-7035 [email protected] Newsletter Editor Kevin Barfield 239-771-2804 [email protected] Products Jimmie Dennis 239-440-4213 [email protected] Safety Coordinator Victor Piorkowski 239-823-6159 [email protected] Webmaster Taylor Musburger 239-334-1620 [email protected] State Delegate Frank Kennedy 239-849-9065 [email protected] State Delegate Pam Mix 239-362-8807 [email protected] Advertising Jimmie Dennis 239-440-4213 [email protected] Photographer Taylor “ATM” Musburger 239-334-1620 [email protected] Chapter Chaplain Tom Provenzano 239-267-8641 [email protected] Road Captain Scott Turner 239-633-5765 [email protected] Sport Bike Liaison Eddie “Crash” Mix 239-440-4064 [email protected] Sport Bike Liaison David ”Flip” Johnston 239-281-3419
HELP SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MRO*
Chapter Meetings held at
Harley Davidson of Fort Myers on
1ST Sunday of Each Month *MOTORCYCLE RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
ABATE OF FLORIDA, INC. © 2011 ABATE of Florida, Inc. Southwest Chapter • All Rights Reserved
Donations to ABATE of Florida, Inc. are not deductible for Federal Income Tax Purposes ABATE of Florida, Inc. and Southwest Chapter Does Not Condone Drinking and Driving
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ABATE of Florida, Inc.
Southwest Chapter PO BOX 60745 • Fort Myers, FL 33906
southwest.abateflorida.com
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Name _________________________________________________________ Mailing Address: _________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip Code ________________________________________________________ Email Address: ____________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________ (Include Area Code) May we use your phone number for our phone tree? YES NO
Are you a registered Voter? YES NO
Please Lister your voting districts from your Voter Registration Card:
_________ FL House _________ FL Senate _________ US Congress Name of Chapter you wish to join _________________________________________________
Select ONE of the following:
____New/Renewal - Annual Membership Due $20.00
____ Lifetime Membership $ 150.00
____ Transfer Membership to: ____________________________________________________
____ Change of Address: ________________________________________________________ Signature __________________________________________________ Date: ____________ Sponsored by Chapter Member : _________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER USE
Dues Paid by □ Cash □ Check □ Money Order
Mailed Date: Membership Card _________________________
Copy of By Laws _________________________
Membership Expiration _________________________
Memberships are open to anyone 18 years of age or older All members receive with their paid membership a membership card, our bi-monthly Masterlink magazine, Chapter Newsletter,
Chapter voting privileges and personal involvement in Statewide legislative actions and their freedom to ride
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ABATE OF FLORIDA, INC.
MISSION STATEMENT WHO WE ARE
We are a non-profit organization of motorcycle en-thusiasts from all walks of life. We lobby and educate the government and the general public to promote motorcycling in a safe and positive image. We en-deavor to enlist the cooperation and participation of all organizations and individuals that share a similar interest in preserving our American tradition of FREE-DOM. We promote motorcycle safety, training, & po-litical awareness. We ARE NOT A CLUB OR A GANG. We fund our work through toy runs, poker runs, campouts, and other motorcycle activities. We are your neighbors & friends who work, pay taxes, and get involved with our community. We serve and sup-port our country and believe in freedom. We use all legal means to protect our rights without infringing on the rights of others.
OUR GOALS
To become a powerful and viable political force in legislative matters concerning the motorcyclist.
To promote the safe riding habits without infringing on individual freedoms.
To motivate the bikers to write letters to their legisla-tors before, during, and after the legislative session.
To furnish our members with a newsletter to keep all bikers informed in regards to upcoming legislation.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of ABATE of Florida, Inc. and or the Southwest Chapter. This publication allows members to express their beliefs and opin-ions. ABATE of Florida, Inc. and Southwest Chapter accept no responsibility for the comments, opinions or views contained in this newsletter.
Please direct correspondence in reference to this publication to:
Wayne Cerra (cell) 239-989-3349
Donations to ABATE of Florida, Inc. are not deductible for Federal Tax Purposes.
ABATE of Florida, Inc.
© 2010 ABATE of Florida, Inc. Southwest Chapter • All Rights Reserved ABATE of Florida, Inc. and the Southwest Chapter do not condone drink-
ing while riding or driving
IDENTIFICATION STATEMENT
SOUTHWEST CHAPTER MONTHLY NEWSLETTER; ISSUE DATE:
November 2012
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY
ABATE of Florida, Inc. Southwest Chapter
PO Box 60745, Fort Myers, FL 33906
http://southwest.abateflorida.com/
PRESENTLY, MEMBER MATERIAL DEADLINE IS THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE EACH CHAPTER
MEETING FOR BOARD APPROVAL FOR SUBMISSIONS
NEW ADVERTISERS OR AD CHANGES MUST
BE SUBMITTED BY THE
15TH OF EACH MONTH
Southwest Chapter Meeting Schedule
This months Chapter Meeting
Will be on November 4th @
10:00 AM @ Harley Davidson of
Fort Myers
Located at:
2160 Colonial Dr.
Fort Myers, FL 33907 239-275-4647
southwest.abateflorida.com
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ABATE of Florida, Inc.'s Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program
ABATE of Florida, Inc. is a state-wide non-profit organization of motorcycle enthusiasts from all walks of life. We promote motorcycle safety awareness, encourage continuing rider training and political aware-ness. We fund our work through motorcycle related activities. We are your neighbors and friends, who work, pay taxes, serve our country and vote. We believe in freedom. We use all legal means to protect our rights without infringing on the rights of others. ABATE of Florida, Inc. acknowledges the growth of motorcyclist of all ages riding in the State of Flori-da whether it is for economic reasons or pleasure. We are dedicated to teach our Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program in our efforts to reduce injuries and fatalities in our beautiful State of Florida. Our program is a 45 minute presentation including two videos to help everyone driving on Florida’s roads become more aware of motorcyclists. Classes are taught in all 10th grade drivers ed classes in Lee County by the Southwest Chapters Certified members. Sharing the road with respect and knowledge is just one of many focuses we have pertaining to Motorcycle Safety. If you are planning on visiting or live in our beautiful State of Florida whether you choose to ride or drive here are some facts to keep in mind:
Obey all traffic laws, signs & signals Constantly check and expect to see motorcycles Motorcycles are smaller than cars or trucks and it can be more difficult to judge their approaching
speed Look, look, & look again at traffic intersections before you turn or pull out Allow a three second “Space Cushion” when following a motorcycle There are 7 to 9 blind spots in an average vehicle Give Motorcycles the same respect and courtesy that you want for yourself and other motorists
For Laws pertaining to riding a motorcycle in the State of Florida please visit www.hsmv.state.fl.us/
ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education)
Southwest Chapter is a not-for-profit, safety, educational,
and advocacy motorcyclist organization. Its aims are to
motorcycling in a positive image along with safety and
awareness. The Southwest Chapter is a great group of
people who are working hard for the greater good of Flor-
ida motorcycle riders. We would like you to join us and
make it an even better chapter!
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DEAR FELLOW ABATE MEMBERS
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The Blessings to Bikers:
Getting Ready to Go!
Nothing seems to require more preparation than a motorcycle trip. And, it requires even more preparation when others are coming along. I look back at a five-state, 1255-mile, three-motorcycle, four-person, eight-day trip, that I took three years ago. It was with my son, my grandson, and my brother... The logistics for such an event, seemed immense at the time! How many miles would we cover each day? Where would we stay each evening? Where would we eat (everyone seemed to have different appetites)? What routes? What attractions were we interested in? How would we pay for this adventure? Would everyone be able to arrange their work and school schedules to make the trip? How do we pack for four people, with three motorcycles? With emails, phone calls, and personal visits, the trip took about five months in working out the details! Think of all the other things that we take a lot of time to plan for in life. Some of those include marriage, getting ready to leave home for school, just getting ready to leave home, looking for a job, preparation for a career, going into the military and/or other types of service, and saving for retirement. All of this busyness of life is only for TEMPORARY times! Ask yourself, "What have I done, to prepare myself for ETERNITY? The scriptures tell us, that while we have the opportunity and we are still alive to do so, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."- Matthew 6:19 and 20 How can we begin to accomplish this? The words of Jesus in speaking to Nicodemus, gives us the answer in John 3:16-18, 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." It is one of the devil's biggest lies that since we entered the world with nothing, that we will take nothing with us. The devil loves to use our intel-lectual pride that there is no God and there is no hope for salvation. Then, he uses the lie that we have to work our way into Heaven and go through all types of preparation. The truth lies in scripture when the Word of God says, that all we have to do to receive forgiveness is to believe in the Lord, Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 13:38-39). The time that we are here now, is only the beginning of our existence and a tiny portion of eternity. It's time to replace despair with the hope of an eternity with Him! What we are going through now is a test. This is so we can have a time of testimony of how God brought us through!
In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” “….if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9. Jesus said. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.” Revelation 3:30. “If ANYONE hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” WILL YOU OPEN THE DOOR OF YOUR LIFE, NOW? No more excuses! No more preparation. The time has come. There may be no other time or opportunity left, than right now. Only say this short little prayer and mean every word of it with the conviction in your heart. "Dear God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, my heavenly Father, the God of Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and have been separated from You. I receive forgiveness of my sins by the finished work on the cross. I repent and accept this gift of repentance and I wish to be free in you. I confess with my mouth that your son Jesus is my savior and died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. I receive Jesus into my heart and ask Him to become the center of my life. I ask, in the Name of Jesus. Amen." If you wish to contact us, to talk about your decision for Him, please email or call. If you wish us to help with prayer for you, loved ones, friends or others, let us know. Blessings, Pastor Tom (SW ABATE and Estero River ABATE Life Member) and Pastor Kathy (SW ABATE Life Member)- www.messiahsmessengers.org - 239-267-8641 or email: [email protected]
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Gov. Scott calls for study of texting drivers
By Kathleen Haughney, Tallahassee Bureau
8:13 PM EDT, October 23, 2012
TALLAHASSEE – A new report that traffic fatalities are up by four percent this year has top state officials taking a closer look at texting while
driving.
Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday that he'd like state highway officials to complete a texting-while-driving study to see if the state needs to take
action on the issue. While texting-ban proposals have died in the Legislature in recent years, neither Scott nor Attorney General Pam Bondi –
who echoed the request for more data -- had previously expressed interest in the issue.
Scott's comments came after Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Director Julie Jones delivered a report to the Florida Cabinet
on the rise in fatalities. Both Scott and Bondi immediately asked whether the agency knew if these accidents were caused by drivers who were
texting or for other reasons.
Scott acknowledged that getting the information directly from the driver may be difficult. "Who's going to say that they were distracted by tex-
ting?" he said.
Jones said it was difficult to say because texting while driving was not currently an offense in Florida and thus may or may not show up on a
crash report, making analysis difficult. All she could offer was that most of the crashes were the results of accidents, not criminal behavior.
After the meeting, Scott said that he would like Jones' department to try to get more data to see if texting is an issue that the state should take a
closer look at.
"I think that we ought to continue to look at ways to make our state safer," he said.
Like Scott, Bondi stopped short of calling for an all-out ban, but said she too wanted to get more information from the department and encour-
aged drivers to abstain from the practice.
"I've about gotten killed by people texting while driving while on the road," she said. "You see people swerving all the time. So I was just curi-
ous."
According to the Highway Safety department, 1,958 people have died in Florida traffic accidents so far this year, up from 1,866 at this point in
2011.
Jones said the increase may be because more vehicles are on the road, a trend nationally. But she said that some states with texting bans were
not seeing a similar spike; she did not offer specifics. Texting while driving is banned in 39 states and Washington, D.C.
Proposals to ban texting while driving have passed in the Florida Senate but have died for several years in the House.
That hasn't stopped some private companies from banning their employees from engaging in the practice. Walt Disney World and Orange
County have bans in place, and Orlando-based Darden Restaurants has implemented a policy preventing workers with company phones from
texting while driving.
In South Florida, the Fort Lauderdale-based AutoNation has handed out magnets with the message "TXT=RIP" and has asked employees who
buy cars from a company dealership to agree not to text while they are behind the wheel.
Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, who has championed the issue in the past, has promised to reintroduce the issue. Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray
Beach, in the midst of a tough re-election battle, also said via press release this week that she is introducing legislation to ban the practice.
Sachs said her measure would make texting or emailing while driving a primary offense, meaning a police officer could pull over a driver just
for texting.
[email protected] or 850-224-6214
Copyright © 2012, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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LEGISLATIVE REPORT November 2012
Good Day Freedom Fighters:
Independent Presidential Candidates 2012: Is the Third Party Over?
This could have been the year for a third-party candidate to make a breakthrough in national politics. Maybe not win the White House, that’s far-fetched in America’s entrenched two-party system, but at least introduce a neglected issue or two into the national conversation.
Grass roots protest movements (think Occupy and the Tea Party) were active on both sides of the political spectrum. Enthusiasm for President Obama had waned significantly since 2008. Many former supporters were disappointed with his first term. Meanwhile, former Massachu-
setts Governor Mitt Romney coasted to his party’s presidential nomination as if preordained and never had a fired-up core base of support. With so many voters mired in debt, unemployed and shrugging their shoulders at their two-party choices, where is 2012’s Ralph Nader or Ross Perot?
MORE: Third Party Voting: Civics in a Minute In most come as news to most Americans, but there are third-party candidates running in the 2012 presidential cycle. Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is the Libertarian nominee. Roseanne Barr, (Yes, the actress/comedian), is making a bid under the Peace and Free-
dom Party banner. Jill Stein, of the Green Party, rounds out this list of the best-known unknowns. They’re splitting about 2 percent of the vote between them in some polls. To put that into perspective, Perot took home 19 percent of the popular vote in 1992, the most of any third-party candidate since Theodore Roosevelt’s run under the
Bull Moose banner in 1912. Timothy Hagle, a University of Iowa political science professor, says third-party impact all comes down to money and name recognition. Perot ran again in 1996 and garnered more than 8 percent of the popular vote. Even 2000 spoiler Ralph Nader took home more than the current crop of third-party candidates combined. He claimed 2.74 percent of the popular vote 12 years
ago. Moreover, Perot and Nader ran before Twitter, YouTube and online fundraising made it easier for candidates of any stripe to connect with potential voters. In Perot’s case, he tells TakePart, “Having the money behind him allowed him to make a big splash.” For instance, Perot spent $63.5 million of his vast fortune on
his first run. Nader, meanwhile, was well known for his history of consumer advocacy, a notoriety that helped him generate support for his candidacy.
None of the current crop of third-party candidates has a comparable cachet. Barr is well known, but after leaving Hollywood to become a Hawaiian nut farmer, she isn’t considered a credible candidate. Libertarian nominee Johnson hasn’t caught fire.
As for the Greens’ Stein, well, she tried to make her mark with a $110,000 ad buy back in August. Her candidacy hasn’t gained momentum since. To be fair, Obama and Romney have shelled out about $883.8 million in ad spending to date; so Stein’s buy was like sneezing into a hurricane.
(Barr and Randall Terry, an anti-abortion, Independent presidential candidate, have made sporadic buys, but nothing close to Stein’s, according to Smart Media Group, a media buying firm based in Virginia).
Texas Congressman Ron Paul (R) is one candidate who might have captured the media spotlight. He had significant support in Iowa, the lead off caucus state, according to Hagle. But after losing to Romney in the GOP primary, “Paul decided to work through the
Republican Party” and not make an independent bid. Paul’s Libertarian supporters—along with cable news commentators—have not gravitated to Johnson. Some activists have toyed with the idea of a moderate third party candidate entering the race, but Hagle believes that prospect is even more doomed than making a
Green Party run. “It’s hard to be passionate when you’re in the middle,” says Hagle. Though shut out of the four presidential and vice presidential debates, third-party candidates have organized their own forums. Free and Equal Elections Foundation, a non-profit group promoting ballot access for third-party candidates, hosted an October 23 debate in Chicago, which was
moderated by broadcaster Larry King. In case you, like the vast majority of the country’s media consumers, missed the October 23 discussion, Free and Equal Elections Foundation plans to stage anoth-
er, with Stein, Johnson, Rocky Anderson of the Justice Party and former Virginia Representative Virgil Goode of the Constitution Party, on October 30 in Washington. For show times broadcast URLs, consult the Free and Equal Elections website.
I believe that most voters already know who they’re going to vote for before the cast their ballot. That’s why it amazes me when my mail box fills up with all those negative political ads, attacking one candidate or another, from organizations you never knew existed.
Usually, I just throw them in the trash, because that’s where they belong. After all, I’ve already decided who I’m voting for, and these negative political attack ads aren’t going to influence that.
However, one caught my eye. It was a magazine, yes, that’s right, a 43-page, professionally printed magazine, with U.S. Senator Bill Nelson’s picture on the cover, and claiming to be a voter’s guide.
I didn’t realize that it was an attack ad until after I began to read it. The ad attacked Sen. Nelson on everything he has ever done while in office, and accusing him of being an “Obama Clone.”
It was produced by a group calling themselves “Freedom Works for America,” out of Washington, D.C. It was amazing to me that these people spent millions of dollars producing and distributing this “magazine” throughout Florida, just to attack Sen. Nelson. Now, I don’t support Sen. Nelson anyway, never have, but I couldn’t help but wonder where do you suppose they got the money from? RNC? That wouldn’t surprise
me. Will it influence the way I’m going to vote in the U.S. Senate race? No! But, the next time the RNC asks me for a donation, I’ll think twice about it. So I threw in the
trash. What a waste. ‘TEDDYBEAR’
Lee County voters will be facing a massive ballot this year, which will include federal, state and local races, 11 proposed Constitutional Amendments by the Florida Legislature and a proposed county referendum that will allow slot machines at the Fort Myers-Naples dog track in Bonita Springs. As far as I’m aware, ABATE of Florida, Inc. has not put out a “voters guide” this year. Hopefully, all of you have done your homework and know who you are going to vote for before you go to the polls. However, just in case you’re not sure about something on this year’s ballot, I’ll give you a brief snap-shot of the candidates, the proposed amendments and the referendum, along with my picks, comments and recommendations.
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LEGISLATIVE REPORT (Cont.) November 2012
Federal Office: President / Vice President: Barack Obama / Joe Biden (incumbent), Democrat Mitt Romney / Paul Ryan, Republican 10 - Third-Party candidates, and several write-in candidates. My Pick: Romney/Ryan. United States Senator: Bill Nelson (incumbent), Democrat Connie Mack, Republican 2 - NPA candidates and several write-in candidates. My Pick: Connie Mack U.S. House of Representatives, District 17: Tom Rooney, Republican William Bronson, Democrat Tom Bauman, Write-in My Pick: Tom Rooney U.S. House of Representatives, District 19: Trey Radel, Republican Jim Roach, Democrat Brandon Smith, NPA My Pick: Trey Radel State Office: Florida Supreme Court Justices: 3 – Florida Supreme Court Justices are up for merit retention. My Recommendation: Yes Second District Court of Appeal Judges: 4 – Second District Court of Appeal Judges are up for merit retention. My Recommendation: Yes State Representative, District 77: Arvella Clare, Democrat Dane Eagle, Republican My Pick: Dan Eagle State Representative, District 78: Kerry Babb, NPA Heather Fitzenhagen, Republican My Pick: Heather Fitzenhagen State Senator, District 30: Lizbeth Benacquisto, Republican Debbie Jordan, Democrat My Pick: Lizbeth Benacquisto Countywide/Local Offices: Lee County Commissioner, District 1: John Manning (incumbent), Republican Gerard David, Write-in My Pick: John Manning
Lee County Commissioner, District 2: Cecil Pendergrass, Republican John Sawyer, NPA Neal Moore, Write-in My Pick: Cecil Pendergrass Lee County Commissioner, District 3: Larry Kiker, Republican Charlie Whitehead, NPA My Pick: Larry Kiker Lee County Commissioner, District 5: Frank Mann, Republican Matt Miller, IPF My Pick: Frank Mann Lee County School Board, District 2: Jeanne Dozier (incumbent), Non-Partisan Robert “Bob” Chilmonik, Non-Partisan My Pick: Jeanne Dozier Lee County Sheriff: Mike Scott (incumbent), Republican Lee Bushong, NPA Christian Meister, Write-in My Pick: Mike Scott Lee County Tax Collector: Larry Hart (incumbent), Republican James Chandler, NPA My Pick: Larry Hart Countywide/Special District Office: Lee Memorial Hospital Board, District 1: Marilyn Stout (incumbent), Non-Partisan Steve Brown (incumbent), Non-Partisan Frank Antos, Non-Partisan My Pick: Marilyn Stout & Steve Brown Lee County Hospital Board, District 3: Sandy Cohen, Non-Partisan David Collins, Non-Partisan Kenneth Morris, Non-Partisan Lewis Robinson, Non-Partisan Bob “Smitty” Smith, Non-Partisan My Pick: Sandy Cohen & Lewis Robinson Lee Memorial Hospital Board, District 5: Donald Brown (incumbent), Non-Partisan James Green (incumbent), Non-Partisan Jessica Carter, Non-Partisan William Glover, Non-Partisan Stephanie Meyer, Non-Partisan My Pick: Donald Brown & William Glover
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LEGISLATIVE REPORT (Cont.) November 2012
Proposed Constitutional Amendments Groups ranging from Florida’s League of Women Voters to Lee County’s elections office staff to local political activists report unprecedented voter frustration over
proposed constitutional amendments on this year’s ballot. Most, if not all, should or could be passed via legislation, most experts agree; for various reasons, the Legislature preferred to put them on the ballot, and because
lawmakers last year loosened restrictions on what they can put on the ballot, it’s likely this trend of long and confusing proposals will continue. There are many websites with an easy explanation of the amendments, including news-press.com/election. Florida’s League of Women Voters offers nonpartisan,
“plain English” explanations of the proposals on their site. League of Women Voters leaders, who previously often advised skipping amendments that are not fully understood, changed that position this year. Now they advise
voting no on any that cause undue confusion, hopefully sending lawmakers a signal of voters’ disapproval of their tactics. Joe Mazurkiewicz, a Lee County political and government consultant, took much that same tack in his presentation on the proposed amendments to BUPAC this week. Mazurkiewicz was there to offer nonpartisan explanation of the proposals; he also made it clear he believes most of the amendments do not belong in the constitution
and should or could be dealt with by law. Many of the proposals that sound good have consequences that aren’t often spelled out, he said, pointing specifically to Amendment 4, which has perhaps gotten the
most publicity. Backed by Florida real estate interests and opposed by city and county associations, the amendment seems to give first-time homebuyers a tax break. But the defini-
tions of “first-time home buyer” in this case are more complicated and different than most people imagine, he said. It also deals with other tax-related matters that can have unexpected consequences; while parts may sound like a tax break, he said, local governments would lose
hundreds of millions. “If this passes, we will still need things like police and fire protection, and schools,” he said. “Those things will still have to be paid for, and local governments will find
some other way to pay for them.” He predicted a host of new taxes if it passes, because the deficit created will be so large even basic services would be in trouble. Amendment 5, which deals with judicial reform, “is terribly bad legislation,” he said; it’s little more than a personality squabble between lawmakers and judges after the
courts ruled against some legislative leaders’ pet bills. He urged a no vote to send lawmakers a message that voters believe in America’s traditional separation of power. Amendment 11, which lets counties give low-income seniors a property tax break, is a classic example of something that sounds good on a campaign brochure for its
sponsors, Mazurkiewicz said. In fact, the definition of which seniors would qualify for that break, even if counties grant it, is so narrow that very few meet the criteria, he said. But the most unbelievable proposal, he said, might be Amendment 12, whose explanation is more complicated than its action. It deals with a problem faced by Florida
State University, which — because of its decision not to join a student association with other state schools — can’t participate in some student-related boards that require mem-bership in the association.
“They could just join” the larger group, Mazurkiewicz said. “Why do we have to amend the Constitution for something like this? It’s such a load of horse hockey.” No Amendment 7
Two other ballot matters Lee County elections officials said they get constant questions on: • There is no Amendment 7. It was struck down by the courts, but legal restrictions prevent renumbering other amendments. Many lists may appear to have omitted Amendment 7, but in fact, Amendment 7 no longer exists. • The ballot question about allowing slot machines at the Bonita Springs dog track is not a constitutional amendment; it will not be found in any compilation of amendment expla-nations. It’s a separate matter, solely for Lee County, and appears on ballots after the amendments, which puts it at or near the end of most ballots.
Regardless of confusion, as of Friday morning 39,900 mail-in, or absentee, ballots had been returned in Lee County. That’s almost half the 86,000 requested. Republicans requested about 42,000 mail-in ballots and almost half those have been returned. Democrats asked for 18,600 and returned 12,600; about 18,600 others
requested with 7,770 returned. Traditionally, Republicans outperform Democrats in absentee voting. But this year Democrats pursued those who vote by mail, sending as many as three request
applications to frequent Democratic voters. Bottom line: For almost 40,000 Lee County voters, the election is over. Fundraising
Another incumbent who’s gotten attention for successful fundraising is state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers. She faces a Democratic challenger, Debbie Jordan, in a GOP stronghold. Jordan has raised about $7,000; Benacquisto reports $647,000.
Voters often ask, in races like these, why a candidate continues raising money. Reasons exist, especially for legislative candidates who tap into donations from busi-nesses and interest groups involved with making laws. If the candidates don’t use all the money in their own race, they can use it to assist other candidates, creating relationships that can be helpful for things like gathering votes on a bill or a cause.
They also can donate almost unlimited amounts to their political party, or to charities, both of which also can help solidify relationships. Amendment 1: IN BRIEF: Amendment 1 prohibits laws or rules compelling anyone to buy health insurance. ANALYSIS: Amendment 1 is essentially a referendum on the Affordable Care Act. If you favored the ACA, you would want to vote against Amendment 1. If you opposed the ACA, you would want to vote for Amendment 1. RECOMMENDATION: Vote Yes. Amendment 2: IN BRIEF: Under Amendment 2, about 74,000 more veterans disabled in combat would qualify for a property tax break prorated based on their percentage of disability. ANALYSIS: This amendment corrects an inequity. Veterans who are now Florida residents and who suffered disabling injuries during combat while in service to our country deserve a break on their property taxes, even if they were not Florida residents when they entered the service. (A previous amendment allowed veterans who were already Flori-da residents when they entered the military to be eligible for this property tax break.) RECOMMENDATION: Vote Yes. Amendment 3: IN BRIEF: Amendment 3 caps growth in state spending at no more than the rate of inflation and population growth instead of the current cap, which is based on growth in person-al income.
PG 14
LEGISLATIVE REPORT (Cont.) November 2012
RECOMMENDATION: Vote No. Amendment 4: IN BRIEF: Amendment 4 includes several elements. One caps the rate of increase in the assessed value of non-homestead property such as businesses and rental properties. Another deals with a situation caused by the “recapture rule,” in which the assessed (taxable) value of a home could increase even if the home’s actual market value has de-clined. The third provision provides new homebuyers with a large additional homestead exemption that is gradually phased out. RECOMMENDATION: Vote No. Amendment 5: IN BRIEF: Amendment 5’s main features include Senate confirmation of the Governor’s nominees for the Florida Supreme Court and more legislative oversight over judicial rules. RECOMMENDATION: Vote No. Amendment 6: IN BRIEF: Amendment 6 would address a situation complicated by previous court rulings and would clarify that the state Constitution’s privacy provision should not be construed to allow taxpayer funding of abortions. RECOMMENDATION: Vote No. Amendment 8: IN BRIEF: Amendment 8 repeals the so-called “Blaine Amendment,” which prohibits the appropriation of public funds, directly or indirectly, in aid of religion. Repeal would allow faith-based entities to receive public funds for providing public services. RECOMMENDATION: Vote No. Amendment 9: IN BRIEF: Amendment 9 would grant an additional tax exemption to the surviving spouses of veterans and of first responders such as police officers and firefighters. RECOMMENDATION: Vote No. Amendment 10: IN BRIEF: Amendment 10 would grant approximately 150,000 Florida businesses, many of them small, an increase in the tax exemption on “tangible personal proper-ty” (machinery, office equipment, furniture, etc.) to $50,000 from the current $25,000. RECOMMENDATION: Vote No. Amendment 11: IN BRIEF: Amendment 11 would allow local governments to grant a substantial property tax break to low-income seniors — currently defined as those earning less than $27,030 a year — and residing for at least 25 years in homes whose values have risen as high as $250,000, thereby making their tax bills beyond their means. RECOMMENDATION: Vote No: Amendment 12: IN BRIEF: Amendment 12 changes the procedure the state Constitution currently provides for selecting the student representative on the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the State University System. Instead of designating the head of the Florida Student Association (a group that not all state universities join) the representative would be chosen by a council comprising the student body presidents. RECOMMENDATION: Vote No. “If the provisions of the Constitution can be set aside by an Act of Congress, where is the course of usurpation to end? The present assault upon capital is but the beginning. It will be but the stepping-stone to others, larger and more sweeping, till our political contests will become a war of the poor against the rich; a war growing in intensity and bitter-ness.”
JUSTICE STEPHEN J. FIELD The ballot question about allowing slot machines at the Bonita Springs dog track. My Recommendation: Vote No. Even if this referendum gets voter approval, it will most likely not be approved by the state of Florida.
Local slots can’t be installed without a state law or constitutional amendment. Attorney General Pam Bondi ruled that local referendums are illegtimate because voters in 2004 approved a statewide constitutional amendment allowing just Broward
and Miami-Dade counties to conduct slot referendums. Also, the Seminole Tribe has a 20-year, $1 billion contract with the state that would give them a slots monopoly outside Miami-Dade and Broward through 2030. If
slots are installed anywhere in Florida outside Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the Seminole Tribe would stop payments to the state for breach of contract. Lee County Mosquito Control District, Area 1: Lawrence Murphy, (incumbent) Melissa Dortch My Pick: Lawrence Murphy
PG 15
From ABATE of Florida, Inc.: Hey Everyone,
The state highway safety agency is pushing for a new license plate that's easier for cameras to read to save money on lost tolls and fines. In its proposed budget for the coming year, released Monday and set for approval by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet later this month, the agency says it wants law-
makers to approve the use of more than $23 million in various existing fees to buy new plates with a goal of replacing all plates within two years. The agency will present its budget proposal at the Oct. 23 Cabinet meeting. Agencies had to make their budget requests public by Monday. The request wouldn't include any new spending – the money already comes into the agency's trust fund through tag renewals and other fees, but legislative approval
is needed to change how it is spent. One of the key reasons the state wants to replace the plates is to reduce lost tolls, which are increasingly collected by mail after cameras read plates. The redesign is expected to increase collection of tolls by $4.8 million, according to the agency's agenda for the next Cabinet meeting. "This number is expected to
grow as open road tolling expands," the agency's agenda says. In the first three months of this year more than 600,000 vehicles per month went through toll booths and couldn't be billed because a camera couldn't read the plate
number. That's about 10 percent of the vehicles going through the booths. The state also has to spend money for people to read the plates the cameras can't read. Public safety is also part of the equation. "The improved fonts and the simplistic graphic will also improve readability for the human eye, thereby improving the accuracy of information provided to and used by
law enforcement," the agency's recently-released study on the redesign idea says. "These changes improve toll enforcement and red light enforcement, but also serve as an important safety initiative for law enforcement and all drivers on Florida’s roads."
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles last week released proposed designs for the new plate. Little noticed when they did: the new plate has seven characters instead of the current six. The reason? Math – more plates means we need more numbers.
"Due to limitations in design and manufacturing methods, Florida is within a few years of running out of unique six character combinations on its license plates," the DHSMV says in its legislative budget request documents. "A redesign that results in a different manufacturing method … could result in the ability to use character configurations not currently available as well as the addition of a seventh character, thus resulting in millions of new configurations."
If the plan moves forward as expected, it would mean replacing more than 10 million plates. In its budget documents, the department says it has begun developing information to go out to possible bidders for creating the plate, and that actual project costs
could vary after bids come in. License Plate Overhaul Slows Down
State highway safety officials are putting on hold for at least a short time a plan to redesign state license plates, and to privatize their distribution following objections from tax collectors.
The proposal to redesign the state's license plate to make it more legible by toll booth cameras and police was originally scheduled for a vote by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet on Tuesday, but the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles pulled the proposal from the agenda.
Battle Takes Shape About Local Gun Law This is from the News Service of Florida by Jim Saunders..... A Leon County circuit judge Wednesday said two South Florida counties can pursue a legal challenge against Gov. Rick Scott about a state crackdown on local gun restrictions, though the House and Senate will be dropped from the case.
Palm Beach County commissioners late last year filed a constitutional challenge to a 2011 law that subjects city and county officials to personal fines and possible removal from office if they try to stiffen gun regulations. Broward County was allowed to formally intervene in the case Wednesday.
Circuit Judge John Cooper said during a hearing that the counties can continue suing Scott over part of the law that would give the governor the power to remove local officials for violations --- a provision that Palm Beach and Broward say exceeds the governor's constitutional authority.
But Cooper went along with state requests to dismiss other parts of the case, including the House, Senate and Attorney General Pam Bondi as defendants. That decision also would effectively prevent a challenge to the constitutionality of the fines that could be imposed on local officials.
Cooper said Scott should remain a defendant because the law would give him enforcement power, while the Legislature or Bondi wouldn't have such authority. Courts would assess the fines, which could be up to $5,000. Cooper said local officials could later challenge the constitutionality of the fines if they have to defend themselves against alleged violations of the law.
Palm Beach County attorney Amy Taylor Petrick raised the possibility of appealing Cooper's decision to dismiss parts of the case, though she said county commis-sioners ultimately would have to make such a decision. Petrick said the law was intended as a "political threat" to prevent gun restrictions and that the prospect of fines could stop local officials from considering gun-related measures.
"No one can be expected to put themselves on the line in such a fashion,'' she said. Jason Vail, an attorney for the state, asked Cooper to also dismiss Scott as a defendant, saying there is no "immediate threat of injury to the county commissioners." But Cooper pointed to what he described as a potential "chilling effect" on the duties and rights of local elected officials. "I think the nature of the statute invites heightened scrutiny for what it attempts to regulate,'' he said. The case is rooted in a longstanding state law --- known as a "preemption" law --- that is designed to prevent local governments from passing gun ordinances that are
stricter than what the Legislature has approved. With gun-rights advocates arguing that cities and counties were not complying with the preemption law, the Republican-controlled Legislature approved the measure last year to penalize local officials who try to impose tougher regulations.
LEGISLATIVE REPORT (Cont.) November 2012
PG 16
The lawsuit filed by Palm Beach County commissioners argues that the threat of personal fines and removal from office violate the "legislative immunity" that local officials typically have when they pass ordinances. Also, it says counties have some authority to make decisions about gun issues, such as in part of the state constitution that allows them to require criminal records checks and waiting periods when firearms are sold to people who do not have concealed-weapon permits. This is the latest from The AMA on the 4 gallon fuel issue. Four-gallon minimum fuel mandate: EPA fails to meet deadline in response to congressional letter seeking answers Take Action! Please urge the EPA to respond!
On Sept. 10, the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency addressed to Administrator Lisa Jackson. The congressional letter is seeking answers from the EPA on its recent decision to mandate consumers purchase at least four gallons of fuel from certain blend-er pumps that dispense both E15 and E10 gasoline-ethanol blends. To date, no manufacturer has introduced a mass production motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle designed to operate on E15 fuel.
The letter had a Sept. 24 deadline to respond. To date, the EPA has not responded to the congressional letter.
As the American Motorcyclist Association previously reported, the EPA revealed the requirement to the AMA in a letter dated Aug. 1, responding to AMA concerns that E15 -- a gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume – could be put in motorcycle and ATV fuel tanks inadvertently when consumers use blend-er pumps. A blender pump dispenses different fuel blends through the same hose.
“With E15 gasoline, our members who make a concerted effort to fuel their motorcycles or ATVs with E10-or-less gasoline may be unknowingly refueling with resid-ual fuel left in the hose,” Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations, wrote in a June 20 letter to Jackson.
“Unlike an automobile or SUV with a large fuel tank, the residual fuel left in a fueling hose could be detrimental to the performance of motorcycle or ATV engines due to the small size of their fuel tanks and the higher concentration of ethanol that would, therefore, be present in the fuel,” Allard wrote.
“In addition, the use of E15 will lower fuel efficiency and possibly cause premature engine failure,” he wrote. “Use of E15 fuel voids many manufacturer warranties. In off-road engines, the effects can even be dangerous for users.”
Byron Bunker of the EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory responded to the AMA on behalf of Jackson. “EPA requires that retail stations that own or operate blender pumps either dispense E15 from a dedicated hose and nozzle if able or, in the case of E15 and E10
being dispensed from the same hose, require that at least four gallons of fuel be purchased to prevent vehicles and engines with smaller fuel tanks from being exposed to gasoline-ethanol blended fuels containing greater than 10 volume percent ethanol,” Bunker wrote.
“Additionally, EPA is requiring that retail stations that offer E10 and E15 from the same hose and nozzle use additional labeling to inform consumers about the minimum purchase requirement,” Bunker wrote.
“Since motorcyclists and ATV users, as you suggest, have relatively small fuel tanks, they should pay careful attention to the labeling of blender pumps to ensure that an appropriate fuel is chosen, in this case E10 or E0,” he wrote.
The problem with the new EPA policy is that not all motorcycle and ATV gas tanks hold four or more gallons. “Not only do we find it unacceptable for the EPA to mandate that our members buy minimum amounts of gas, but the EPA answer simply won’t work because of
the sizes of many motorcycle and ATV gas tanks,” said Allard. “Furthermore, off-highway riders take containers of gas with them on their trips, and most times those contain-ers are much smaller than four gallons.
“The EPA needs to come up with a better solution,” he said. “The EPA also needs to back an independent study to determine whether E15 is safe for motorcycle and ATV engines.”
The AMA has repeatedly expressed concerns to government officials and federal lawmakers about possible damage to motorcycle and ATV engines caused by the inadvertent use of E15 when the new fuel becomes widely available, and has asked that motorcycles and ATVs be part of any scientific study into the effects of E15.
In October 2010, the EPA approved the use of E15 in model year 2007 and newer light-duty vehicles (cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles). Then, in January 2011, the EPA added model year 2001-2006 light-duty vehicles to the approved list.
Riders should pay attention to this list because no motorcycles or ATVs are currently listed. The AMA is concerned about E15 because it burns hotter than gasoline that contains a lesser amount of ethanol. In engines not designed to dissipate that extra
heat, damage in the form of premature wear can result. Although this is a concern in all motorcycles, it's particularly problematic for air-cooled engines found in many motorcy-cles and ATVs. Moreover, use of E15 may even void the manufacturer warranty.
Since the approved list includes many light-duty vehicles in use today, refineries, distributors, and fueling stations may choose to offer primarily E15 gasoline be-cause of this action by the EPA. The new EPA policy should concern all motorcyclists and off-highway enthusiasts because this can affect the availability of gasoline with less or no ethanol (E10 or E0).
See you in the wind,
‘TEDDYBEAR’
LEGISLATIVE REPORT (Cont.) November 2012
PG 17
PG 18
ELECTION CANIDATES President and vice president
Mitt Romney REP
Paul Ryan
Barack Obama DEM
Joe Biden
Thomas Robert Stevens OBJ
Alden Link
Gary Johnson LBT
James P. Gray
Virgil H. Goode, Jr. CPF
James N. Clymer
Jill Stein GRE
Cheri Honkala
Andre Barnett REF
Kenneth Cross
Stewart Alexander SOC
Alex Mendoza
Peta Lindsay PSL
Yari Osorio
Roseanne Barr PFP
Cindy Sheehan
Tom Hoefling AIP
Jonathan D. Ellis
Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson JPF
Luis J. Rodriguez
Write-in___________________________
UNITED STATES SENATOR
Connie Mack REP
Bill Nelson DEM
Bill Gaylor NPA
Chris Borgia NPA
Write-in____________________________
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS,
DISTRICT 19
Trey Radel REP
Jim Roach DEM
Brandon M. Smith NPA
LEE COUNTY SHERIFF
Mike Scott REP
Lee Bushong NPA
LEE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR
Larry Hart REP
James P. Chandler NPA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
DISTRICT 1
John E. Manning REP
Write-in___________________________
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
DISTRICT 2
Cecil L. Pendergrass REP
John W. Sawyer III NPA
Write-in___________________________
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
DISTRICT 3
Larry Kiker REP
Charlie Whitehead NPA
BLUE or GREY TEXT = BIKER FRIENDLY
PG 19
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
Shall Justice R. Fred Lewis of the
Supreme Court be retained in office?
YES
NO
ELECTION CANIDATES BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
DISTRICT 5
Frank Mann REP
Matt Miller NPA
LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM,
DISTRICT 1
Frank Antos Jr.
Steve Brown
Marilyn Stout
LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM,
DISTRICT 3
Sandy Cohen
David F. Collins
Kenneth James Morris
Lewis Robinson
Bob “Smitty” Smith
LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM,
DISTRICT 5
Donald A. Brown
Jessica Carter
William L. Glover
James Green
Stephanie Meyer
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
Shall Justice Barbara J. Pariente of the
Supreme Court be retained in office?
YES
NO
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
Shall Justice Peggy A. Quince of the
Supreme Court be retained in office?
YES
NO
DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
Shall Judge Anthony K. Black of the 2nd
District Court of Appeal be retained in
office?
YES
NO
DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
Shall Judge Darryl C. Casanueva of the 2nd
District Court of Appeal be retained in
office?
YES
NO
DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
Shall Judge Charles A. Davis Jr. of the 2nd
District Court of Appeal be retained in
office?
YES
NO
ELECTION CANIDATES DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
Shall Judge Edward C. LaRose of the 2nd
District Court of Appeal be retained in
office?
YES
NO
MEMBER SCHOOL BOARD,
DISTRICT 2
Robert “Bob” Chilmonik
Jeanne S. Dozier
EAST COUNTY WATER CONTROL
DISTRICT, SEAT 1
Neal Horrom
Dewey A. Tyler
Michael J. Welch
EAST COUNTY WATER CONTROL
DISTRICT, SEAT 3
Frank T. LaRosa
Kenneth K. Thompson
Joseph L. Whalen
EAST COUNTY WATER CONTROL
DISTRICT, SEAT 5
Nathan Stout
Edward “Edd” Terry Weiner
LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL
DISTRICT, AREA 1
Melissa Dortch
Lawrence J. Murphy
PG 20
Our military men & women fought and died for your
rights!
Honor their sacrifice by
VOTING TODAY!
PG 21
NO 1
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENMENT
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 28
Health Care Services
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to prohibit laws or rules from compelling any person or
employer to purchase, obtain, or otherwise provide for healthcare coverage; permit a person or an employer to
purchase lawful healthcare services directly from a healthcare provider; permit a healthcare provider to accept
direct payment from a person or an employer for lawful healthcare services; exempt persons, employers and
healthcare providers from penalties and taxes for paying directly or accepting direct payments for lawful health
care services; and prohibit laws or rules from abolishing the private market for health care coverage of any lawful
health care services. Specifies that the amendment does not affect which healthcare services a healthcare provider
is required to perform or provide; affect which health care services are permitted by law; prohibit care provided
pursuant to general law relating to workers’ compensation; affect laws or rules in effect March 1, 2010; affect the
terms or conditions of any health care system to the extent that those terms and conditions do not have the effect of
punishing a person or an employer for directly for lawful health care services or a healthcare provider for
accepting direct payment from a person or an employer for lawful healthcare services; or affect any general law
passed by two-thirds vote of the membership of each house of the Legislature, passed after the effective date of the
amendment, provided such law states which specificity the public necessity justifying the exceptions from the
provisions of the amendment. The amendment expressly provides that it may not be construed to prohibit
negotiated provisions in insurance contracts, network agreements, or other provider agreements contractually
limiting copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, or other patient charges.
AMENDMENTS
NO 2
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 6
Article XII, Section 32
Veterans Disabled Due to Combat Injury;
Homestead Property Tax Discount
Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of Arti-
cle VII and the creation of Section 32 of Arti-
cle XII of the State Constitution to expand the
availability of the property discount on the
homesteads of veterans who became disabled
as the result of a combat injury to include
those who were not Florida residents when
they entered the military and schedule the
amendment to take effect
January 1, 2013.
NO 3
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 1 AND 19
Article XII, Section 32
State Government Revenue Limitations
This proposed amendment to the State Constitution
replaces the existing state revenue limitations based on
Florida personal income growth with a new state
revenue limitations based on inflation and population
changes. Under the amendment, state revenues, as
defined in the amendment, collected in excess of the
revenue limitation must be deposited into the budget
stabilization fund until the fund reaches its maximum
balance , and thereafter shall be used for the support
and maintenance of public schools by reducing from
school districts for participation in a state funded
education finance program, or, if the minimum finan-
cial effort is no longer required, returned to the tax
payers. The Legislature may increase the state revenue
limitation through a bill approved by a super majority
vote of each house of the Legislature. The Legislature
may also submit a proposed increase in the state
revenue limitation to the voters. The Legislature must
implement this proposed amendment by general law.
The amendment will take effect upon approval by the
electors and will apply to the 2014-2015 state fiscal
year.
AMENDMENTS NO 4
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VII , SECTION 4 AND 6
ARTICLE XIII, SECTIONS 27, 32, AND 33
Property Tax Limitations; Property Value Decline; Reduction for No homestead Assessment Increases;
Delay of Scheduled Repeal
1) This would amend Florida Constitution Article VII, Section 4 (Taxation; assessment) and Section 6
(Homestead exemptions). It would also amend Article XII, Section 27, and add Sections 32 and 33, relating
to the Schedule for the Amendments.
2) In certain circumstances, the law requires the assessed value of homestead and specified non homestead
property to increase when the just value of the property decreases. Therefore, this amendment proves that
the Legislature may, by general law, provide that the assessment of homestead and specified non homestead
property may not increase if the just value of that property is less than the just value of the property on the
preceding January 1, subject to any adjustment in the assessed value due o the changes, additions
reductions or improvements to such property which are assessed as provided for by general law. This
amendment takes effect upon approval by the voters. If approved at a special election held on the date of
the 2012 presidential preference primary, it shall operate retroactively to January 1, 2012, or if approved at
the 2012 general election, shall take effect January 1, 2013.
3) This amendment reduces from 10 percent to 5 percent the limitation on annual changes in assessments of
no homestead real presidential preference primary, it shall operate retroactively to January 1, 2012 or, if
approved at the 2012 general election, takes effect January 1, 2013.
4) This amendment also authorizes general law to provide, subject to conditions specified in such law, an
additional homestead exemption to every person who establishes the right to receive the homestead
exemption provided in the Florida Constitution within 1 year after purchasing the homestead property and
who has not owned property in the previous 3 calendar years to which the Florida homestead exemption
applied. The additional homestead exemption shall apply to all levies expect school district levies. The
additional exemption is an equal to 50 percent of the homestead property's just value on January 1 of the
year the homestead is established. The additional homestead exemption may not exceed an amount equal to
the median just value of all homestead property within the county where the property at issue is located for
the calendar year immediately preceding January 1 of the year the homestead is established. The additional
exemption shall apply for the shorter of 5 years or the year of sale of the property. The amount of the
additional exemption shall be reduced in each subsequent year by an amount equal to 20 percent of the
amount of the additional exemption received in the year the homestead was established or by an amount
equal to the difference between the just value of the property and the assessed value of the property
determined
under Article VII, Section4(d), whichever is greater. Not more than one such exemption shall be allowed
per homestead was established at one time. The additional exemption applies to property purchased on or
after January 1, 2011, if approved by the voters at a special election held on the date of the 2012 presidential
preference primary, or to property purchased on or after January 1, 2012, if approved by the voters at the
2012 general election. The additional exemption is not available in the sixth and subsequent years after it is
first received. The amendment shall take effect upon approval by the voters. If approved at a special elec-
tion held on the date of presidential preference primary, it shall operate retroactively to January1, 2012, or
if approved at a special election held on the date of the 2012 general election, takes effect January 1, 2013.
5) This amendment also delays until 2023, the repeal, currently scheduled to take effect in 2019, of
constitutional amendments adopted in 2008 which limit annual assessment increases for specified non
homestead real property. This amendment delays until 2022 the submission of an amendment proposing
the abrogation of such appeals to the voters.
PG 22
PG 23
AD EXPIRES:
TRADE
PG 24
SOUTHWEST CHAPTER
LIFE MEMBERS
Keith Baker Darrell Barnett Denee Bartels Scott Blink Chet Butz James Burkholder Nora Burkholder Don Campbell Frances Cazes Wayne Cerra Jonathan Conant Terry Covington Audrey Cran Maggie Cran Rick Cran Rob Cran Robert “Cruz” Crusan Jim Crystal Dan Curry Ginny D’Asti Biffle Davis Mary Dicenzo-Porter Al Diagiaco Frank Disomma Cindy Doak
Randy Eck Brian Galvin Sonny Gartrell Lynnda Gray Larry Gullia Bob Hall Harry Hoover Jeff Hoover George Huttman Susan “Red” Huttman Dan Jackson Cindy “CJ” Jordan Frankie Kennedy John Kennedy
Ed LaCombe Julio Lopez Mary Ann Rivera-Lopez “KD” Marlowe Russell May Rev.Rea Means Don Meredith Jr. Jo Ann Miller Kenneth Miller John Mitchell Jim Mozeleski Taylor Musburger Terry Padilla Bob Penn
Asuncsion Peppers Richard Peppers Victor Piorkowski Kathleen Provenzano Rev. Thomas Provenzano Bill Robinson Janet Rolfe Tabitha Rossi Roland Salsberry Jencye Schmitt Jerry Schmitt Bruce Scheiner Elsie Seif Robert Simon Kelly Smith Randall Spivey Richard Stergulz Sandy Stergulz Grandpa Stewart Lynda Stewart Russell Sullivan Scott Turner Ruth Vorys Teresa Webster D. Payton Wells Michael Wieland Jama Wyatt Steve Wyatt
PG 25
Looking for a FEW GOOD MEN!!
The SWFL Chapter of
Leathernecks Motorcycle Club Intl., Inc.
We welcome Marine Veterans, FMF Corpsmen
And Active Duty Men and Women Marines
If you love riding a motorcycle and want the
Brotherhood/Sisterhood you had in the
Corps, then we are what you want!
For further information contact RailRoad at: 239-321-3298
Or visit our website at: www.leathernecks-swfl.com
AD EXPIRES:
01 Dec. 2012
AD EXPIRES:
TRADE
PG 26
4120 Hancock Bridge Parkway, North Fort Myers, FL 33903
239-995-0340
VerDow Motorcycle Repair, Inc.
(239) 332-1477
2531 Katherine St. Ft. Myers, FL 33901 All ABATE Members
Receive a 10% Discount
PG 27 AD EXPIRES:
01 Sep. 2013
AD EXPIRES:
01 Dec. 2012
PG 28
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
LAMA Ride
@ Harley @
6 PM
2
3
4
Chapter
Meeting @ HD
of Ft. Myers
10 AM
5
6
The Joint’s
Bike Night @
Cape Harbor
6-10 PM
7
8
9
Peace River
Toy & Food
Run 10 Nov 12
10
LAMA Chapter
4th Annual
Birthday Bash
@ Sun Sports
Fort Myers
Bike Night
11
VETRANS DAY
12
13
The Joint’s
Bike Night @
Cape Harbor
6-10 PM
14
15
16
17
LAMA Chapter
Meeting @ HD
Of Ft. Myers
@ 10 AM
18
19
20
The Joint’s
Bike Night @
Cape Harbor
6-10 PM
21
LAMA Ride
@ Harley @
6 PM
22
23
24
25
26
27
The Joint’s
Bike Night @
Cape Harbor
6-10 PM
28
29
30
November 2012
PG 29
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2 Chapter
Meeting @ HD
of Ft. Myers
10 AM
Ride to FLHRH
Event
3
4
The Joint’s
Bike Night @
Cape Harbor
6-10PM
5
6
LAMA Ride
@ Harley @
6 PM
7
8
ABATE STATE
MEETING
Duval Chapter
Jacksonville,
FL.
9
10
11
The Joint’s
Bike Night @
Cape Harbor
6-10PM
12
13
14
15
LAMA Chapter
Meeting @ HD
Of Ft. Myers
@ 10 AM
16
17
18
The Joint’s
Bike Night @
Cape Harbor
19
LAMA Ride
@ Harley @
6 PM
20
21
22
23
Chapter
Christmas
Ride
24
25
Christmas
26
27
28
29
30
31
New Years Eve
December 2012
Hooters Ride to Nowhere
o When: Every Thursday at Hooters in Fort Myers
o Time:7:30 – kickstands up at 9:30
SPORT BIKE
COMMUNITY
Do you ride a sport bike? We are your source for information on rides and events that are geared towards your particular style. Check with us on a monthly basis regarding times and places for rides, events, and riding safety. ABATE of Florida is a non-profit organization that fights for your rights as a biker and advocates safety and awareness of bikers, for bikers. We are your voice in Tallahassee to change laws and get stiffer penalties for people that kill bikers in auto crashes. We also do special rides and events all year long. We look forward to making the sport bike community apart of our growing family. Membership is only $20 a year or $150 for a lifetime, and you also receive a FREE $4,000 life insurance policy. As a member, you also receive this newsletter via email every month, so you can keep informed on what’s going on around your area. Join us and help fight to change to general populations opinion of bikers.
“Ride Hard but Ride Smart”
UPCOMMING EVENTS
Safety tips 1. Save your brain and wear a lid.
2. Never Expect that vehicles see you, always expect that they don’t and be prepared for a way out.
3. Take the “Stunting” to a secluded spot where no one else can get hurt.
Recommendation to Beginner Riders Book: “How to Ride a Motor Cycle” by Pat Hahn
It will teach the reader what to expect on the road in the first two years of riding.
Name: Eddie “Crash” Mix
Number: 239-440-4064
Name: David ”Flip” Johnston
Number: 239-281-3419
PG 30
Hooter Ride to Nowhere
When: Every Thursday
Where: Hooters of Fort Myers on US-41
Time: 7:30 - kickstands up at 9:30
Local Toys 4 Tots Toy Run
When: Saturday November, 10th
Where: Gatorz Bar and Grill, Port Charlotte, FL.
Time: Registration 9-11, Kickstands up at 11AM. Everything ending around 4PM.
Stops: Black Widow HD, Beef O Brady’s, Buffalo Wings and Rings, down to Tilley’s Tap in Punta Gorda and back to Gatorz.
Details: $10 per hand and one unwrapped toy. There will be auctions, 50/50’s, drawings, and more. SO, come on out and lets give
these kids a good Christmas.
Florida Great Teddy Bear Run - 15th Annual
When: Sunday November, 18th
Where: At the Mall Parking Lot at the Shoppes of University. Ending at the Twin Lakes Park, Sarasota, FL.
Time: 9:30-11:30 Kickstands up at 11:30. Event ending around 5 or 6PM.
PG 31
MEETING MINUTES
PG 32
ABATE OF FLORIDA, INC. SOUTHWEST CHAPTER
GENERAL MEETING @ Harley Davidson
OCTOBER, 2012
THERE WAS NO MEETING IN OCTOBER
Do to the changing of our scheduled general meetings from
the 3rd Sunday of every month to the 1st Sunday.
CLASSIFIEDS Our friend and Membership guy for the Caloosahatchee Chapter is a handyman and needs work really bad. f
anyone needs a handyman or maintenance guy to call Rusty Pettifor at 239-265-4711. He does really good
work and it would be great to be able to help out a fellow Abate member. No hand outs...just a job.
Alpine Stars winter gauntlets $30.00 More info call Brett @ 623 414 9956
POST YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS HERE FOR FREE!
Please, send all ads, w/contact info and description to:
Kevin Barfield
ABATE of Florida, Inc., SW Chapter
Newsletter Editor
MEEMBERSHIP REPORT
PG 33
Renewals expire last day of your month
Membership is $20.00 per year and includes a $4,000.00 Accidental death or
dismemberment Policy
Membership applications can be picked up at Bike Night weekly at the Joint in
Cape Harbor on Tuesday’s from 6 – 9:30 pm
Also at all your local motorcycle shops throughout Lee County where many offer
discounts to ABATE card holders
Membership report:
Welcome to October new members:
Jerry Barnett
Larry Patitucci
Steve Goldstein
Marva Savanick
Renewing Members:
Pete Agnello
Dale Conrad
Janise Turner
Roger Miller
Kevin Barfield
Jimmie Dennis
November Renewals:
Elizabeth Barfield
Gene Cerra
Joe Cannizaro
Lynn Davis
Tracy Davis
Tom Deere
Alaina Dempsey
William Clay Engh
Wendy Mangina
Eddie Mix
Moe Moser
Charles Robb
Mike Sterling
Ray Walters
Phil West
Paul Woytik
PG 34
AD EXPIRES:
TRADE
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SISTER CHAPTER INFORMATION
CALOOSAHATCHEE ESTERO RIVER Meetings: every 3rd Friday at 7:00 PM Meetings: every 3rd Sunday at 10:00 AM
Place: American Legion Post 90 Place: San Carlos Country Club
4720 SE 15th Ave., Cape Coral, FL. 19137 S. Tamiami Trail, Ft. Myers, FL.
GATOR ALLEY PEACE RIVER Meetings: every 4th Sunday at 11:00 AM Meetings: every 4th Sunday at 11:00 AM
Place: VFW Place: 4940 Pan American Blvd., North Port, FL.
Pine Ridge Rd., Naples, FL.
(no meeting in Dec.)
SOUTHWEST WEST COAST Meetings: every 4th Sunday at 10:00 AM Meetings: every 4th Sunday at 11:00 AM
Place: Harley Davidson of Ft. Myers Place: Fruitville Park
2160 Colonial Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL. 5151 Richardson Rd., Sarasota, FL.
NO MEETING IN OCTOBER
(Meeting will be changed to the 1st weekend of
every month starting 04 November 2012)
PG 35
Editor’s Note
Hello Bothers and Sisters,
We are looking for more members to step up and show support for the chapter by coming out to Bike Nights
every Tuesday night at The Joint from 6-10. We aren’t looking for someone to stay the entire time, just an hour or
so of your time would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Don’t forget our Veterans and Active Duty Military this Veterans Day (November, 11th)! We should thank a
vet EVERY chance we get year-round! Without them, we would have much bigger concerns than our economy or
unemployment.
Thanksgiving is coming up and we ALL should give thanks for what we have. It’s easy to forget the small
things we take for granted these days. Take pride in your achievements and not dwell on the things that have made
life hard. We have all made poor decisions in life, but every thing happens for a reason. We wouldn’t be the people
we are today without making a few mistakes.
We would love to see you all around bike nights and all events in the future, so be safe, God bless, and...
STAY ALERT...STAY ALIVE!!!
Kevin
Our Caring Circle
Lets keep all of our Brothers & Sisters
Safe and in our prayers This season! RIDE SAFE
And just care for one another!
A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT
AND THANKS
TO OUR LOCAL EVENT
PROMOTERS
FOR THEIR SUPPORT
OF OUR MRO
THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS,
ADVERTISERS AND SUPPORTERS OF OUR MOTORCYCLE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATION
Place your
COMPANY AD
HERE
Business Card, Half
Page, or Full Page.
Email to Chapter
President for
Approval This newsletter is
distributed by email and
printed monthly.
PG 36
AD EXPIRES:
TRADE
KEEP UP TO DATE ON
THE STATE
WEB SITE
PRESS RELEASES, EVENTS, SAFETY
www.abateflorida.com
BRING A NEW
MEMBER TO JOIN THE
VOICES OF
FLORIDA
MOTORCYCLISTS
PG 37
AD EXPIRES:
01 Oct. 2012
Southwest Chapter Meeting Schedule
This months Chapter Meeting
Will be on November 4th @
10:00 AM @ Harley Davidson of Fort
Myers
Located at: 2160 Colonial Dr.
Fort Myers, FL 33907 239-275-4647
southwest.abateflorida.com
PG 38
AD EXPIRES:
01 Dec. 2012
111 ~ Suite 1 Del Prado North
Cape Coral ~ Florida 33909
239.574.2745 Douglas & Gina Holland, Owners
PG 40
AD EXPIRES:
01 Oct. 2012
AD
EXPIRES:
01 Nov.
2012
PG 41
AD EXPIRES:
01 Oct. 2012
PG 42
AD EXPIRES:
01 Dec. 2012
PG 44
AD EXPIRES:
01 Dec. 2012
PG 45
AD EXPIRES:
01 Dec. 2012
AD EXPIRES:
31 Jul. 2013
COME VISIT OUR NEW LOCATION
LOCATED ON FORT MYERS BEACH!
Paradise Tropical Wine
159 Old San Carlos Blvd.
Fort Myers Beach, FL. 33931
(239) 233-8025
“Where it's all good, all the time!”
AD EXPIRES:
01 Sep. 2013
Florida’s Lee County Legislative Delegation
Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-74, Chairman
3501 Del Prado Blvd., Suite 305
Cape Coral, Fl. 33904-7223
Phone: (239) 344-4900
E-Mail: [email protected]
Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-27
17595 S. Tamiami Trail
Ft. Myers, Fl. 33967
Phone: (561) 753-2440
E-Mail:
Sen. Mike Bennett, R-21, Senate President Pro-Tem
3653 Cortez Road West, Suite 90,
Bradenton, Fl. 34210
Phone: (941) 727-6349
E-Mail: [email protected]
Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-73
2120 Main St., Suite 208
Fort Myers, Fl. 33901-3010
Phone: (239) 533-2411
E-Mail: [email protected]
Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-72
410 Taylor Street,
Punta Gorda, Fl. 33950-4832
Phone: (941) 575-5820
E-Mail: [email protected]
Sen. Garrett Richter, R-37
3299 E. Tamiami Trail, Suite 203,
Naples, Fl. 34112-4961
Phone: (239) 417-6205
E-Mail: [email protected]
Rep. Ken Roberson, R-71
17825 Murdock Circle, Suite B,
Port Charlotte, Fl. 33948-4090
Phone: (941) 613-0914
E-Mail: [email protected]
Rep. Trudi Williams, R-75
12811 Kenwood Lane, Suite 212,
Fort Myers, Fl. 33907-5648
Phone: (239) 433-6775
E-Mail: [email protected]
Office of Governor Rick Scott
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
(850) 488-7146
E-Mail: www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott
Office of Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.. PL-05
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Telephone: (850) 488-4711
Facsimile: (850) 921-6114
E-Mail: www.ltgov.com/ContactUs.html
Florida Senate Web site: www.flsenate.gov
Office of Senate President Mike Haridopolos
404 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Phone: (850) 487-5229
E-Mail: [email protected]
Florida House of Representatives Web site: www.myfloridahouse.gov
The Honorable Dean Cannon, Speaker
Florida House of Representatives
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
E-Mail: [email protected]
PG 46
PG 47
AD EXPIRES:
01 Dec. 2012
ABATE
MEMBERS
RECEIVE
A 10 %
DISCOUNT
WITH
THEIR
ABATE
CARD
11 12
PG 48
AD EXPIRES:
01 Dec. 2012
Name of Business: __________________________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________________________________
Business Phone: _____________________________ Contact: ______________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________
Phone:______________________ Cell: __________________________
Email: ______________________________________________________
Type of Ad: Business Card Quarter Page Half Page Full Page
Duration of Ad: ____________________
Start Date of Ad: _____________________ Stop Date of Ad: ______________________
Authorized Signature: __________________________________________________
Print Name: ______________________________________________________
Type of Payment: Check _________ Check Number __________ Cash ___________
Advertisement Pricing
Business Card Quarter Page Half Page Full Page
6 Months $55.00 $85.00 $145.00 $200.00
12 Months $80.00 $135.00 $245.00 $375.00
Full page 12 month advertisers will receive an additional 2 months FREE
All advertisers will also receive a one year ABATE of Florida, Inc. membership which
also includes a $4,000.00 accidental death policy
All artwork must be submitted in PDF or JPEG format
All advertising MUST be approved by the Southwest Chapter of Abate of Florida, Inc.
For further information please contact
Wayne Cerra 239-989-3349 [email protected]
ADVERTISING APPLICATION
ABATE of Florida, Inc., Southwest Chapter PO BOX 60745 • Fort Myers, FL 33906
southwest.abateflorida.com
PG 49
AD EXPIRES:
01 Oct. 2012
