Election Guide: Council-At-Large Group Five (Jacksonville 2011)

This guide is for Council-At-Large Group Five (Jacksonville 2011).

The six candidates and their platforms:

1) Fred J. Engness (Republican)

• Business Management degree from the University of Maryland.
• Firm in his stance of "NOT increasing taxes."
• "Small business owner."

Sources: http://www.news4jax.com/duval-county-elections/26934708/detail.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5L8sLVfXuE

2) Donald R. Foy (NPA)

• President of MADDADS in Jacksonville.
• B.A. in Business Administration and a Masters in Ministry.

Sources: http://donaldfoycouncilatlarge.com/

http://www.news4jax.com/duval-county-elections/26934708/detail.html

3) Sean Hall (Republican)

• National sales executive for Panasonic.
• B.A. from UNF.
• 14 year Army veteran.
• Graduate of Orange Park High School.

Sources: http://www.voteforseanhall.com/index.html

http://www.news4jax.com/duval-county-elections/26934708/detail.html

4) Robin Lumb (Republican)

• Lives in Riverside.
• Co-owner of a commercial printing company.
• No children.
• Two years of community college.
• Has been a longtime member of the Republican Party of Duval County.
• Support expanding port facilities as well as the Cecil Commerce Center.
• Will "fight for a statutory cap on spending with limits on spending increases that adjust only for inflation and population growth."
• Was a study committee member of JCCI's study called "Reducing Violence: A Community Response."

Sources: http://www.votelumb.com/index.html

http://www.news4jax.com/duval-county-elections/26934708/detail.html

http://www.jaxobserver.com/2010/07/11/righting-the-ship-how-we-can-fix-our-public-schools/

5) Robin Rukab (Republican)

• "Business owner."
• Employed in City Hall during the administration of four mayors.
• M.A. in Public Administration at UNF.
• Supports increased improvements to downtown Jacksonville.
• Was an Adjunct Professor at UNF.
• Strongly believes "that the city's Division of Consumer Affairs should be put back into place to help protect you from fraud, scams, and ripoffs."

Sources: http://www.robinrukab.com/

http://www.news4jax.com/duval-county-elections/26934708/detail.html

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=533046

6) Michelle Tappouni (Republican)

• "Grew up in Jacksonville and Tampa."
• "A University of Florida fan."
• General manager of Breaking Ground Contracting Company.

Sources: http://votetappouni.com/

http://www.news4jax.com/duval-county-elections/26934708/detail.html

Election Guide: Council-At-Large Group Four (Jacksonville 2011)

This guide is for Council-At-Large Group Four (Jacksonville 2011).

The three candidates and their platforms:

1) Greg Anderson (Republican)

• Works for EverBank.
• A certified cash manager.
• Masters of Art.
• "25 years as a veteran of the financial services industry."

Sources: http://www.votegreganderson.com/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv9w7R28lqM&feature=youtube_gdata

http://www.news4jax.com/duval-county-elections/26916593/detail.html

2) Juan M. Diaz (Republican)

• Graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
• Was an attorney with CSX.
• "Founding Board Member of Jacksonville Chamber's Young Professionals program (2005-06).
• An "obstacle to job growth" includes the "new fees and increased JEA rates."
• More investment in JaxPort and the Cecil Commerce Center.
• Supports the "relocation of a nuclear carrier to Mayport."
• Wants to increase "efforts to improve code enforcement."
• Supports salary reductions for City Council members.
• Supports privatizing services including "right-of-way maintenance and Motor Pool services."
• Supports zero baseline budgeting.
• Supports "eliminating the pension for Council members."
• Reform pension plans by focusing on incoming employees only.
• He currently works for a company that "makes body armor and other law enforcement products."
• Endorsed by the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County.

Sources: http://www.diaz4jax.com/index.html

http://www.news4jax.com/duval-county-elections/26916593/detail.html

3) Jim Robinson (Republican)

• U.S. Army veteran.
• Served as a Committee Member for the Jacksonville Journey.
• M.B.A. from UNF.
• Opposes "an increase in the millage rate."
• Supports an audit of the city budget.
• "Privatizing government services should be considered for many public services."
• Supports the JEDC.
• Supports "an elected School Board."
• Has taught Sunday School at his church for 17 years.
• Supports increased investments in our city parks.
• Regarding the Jaguars: "We need a Plan B in the drawer because the city cannot be held hostage to potentially unreasonable demands for the franchise to stay."
• Has lived in Jacksonville for over 30 years.

Sources: http://www.votejimrobinson.com/

http://www.news4jax.com/duval-county-elections/26916593/detail.html

FYI (Regarding Election Guides)

I just wanted to make a few quick points regarding my recent election guides:

1) The reason many of the candidates profiles are short is due to the fact that most, if not all, of those running are extremely gifted at politics which often involves broad answers and off-topic responses.

2) I also want to point out another reason for the short profiles: everyone keeps saying the same stuff. Everyone wants less government, more efficient spending, and more jobs. Ok...so how are you going to do it? Unfortunately, many candidates fail to answer this question with specifics and instead focus on politics :0(

Election Guide: Council-At-Large Group Two (Jacksonville 2011)

This guide is for Council-At-Large Group Two (Jacksonville 2011).

The four candidates and their platforms:

1) John R. Crescimbeni (Democrat)

• Served 10 years on the Jacksonville City Council where "he has never missed a regular meeting."
• "He is the only "City Council member who chooses to serve without the help of an Executive Council Assistant, thus saving taxpayers more than $70,000 each year."
• Board member of the Jacksonville Humane Society.
• Has been the "owner of the local Hickory Farms Franchise for more than three decades."
• Was against the "City's controversial $750 million no-bid landfill contract."
• Was against the "unpopular effort to expand Craig Airport."
• Member of Christ's Church in Mandarin.
• Graduated from Bolles High School, Florida Community College, and Jacksonville University.
• Supports Jacksonville Journey.
• "Fought hard against both of the mayor's recent property tax increases."
• Supports "increasing the retirement age for new hires and restructuring certain elements of the city's drop plan."
• Was against the decision to allow "Central Florida to siphon off 155 million gallons of river water each day."

Sources: http://johnforcitycouncil.com/

http://www.jaxtaxpayers.org/category/local-candidates/by-candidates/john-crescimbeni/

2) Paul Martinez (Republican)

• "Owner of Martinez Advertising Group and a Printing.com franchise."
• Supports "the efforts to land a new aircraft carrier for Naval Station Mayport."
• Advocates charter schools and the "opening of our system to the free market."
• "Endorsed by John Thrasher and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce."
• "Pro-life."
• B.A. in Marketing and Management.
• Supports a "repeal of the recent tax increase."

Sources: http://electpaulmartinez.com/index.php

http://www.news4jax.com/duval-county-elections/26915921/detail.html

3) Tom Patton (Republican)

• Has lived in Jacksonville for over 10 years.
• A "former television and radio host."
• "Backed by former Mayor John Delaney."
• Supports a "shift to the practice of zero-based budgeting, which would force entities to provide real justification for their budgetary requests."
• B.A. in Telecommunications.

Sources: http://electtompatton.com/

http://www.jaxobserver.com/2011/03/01/endorsement-tom-patton-for-city-council-group-2/

4) Vince Serrano (Republican)

• "Native of Jacksonville's West side."
• Father is an immigrant from Columbia.
• Started ASAP Towing & Storage a family business in Jacksonville.
• Graduated from Forrest High School.
• Veteran of the U.S. Army.

Sources: http://www.vinceserrano4jax.com/index.html