With the election now behind us, I heartily congratulate councilors-elect Chuck Kiester and Joe Batte for their successful, honest and fair campaigns. Also, my thanks to Ted Forcht for his four years of dedicated public service. Ted’s extremely slim margin of loss is testimony to Marco Island’s appreciation as well.
Because “congratulations” are an expression of pleasure at someone’s success, I cannot include the third winner, Larry Magel, in my congratulations. I think my fellow Marco Islanders might be curious to know why, so I’ll explain.
Mr. Magel, a resident of Hideaway, is also president of the Condominium Association and a member of the Hideaway Legal Committee and so he was understandably a favorite of the condo community. There were three council seats to be voted on and four candidates. Reportedly, voting members of the condominium community were urged to vote only their man Magel’s name, leaving the other two council seat choices blank. This is called “bulleted balloting,” is perfectly legal and is a tactic used by outfits such as Acorn to make a candidate appear more popular than he actually is.
The post-election data from Supervisor of Elections office has shown that approximately 1,400 bulleted ballots came from precincts that are primarily condominium sectors. You can readily see then, the election results would have been significantly different, (do the simple math, Magel ended with only 270 more votes than the lowest candidate). It’s quite likely that Magel would have finished out of the running completely.
Predictably, some will criticize me as a sour-grapes naysayer for bringing out the above facts, but most informed Marco Islanders can understand why a manipulated election result doesn’t deserve congratulations, at least not from me.
Good luck, Mr. Magel, despite your dubious beginning … and good luck, Marco Island.
Russ Colombo
Marco Island
Bird Count in SWFL
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 20
ed34145 writes:
Russ and his ilk just don't get it. Many people voted for only Magel because they could not bring themselves to vote for any of the other 3. People have had enough of all the negativity and group against group that this letter reinforces. Batte did a good job of reinventing himself, but people still remember his involvement with the negative group that Forcht and Keister represent.
Fossil writes:
Why am I not surprised? Manipulating the electorate is just one more reason these folks are called the "syndicate". ed34145, Keister and Forcht have been public figures serving your interests for a couple of years now. Why did you not stand before them during a City Council meeting and let them know how you felt? Could it be that you simply hate anyone that would dare to run against your candidate? Think about that. Your attitude towards representitive government and those who serve us is telling as to your mindset. People who think like you, are the easiest to manipulate and historically support dictators and populists. Local politics are not a game in which you choose sides. These are your neighbors. If you have to resort to trickery to win an election then you are the problem and can never be part of the solution.
lauralbi1 writes:
Fossil: Sour Grapes !!! Just give it a rest. You should be accepting the point that if someone else chose to run with Larry's political views and experience, that he or she would have been elected also.
Whem just when, are you and your cronies going to accept that this Island is not being run in your vision, but rather that of a progressive, improved Island with a Milage rate high enough to cover the budget and Capital Projects reserve.
Just try to enjoy it and look forward to more of the same in the next election.
Ed Issler
EdFoster writes:
Issler,
What planet do you live on? The figures on the county website tell the story. The only way you, Arceri, Patterson, Lazarus and Granda could get ANYONE elected was to put up only ONE candidate and convince your friends to vote ONLY for that candidate. Had the 1100+ bullet votes been diluted by voting in addition for ANY other candidate ... even one of yours had you chosen to put up more than Magan ... Magan would not have won. Look at the numbers, you research hound, compare the voting for City Council with that for the amendments, and the truth of my contention is obvious.
Politics is dirty business and Marco's is as bad as Chicago's, but don't think Marcoites are idiots. The ONLY way you got one of "yours" on the council was to put up only one and press people NOT to vote for the other two slots. The key was convincing people NOT to vote for others. Some might consider that honorable; I do not!
Ed Foster
blogsmog writes:
Foster,
Magel knows the trickery involved that got him elected. The syndicate sees the writing on the wall, this city is sick of them!
Its the first time in history a candidate wins by getting less votes..only on Marco...only the syndicate.
sharkfloss writes:
A SERIOUS POINT TO PONDER!!!!!!!!
73% OF THE POSSIBLE VOTERS DID NOT VOTE FOR ANY OF THE INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES EVEN THOSE WHO WON.
There are a lot of unhappy potential voters out there. I hope you realize this before it takes us all down.
Fossil writes:
Issler, is it sour grapes to express disappointment at those who asked our neighbors to vote for only one candidate? My comments were directed to ed34145. Is that you? As time passes, that negative group you refer to are proving their predictions. Water rates did increase for the condos by almost 10 percent. Now the city wants the newly hooked up residences to pay for the new pipes to replace those used by the old subscribers for the past 30 years. People like you and those political candidates you support are now openly promoting increasing taxes to pay for more and more stuff. Folks are becoming believers and can no longer support your candidates without you and yours using trickery to win. Regretably some are voting with their feet. Your revenue base is slowing melting away.
lauralbi1 writes:
You know, it is with great pleasure that I respond to those of you that just cannot accept the voice of the majority, albeit, a silent majority. You do not receive the e-mails of support and appreciation that I continuously do from those people too busy or disgusted with the CAVE people to write themselves. I take it with a great deal of humbleness to speak for the majority of voters.
As it applies to "Bullet Voting", I consider this no different and no worse than "Block (slate) voting". How can you possibly think that a large percentage of people would support Larry Magel and want to support the other three candidates ?? I certainly could not, although I would have supported Mr. Forcht had I known then what I know now. Keep in mind that there were over 6,100 ballots turned in and over 3,700 of them had Larry Magel as their choice.
It does not matter what excuses or rationalizations you want to write, say or publish about election results. Four years ago Mr. Columbo stated how the Marco voters were "asleep" and did not know what they were doing. Now he ius ranting and raving about Bullet Voting. I could discuss National Politics and how each party targets (bullets) states with their campaigns and do the same. Or I could state how some of the candidates other than Mr. Magel told people at the Farmers Market to vote only for them. Or I could stater that no matter how the results were achieved, Mr. Magel won and so would others that believed like him, had they run. But I won't.
If we have to increase taxes, which I fully expect andfully support, then that is what needs to be done. As it is, the Milage rate this year is not high enough to support the real basic needs of the Island.
So strap in you guys as MITA does not dictate the stance of the Majority on the Island. It should be obvious that Mr. Gibson, Mr. Trotter, Mr. Waldack, Mr. Recker and now Mr. Magel do. And I have news for you. In two years the breakdown on Council will not change in the next election. Not because I say it, but because that is what the Majority of the Electorate on Marco Island want. No matter what excuses you want to cry about.
So keep chasing "Syndicates" and blaming others. But you will not change it.
Ed Issler
marco97 writes:
Why is it that the people who call other people cave dwellers are the ones who look like they live in one? Issler you are a troll.
lauralbi1 writes:
Hey everyone, look at the blog above. All I can say is it's working !!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep up the good work, marco97, JW and others. The statement above pretty much says it all on behalf of ther frustrated minority.
I've got a thick skin when it comes to expressions of fiction and frustration as can be seen in this LTE and many of the blogs.
But don't change a thing and the Island will be just fine.
Ed Issler
dc5799 writes:
Issler,
I think Mr Recker would take exception that you would add his name to your choice of the majority. He is his own man nothing like you and the rest of the ugly people.
Having you give praise is like throwing up all over one's self
Russ writes:
ALL:
Having just read and re-read carefully the statements posted by Mr. Ed Issler, it's difficult to avoid the following thought:
Mrs. Gump was so absolutely correct when she observed: "You can't fix stupid."
Much wiser to not try and just move on.
Russ Colombo
ajm3s writes:
Rumor: The City will apply for a state grant to convert all caves on Marco to cisterns.
My concern, where are the caves? My understanding is that we have a City Building Services Division that is morphing to a Code Compliance Division that is responsible for building and Code of Ordinance compliance. As I read the code: caves do not meet minimum housing standards on Marco Island.
My conclusion: caves must be a figment of one's imagination.
dc5799 writes:
Issler,
Didn't take you long to eliminate newly elected Joe Batte from the "IN CROWD" and I thought you meant it when you congratulated him on winning.
lauralbi1 writes:
I congratulate both Mr. Batte and Mr. Kiester on their victories, along with Mr. Magel. When one sees Dr. Biles, Mr. McMullan, Mr. Paret and the like at one's victory party, one can only wonder where his allegiances lie.
I have an open mind about Mr. Batte and look forward to observing his "independent" thinking and his thoughts about representing the majority of voters on the Island.
There is no "In Crowd" or "syndicate" by the way. It is about time for Hector Columbo and some of his followers to stop trying to come up with excuses as to why the majority of voters on the Island do not agreer with his vision for the Island. I certainly hope that Mr. Batte is independent enough to disagree with Hector's vision.
I am impressed with Mr. Batte's efforts as I would not run for Council at this stage of my life and congratulate him for his perseverance and victory !!!!
And as far as DC5799, you just confirm the obvious when you blog, so keep it up. Mr. Recker, at least, knows what this Island needs for the future and he has a ositive vision for the future. He was in favor of a higher Milage rate and that shows that he understands what the Island needs. I support him 110%. And whether youlike it or not, he does belong in the grouping I included him in. That is why you need to reralize what the leaders and majority of the Council want for the Island in representing the majority. It is not what you have in mind. I look forward to the future and this Council. I hope you do also.
Ed Issler
dc5799 writes:
Issler,
Are you saying YOU were invited to the victory party YOU?
marcofriend writes:
Issler,
If you were to look around, you also saw John Arceri, Joe Granda, and others that had opposing views in the last election. Joe Batte has an open mind, why don't you?
happy6 writes:
issler has no mind...just one grumpy old crotch.
lauralbi1 writes:
I tell you what. Actions have always spoken louder than words. I certainly HOPE that Mr. Batte is an independent thinker and has a positive outlook for the improvement and future of our Island.
Hopefully Mr. Batte will vote independently and not just always the same as Mr. Kiester (or as Mr. Kiester referred to Mr. Forcht as "his Wingman").
Ed Issler
EdFoster writes:
Issler,
Glad to hear you're not contemplating a run for City Council. You made my day!
I guess I'm glad to hear you support Dr. Recker "110%" since I'm a fan of his but I'm not sure how you can support him more than 100%. I guess you mean that you support everything he says and does and also support an extra 10% of YOUR ideas you THINK he should say and do. I'm confused. Must come from all that "research" you claim to do.
Ed Foster
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.