- October 29, 2024
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Why Democrats should register as Republicans — temporarily
Dear Editor:
All 93,281 registered voters in Flagler County can vote in a partisan Primary race when all the candidates are of the same party affiliation.
This is the case in the race for County Commission between Andy Dance and Fernando Melendez — by all accounts, two very nice, honorable people.
Both are Republicans, but all 93,281 of us can, and should, help make this important choice for our community — for our neighbors.
Due to last minute entries of two "Write-in" candidates, this is not the case in the other two races for County Commission seats.
These late candidates have no interest in campaigning for, much less winning, spots on the Board of County Commissioners. However, these races are now “closed” Primaries — only Republicans can vote.
If you think these actions were cynical, cheap, political tricks to keep 47,755 of us from helping our Republican neighbors choose the best candidates during the Primary on the 20th of August, you, neighbor, would be correct.
However, we who are not registered Republicans still have an opportunity to help our neighbors make the best choices for all of us.
Simply go to https://registertovoteflorida.gov and change your party affiliation to Republican by July 22 and vote in the Primary.
I did it and it did not hurt.
It took mere minutes, and you can change back afterwards.
Consider doing the same; it is the neighborly thing to do.
Jake Scully
Palm Coast
Republicans — not Democrats — should decide who represents party
Dear Editor:
Our two party Republican/Democrat political system, that provides for non-politically affiliated (NPA) voters, sometimes comes under criticism because of the issue of “closing” a primary. Closing a primary to only voters of the party they are registered in, allows those party members to choose their candidate without undue influence from outside of their party.
I believe most all of us agree that D’s and R’s should never be deciding the other parties’ candidates, only their own!
In this current election case, since the Democrats failed to enter candidates in the Flagler County commissioner races, Florida law curiously allows Democrats to vote in the Republican primary, unless there is a “write in” candidate to close the election, as that “write in candidate” would offer a choice at the general election in November. Two write-ins have registered to give us a choice.
The primaries that are now “whined about” because the Democrats failed to attract candidates for a county commissioner race are, first, Republicans Kim Carney, Bill Clark and Nick Klufas running for District 3. Klufas was recently denied membership to the Republican Executive Committee.
The other Republican race with a write-in is Ed Danko versus Pam Richardson for County Commission District 5. Danko was formerly a CNN producer.
What all of this shows is that voters need to do their research on candidates carefully. Doublespeak is the language of politics. So if “party” is the first criterion to select a candidate, then follow their past actions, not what they say or do now in election season. Consider where their backing (money) source comes from.
If you are tired of traffic gridlock, very bad expensive water and flooding, check to see who the developer favorites are on your way to Walmart at the Sea Gate Developers Choice Scoreboard Corner; it makes it easy. Today, it’s displaying Klufas/Miller/Danko! Or in Town Center, owned by developers, look for which candidates are not there.
Election remorse lasts at least four years! Good voting to all.
Dennis McDonald
Palm Coast
Editor’s Note: All candidates mentioned in the letter were given a chance to respond. Ed Danko noted that he was not just a CNN producer but was also the Pentagon producer at CBS Evening News, and was editor of Face the Nation. He said he quit CNN on Nov. 1, 2016, “in total disgust with liberal bias” in the news. Also, McDonald is supporting Kim Carney’s and Pam Richardson’s campaign
