Voters be aware

To the Editor:

Voters need to be aware about the Non-Partisan Election of County Commissioners item which will appear at the end of the November Osceola Election Ballot that was sponsored by Mike Horner and the Kissimmee Chamber of Commerce.

The question as it appears on the ballot  reads  ‘Shall the Osceola County Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for non-partisan Elections of County Commissioners?’

The voters need to know that a ‘yes’ vote in favor of this item may mean a lot more than meets the eye.  

The petition states that if two or more non write-in candidates run for County Commissioner, they must appear on the primary ballot for the election, held in August or September.  If any candidate receives the majority of the votes in the primary election then that candidate will be declared to be the winner. In that case the election of county commissioner would be decided without a general election vote.

Do the voters really want to elect their county commissioners in an August or September primary? Or would they rather the commissioners be elected in the November general election as happens today? A ‘Yes’ vote on the Non-Partisan issue could produce winners in primary elections without ever facing the voters in a general election.

Recent primary elections have seen voter turnouts of 15 percent or less. Should the 15 percent of the voters in primary elections be allowed to decide who will serve as county commissioner? That could very well happen if voters approve the Non-Partisan Election question on this year’s November ballot.  

The existing County Commissioners decided that the Osceola Voters should be allowed to decide this issue in the November 2012 election. Should voters be told what approval of this item would mean?

As I see it, the voters have the right to decide. They also should know that a ‘YES’ vote on this issue will allow county commissioners to be elected in primary elections. They need to know what they are voting for. Voters Be Aware!

Keith Laytham

Poinciana