We like the idea of generating more jobs locally through a local economic stimulus/incentive program. Voters Tuesday will have the chance to establish that stimulus by voting on a countywide referendum that, if passed, would set in place a mechanism for the county to provide a property tax break to businesses in exchange for generating new jobs.

We believe the business diversification resulting from this program would outweigh any impact on property tax revenues as existing facilities would not be removed from the tax rolls.

Vote yes on amendments 5 and 6

We don’t believe all the dire predictions about the filing of lawsuits if voters statewide on Tuesday approve constitutional amendments 5 and 6 that would establish rules for drawing legislative districts.

Every 10 years, legislators re-draw districts using Census data to pretty much ensure their own re-election, whether Democrat or Republican. Approximately 1.7 million voters of all parties signed petitions to put these amendments on the ballot – and that’s a lot of support.

The rules as proposed are simple: Lines can't be drawn to protect incumbents or parties, existing city and county lines would be used where possible, districts would have to be compact and as equal in population as feasible.

We don’t believe that application of the new rules would dilute minority voting rights, as some opponents claim. Similar rules are working in other states.

This measure has a large cross-section of support in Florida, including the AARP, the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, the League of Women Voters of Florida, the Florida NAACP and Democracia Ahora.