SEBRING — Is Carl Cool thinking of challenging Barbara Stewart for county commissioner in District 1? He won't confirm the news tip, but asked three times on Thursday, he didn't deny it. "There are lots of rumors going around regarding people running for offices at this time of year, and all of them are unconfirmed at this time." But what about Cool? "I've not only heard that I was running, I've heard rumors about other people who might be running, and they are all unconfirmed as far as I know," Cool said. ...more

January 11, 2008

SEBRING — Luke Brooker isn't, but Bob Germaine is. The sheriff is, and so are all the other constitutional officers. Germaine called a press conference at 1 p.m. Wednesday to announce he'll seek the clerk of courts seat being vacated by Brooker. Germaine, 57, said if he's elected, he won't be a one-term clerk. He's been working in the office for 36 years and is Brooker's chief deputy on the criminal courts side. "I help people every day," Germaine said to the 20 people gathered in the supervisor of elections office when he announced. "I don't feel like I've done anything if I don't help someone." ...more

January 3, 2008

The next municipal election promises to be quite a close horse race in Dunedin. Two seats on the Dunedin City Commission are up for grabs. What makes the race even more interesting is there are three contenders running for two seats: two incumbents and a political newcomer. ...more

December 29, 2007

A recent letter to the editor made an excellent point about politicians constantly raising money for their next election. The writer stated that if these politicians focused instead on representing their constituents, and being real leaders, they wouldn't need nearly as much money to be re-elected. That's the point that almost no one gets anymore. It's also what's ruining our country. It's a lot easier to win a race by holding fundraisers and kissing the rings of special interests than it is to be a real leader. The money buys smoke and mirrors, sound bites and enough attack ads to win an election. To be a strong leader, well, that requires work, backbone, integrity and brains. It seems like few of our leaders at the state and national levels have enough – or any – of these attributes. Try to name a few leaders over the last 50 years who let their records win the election for them. Come on, be honest. How many members of Congress or presidents can you name who truly were great – or even good – leaders? The list is painfully short. ...more

November 25, 2007

Four years after she won a city council seat, making her what is believed to be Georgia's first transgender politician, Michelle Bruce is battling a lawsuit launched by an unsuccessful opponent who claims she misled voters by running as a female. ...more

November 23, 2007

I am writing in response to two letters to the editor in the Highlands Today of Nov. 17. I agreed with both letters wholeheartedly. First, the letter from Don Streeter. Sir, I, too, think it is a good idea to vote all incumbents out of office. When our elected officials refuse to listen or acknowledge what is in the best interest of their constituents, we use our most powerful tool available. We "un-elect" them. Yes, this may be a situation of throwing the baby out with the bath water, in that the very few good elected officials will lose their positions of trust, but we, the voters, desperately need to clean house. ...more

November 21, 2007

I thought that price gouging was supposed to be illegal? The price of oil is set by Halliburton, and the rest of the oil cartel, not by the Iraqis, or Saudi Arabia. So why hasn't our elected officials done anything to stop this fleecing of the people? Or are they all bought off by the oil cartel to look the other way? That's just another example of greed and corruption within free enterprise. This is why I am voting all incumbents out of office. Maybe some day our corrupt politicians will get the message that the people are fed up with their corrupt cronyism. ...more

November 17, 2007

Does Dunedin really needed to change the way it selects City Commission candidates. ...more

October 31, 2007

At least one question slated for the March Dunedin municipal election promises to be hotly debated. On March 11, voters will decide whether the city should keep choosing elected officials from a single slate of contenders that would represent all city residents or divide the city into commission districts. ...more

October 27, 2007

It's good to be an incumbent. County Commissioner Brian Blair has raised more than $95,600 in his bid to retain his countywide seat. ...more

October 15, 2007