Interested in learning more about who you’ll be voting for later this month? Take a look at our alphabetical list of candidates to find out where you can find out more about them and what office they’re running for.
County Mayor
| Tim Adams |
| Akinyemi Agbede |
| Matthew Falconer |
| Teresa Jacobs |
| Bill Segal |
| Linda Stewart |
| http://www.lindastewartformayor.com |
County Commission, District 4
Pete Clarke
http://peteclarke4commissioner.net
Lydia Pisano
Jennifer Thompson
Mayra Uribe
County Commission, District 5
Ted Edwards
http://www.tededwardscampaign.com
Doug Kinson
Robert Shelby Talley
School Board Chair
Homer Hartage
Leona Rachman
Bill Sublette
School Board District 1
Joie Cadle
Jacqueline Centeno
http://www.jacquelinecentenoforocsb.com
School Board District 2
George Collins
http://www.professorgeorgecollins.com
Daryl Flynn
http://www.votefordarylflynn.com
Valentine C. Okonkwo
House of Representatives, District 33
Jason Brodeur
Leo Cruz
James D. DeCocq
Ellen M. Paul
Franklin Perez
http://www.concentric.net/~perezf/fperez1776
Alice Sterling
http://electalicesterling.com
Picture this: it’s Election Day. You’d almost forgotten, but then you saw the “I Voted!” sticker on a colleague at work. Now you’re on your way to vote before the polls close at 7 p.m. Then you plan to go home, change your clothes and meet a friend for dinner. But, predictably, you’re running late. Traffic is snarled. It’s just starting to rain. As you pull into the precinct parking lot, you see a long line at the polls. You look at your watch and think, “Does my vote really matter? Oh well, I tried, that’s what counts!” Answer: a vote cast is the only vote that counts. Sadly, this is a scenario many of us have experienced.
The good news is there’s an easier way to make sure your vote is cast on election day - regardless of weather, traffic, that last-minute emergency at the office or the brewing mini-crisis at daycare. It’s the mail-in ballot (sometimes called the absentee ballot), and it’s available to every registered voter.
The League of Women Voters of Orange County encourages Central Florida voters to consider voting by mail-in ballot. Why? Because it is the easy way to vote, and to be sure your intended vote counts. Vote at home, vote at the kitchen table, pick your candidates by the pool, fill out your ballot on the weekend or at night when things are quiet.
The mail-in ballot allows you to stay home and be counted. It allows you to vote when it’s convenient for you. You can finally vote on your schedule.
It’s easy: registered voters simply call the Supervisor of Elections Office, request a mail-in ballot by phone and have it delivered to their designated address. By voting at home, you can take all the time you need to study the ballot items. Do your research. Learn the issues. Talk it over with friends. Ask questions.
Talk to your children about voting. Show them the ballot, and take this time to really explain the entire process. Perhaps best of all, mail-in ballots allow you to have fun and vote with confidence. When you’ve filled out all the required sections, sign the back of the envelope, apply the postage and mail it back in to the Supervisor of Elections office making sure it arrives no later than 7 p.m. the day of the election.
You’ll have plenty of company. In the 2004 Presidential election, 165,033 absentee ballots were requested by Orange County registered voters and 146,774 ballots were returned. In 2008, Orange County saw an increase of 300 percent in the number of mail-in ballots used by voters. This trend continues to gain momentum across the country. Some states, like Oregon and Washington State, have even converted to the mail-in ballot as the exclusive method available to voters.
So which is better: planning to vote in person, but realizing that on some days our busy schedules are our worst enemy, or planning ahead to guarantee you won’t miss the election? Relax! Order a mail-in ballot and vote in a stress-free environment.
Make absolutely sure your vote will count. And, as an added benefit, you can request the mail-in ballot for all elections during a one-year period so you won’t have to worry about those either.
Article by Charley Williams, president, League of Women Voters of Orange County
August 24 will serve as election day for the 2010 Primaries in Orange County. In East Orlando, registered voters will be voting to decide on 0new District 4 and 5 County Commissioners, a School Board Chair, School Board Representative for District 1, School Board Representative for District 2 and District 33 House of Representatives member.
In an effort to inform you, the voter, on what you should know when heading into your polling precinct or filling out your absentee ballot, Insight has compiled a comprehensive list of online resources available to help. Check them out here:
Who’s on the Ballot August 24?
Interested to learn more about the candidates on the ballot August 24? Click here to view all their names and website addresses. If a website is not listed, it was not available at the time of publication.
League Voter Guide
The League of Women Voters of Orange County has officially launched their comprehensive 2010 Voter Guide for key elections in Orange County appearing on the August 24 ballot. View the complete guide by clicking here.
Note: for the November 2 General Election, the League will offer pro/con profiles on all amendments on the ballot. The Fall Voter Guide should launch at the end of September. Early voting for the November 2 General Election will begin October 18.
District 4 Candidates Political Forum
On July 21 the candidates for Orange County Commissioner, District 4, were featured guests at the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce Town Hall Meeting. Each candidate had a chance to introduce themselves and answer questions posed by local business leaders and residents of District 4.
The county commissioner is responsible for various aspects of countywide and district specific operations including assisting to define the budget, future growth policies, environmental/zoning concerns and more.
Insight Magazine is the only media outlet where you can view all of their responses to every question they were asked. Take a look at what they had to say right here:
- Candidate Introductions
- Alafaya Trail Issues/Concerns/Proposed Solutions
- Accountability and Ethics in Government
- Growth in East Orlando
- Biggest Issues Facing Orange County and District 4
- County Budget Issues and Proposed Solutions
- Opinion on Transportation and SunRail
- Closing Remarks
Casting Your Vote the Easy Way
There are three ways to vote in the August 24 election. To find out more about casting your vote the easy way, click here or visit www.VoteAnywhere.org. Remember: the deadline for requesting a mail-in (absentee) ballot be mailed to you for the August 24 primary is August 18.
More Questions?
For more information on how to register or where you can vote, contact the Orange County Supervisor of Elections at their website or call 407.836.2070.
