Manatee County needs a qualified elections chief. Too bad Ron DeSantis didn't appoint one.
Commissioner wrong for elections supervisor
Manatee County Commissioner James Satcher is the wrong person to appoint to replace Mike Bennett as Supervisor of Elections in Manatee County.
As a county commissioner, Satcher has been a single-minded antiabortionist who continues his mission by disparaging the United Way hotline because it includes Planned Parenthood, which is among the many 211 help services.
In commission meetings he makes insulting political comments about the Democratic Party, which is not proper during public meetings and certainly inappropriate for an elections supervisor.
I doubt he is willing or even capable of putting aside his religious motivations and his particular dislike of a political party.
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Voters want and need honest elections. A person supervising elections must bring an understanding and integrity, above all, to his or her constitutional role.
Mike Bennett and his elections office staff knew and honored their responsibility – and I thank them.
Linda Vertefeuille, Bradenton
Stand against allowing more abortions
The state Supreme Court’s approval of a 15-week abortion ban paved the way for a six-week ban signed by the governor last year. The new law, which takes effect May 1, marks a significant move to protect the lives of future Floridians.
However, this law could be overturned by voters in November. Amendment 4, proposed by Floridians Protecting Freedom, aims to limit government interference with abortion.
If passed, it could legalize abortions until fetal viability, usually about 24 weeks, allowing for a broad interpretation of protecting the mother’s health. This ambiguity raises concerns about abortions being performed on fetuses displaying advanced developmental features.
Regardless of your prior voting intentions, it’s imperative to stand against Amendment 4 to safeguard the lives of innocent and vulnerable babies. It’s important to also prioritize supporting mothers in difficult situations, ensuring they don’t feel compelled into choices they may later regret.
Please join us in voting “No” on Amendment 4 to uphold the sanctity of life and protect the well-being of both mothers and their unborn children.
Natalia Cava, Sarasota
Condo owners: Fight to save your homes
The owners of Florida condominiums need to become more vocal and more tactical in dealing with our statewide elected officials. These officials have ignored our state-created condo morass.
Ryan Poliakoff’s excellent article in Sunday’s edition says it all. He notes that the disaster that is condominium costs in Florida is clearly the responsibility of the elected officials.
According to the federal government’s National Institute of Technology, the Surfside collapse was caused by construction flaws and not maintenance issues. The uninformed elected officials moved with fervor to jeopardize the homes of Florida condo owners with 19th century laws to deal with our 21st century issues.
Condo owners need to unite and convey our shared jeopardy to our elected officials and let them know that, whether Republican or Democrat, we will vote them out come November unless they fix the economic disaster they have created.
The fix is easy: Phase in the Structural Integrity Reserve requirements over five years, build in the borrowing capacity of condo associations to fund capital requirements and pass insurance reforms to lower our insurance premiums.
Condo owners, please find your voice and use it to save your home.
Dewey Howard, Osprey
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Can Commissioner Satcher fairly administer elections in Manatee?
