We recommend...A summary of our election selections [Bradenton (Florida) Herald endorses McCain]

Here are capsule summaries of our earlier recommendations on some of the candidates and issues on Tuesday’s ballot:

Republican John McCain’s strengths center around his five decades of service to his country — as a Navy pilot, a prisoner of war in Vietnam and a longtime senator from Arizona.

Experience matters a great deal in today’s unstable world. While the economy emerged as the overriding issue in this campaign, foreign relations, the war on terror and military leadership remain key to our national security.

With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, dishonorable regimes in Iran and North Korea and souring relations with Russia, McCain is the nation’s best hope on the foreign affairs front. He correctly predicted success with the surge in Iraq. He will not remove our troops in dishonor.

He will reverse the downward spiral of American influence in the world brought on by the failures of the Bush administration.

We favor his ideas to stimulate the economy and create jobs; the elimination of taxes on unemployment benefits; the reduction of the tax on retirement fund withdrawals; and a major cut in the tax rate for capital gains, among other policies.

McCain’s history of seeking bipartisan solutions will come at a pivotal time in our history, a time when rigid ideology and heated finger-pointing dominates politics.

The next president must provide strong leadership that will unite Americans. We believe John McCain will achieve that.

As a freshman representing House District 13, Vern Buchanan earned praise from both Republicans and Democrats for his efforts on behalf of the region.

Early in his term, the Longboat Key Republican voted with Democrats in the passage of several populist projects. At the time, Buchanan said he was serving his constituents and doing the right thing. We appreciate that approach, one where the party takes a back seat to the people.

Buchanan vows to focus on bipartisanship, saying neither party has all the answers. We concur.

We also agree with Buchanan on his positions on key issues. He advocates lower taxes and a balanced budget. He supports spending billions to help small businesses and to fund infrastructure construction projects to boost the economy. He would provide tax incentives to companies who keep jobs onshore. He backs a withdrawal from Iraq only when the country is able to govern itself.

He’s against drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico because of the threats to Florida economy and lifestyle.

If re-elected to his fourth and final term, Ron Reagan would become the majority whip and floor leader, serving as the policy maker for the majority Republicans.

In that post, he will be responsible for managing bills on the floor, lobbying for votes and helping members push bills through the legislative process. That powerful position bodes well for pushing Manatee County priorities.

Reagan’s passion for politics and policy and his leadership skills gained over three terms will also give East Manatee residents in District 67 a strong representative.

His positions on key issues — the state budget, health care, education and transportation — are fiscally and pragmatically sound. He also intends to boost the tourism, agriculture and construction industries.

He’s against any tax increases. With the state budget mired in falling revenue, Reagan does not foresee tax cuts or reform measures in the coming legislative sessions.

As a member of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission and a former NAACP leader, St. Petersburg lawyer Darryl Rouson holds strong political connections that will benefit District 55, which slices through Manatee into northern Sarasota. Most district voters reside in St. Petersburg.

The Democrat’s platform centers around affordable housing, education and crime prevention. With his passion for public service, we recommend Darryl Rouson for state House District 55.

Incumbent Donna Hayes embraces a platform that opposes spending and tax increases and supports business and development,

During this time of economic gloom, those positions will serve Manatee County well. Her pro-business stand will give a boost to job creation. She wants to provide business incentives to companies interested in relocating here, with the Port Manatee Encouragement Zone a part of that effort.

Hayes does not favor the rampant growth of the boom times, but smart growth that means working with developers to ensure vital infrastructure is included.

We applaud Hayes’ even, civil temperament, her two decades of community service and her communication with constituents.

While all three candidates for Palmetto mayor hold solid credentials in civic service, Chris Lukowiak’s hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of city government stand out.

After 20 years in government elsewhere, he has served as Palmetto’s public works director for the past five years. He oversees the building, planning, zoning, utilities and parks and recreation departments with hundreds of employees and a multimillion budget.

He helped develop the city’s capital improvement plan while reducing taxes. Lukowiak drafted a smart growth ordinance to address issues and ensure that development benefits the city and is sustainable.

Like his opponents, Lukowiak wants to improve downtown and maintain Palmetto’s small town character

This ballot asks voters whether the state should retain a Supreme Court justice and four 2nd Court of Appeal judges.

These jurists, all appointed by the governor, only face retention votes as opposed to the contested elections for trial court judges.

Bradenton will go overwhelmingly for McCain, its in the same county as Tampa however.

Countywide Bush beat Kerry by 20,000.

Manatee

Republican Bush
(Incumbent)
81,318 57% 100% of precincts reporting

Democratic Kerry
61,262 43%

Manatee County (Bradenton) is oine county south of Hillsborough(Tampa) and Pinellas(St Petersburg) and one county north of Sarasota.

I live in Ruskin, the southern most town in Hillsborugh, go any farther south your in Manatee. Just from driving around and going by signs and bumper stickers that you see.

McCain has Manatee county in the bag.

3 posted on 11/02/2008 10:10:24 PM PST by TheShaz (You had me at "Hockey Mom" - McCain-Palin 2008)

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