Times editorial board recommendations for the 2012 general election

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board has recommended the following candidates for federal, state and local offices and decisions on state and local ballot measures on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. The full recommendations can be viewed by clicking on the name of the office sought or the ballot measure title. Editor's Note: Congressional and legislative districts have shifted significantly this election cycle due to the state's once-a-decade redistricting. To find the districts you are eligible to vote in, click on your county's name: Hernando | Hillsborough | Pasco | Pinellas –––––––––––––––––––––––– FEDERAL U.S. President: Barack Obama U.S. Senate: Bill Nelson U.S. House, District 11: Richard Nugent U.S. House, District 12: Gus Bilirakis U.S. House, District 13: C.W. Bill Young U.S. House, District 14: Kathy Castor U.S. House, District 17: Tom Rooney _________________________ STATE LEGISLATURE Senate District 20: Jack Latvala Senate District 24: Tom Lee Senate District 26: Bill Galvano House District 34: Nancy Argenziano House District 35: Rose Rocco House District 57: Jake Raburn House District 58: Dan Raulerson House District 59: Gail Gottlieb House District 62: Janet Cruz House District 63: Shawn Harrison House District 65: Carl Zimmermann House District 66: Mary Louise Ambrose House District 67: Ed Hooper House District 68: Dwight Dudley House District 69: Kathleen Peters _________________________ Courts Florida Supreme Court Merit Retention Justice R. Fred Lewis: YES Justice Barbara Pariente: YES Justice Peggy Quince: YES 2nd District Court of Appeal Merit Retention Judge Anthony K. Black: YES Judge Darryl C. Casanueva: YES Judge Charles A. Davis Jr.: YES Judge Edward C. LaRose: YES Constitutional Amendments • Amendment 1: NO Health care services • Amendment 2: NO Veterans disabled due to combat injury; homestead property tax discount • Amendment 3: NO State government revenue limitation • Amendment 4: NO Property tax limitations; property value decline; reduction for nonhomestead assessment increases; delay of scheduled repeal • Amendment 5: NO State courts • Amendment 6: NO Prohibition on public funding of abortions; construction of abortion rights • (Amendment 7: Removed from ballot) • Amendment 8: NO Religious freedom • Amendment 9: NO Homestead property tax exemption for surviving spouse of military veteran or first responder • Amendment 10: NO Tangible personal property tax exemption • Amendment 11: NO Additional homestead exemption; low-income seniors who maintain long-term residency on property; equal to assessed value • Amendment 12: NO Appointment of student body president to Board of Governors of the State University System _________________________ LOCAL (School board, county judge and mayoral races are nonpartisan contests. The candidates represent the two top vote getters from the Aug. 14 primary ballot.) HERNANDO Sheriff: Al Nienhuis Supervisor of Elections: Shirley Anderson County Commission District 1: Nick Nicholson County Commission District 3: Diane Rowden County Commission District 5: Ramon J. Gutierrez School Board District 4: Robert Neuhausen Referendum: Environmental lands: YES Referendum: Mosquito control: NO Brooksville City Council, Seat 2: Frankie Burnett Brooksville City Charter No. 1: YES Brooksville City Charter No. 2: YES HILLSBOROUGH Property Appraiser: Bob Henriquez Supervisor of Elections: Craig Latimer County Commission, District 4 (East Hillsborough): Al Higginbotham County Commission, District 6 (countywide): Kevin Beckner School Board District 7: Carol W. Kurdell Charter amendment: Change "handicap" to "disability": YES Charter amendment: Require financial impact statements: NO Plant City charter amendment: Allow city commission to fill vacancies: YES PASCO Sheriff: Chris Nocco Clerk of Circuit Court: Paula O'Neil Property Appraiser: Mike Wells Tax Collector: Mike Olson County Commission District 3: Kathryn Starkey County Judge Group 2: Tom Hanlon Referendum: Penny for Pasco sales tax renewal: YES PINELLAS Sheriff: Bob Gualtieri Supervisor of Elections: Deborah Clark County Commission District 1: Janet C. Long County Commission District 3: Charlie Justice County Commission District 7: Ken Welch School Board District 1 (countywide): Elliott Stern School Board District 7 (South Pinellas): Rene Flowers Referendum: Continuation of ad valorem tax for schools: YES

Times editorial board recommendations for the 2012 general election

MORE FOR YOU

ONLY AVAILABLE FOR SUBSCRIBERS