Early primary voting ends today. In Hillsborough voting ends at 5pm or 6pm depending on location. See this link for details: http://bit.ly/a3gCkM. In Pinellas County early voting ends at noon: http://bit.ly/9e2uVM.
It’s time to support those candidates who believe in returning government AT ALL LEVELS to it’s proper role of LIMITED government and the Tampa Tea Party’s basic principles:
- Limited Government
- Fiscal Responsibility
- Free Markets
- Individual Liberties
- A Return to Constitutional Governance
Tampa Tea Party has endorsed Josh Burgin, Candidate for County Commission, District 7, county wide seat. Get out today and on Tuesday to support Josh who is fighting to protect the taxpayers of Hillsborough County by helping STOP the proposed 14% sales tax increase to fund a light rail system in Hillsborough County.
Hat tip: Tampa912 Project’s Primary Voter Guide for Hillsborough County Commissioners on the Rail Tax.
There is one issue currently confronting Hillsborough County that may well be the biggest indication of which candidates affirm the founding father’s view of the proper role of government. That issue is on the November ballot and it is the doubling of the county tax to support mass transit (rail).
This tax, if passed, will give Hillsborough County the distinction of having the largest sales tax in any county in Florida which will severely impede job creation. If the rail project goes forward, Hillsborough will be saddled with this tax into perpetuity as 100% of all rail projects require massive subsidies. 2005 data shows that while roads are subsidized to the tune of 0.4 cents per mile, mass transit is subsidized by taxpayers 64 cents per mile…a whopping 160-fold increase!
Besides cost considerations, there are issues with eminent domain and private property rights at stake. Many have suggested that “progressives” are manufacturing a transportation “crisis” in Tampa to install central government planning initiatives and land use restrictions that interfere with private property rights. Indeed Tampa’s commute time is at the national average (25.5 minutes) despite being the 20th largest metropolitan area. While there is definitely room for improvement, it is not the crisis they would have you believe. In fact, 16 of the 19 larger metro areas have mass transit and have far worse commute times than we have locally. An optimistic projection is that despite the billions it will cost, rail will take only 1.5% of cars off Tampa roads.
HART released data Monday that projected in the year 2035, a ride from downtown to the airport by rail would be 26 minutes compared to only 18 minutes by car. This demonstrates how misguided this plan is.
Having said this, the office responsible for this measure being placed on the ballot is the County Commission. This tax initiative originated from the County Commission by a vote of 5-2 (Norman and Higginbotham voted against; Hagen, White, Ferlita, Sharpe and Beckner voted for).
The following is a list of the current County Commission candidates up for vote this Tuesday. Next to their name is whether they have publicly stated they are for or against this overbearing tax. Please use this information when you go to the polls today and on Tuesday.
Thanks!
Tampa 912 Project
2010 Hillsborough County Commission Candidates Voter Guide on the Sales Tax Ballot Initiative
District 1
✓ Sandra Murman (opposed to rail tax) John Hendrix & Sharon Calvert have PERSONALLY endorsed Sandra
Trey Rustmann (supports rail tax)
District 2
✓ Victor Crist (opposed to rail tax)
✓ Linda Pearson (opposed to rail tax)
District 7
✓ Josh Burgin (opposed to rail tax)
Mark Sharpe (supports rail tax)
Time for YOU to do your PART - GET OUT AND VOTE!
