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A Nuclear-Free Florida Vote
Try this for a 2014 surprise: Florida, the state which gave American hanging chads and a nation paralyzed by a sketchy statewide vote back at the beginning of this century, has found a peaceful way to settle elections.
Unable to determine the winner of seat on the Mount Dora city council, the town’s mayor this week drew the winning name from a hat — on the front porch of city hall, for all the world to see.
How’s that for open government?
The winner: political novice Marie Rich, who bested incumbent Nick Girone.
Nothing comes easy in Sunshine State politics. The two candidates drew 2,349 votes apiece. There were two recounts, then more awaiting as city officials bet on maybe a few military ballots trickling in from overseas to swing the contest.
Unable to break the tie, a judge greenlighted the mayor’s to hold a drawing, which is permissible under Florida state law.
One reason perhaps why Mount Dora is so civil in its civic proceedings: it’s seen the future and didn’t like it.
The town (it’s in central Florida, northwest of Orlando) is the basis for the 1959 novel Alas, Babylon, about the effects of a nuclear war on fictional Fort Repose, Florida — i.e., Mount Dora.
Hey, that was 55 years ago. The Cold War’s over.
No need to go nuclear over a city council seat.
Published in General
The lower the stakes the smaller the fight. Small town city councils are pretty limited in their mischief.
I’m ready to have members of the House drafted from the voting rolls and appointed to office. The only thing the voters would do is select what party their House representative is to be from – Democrat, Republican, Green, none (independent), etc.
Each member serves one two-year term, then goes away.
What an unusual name for a town in Central (very, very flat) Florida.
Watched the linked news report, and while the incumbent was crestfallen as his rival’s name was read, he rallied to offer some gracious words for the winner.
Nice story.
We used to try and sell the “snow birds” lift tickets to Mt. Dora each winter. We also complained that if it was “Tourist Season” why couldn’t we get a game stamp for ’em?