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Amendment 1 likely to pass
Early results show Clinton on top
See related article.
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008 |
PINELLAS COUNTY – Just over an hour after polls closed across Florida, initial vote counts show Hillary Clinton in the lead with just over 50 percent of the vote. More than 65 percent of ballots counted were in favor of Amendment 1.
The Republican race for president was very close. Mitt Romney had 34 percent of the early vote totals to John McCain's 33.5.
Pinellas County voters seemed in tune with the rest of the state. With 28 of 376 precincts reporting Clinton was on top with 58.48 percent. Amendment 1 was favored by just over 70 percent.
The race for Republican presidential wasn’t as close as the statewide numbers. McCain was ahead with 32.67 percent to Romney’s 26.69 percent.
The early vote count also showed 68.41 percent of voters in favor of continuing the School District Ad Valorem Tax.
Incumbent Frank Hibbard was leading the way in the race for Clearwater mayor with 63 percent of the partial vote totals.
Heavy voter turnout
As of 11 a.m. Jan. 29, about 15 percent of registered voters in Pinellas County had cast their ballot either at the polls, through early voting or through the mail.
“It’s a pretty good turnout,” said Nancy Whitlock, communications director with the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. “We’ve been busy so far.”
Whitlock said during the last full presidential primary in 2000, only 17.39 percent of registered voters participated.
“Before the first ballot was cast this morning, we already had about a 7 percent turnout,” Whitlock said.
The final count of early votes came to 10,229. As of Monday night, 34,092, or 79.5 percent of mail ballots had been returned, which is 7 percent of the county’s 604,457 registered voters.
The polls closed at 7 p.m. For election questions, visit www.votepinellas.com.
Tampa Bay Newspapers will have full election results when they become final.
All eyes are on Florida as Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls wait to see who is favored in the Sunshine State.
Voters also will say yes or no to a plan by state legislators to reform property taxes, which has been a hot topic for the past few months.
Proponents say Amendment 1 will provide savings for property owners and that adding portability will help people “trapped in their homes.” They also believe it will be a shot in arm for the struggling real estate industry.
Opponents say the estimated $240 savings is not enough and is not spread equally across the board to all property owners. They also say that the cost of relief for property owners will be borne by local governments and schools, resulting in reductions of government services and available funding for education.
Pinellas County School officials are counting on voter approval to continue a one-half mill ad valorem tax to pay for school district operating expenses, effective July 2009 through June 2013.
According to school officials, 80 percent of referendum proceeds support teacher salaries. On an average, teachers have received additional compensation of about $3,700 per year through these funds. Nearly 8,500 instructional employees see referendum dollars in their biweekly paychecks.
The tax also has helped preserve reading programs and music and art classes. Strings programs have been added, high school band uniforms have been paid for and instrument rental fees were waived for students demonstrating financial need.
Funds also have been used to equip schools with wireless mobile labs, purchase art supplies and update classroom libraries.
Residents in Clearwater, Gulfport, Safety Harbor, Redington Shores and South Pasadena also are participating in municipal elections.
In Clearwater, voters will elect their next city mayor, choosing between incumbent Frank Hibbard and former mayor Rita Garvey.
Six ballot questions also appear on Clearwater ballots: Donation of property for workforce housing; granting easements for underground utilities; changing the length of council term of office from three years to four years; changing the appointment of a Charter Review Advisory Committee to eight years instead of five years; changes to the Canvassing Board; and amending the requirements for referendum on revenue bonds.
Gulfport voters will elect councilmembers for Ward 1 and Ward 3. Rick P. Gilbert and Judy Ryerson are running for the Ward 1 seat. Robert E. “Bob” Worthington and Angela L. Leiner are running for Ward 3.
Safety Harbor residents are voting for city commissioners for Seat 3 and Seat 4. Nadine S. Nickeson and Mark W. Taylor are running for Seat 3. Nina Bandoni and Robin L. Fornino are running for Seat 4.
In Redington Shores, voters will get a chance to approve or disapprove an amendment to the charter to make election procedures agree with state law.
South Pasadena voters will see a series of ballot questions for five charter amendments: Requirement of a public hearing before the city commission spends public funds; prohibiting elected officials from serving more than three consecutive full or partial terms; extending the deadline for certifications of petition and holding of elections on petitions; requiring that members of the Charter Review Committee be registered voters of the city; and requiring members of the Charter Review Committee to vote in person.
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Article published on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008
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