Voted today.
Choices for County Commissioner all had "heavy baggage", multiple DUIs, one convicted of domestic battery and hada bar fight years ago, one with conflict of interest out the wazoo and one who got term limited out of the state legislature and is a career politician.
Choices for Republican Senate Candidate: Two nobodies, a bumbling/goofy, perhaps minimally competent, nice guy, dufus ex-congressman vs. a "kid" with the exact same name as his retired daddy, who was a highly respected state politician. The "kid" appears to have been a crappy congressman and had some significant alcohol-related issues. So, I voted for the dufus.
Two Judicial races. One had two candidates and the other had four. I voted for the one who had the best experience and demeanor.
The one judicial race that had four candidates: One, he tson of a current Florida Supreme Court Justice- both with good community reputations, but who is a "dark, dark horse". The second is wholy unknown to me. The third a judicial candidate who my friends and I did not support in the last election- we supported his opponent, who despite only having practiced law about 5-6 years, seemed to have a much better temperament. And the last, a lawyer with no real legal experience known of, definitely no courtroom experience- she is at best a transactional lawyer whose campaihn literature touts managing an Arby's and being the assistant manager of an Enterprise car rental store- no documented legal employment. Her pitch is that she hasn't been tainted in the courtroom and therefore will make a better type of judge. I know here husband, who is probably a real good technical lawyer (smart, but a terrible geek) and they belong to my synagogue. But, she "gives me the creeps" and wouldn't give interviews or attend any of the straw polls, forums or the like. Unfortunately, she ran before and is developing name recognition. I could never vote for her based on her election demeanor as of late.
So, I voted for the son of the Justice- which I knew was a losing vote. But my bet is that there will be a run-off between the one with no real legal experience and the one whose temperment has been questioned. We also have some major elections in the county next door (Orange County- Orlando), which have MAJOR implications.
Anyone else have primaries and vote today?