Florida Central 100
Our panel of 100 influential leaders discusses the most important issues affecting you.
To read responses from more Central Florida 100 participants, go to OrlandoSentinel.com/cf100
THE TOP STORIES LAST WEEK
‘PRAISE’ FOR POLLSTERS, Ric Keller, lawyer, former member of Congress: On behalf of used car salespersons, politicians and lawyers, I just want to say “thank you” to the pollsters. You knocked us off the list of being the least trustworthy professions. Youwere wrong by a jaw-dropping10 points in our local Florida state Senate race, Florida presidential race, and Sen. Lindsey Graham’s reelection race in South Carolina. Pollsters, I’m not saying you are dead, but that kid from the movie “Sixth Sense” can see you. To paraphrase Journey, “Don’t stop deceiving.” We lawyers are counting on you.
BORSCHT DISPUTE, Jim Philips, retired longtime radio talk-show host: OK, people, let’s take your attention away from politics for a moment. Yay! Imagine if Canada tried to assert that Southern fried chicken is its most famous dish. The outrage, right? It seems Russia is claiming borscht as its very own. Ukraine is yelling “nyet,” saying the beet soup is part of its cultural heritage and demands sovereignty. (Fun fact: both Ukraine and Russia have dozens of towns named “Borscht”). All of this brings to mind the tired old joke guaranteed for a laugh even in the KGB: “I had borscht for dinner. It’s Russian right through me!” Now back to the recount.
UCF GETS OUT THE VOTE, Beverly Seay, chair, UCF Board of Trustees: UCF students earned national headlines with their outstanding voter turnout. The precinct that includes students living on campus recorded a turnout of 107.56% through early, mail and Election Day voting. Howcan it exceed100%? Some students whowere already registered to vote changed their addresses on Election Day, which is permitted, and voted at the UCF precinct. Also Tuesday, seven UCF alumni and a graduate student won seats in the Florida Legislature, and an undergraduate student was elected to the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District. Congratulations, Knights, and thank you for serving your communities!
WILL OF THE PEOPLE, Michael Slaymaker, professional fundraising executive: The constitutional amendment to increase the minimumwage to $15 received 60% of the vote. But will it become reality? Since the Legislature wouldn’t listen to the people, the people thought they found a route to being heard by amending the Constitution. They thought felons were going to get the right to vote, but the Republican-controlled government circumvented their will. Why wasn’t the Parkland students’ ban on assault rifles on the ballot? Circumvented. If you think $15 an hour is a done deal, you don’t understand how this works. Business leaders will ask their legislators for away around this.
GIVE TO SALVATION ARMY, John Thedford, entrepreneur, founder of SMART Financial: In these times of pandemic and with the governor’s office allowing Florida’s eviction moratorium to expire, there is no more important time to give. Locally, the Salvation Army feeds 1,000 people a day and provides overnight housing for 300. The Salvation Army needs your help to rescue Christmas. Join me in the Virtual Kettle Challenge. The Virtual Red Kettle raises funds to support the programs to serve those in need in our community. Donate to the Salvation Army of Orlando at salvationarmyflorida.org.
SEMINOLE GOES BLUE: Jen Vargas, producer/host, Film Slam: For the first time in 72 years, Seminole County voted for a Democratic presidential candidate! Well done, Seminole County! Whatwas even more exciting on Tuesday was witnessing all the first-time voters at our local voting precinct in Williams burg. My fellow poll workers and I cheered loudly for every one of you! Seeing first-time voters of all ages so excited to cast their first ballots was inspiring. After the last four tumultuous years, let’s all hope voters won’t take this privilege of sacrifice for granted. Local elections are even more important than the national ones.
RAPE KIT TRACKING, Carol Wick, CEO, Sharity: An African American mother was raped in front of her child. She called the police and they collected DNA. But, instead of testing it, the police put the rape kit on a shelf for three decades until legislation requiring a one-time audit forced the testing of backlogged kits. Last month— 32 years later — the police said they finally identified the man who raped her. He also raped15 other women in Central Florida. Survivors shouldn’t have towait decades for justice. Shamefully, Florida doesn’t have a rape kit tracking database. That must change, there’s no excuse for justice denied.
FLORIDA’ S SUCCESSFUL VOTE, Michael Zais, political blogger for thedrunkenrepublican.com: What a difference 20 years make. At least us old-timers remember the Bush v. Gore election in 2000, the infamous hanging and dimpled chads, and subsequent Supreme Court battle. In reality, itwas really just a few of Florida’s 67 counties that relegated the Sunshine State to a laughingstock in the vote-counting business. Fast forward many years, where we added experience and subtracted a few Supervisors of Elections along theway. Now, Florida has become the gold standard of sorts in accurate and timely vote counting, particularly mail-in votes. Well, we are laughingstocks no more! Way to go, Florida!