In Osceola, Vickers as tax collector, Arrington as supervisor; plus, a withdrawn endorsement
Two of Osceola’s incumbent constitutional officers — the supervisor of elections and the tax collector — are facing challengers in this month’s primary elections.
We see no reason for primary voters to make a change in those races. We did, however, find a reason to make a change in one of our previous endorsements. field appraiser for the property appraiser’s office. He also worked for a couple of years in the tax collector’s office. If Osceola didn’t already have a good tax collector, Gonzalez might be a fine choice.
But Vickers hasn’t given voters a reason to replace him, and Gonzalez offers no compelling reasons to do so. On his campaign website, Gonzalez suggests that employee morale is an issue and mentions employee turnover. But Vickers told us his office turnover last year was about 3% in a staff of 125 people. That is not a high turnover rate.
Because there are no candidates from other parties running, this primary will determine who becomes the tax collector. We think the choice is obvious in Vickers. administrator. In an interview with the Editorial Board, Arrington emphasized measures she’s taken to manage the flow of voters at the polls to minimize wait times.
We would like to have asked her opponent, Jaime Matos, how he plans to do any better but he didn’t show up for a scheduled video interview. We consulted his campaign’s Facebook page but, alas, it’s short on specifics about his plans.
The winner will face perennial Osceola candidate Beulah Farquharson, who is not affiliated with a party.
Voters know what they’re getting with Arrington. Better to stick with her in this primary, which will most likely determine the ultimate winner.
On July 16, a few days before his arrest, we had endorsed Hawkins in the Republican primary for state House District 42, based largely on his experience in office and his deep involvement in the community.
We were unaware of the November incident or the investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that led to the charge. His arrest was not on the background check the Sentinel runs on political candidates before we make an endorsement. Hawkins had a few traffic tickets, but nothing else.
While we think it’s important for people to be presumed innocent until their guilt is proved, we also have no intention of continuing to back the candidacy of someone who’s facing a felony charge and has been suspended from office by the governor.
Three other Republicans are in the primary, but none inspired confidence that they’re suited to make consequential decisions in the Legislature on behalf of the people in District 42.
As a result, we won’t offer an endorsement in this race.
Election endorsements are the opinion of the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, which consists of Opinion Editor Mike Lafferty, Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio, Jay Reddick, David Whitley and Editor-inChief Julie Anderson. Sentinel Columnist Scott Maxwell participates in interviews and deliberations. To watch the candidate interviews, go to OrlandoSentinel.com/ interviews.