Will town issues boost turnout?
Many Jupiter voters who cast ballots today want other residents to vote in the runoff between Ron Delaney and Ben Klug for Town Council.
“Complaining on Facebook is easy. We live in such a lovely place. Too many people take it for granted,” said Jupiter resident Cheryl Schneider, one of many locals who want a big turnout.
Development, beaches, crime, bridges, parks, rivers, boats, traffic, dogs, Loxahatchee River, speed limits, Harbourside Place, historic preservation, sea turtles, restaurants, mangroves, land preservation — pick the issue, Jupiter residents will find a soapbox to stand on.
You would figure they would be banging doors down to vote.
Ask Charles Modica, the owner of Suni Sands and the Love Street properties he plans to develop.
Big opposition — the folks with the bright red shirts — turn out for meetings to blast his proposed developments. Online petitions have been filed. So have lawsuits.
Then there was the plan to tear down the beloved Jupiter Civic Center at Carlin Park a few years ago. You would have thought somebody wanted to turn the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse into a 24-hour nightclub with music revolving on top.
Protest and petitions flared. People cried crocodile tears about all the high school reunions, wedding receptions, retirement parties and other emotional milestones that were held there.
The proposal crashed in flames.
And then there was the big controversy a few months ago when Advanced Disposal tried to pry the trash collection contract from Waste Management.
Who cares about what company collects their trash? Jupiter residents do. The council initially approved giving the contract to the new kid on the block, Advanced Disposal. Jupiter Bill DiPaolo households would pay about $1 million less annually — a savings of about $50 per residence.
But fans of Waste Management, angry at losing the company that had collected their junk for 30 years, told council members they loved their trash collectors. Many are like family, they said.
The council did an aboutface and awarded the contract to Waste Management.
And remember Roger and Myrna Byrd?
The town fined the couple $1.6 million — that’s about $15,000 per tree — for cutting down 109 mangroves on their Loxahatchee River property without a permit. Jupiter residents were ready to form a posse and run them out of town.
You would think this political passion would translate into a landslide of voter turnout. Not if history is any indication.
Only about one in 10 of the about 41,500 registered Jupiter voters cast ballots for last year’s runoff between eight-term incumbent Karen Golonka and Wayne Posner for a seat on the Town Council, won by Posner.
Anyone who thinks their vote doesn’t count just has to remember the Florida recount in the 2000 presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush, said Paul Streicker, a Jupiter resident. Streicker plans to vote today.
“You have to stand up to be heard,” Streicker said.
Many residents figured Harbourside Place rang the bell for more citizen involvement. Harbourside opponents said if they didn’t keep tabs on their elected officials, another “monstrosity” could happen again.
Jupiter resident Dominic Addario said low voter turnout proves few people living in Jupiter know — or care — about what’s happening in their town.
“People need to vote so elected officials know we are watching them,” said Addario.
Polls in Jupiter are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All registered voters in Jupiter are eligible to vote. For more information, go to jupiter.fl.us.