They talk the talk. . .but walk the walk?

Man, denials all around. This "I didn't know squat" excuse is complete b.s., when your talking about 50 million in taxpayer funds going to granite countertops for judges, you should know about it.

Meanwhile Walton County's courthouse needs to make cuts and operate understaffed. We deserve who we vote for, and there are plenty of useful idiots that will buy the bill of goods that the 'R' candidate must be the fiscally prudent choice. Is there a botox/waxing suite in the courthouse to serve some of the funding heroes?

. . . and there are plenty of useful idiots that will buy the bill of goods that the 'R' candidate must be the fiscally prudent choice. . . . [/QUOTE]

Just proves the point that we need to vote for the candidate. . .not the party. Marti Coley aligns and votes with the House leadership and not with her consitituents. In her 7 years as a representative, she has offered little legislation, and when the issue of near shore drilling came up -- well, her leadership was painfully absent, and we had no one in the Florida House representing the Emerald Coast's point of view.

. . . and there are plenty of useful idiots that will buy the bill of goods that the 'R' candidate must be the fiscally prudent choice. . . .

Just proves the point that we need to vote for the candidate. . .not the party. Marti Coley aligns and votes with the House leadership and not with her consitituents. In her 7 years as a representative, she has offered little legislation, and when the issue of near shore drilling came up -- well, her leadership was painfully absent, and we had no one in the Florida House representing the Emerald Coast's point of view.[/QUOTE]

This is the key. We might as well have nobody in that seat if it going to be her.

I can't even fathom why anyone who lives on the coast would not vote for David Pleat- there is finally candidate that will represent the coast.

Has anyone seen any polls for this race? Google turns up little.

. . . and there are plenty of useful idiots that will buy the bill of goods that the 'R' candidate must be the fiscally prudent choice. . . .

Just proves the point that we need to vote for the candidate. . .not the party. Marti Coley aligns and votes with the House leadership and not with her consitituents. In her 7 years as a representative, she has offered little legislation, and when the issue of near shore drilling came up -- well, her leadership was painfully absent, and we had no one in the Florida House representing the Emerald Coast's point of view.[/QUOTE]

Is it any wonder that the woman has raised a ton of campaign cash and the vast majority comes from outside the district? It seems that outside interests are the only ones willing to pay for her status quo. I wonder why...?

. . . and there are plenty of useful idiots that will buy the bill of goods that the 'R' candidate must be the fiscally prudent choice. . . .

Just proves the point that we need to vote for the candidate. . .not the party. Marti Coley aligns and votes with the House leadership and not with her consitituents. In her 7 years as a representative, she has offered little legislation, and when the issue of near shore drilling came up -- well, her leadership was painfully absent, and we had no one in the Florida House representing the Emerald Coast's point of view.[/QUOTE]


Sorry to double post, but wasn't she the driving force behind the legislation to rename Grayton Beach State Park resulting in some minor temper flaring among the park pioneers? And you say she doesn't do anything for her district;-)

Has anyone seen any polls for this race? Google turns up little.

Generally these "podunk" races don't get polling. I can make some up for you if you'd like.

This is the key. We might as well have nobody in that seat if it going to be her.

I can't even fathom why anyone who lives on the coast would not vote for David Pleat- there is finally candidate that will represent the coast.

Aside from a very vocal disagreement with near shore drilling, what does Pleat stand for, and how will he represent the coast? We have a track record in Coley, we have very little info on Pleat. He's done a lousy job of communicating his views. (For example his positions page on his web site hasn't changed in months, and has little info on it.)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of Coley, but I honestly do not have a clue what we might be getting in Pleat, except his stance on near shore drilling, which is a pretty moot subject at this point.

Aside from a very vocal disagreement with near shore drilling, what does Pleat stand for, and how will he represent the coast? We have a track record in Coley, we have very little info on Pleat. He's done a lousy job of communicating his views. (For example his positions page on his web site hasn't changed in months, and has little info on it.)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of Coley, but I honestly do not have a clue what we might be getting in Pleat, except his stance on near shore drilling, which is a pretty moot subject at this point.

Glad you asked that. Without a huge campaign budget, it is very difficult to transverse such a large district and let voters get acquainted with you. Here is a short position paper from David now posted on his web page. I know David will be happy to answer questions on this thread:

David Pleat Positions

Aside from a very vocal disagreement with near shore drilling, what does Pleat stand for, and how will he represent the coast? We have a track record in Coley, we have very little info on Pleat. He's done a lousy job of communicating his views. (For example his positions page on his web site hasn't changed in months, and has little info on it.)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of Coley, but I honestly do not have a clue what we might be getting in Pleat, except his stance on near shore drilling, which is a pretty moot subject at this point.

Oh no it's not.

Expect it to be brought back by the legislature PDQ.

I bet you it will be on the legislative agenda within the next two years.

Oh no it's not.

Expect it to be brought back by the legislature PDQ.

I bet you it will be on the legislative agenda within the next two years.

Thank you Buz. It will never be a moot point until there is a ban.

Aside from a very vocal disagreement with near shore drilling, what does Pleat stand for, and how will he represent the coast? We have a track record in Coley, we have very little info on Pleat. He's done a lousy job of communicating his views. (For example his positions page on his web site hasn't changed in months, and has little info on it.)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of Coley, but I honestly do not have a clue what we might be getting in Pleat, except his stance on near shore drilling, which is a pretty moot subject at this point.

I'm guessing that you're voting for Charlie Christ, now there's a positions page that even Google has a hard time keeping up with it changes so frequently. Why would you vote for someone who's position changes with the tides?

Other than attempting to rename Grayton Beach State Park, can you name anything she has done for our area?

I'm guessing that you're voting for Charlie Christ, now there's a positions page that even Google has a hard time keeping up with it changes so frequently. Why would you vote for someone who's position changes with the tides?

Other than attempting to rename Grayton Beach State Park, can you name anything she has done for our area?

I've gone through a lot of the legislation she's authored and co-sponsored over the years. A lot of which seemed very positive. Tax holidays, solar net metering requirements, things like that. Nothing earth shattering, but on the flip side, I have no idea what Pleat stands for, what kind of legislation he would introduce, or how he would vote.

Another thing that flags Pleat for me are his endorsements. Lots of the big state unions have signed on to his campaign, that concerns me.

Let me reverse your question, what do you expect Pleat to do for Walton County if elected?

More than Coley, again I ask what has she done for Walton County? For that matter I'll make it broader, what has she done for her district?

You can point out union endorsements all you want. Florida, like most other things, ranks almost dead last in effectiveness of unions.

I've been to the debates between Coley and Pleat and the only thing she seems concerned about is abortion. I don't care where you stand on that particular position, but it seems there are plenty of bigger issues facing our State and our District.

More than Coley, again I ask what has she done for Walton County? For that matter I'll make it broader, what has she done for her district?

You can point out union endorsements all you want. Florida, like most other things, ranks almost dead last in effectiveness of unions.

I've been to the debates between Coley and Pleat and the only thing she seems concerned about is abortion. I don't care where you stand on that particular position, but it seems there are plenty of bigger issues facing our State and our District.

More as in, what exactly?

Coley's voting record on state issues seems ok to me. I'm not a fan of all of her votes, but I sense I would be far more dissatisfied with Pleat's voting record. ;-)

I don't know if Coley's done something specific for Walton County, but she has voted well on a number of issues that effect the people of Walton and the population of the state in general. For example, she's pro limiting property taxes. I wonder how Pleat would vote on something like that? Also, would Pleat support lower rates or rate freezes through Citizens (Coley didn't)? Would he vote to cut the state budget if it negatively impacted local educational funding (Coley did)? Would he vote for tort reform legislation (Coley did)?

Please fill me in, since you obviously know so much about the man you're voting for. :roll:

These are important issues. Near shore oil drilling is an important issue too, but it's not the only issue facing the state, or Walton County.

More as in, what exactly?

Coley's voting record on state issues seems ok to me. I'm not a fan of all of her votes, but I sense I would be far more dissatisfied with Pleat's voting record. ;-)

I don't know if Coley's done something specific for Walton County, but she has voted well on a number of issues that effect the people of Walton and the population of the state in general. For example, she's pro limiting property taxes. I wonder how Pleat would vote on something like that? Also, would Pleat support lower rates or rate freezes through Citizens (Coley didn't)? Would he vote to cut the state budget if it negatively impacted local educational funding (Coley did)? Would he vote for tort reform legislation (Coley did)?

Please fill me in, since you obviously know so much about the man you're voting for. :roll:

These are important issues. Near shore oil drilling is an important issue too, but it's not the only issue facing the state, or Walton County.

West Richie is on the Walton County Chamber Political Action Committee.

David Pleat and West proposed a series of budget cuts which were presented to Commissioner Brannon via the Walton Chamber PAC.

A rate freeze by Citizens merely shifts costs to taxpayers if there is a large storm/large claims.

Let the record reflect that 30Ashopper (whoever that may be) supports taxpayer funded bailouts.

West Richie is on the Walton County Chamber Political Action Committee.

David Pleat and West proposed a series of budget cuts which were presented to Commissioner Brannon via the Walton Chamber PAC.

A rate freeze by Citizens merely shifts costs to taxpayers if there is a large storm/large claims.

Let the record reflect that 30Ashopper (whoever that may be) supports taxpayer funded bailouts.

You misread my post. Coley didn't support rate freezes, I was asking how Pleat would vote on that type of legislation.

Here you go 30ashopper.

Issues | David Pleat for Florida House of Representatives District 7

You misread my post. Coley didn't support rate freezes, I was asking how Pleat would vote on that type of legislation.

OK I stand corrected.

But David went over the Walton County budget and proposed specific cuts for Walton County.

I was there in the room with his law partner.

OK I stand corrected.

But David went over the Walton County budget and proposed specific cuts for Walton County.

I was there in the room with his law partner.

I'd love to read that. Is it online someplace? He doesn't mention stuff like this on his site.

If you don't believe me then call Kitty Whitney at Walton County Chamber or Valencia Williamson.

We met at the SRB Golf Club for a working lunch.

I've gone through a lot of the legislation she's authored and co-sponsored over the years. A lot of which seemed very positive. Tax holidays, solar net metering requirements, things like that. Nothing earth shattering, but on the flip side, I have no idea what Pleat stands for, what kind of legislation he would introduce, or how he would vote.

Another thing that flags Pleat for me are his endorsements. Lots of the big state unions have signed on to his campaign, that concerns me.

Let me reverse your question, what do you expect Pleat to do for Walton County if elected?

Shopper, the way I see it, sometimes a politician does something so egregious that they need to be voted out. Coley showed absolutely no regard for her district when she supported near shore drilling. Rather, like a good little girl getting into a school line, she voted as instructed by the Republican big chiefs. Her district encompasses the best beaches in the country and maybe the world, and she didn't have the guts to stand up for them? How 'conservative' can she be if she wants to risk the economic engine of her district? The bottom line is that she inherited the seat, has been on cruise control ever since, and I am so glad that we actually have a choice this time around. She is the very definition of an aloof politician in zombie re-election inertia...why the Tea Party people would support her is beyond me. She should be shown the door...

For anyone that owns property in beach-front communities, Pleat is the easy choice for protecting your investment from near shore drilling. Coley threw us under the bus, and Lord knows with the bubble burst and this oil spill, we don't need anymore kicks in the booty. Realtors and vacation rental companies should be disregarding political party and voting for a candidate that will protect the one thing that provides their livelihoods.

As a resident and homeowner, to me this is the most important issue here.

30A Shopper
"Would he vote to cut the state budget if it negatively impacted local educational funding (Coley did)?" Yes she did and the Local School Boards have always had to make it up. The State puts there nose in too many of local issues and in many cases votes such as those negatively affects the LOCAL TAX PAYER. Take a look at the Clerk of Courts, Schools and such when the State cuts their Budgets.

"Another thing that flags Pleat for me are his endorsements. Lots of the big state unions have signed on to his campaign, that concerns me."

Sorry wrong again, She has recieved monies from the Chamber of Commerce, Big Business PACs the PBA and Firefighters and the Government Employees PAC. So to say that brings a red flag against him because of UNION ENDORSEMENTS, you may want to see where she recieves some of he financial support. Mr. Pleat based on the financials I read showed none that I could locate. In fairness to Mrs. Coley, she has voted against leadership in the House that has cost her, but I was disappointed with her when she voted for the House version of SB6 "Teacher Tenure Bill". I have had opportunity to discuss issues of concern to me and although we did not agree in all instances, I believe she is an honest person. This is politics though, so you make your own determination as to who you vote for, but at least know who is supporting who. Money Talks BS walks as the saying goes.