Orlando Sentinel Endorses Two Grassroots Democrats Scott Randolph and Lonnie Thompson for 36 and 38

[ddeclue]

This is pretty unusual for the Sentinel which almost always picks the Republican and almost never picks a Democratic challenger over a Republican incumbent unless the Republican has at least been indicted.

The Sentinel has never liked Scott because he wouldn't capitulate on welfare for billionaires when they and the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce pushed through their 2 billion dollar venues measure through local gov't to give Rich DeVos and the Magic a new arena and perhaps simply because he made them look silly by getting elected in spite of their negative endorsement and then when their party switching (Dem to Republican) incumbent pick later got arrested for stealing from the state by misusing her office funds.

In Florida in the last 2 years we have taken back 9 state house seats and picked up 2 out of 3 special elections for state house seats in the off years (Districts 32 and 49) and shifted the balance by 18 seats so that it is now 78-42. We NEED to get the majority back before 2012 or the Republicans will redistrict us out of all of our gains.

Scott Randolph's seat is important for us to hold (along with Tony Sasso in 32 and Darren Soto in 49 and Geraldine Thompson in 39 and elsewhere) but Lonnie Thompson would be a great pickup to the roster. He has been a highly active grassroots Democratic activist for years and served on the board of the Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN).

Please donate to their campaigns if you can or volunteer if you live in the area.

Link to Scott Randolph's website:

www.electscottrandolph.com

Links to Lonnie Thompson's website:

www.LonnieThompson.com
http://www.actblue.com/contribute/entity/20706

Sentinel Endorsement follows:

EDITORIAL

We think: Thompson, Randolph and Adams are the best picks in three key Central Florida districts
October 9, 2008

It's business as usual in the races for state House districts 38, 36 and 33, with the candidates debating crime, education and commuter rail. In one of those races, voters would do well to shake things up, while two of the incumbents deserve a return to Tallahassee.


District 38

Democrat Lonnie Thompson is making his first run for the Legislature, but he better appreciates the important issues facing the district than does his opponent, Republican Rep. Bryan Nelson.

A witness coordinator with the state who's active in community affairs, Mr. Thompson would try strengthening reforms that have kept homeowners-insurance rates from rising. And he'd work to get many homes near the Wekiva River basin to install high-tech septic systems capable of reducing runoff.
He says he's very supportive of commuter rail. But Mr. Thompson must take care not to fall for some deceptive arguments against it floated by trial attorneys.

Mr. Nelson is an amiable legislator. But his constituents deserve someone who will fight for their interests better than the one-term legislator. Mr. Nelson doesn't support the property-insurance reforms, even though he voted for them. And he's in no hurry to safeguard the Wekiva by requiring the septic-tank upgrades.

The Sentinel endorses Lonnie Thompson in District 38.


District 36

As a legislator, Scott Randolph remains a work in progress. The Democrat is much improved over his rookie season, when we labeled him as "class clown" for some bizarre proposals like awarding a sales-tax rebate on ticket sales only to teams with winning records.

Two years later, he's become a strong champion for education. He also advocates a much more open process in setting a state budget, and he supports commuter rail.

He also showed concerns for consumers by filing a bill to stop predatory-lending practices.

Stephen Villard, Mr. Randolph's Republican opponent, ran unsuccessfully for Orlando mayor years ago. He was a no-show at several candidate forums in 2000, and declined an interview with the Sentinel's Editorial Board for this election. Of the two, he's the one behaving like a class clown.

The Sentinel endorses Scott Randolph in District 36.
Snip….