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Election 2012. The Campaigning Begins!. Election Dates Why November? . This year’s election: NOVEMBER 6, 2012. Elections are always held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November Why?
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Election 2012 The Campaigning Begins!
Election DatesWhy November? This year’s election: NOVEMBER 6, 2012 • Elections are always held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November • Why? • Since 1792, the U.S. Congress permitted states to conduct their presidential elections anytime within a 34 day period before the first Wednesday in December • The first Wednesday in December was the day scheduled for electorates to meet in their respective states
Election DatesWhy November? • Faster communication between states created a need for a uniform nation-wide election day Why would states communicating between one another matter during an election? • November was seen as the best time to conduct elections because it was after harvest season, but before winter storms began The first Tuesday in November was selected
Types of Elections • General Election is the election held every four years where the president of the United States and other main offices are elected simultaneously • Mid-term Elections occur two years after the general elections, i.e; at the midpoint of the President’s term
Types of Elections • Elections are held at three levels; federal, state and local
Local Elections Local Offices on the 2012 Ballot • Sheriff • Manages corrections, law enforcement and court services • Tax Collector • Superintendent of Schools • Chief administrator of local schools • Property Appraiser • Responsible for evaluating property value for tax purposes • Supervisor of Elections • Oversees voter registration and elections
Local Elections Local Offices on the 2012 Ballot Mayor John Marks • Clerk of Court • Maintain records of a court • County Commissioner • Administers county government within local government • City Commission Seats • Along with the Mayor, make up the governing body of a city • County Judge Seats 1-4 • Presides over local court cases The position of Mayor is elected during midterm elections
Candidate for Sheriff Sheriff Larry Campbell Has served four terms as Sheriff of Leon County Actively volunteers for Charitable fundraisers Has worked in law enforcement for over 50 years Served as President of the Florida Sheriffs Association from 2006-2007
Candidate for Sheriff Lisa Sprague Promises to: Reduce costs to taxpayers Reduce duplication of services between local law enforcement and LCSO Improve Crime fighting Improve Leon County Jail Operations Improve Quality of Life in Leon County
Candidate for Superintendent of Schools Superintendant Jackie Pons Experience Superintendent, Leon County (2006-Present) Principal, Deer Lake Middle School Asst. Principal, Godby High School Asst. Principal, Rickards High School Teacher/Athletic Director/Rickards High School
Candidate for Superintendent of Schools Sabrina M. Allen Promises to: listen and work with students and parents to assist in getting their needs met work to get parents involved in their children’s education work to better compensate teachers and staff for their hard work in education
State Elections Florida Governor Rick Scott & Lt. Governor Jennifer Caroll • Executive Branch: This branch consists of the office of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Chief Financial Officer • The offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on the same ticket • In Florida, the election for these positions will not be until 2014
State Executive Branch Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi • Attorney General • Legal advisor to the state government • Responsible for representing the state in court • Chief Financial Officer • Responsible for managing the state’s finances • Commissioner of Agriculture • In charge of the State Department of Agriculture
State Elections • Legislative Branch is made of the House of Representatives and the Senate • Florida House and Senate Members serve four year terms. • Elections for these positions are staggered so that new Legislative members are elected every two years Why do you think elections are staggered? Why not elect all House and Senate Members in the same election?
State Elections –Judicial Branch Supreme Court Justices Justices Barbara Pariente, Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince will be on the 2012 ballot for re-election • Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the Governor of the State • Justices Serve six year terms and must be re-elected at the end of their term based on a yes/no vote by citizens of the state Why is it important that citizens be able to vote to keep Justices appointed by the Governor?
State Elections Judicial • State Attorney • Serves four year terms • There is no limit to how many terms a state attorney can serve • Acts as the State’s prosecutor for all criminal cases in their respective circuits • Florida State Attorney Willie Meggs will run for re-election against former State Prosecutor Pete Williams Florida State Attorney Willie Meggs Pete Williams
Other State Offices on the 2012 Ballot • Public Defender • Board of County Commissioners • Circuit and County Court Judges • School Board • All of these offices vary depending on County and District
Federal Elections • Federal Elections • Presidential Election • This election occurs every four years • Congressional Elections • These elections occur every two years for members of the House; once during general elections, and again during midterm elections
Congressional Elections Congressional Elections Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson • In 2012 United States Senator Bill Nelson will face Republican Candidate Connie Mack on the ballot in Florida on November 6 • U.S. Senators are given six year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms a member of the U.S. Congress can serve
Congressional Elections • Former President Pro-Tempore of the U.S. Senate Robert Byrd of West Virginia holds the record for years served in Congress • In U.S. Senate and House service combined, Robert Byrd served over 57 years
Election 2012 The Race to the White House
Democratic Nominee President Barack Obama
Democratic Nominee President Barack Obama • Current President of the United States • As current president, this makes him the incumbent • Former U.S. Senator from Illinois • 47 years old • Columbia University, B.A., 1983 • Harvard University, J.D., 1991
Republican Nominee Mitt Romney
Republican Nominee Mitt Romney • Former Governor of Massachusetts • 65 years old • Brigham Young University 1971 (BA) • Harvard University, 1975 (MA & JD)
The Party Tickets!! A party ticket is when one vote or election choice fills two offices or seats such as the Presidential ticket which chooses the U.S. President and Vice-President
Democratic Ticket Obama / Biden ‘12
Democratic Vice President Nominee Joe Biden • Current Vice President of the United States • 70 years old • University of Delaware, 1965 (BA) • Syracuse University 1968 (JD)
Republican Ticket Romney/Ryan ‘12
Republican Vice President Nominee Paul Ryan • Representative for U.S. Congress from Wisconsin • 42 years old • Miami University in Ohio, 1992 (BA)
Election 2012 The Issues
Economy • Believes in more government control to relieve the American economy • Seeks to end tax loopholes in big corporations • Believes in tax breaks for small businesses
Economy • Believes in less interference from the federal government in economic affairs • Seeks to decrease taxes by reigning in government expenditures
Education • Also believes in increasing financial aid and access to secondary education • Has worked to raise standards in K-12 schools
Education • Believes in increasing parental choice by creating better access to public charter schools • Supports heightened accountability for both teachers and students • Wishes to increase access to secondary education for all
Healthcare • Signed the into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) • Guarantees healthcare at affordable levels regardless of preexisting conditions. • Requires all individuals not covered under an employer sponsored health plan or other insurance program to purchase a private insurance policy
Health Care • Believes health care should not be mandated by the United States Government • Supports Medicare • Says “Obamacare” will only weaken the American healthcare system and cause a disaster for the federal budget and middle class citizens
Energy and the Environment • Believes in making the environment his top priority • Has invested money in creating green energy jobs • Wants the United States to develop an energy source that doesn't sacrifice the environment
Energy and the Environment • Believes off shore drilling and creating energy in the U.S. is beneficial in three ways; • It creates jobs • Allows Americans to spend money in their own economy instead of overseas • Lowers the price of fuel