Florida’s elections: there has got to be a better way

It’s hard to understand. Here in Pinellas County, Deborah Clark’s elections office has everything wrapped up by 8 p.m. In the panhandle, Bay County, battered by a Category Four hurricane, has not a vote left to count – the same is true of 65 of Florida’s counties. But the Sunshine State’s versions of Cook County – Broward and Palm Beach Counties just can’t seem to get their votes counted. Does any rational person think this is a coincidence with Democrats losing and election officials Susan Bucher and Brenda Snipes (shockingly, both Democrats) unable to get final totals? Broward County’s Snipes is no stranger to standing before a judge and explaining her actions, having illegally destroyed ballots from a previous election. When all this is done, the legislature and Governor DeSantis need to enact serious reforms to the way Florida runs elections.

Great Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. The 60-40 beat-down of the strong mayor initiative in Clearwater should put that issue to rest for the near future. Curiously, a lot of folks who should be able to better read the tea leaves got on the wrong side of that issue.

2. Pinellas’ District 16 Senate seat is in good hands with veteran policy maker Ed Hooper’s solid victory over Amanda Murphy who spent way too much time trashing Hooper rather than telling us what she is all about.

3. Yet another race (following another two weeks previous) and another massive traffic jam in downtown Clearwater and on the beach. Our city officials need to show more consideration for the average Clearwater resident, or we need to find new city officials who will.

4. Quote of the week: “The one thing that has got to change in politics is that it’s gotten way too nasty on both sides. It should be about ideas; it should be about what you bring to the table” – newly elected U.S. Senator Mike Braun of Indiana.

5. You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you ever dined at O’Neal’s on the Rocks on Indian Rocks Beach.

Sports, media and other stuff:

6. The Rays should have gotten a lot more for a rising star like Mallex Smith than a catcher who strikes out nearly 40 percent of the time.

7. Texas made a solid hire in Dodger coach Chris Woodward who has connections to the Bay Area. Given some time and a little more talent, he can return the Rangers to being a contender.

8. Former Phil’s GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. will leave his coaching position with the Mets and move back into the front office as a top advisor to new Met’s GM Brodie Van Wagenen – a good move by the Mets.

9. How ‘bout those Bolts! Best record in the NHL.

10. Yes, we know the Steelers beat the Bucs 30-27 at Raymond James earlier this year, but more telling about where the Bucs stand is the Steelers 52-21 thrashing of a Carolina team that only a week earlier beat the Bucs by two touchdowns.

What will be TV’s next great comedy?

The TV season is well underway and it’s been announced that Sheldon, Leonard and Penny will shut it down after 12 seasons. The Big Bang Theory unquestionably has been the biggest TV sitcom of the last decade. What will be the next BBT, Two and a Half Men, Friends or Seinfeld? Will it come from Chuck Lorrie? Is it part of this season’s new crop of shows?   Initial indications are no new show has separated itself from the pack. Last year’s breakout hit was Young Sheldon, but we don’t think it has the staying power. But it’s early and the next M*A*S*H, The Office or Cheers could be right in front of us and we just don’t realize it – yet.

UP NEXT: Spectrum’s empty words, rising TV sports voices; DST and secession

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