YES for Approval 7,762 (55.2%)
NO for Rejection 6,308 (44.8%)
Total votes cast 14,070
We will analyze the vote further tomorrow, but the message of change that began in September 2006 with the CMP vote and was continued in the 2008 City Council election is still alive. We can trust the voters to see through all the Fear & Smear, through the conspiracy theories of C.J. Lewis and his 5,000 flyers, and vote based on the facts.
The No’s will whine and gnash their teeth about how the Pro-charter side raised more money than No Boss Money, but the reality is No Boss Mayor had no grassroots support. It was a bunch of city retirees, ex-city councilmen and angry old men who needed money from Washington DC to fund their bitching.
The naysayers can’t win an election. They are no longer relevant, but they will keep their BLAB show, write letters to the editor and appear at council meetings.
Popularity: 21% [?]
And you can go back to your grave Dead Guy.
jeeperman:
Go back to the PNJ blog please and leave this for the grown-ups
I hear Holly Benson is now gonna run for Mayor. This is the ultimate dream career move. To quit a job in order to run for AG and then to leave that race to run for Mayor instead. She must be bouncing of the walls with joy.
Don’t worry, Rusty Wells will pull all teeth from the charter until things can only operate in the same manner as they do now.
After all, he is working for who know? Why on earth is it all not already hashed out per the Charter Review Committee recommendations ??
Those people discussed all aspects for how many months?
Rick:
I think you missed the really big story here. A new king-maker has been validated.
Lumpy Deweese has only been involved with and supported three campains in his fledgling political acreer – CMP, Coucilwoman Deweese, and now the Strong Mayor. All three have been succesful.
Anyone running in 2010 had better get on his calendar as soon as possible to ask for his support.
By the way, what is the age requirement for the new strong mayor??
Losers always whine about voter turnout. It is what is. Charter passed.
All who particpated want a better Pensacola. The question is how to get there. Only roughly 13,000 folks out of 53,000 voting is pathetic.
Seems most are happy with the status quo.
I don’t see apologees are needed. Just different points of view but all citizens wishing for the same results. A better city.
I agree with Mark. If this happens what will change?
But Rick reports that the night of the vote Wiggins is planning his campaign after what will be 16 years on council.
Round up the candidates
There is an old saying that those that choose to stand in the middle of the road tend to get run over! Pick a side!!
Money Wins, we would all love to extend an olive branch to CJ but his comments that everyone who voted yes was too stupid to understand the issues prevents that. CJ needs to apologize and work with us for a change and then he will be very welcome, no matter his politics.
Rather than gloat & continue to demonize those of us who opposed this change, it might be time for your side to mend fences. Those of us on the losing side are disheartened & discouraged. I hope your side is right and that this change will do more good than bad but I’m doubtful. Regardless of what you think, I want a better Pensacola too. I just don’t think this charter will accomplish that goal. You won. Can’t you at least extend an olive branch to CJ? You never know, he might be your new strong mayor.
Wonderful. Brian and Crystal write the charter on behalf of Ray and Val. John. Peacock and Dan Lozier cheerlead and manage money and legal affairs. Ray and friends finanace the charter vote. Guess we just sit back and see who they finanace into the mayors office?
Mark, I guess that depends on what Mike Wiggins’ platform is, doesn’t it? Something our Mayors didn’t need to win prior to this change.
I wonder how long it will take for the NBM people to get that petition printed?…Well, let’s enjoy our victory for now…lol
It doesn’t matter the form of government, what matters is who the people elect. I read where “No Boss Mayor” Wiggins said he intends on running for the “Strong Mayor” seat. If he wins, what have residents gained?
Incredible! We finally did something right, I’m just wondering what kind of legal roadblocks will our Angry Old Men throw up to delay implementation of the charter? Don’t laugh, how many times have they tied the CMP up in knots? CJ’s comments are sp typical, the only reason it passed was because the yes-voters were led astray but evil men in black coats, ha ha ha!
C.J.:
If only we were all blessed with your intellect, wisdom, and view of the world… give me a break!
I know I’m not good with numbers :-), but……
C.J.:
“It’s almost as if the No Boss Mayor gang was working in concert with the other group to ensure there was little to no discussion of the facts.”……sounds like a conspiracy theory to me.
First you falsely accuse me of a crime and now you falsely accuse me of being a “conspiracy theorist!” Ouch! Speaking of “facts,” I talked to voters who voted YES. Few cast their “vote based on the facts.” Most said they voted YES because they wanted term limits, believing these council members would be gone that much faster. None knew that the term limits don’t actually kick in to have an impact until 2021. And none knew the citizen referendum provisions are going to be more restricted. It’s almost as if the No Boss Mayor gang was working in concert with the other group to ensure there was little to no discussion of “the facts.” The public debate, if that’s what you’d call it, was between the Strong Mayor disciples and Sunshine Law paranoids on the two extremes. The 90% of us in the middle were on our own to figure this out, perhaps in part explaining why 63% didn’t bother to vote.
InSantaRosa: Turnout was 37.3%
What was percentage of voter turnout? Don’t make me go back and add up all your numbers.
Nice meeting you tonight, Rick. Appreciate your influence and desire to see our city move in the right direction. Keep swinging!