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Today is election day. Although listed as a primary election, today's vote is open to all those registered in Monroe County and its incorporated municipalities, with non-partisan races and a county commissioner seat to be decided today.
- Please vote if you have not already done so. If you have an unreturned vote by mail ballot, please bring it with to your voting location, which can be found at the Supervisor of Elections web site.
- Key races to watch include:
- Key West City Commission District I, the seat vacated by term-limited Jimmy Weekley. With only two candidates, the District I commissioner will be chosen today.
- Keys Weekly asked candidates Monica Haskell and Ben Hennington about rehiring City Manager Al Childress, who was fired by the commission in June, as well as future priorities for Key West.
- Key West City Commission District VI, the seat vacated by term-limited Clayton Lopez. The top two finishers in District VI will vie in the November general election, unless one candidate gets over 50% of the vote.
- Keys Weekly also asked candidates Aaron Castillo, Thaddeus Cohen, and Marci Rose about rehiring Childress, and future priorities for Key West.
- Big money outside donors. In a campaign email, Rose highlighted that 60% of top fundraiser Castillo's contributions came from corporate interests, including out-of-town hotel and development interest, local tourism operator HTA, the corporation that operates the hospital, and PACs based in Miami and Tallahassee.
- Monroe County Commission District 5, where incumbent Holly Raschein is challenged by Melissa Ptomey and Paul Wunderlich for the Republican nomination. Because there are no candidates from other parties, the primary winner will be declared the winner of the District 5 seat.
- The Citizen highlighted distinctions between the candidates with questions about a controversial commercial development, ROGOs, and single member vs. at larger districts.
- Indictments a factor. Ptomey, along with Democratic candidate Chris Massicotte for incumbent Jim Scholl's district 3 seat (which will be decided in November) have highlighted in their campaign communications the spate of indictments and firings of county officials and contractors as evidence of betrayal of the public trust (see next story).
- Special edition. Key West Voices will endeavor to distribute a special edition on Wednesday, August 21st with preliminary or final results of today's election, which will become available after the polls close Tuesday evening. Complete coverage and a preview of November's general election will appear in Key West Voices next Tuesday, August 27th.
Roman Gastesi indicted. Retired Monroe County administrator (the top unelected official in the county) Roman Gastesi was indicted by a grand jury convened by Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward. Gastesi is alleged to have played a part in a cover-up of drug theft and mismanagement at the taxpayer-funded Trauma Star helicopter medical evacuation service. The alleged misconduct occurred in 2022 before Gastesi had retired.
- Ward's accusation. “Mr. Gastesi’s alleged actions reflect a pattern of misconduct that affects our community’s trust in government, and we are fully committed to ensuring justice is served.” Three others have already been indicted in the case.
- Third-degree felony. Gastesi is accused of knowingly and intentionally obstructing, delaying or preventing the communication of information relating to the commission of a felony.
- Audited. Keys Weekly detailed the County Clerk's audit report last year that detailed the theft and mismanagement.
- Serious charge. If convicted, Gastesi could face up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a fine of up to $5,000.
- We need a closer look, according to Commissioner Craig Cates, who wants an outside investigation.
Bad Monkey premiers. The Apple+ series is based on a novel by Florida favorite author Carl Hiaasen and was filmed in the Keys and elsewhere.
Oh, Florida! Linda Cunningham enjoys Craig Pittman's weekly compendium of Florida foibles, and notes that our community earned no fewer than three mentions last week. Not something to brag about.
- Your humble KWV curator never misses it either. Subscribe here; one email each week on Sunday evening.
Debby flew a kite. Mark Hedden watched how Suwannee 22, a swallow-tailed kite rode out Debby the tropical storm that intensified to a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall earlier this month.
Our Eyes
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| Hot light tonight - Lynne Bentley-Kemp |
Previously in Key West Voices
Indicted for multiple counts of perjury and false official statements. A Monroe County judge signed off on an arrest warrant by the State Attorney's Office charging TDC Public Relations official Andy Newman with multiple counts of perjury and false official statements.
- The 14 counts of perjury and 14 counts of false official statement are first and second-degree misdemeanors that stem from a series of audits the county clerk’s office conducted of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
- His attorney denies any criminal wrongdoing. The state attorney’s office issued subpoenas and conducted its “own independent, in-depth forensic audit,” which uncovered what it says was a "series of false declarations made by Newman concerning payments allegedly issued to a fictitious company called Graphics 71."
Trauma Star officials indicted. A Monroe County grand jury indicted two top officials with the Monroe County Fire Rescue and Trauma Star air ambulance service for reportedly providing false information and engaging in official misconduct in an investigation into drug use and drug theft by the chief flight nurse.
FIRM opposed insurance rate hike. Community advocate Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe testified at a hearing in Tallahassee to oppose a proposed property insurance rate hike by state-run Citizens Insurance that will adversely affect housing costs in the Keys.
The Key West City Commission met for the last time with its three retiring members on the dais. Clayton Lopez, Billy Wardlow and Jimmy Weekley were term-limited out of their positions, while Mayor Teri Johnston, who did not attend the meeting, did not seek re-election.
- Postponed. A vote to increase rents for houseboats at Garrison Bight Marina was postponed to October.
- Divided on hiring new City Manager. As expected, commissioners were divided on the process for hiring a new City Manager to replace Al Childress who was fired by the Commission in a contentious meeting in June. Two commissioners have proposed a vote to rehire Childress in August 26th, after new members are seated following the August 20 election.
Early voting continues for the August 20 election at five locations across the Keys. Hours, dates, and voting locations may be found at the Supervisor of Elections web site.
Candidates questioned. Keys Weekly asked the three GOP candidates for Monroe County Commission Seat 5 questions about ROGOs (building permits) and restoring public confidence in the integrity of the Tourism Development Council. With no Democratic candidates for the seat, the winner of the August 20th primary will be elected.
Referenda roundup. Keys Weekly detailed the six state-wide questions that voters will decide in the November election, which include abortion and recreational marijuana.
- A supermajority of 60% is required for a referendum to pass.
- Abortion measures were approved in four states after the Supreme Court's contentious decision in Dobbs that found Roe v. Wade protections unconstitutional.
- Medical marijuana was approved by over 71% of Florida voters in 2016 despite furious efforts to block it.
Artificial reef proposals sought. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners requested proposals to deploy about 45 discarded concrete power poles as artificial reefs. The poles will be deployed to create three distinct patch reefs in a program funded through a grant from the state of Florida.
It's 'Grumble Season.' Linda Cunningham's tips for getting used to the heat are a useful guide to coping with the season.
Not a conventionally pretty sound. Mark Hedden's heart fills with joy every time he hears the noise that a clapper rail makes while hiding in the mangroves, as if a steel wool pad had mated with a strand of barbed wire and somehow learned to sing. As only Mark can, he invoked Ernie, of Ernie and Bert fame, Donald Duck and Tom Waits in a single sentence.
