In this Edition

Newsletter staff have pondered for years how to expand the distribution of this publication without compromising its quality and usefulness.  Finally a method has been found in the Internet, giving the ICI Newsletter global reach.

According to Mr. Raymond J. Sessman, Director of the Institute for Civic Involvement - the publisher of this newsletter - and chair of the Social Science Department at Pine Crest School, "We are following the lead of the school and the telecommunications age, allowing someone to access student views and opinions in real time."

Students, faculty, and even alumni seem happy with the switch from paper to digital ink.

"Finally the Newsletter can be viewed by a Pine Crest community engaged more than ever online, while its public official and policy maker audience base is still delivered an informative and educative publication," former Newsletter editor Josh Mendelsohn stated in an interview, "The Newsletter needs to ride the wave of change, and with this latest development, the newsletter is far out in front."

Accessed through the Pine Crest Social Studies Department's website and soon via search engines across the web, the Newsletter's online presence will be bolstered by opt-in e-mails which will send the latest edition to local policy makers and friends of the Institute as well as any others who request a subscription to the service.

This will cut costs and ease the printing process, while at the same time delivering a superior product, enabling the Institute to publish an increased number of issues every year.

"A few years back we were lucky to be able to print one or two editions, not only because the limited distribution Newsletter had trouble attracting writers, but because the cumbersome layout and printing process made the process overly time consuming and esoteric," Mendelsohn added.

Sessman concluded, "We are really looking forward to many, many more years of the ICI Newsletter in its new format.  Of course, both the students and I hope our readers feel the same." 

Newletter staff welcome comments about our new form via our address: ICI Newsletter, c/o Ray Sessman, 1501 NE 62nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL  33334.

"the Newsletter's online presence will be bolstered by opt-in e-mails which will send the latest edition to local policy makers and friends of the Institute"

The ICI Newsletter has moved its distribution electronic through a web presence and e-mail subscriptions.

Right Here, Right Now: State and Local News Highlights

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary David Struhs signed the final order of 'impaired' state water bodies for submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval by October 1, 2002.  Using the lastest scientific methods, in accordance with state and federal laws, both the DEP and the EPA will test a rotating selection of over one-hundred sites for the next five years in a quest to develop the final restoration plan.  More information about the tests is available at www.floridadep.org.

Florida Leads Nation in Public School SAT Takers

Governor Jeb Bush announced in a press conference last month that Florida's 57,391 public school SAT test takers represents the largest increase in the nation, at almost 5,000 new test takers of the national college admissions test.  The state's test takers are more diverse than ever, and more females will be taking the test than males this year, a continuation of a national trend.  Florida's eight percent increase in test takers was second in the nation only to Minnesota, who boasted an additional 415 test takers representing a 9.7% increase.

Vast, Untapped Resources at MyFlorida.com

Floridians have yet to really discover the true power of www.myflorida.com, a website set up by the state in an effort to centralize online services while at the same time providing a digital clearinghouse for documents.  Residents can search for a job, renew drivers licenses, and even review county records.  A solutions database provides users with quick answers to common and uncommon problems and questions, while a hot topics box on the main page highlights Florida sites in the news, such as the One Florida Initiative.

Broward County Leads South Florida School Districts in School Success

Dade County led the state in the number of F grade schools within the district, posting a depressing fourteen failing schools: seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and five high schools.  Five Dade schools received a performance grade of "F" for the second time in a four year period.  Broward led the way with only one "F" school, Dillard High, which posted its first failing rating this year in the last four years.  The Palm Beach School District is home to seven failing schools, including Glades Central and Bethune Elementary three of which are repeat offenders.

Digital Branch Library Debuts in Broward

Just as the ICI Newsletter goes online, the Broward County Library System has also surfed the wave of change and landed nicely with the debut of its new digital branch.  Accessible from www.browardlibrary.org, the digital branch offers 24/7 librarian assistance and organized access to all of the system's online resources, including the card catalogue and eBooks.  The digital branch can also help users find the closest conventional branch, as well as allowing them to renew books and apply for a library card.

New Director Arrives at Port Everglades

Former CEO of the Jacksonville Port Authority, Ken Krauter, has been named the new director of Port Everglades.  A Canadian native and engineer by training, Mr. Krauter comes with an extensive and impressive list of successes, having achieved record growth in air passenger traffic, air cargo traffic, marine cargo traffic and gross revenues in Jacksonville just prior to his move to Broward.  Port Everglades is a central component of the South Florida economy, moving in excess of 23 million tons of cargo annually and maintaining an operating budget of $60 million.

~ Compiled from State and Local Reports

Senate Seat 25: Are You Ready to Rumble?

Current Attorney General Democrat Bob Butterworth is stepping down from his position due to term limits and is currently running for a state senate seat against rising star, Republican Jeff Atwater.  This race will undoubtedly be a high profile, expensive clash of the titans that has already garnered significant statewide attention.  The senate district includes coastal portions of Broward and Palm Beach counties, having been reconfigured during the recent legislative reappointment proceedings.  Senator Debby Sanderson, the current occupant of this senate seat, announced during the summer that she did not plan to run for re-election thus ending her legislative service in Tallahassee that spanned two decades.

Bob Butterworth enters the November 5^th contest with a decided advantage in name recognition, having occupied statewide office for a lengthy duration.  Additionally, Broward County is the critical hub of his support.  Finally, political pundits speculate that he will be a prolific fundraiser.

Jeff Atwater enters the November 5^th contest with a decided advantage in possessing an unsurpassed work ethic which will translate into 20 hour work days from now until Election Day.  He is widely considered an up and coming future superstar who will conscientiously represent his constituents.  The new senate district boundaries contain far more Palm Beach County voters, a factor highly advantageous to Atwater whose current Florida House seat resides in Palm Beach County .

This Florida Senate election will prove to be close and electrifying.  Many experts agree that it’s a shame that both gentlemen cannot serve in the senate concurrently due to the high quality of both candidates.  Many Tallahassee insiders predict that Jeff Atwater will rapidly narrow the gap and ultimately prevail in a very close election that will transpire on November 5^th.

"This Florida Senate election will prove to be close and electrifying.  Many experts agree that it’s a shame that both gentlemen cannot serve in the senate concurrently due to the high quality of both candidates."

Jeff Atwater (top) and Bob Butterworth (bottom), Senate Seat 25's Republican and Democratic contenders respectively.

Classroom Referendum War Continues

Voters in Florida will face a highly contentious referendum issue dealing with an initiative requiring Florida ’s Legislature to provide sufficient funds to reduce the number of students per classroom.  Proponents and detractors of this referendum issue are highly energized and plan to utilize extensive financial resources and political muscle to influence the outcome of this vote.

Advocates for reduction of students per classroom accentuate the fact that most educational studies suggest that knowledge accrued by students and test scores obtained are inversely related to the actual number of occupants of a classroom.  Teachers and administrators concur with these findings and overwhelmingly agree that a student’s educational experience is greatly enhanced when a teacher can spend more quality time with the student.  Furthermore, classroom delays and disruptions are minimized when a teacher is not burdened by wall-to-wall students.

Detractors of the increased school spending feel that a student’s educational outcome is significantly dependent upon their own work ethic and level of conscientiousness.  The actual number of students occupying a given classroom is often utilized as an acceptable scapegoat for poor performances and unfavorable test scores; reduction in students per classroom provides negligible yields when the student lacks motivation.

Parents and educators demonstrate extensive support for the November 5^th students per classroom referendum.  Additionally, taxpayers who did not have children or grandchildren attending public schools also are quite supportive of increased spending for the state’s schools.  The initiative would normally win by a landslide; however, the projected pricetag of $27 billion over the next 10 years has generated concern among many voters.  Indubitably, this will require the Legislature to increase taxes and/or enact cuts in current government services in order to offset the costs associated with implementing this program.

"Proponents and detractors of this referendum issue are highly energized and plan to utilize extensive financial resources and political muscle to influence the outcome of this vote."

The November 5th class size referendum will prove to be a hot battle in the debate of the merits of smaller classes.

Politicos Discover Power of Polls

For decades, conducting and publishing polling data was prevalent, especially preceding high profile elections. Contests of a national or statewide nature tend to garner more interest, resulting in polling in these races being performed more frequently.  An extensive benchmark poll in a statewide race can be very expensive, usually about $30,000; therefore they are typically financed by one of the candidates, a news media outlet, or a major newspaper.  For example, The Miami Herald will collaborate with The St. Petersburg Times to finance timely polling data that will interest readers.  The results of the poll are usually prominently displayed in a front page story with concomitant graphics and an analysis performed by one of the writers who cover the political beat.

A highly scientific and elaborate cottage industry has spawned which specializes in polling.  A firm will usually be hired to work exclusively with one candidate or one special interest entity (such as an issue advocacy group or PAC) for the duration of a specific campaign.  The process of obtaining polling data is simple: During a definitive block of time, commonly 48 to 72 hours, a professional pollster will call the household of a registered voter who is eligible to participate in a specific election.  Naturally, prior to a Republican primary only a registered Republican would be called while the analogous situation exists of only calling a registered Democrat to garner information about an upcoming Democratic primary. (Yes, party affiliation is public record.)  The registered voter is asked multiple questions about candidate preferences, level of certainty concerning impending vote, prioritization and stands on legislative issues, and items which could potentially influence the vote in favor or against a particular candidate.  Interestingly, the information amalgamated in the two latter categories is of far greater import, especially in the campaign.

Specifically, in a South Florida State Senate race, pollsters found three issues to be of paramount importance to eligible voters: enhancing the quality of public school education, fighting crime and illicit drugs, and improving access of quality health care and affordable prescriptions.  A candidate will prudently tailor their speeches and literature to address these specific concerns in order to gain support in the voting booth.  Interestingly, in other geographic regions of the state differing issues will resonate.  Residents of the Keys and Gulf Coast frequently place environmental concerns at the top of their list, Leon County residents with a disproportionate number of state employees are particularly interested in state labor issues, while those domiciled in Duval County will perennially focus on insurance issues because the industry is headquartered in Jacksonville .

Periodic polling of the campaign will provide candidates with an interim report on support gained or lost based on specific issues and/or occurrences on the campaign trail.  Furthermore, data accrued can steer the direction of the campaign.  For example, if a candidate is a very strong advocate for school vouchers and polls indicate extensive support for this platform, then the candidate will likely accentuate this position in stump speeches and campaign literature.  However, if eligible voters overwhelming condemn school vouchers, the same candidate will prudently be relatively reticent on this issue.  Obviously, an unsavory character could determine their stance on particular issues solely based on polling data instead of political ideology.

Political pundits feel that several close races have been decided based upon better pollster as opposed to higher quality of the candidate.  Experts predict that the depth and breadth of polling will substantially increase in future contested races.

"Political pundits feel that several close races have been decided based upon better pollster as opposed to higher quality of the candidate.  Experts predict that the depth and breadth of polling will substantially increase in future contested races."

Recent cases have shown that polling data can have a tremendous impact on the outcome of elections, sometimes even a greater impact than the quality of the candidates.

Pine Crest Political Forum Thrives

Political Forum will be entering its fifth season for the 2002-2003 academic year and will once again be fortunate to host an extensive array of enlightening and invigorating speakers.  Last year Political Forum sponsored 15 prominent speakers.  While their political ideologies traversed the entire gamut from ultraconservative to liberal left, they all shared the common ingredients of conscientious public servants attempting to make Florida a better place to live for their constituents and all Floridians.

Past speakers at Political Forum have included the Florida Senate President, Florida’s Speaker of the House, a sitting Congressman, Florida cabinet members, a considerable number of state legislators holding prominent positions in the Florida Legislature, and local elected officials.  Following a formal speech the invited guest participates in a highly informative question and answer period.  Pine Crest students have been most fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and “rub elbows” with the state’s foremost leaders who are navigating our state into the future.  Munching on Krispy Kreme doughnuts during the presentations makes Political Forums even more appetizing.

Political Forums are held in the ICI Lecture Hall from 3:45 to 4:30 PM .  Notification of upcoming speakers can be found plastered around campus on flyers.  Students are encouraged to be punctual so that Political Forum’s may begin promptly.  We look forward to seeing you for another exciting season!

"Pine Crest students have been most fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and 'rub elbows' with the state’s foremost leaders who are navigating our state into the future."

Last season, State Senator Ron Klein (D-28), the Minority Leader, served as the valedictory speaker.  The 2002-2003 season is already getting started.

Soft Money, Solid Results

There are very precise and strict state laws regulating political contributions to a candidate for local or statewide office. These laws can be studied on the internet or by visiting the website of the Secretary of State.

At the present time, an individual or corporation may contribute up to a maximum of $500 per candidate per election cycle.  The time period preceding the September 10, 2002 primaries constituted one election cycle while the time period commencing September 11^th and extending to Thursday, October 31^st (5 days before the November 5^th general election) constitutes a second election cycle.  For example, an individual may generously contribute a personal check in the amount of $500 to candidate Jeff Atwater in August and then provide him with additional funds in October.  Therefore, a combined personal contribution of $1000 is the maximum amount that the individual may provide to candidate Atwater .  Additionally, a spouse, parent, progeny etc. can analogously personally contribute $1000 to Jeff Atwater in two equal checks, one prior to September 10^th and the second prior to November 5^th, 2002 .  Rationalization of these campaign finance laws is to prevent a billionaire from “buying” any given election.

A gaping loophole exists in the state’s campaign finance laws whereby an individual can contribute unlimited funds to an issue advocacy organization or a political action committee (PAC).  These entities have certain campaign restrictions but they may spend any level of resources that they deem appropriate.  Therefore, many of these issue advocacy organizations and PACS, collectively termed soft money, may actually spend more money on a candidate than the candidate themselves.  It is expected that in many November 5^th House and Senate races that outside groups will greatly outspend both opposing candidates.  Prudently utilized spending from outside groups can be in the form of television ads, radio ads, direct mail pieces, or phone bank calls, all attempting to motivate an eligible voter to vote for a particular candidate or against the opponent in the election.

Numerous campaign finance studies have clearly demonstrated a strong direct correlation between soft money expenditure and election successes.  A great disparity in resources made available to the two candidates will almost always find the benefactor of the soft money largesse to be the victor.  Eligible voters can identify the source of the funding of the advertisements by locating the requisite disclaimer identifying the sponsoring group.  Political pundits expect enormous soft money expenditure to transpire in the Shaw vs. Roberts Congressional race and the Atwater vs. Butterworth Senate race.

"Numerous campaign finance studies have clearly demonstrated a strong direct correlation between soft money expenditure and election successes.  A great disparity in resources made available to the two candidates will almost always find the benefactor of the soft money largesse to be the victor."

Despite the passage of campaign reform legislation on the federal level, in the form of McCain-Feingold, soft money continues to play an important role in the political environment, often deeply influencing a race's outcome.