Yesterday, the main editorial board of the Orlando Sentinel endorsed Metz. Then today, the Lake Section had a "front page" article reviewing Metz and his opponent Rick Joyce.
My endorsement is based not on what they said, but my observations of Metz as School Board member and Chairman while I have been attending School Board meetings for four years.
The guy has a steel trap for a mind. He is able to mentally organize facts (just like an attorney, which he is), and describe the factors to make a decision in a logical manner, then make a recommendation based on those factors. Emotional reasons without substance don't get past him.
I have also met and know Rick Joyce through the Republican Executive Committee, and his appearance at some candidate forums, although Metz attends many more REC meetings than Joyce. I have not been able to observe Joyce in leadership positions like Metz. Both Metz and Joyce have their own law firms and specialize in mediation.
At Lake County School District Board meetings, I have watched as he Metz championed the creation of an internal audit function AND wrote the policies for both it and the related audit committee (which I was a member in 2007-2008). He initiated a cell phone policy that cut down of cell phone costs, and he initiated a review of many policies this year. He was able to define the relevant factors last year in a very powerful, off the cuff speach last year that helped the rest of the Board understand that they didn't need to raise taxes by .25% of a mill after many unsubstantiated, emotional "the roofs will all leak" pleas from union members.
So, Larry Metz is the one that I believe will be able to professionally prepare legislative proposals that solve problems in the State of Florida and is probably smarter than the lobbyists. He would be able to use a strategy to push the law through all the hoops needed, and get improvements. It would not surprise me if he was able to implement laws to reduce illegal immigration problems, fix school funding so it is predictable, etc.
Vote early, and vote often (ok, that was a joke for you Democrats...) for Larry Metz if you are in Florida's District 25. You won't just have another attorney filling a slot and talking to lobbyists - he might actually get some things improved in Florida State government like change laws to reduce illegal immigration, or improve funding and funding consistency for the schools.
You can read the Orlando Sentinel Lake section article on Metz & Joyce HERE.
Here is a shorter version of the above article.
vj
