Fiscal Rangers

Action Alert: Today is US House Vote for new Speaker - Call your Congressman to support Louie Gohmert, not John Boehner

Today the US House of Representatives votes for the new Speaker of the House. If you want change in the Republicans, you need to take action and contact your House Representative to request he vote for Louie Gohmert as Speaker of the House, and not establishment Republican John Boehner. Read more →

Election Recommendations and News of School and County Board meetings this week

Tavares, FL Nov. 3, 2014 This post covers several issues: ( Updated at 2pm to fix some typos and add clarifications) - Election recommendations. Tomorrow is election day, so my recommendations are at the BOTTOM of this document - If you have NOT voted, be sure to do so tomorrow. I also include the Lake County Republican Party voter guide as an attachment. - Tomorrow's Lake County Board meeting is canceled: The Lake County Board of Commissioners (BCC) website today showed a meeting scheduled for tomorrow on their website, but it was canceled at a prior meeting. However, they did not send out update notices to their email list nor did they post the cancellation on the website. So, no meeting tomorrow, and I let them know in clear terms they need to keep the website updated and should ALWAYS send out update and cancel notices when they occur. I also told them about a programming error where if staff remove a linked document, there is no "error trapping" and the user gets an cryptic technical error notice rather than one written for users with a contact for solving the problem. The problem is there is an outside software firm... Read more →

Lake County resident Jennifer Sullivan Elected to Florida State House of Representatives

Tavares, FL Sept. 3, 2014 After local Lake County candidate Jennifer Sullivan, age 23, was elected to the Florida State House District 31, she was covered by many media. Latest articles are at the bottom of this list. Here is a link to one of my videos of one of the last FL District 31 debates on June 18, 2014 so you can see how she campaigned. I will add other links as I find them, but here is ABC TV's August 27 report. August 30 Orlando Sentinel - report by reporter Steve Hudak. And, HERE is a Sept. 1 report from Brighthouse Channel 13 in the Orlando area on how Jennifer won the campaign with less than half the contributions of Randy Glisson's $200,000. Sept. 3, 2014: Here is a CampusReform.org article and great picture about Jennifer's campaign. Sept. 4th, 2014: Here is the expected rant on Sept. 4th from Orlando Sentinel's Lauren Ritchie about the local Republican Party to whine after her favored RINO candidate did not win. Sept 5th - Fox Business News's Melissan Francis interviewed Jennifer HERE. Sept 6th - Orlando Sentinel has short "Champs vs Chumps" article and names Jennifer a "Champ" vj Read more →

VOTE - Tomorrow - Here are our FiscalRangers.com Election Recommendations

Tavares, FL (Lake County, FL) Monday, August 25, 2014 Update Aug. 26, 9am: We have corrected 3 bloopers as noted below. If you haven't voted yet, below is our reminder and fiscally conservative recommendations for Lake County, FL (no cities). Forward this to anyone who you think could use the information. But first read this NOTE: DID you get your property tax TRIM notice this week and see how high the proposed tax is? The Lake County Board is having a workshop tomorrow (Tuesday) on the pending budget and proposed 18% tax hike. If you want to give them your opinion, call, write or go to the meeting and give public input. You will have to do that at the BEGINNING of the 10am meeting (not 9am) when public input is allowed. The workshop could be 1-3 hours later. This is a workshop, and not the TWO required public hearings which are the final votes on Sept. 9 and Sept 23rd at 5pm in the County Admin building. Plan to be at BOTH meetings. Here is where you can find a copy of the proposed budget Update: 4pm: We got this superb 5 page analysis of all the alternatives to... Read more →

Florida House Dist. 31 Race Candidates and Our Recommendations

Our overview and recommendations of 2014 election candidates for Florida House District 31 which includes Apopka, Eustis, Mt. Dora and Tavares in Lake County and Orange County, Florida. Candidates include Belita Grassel, Jennifer Sullivan, Joseph Stephens, Randy Glisson and Terri Seefeldt. Article also includes links to videos of candidate forums and other news media articles. Read more →

Tod Howard, Bill Mathias & Nancy Muenzmay win Leesburg, FL Elections HobNob Straw Poll

A Lake County, FL area elections HobNob was held Aug. 14, 2014 in Leesburg, FL and here are the results and links to pictures. Read more →

FiscalRangers Call for action - Orlando Sentinel's Lauren Ritchie column has attacked fiscal conservative Leslie Campione and you need to post comments XX

If you object to the way proposed Lake County, FL property tax increases of 18% are being "justified" or you think they are too high, send this to your friends. You can keep up with details on this proposed tax hike by visiting our new FiscalRangers.com blog page HERE focused on just the tax hike issue. Bookmark that page to get updates. As you remember from our prior July 21 warning article, the Lake County Board later voted 4 to 1 on July 22 to approve a tentative property tax millage rate increase of 18% which will appear on your TRIM notices for property taxes in mid-August. Lake County Commissioner Leslie Campione is the one who said there were alternative methods to pay requested wage increases and some expenses without tax increases. But the Orlando Sentinel's Lauren Ritchie just wants taxpayers to throw money at the "budget needs" without considering alternatives. Lauren's tax and spend attack column appeared today, and is here. She even used the liberal name calling technique and attacked "Tea Party anti-tax extremists". This is not an anti-tax issue (but I couldn't help using this picture), or against salary increases, but a challenge to the method used... Read more →

Col. Allen West visits Mt. Dora, FL - Watch our Video & Pictures

Mt. Dora, FL - July 2,214 Former Congressman Allen West, author of Guardian of the Republic, gave a rousing presentation to supporters at the Lakeside Inn in Mt. Dora, FL. West had many common sense solutions to US political problems. The short website address for our video of his presentation is: http://youtu.be/wuKsw7CEJ3g . (66 min long) Pictures of the talk are at our Facebook page at: http://tinyurl.com/pp5ylp4 The event was organized by Betty Hensinger, President of the Golden Triangle Republican Women's Club. Funds raised went to the Allen West Foundation. Col. West was introduced by Leslie Campione, Lake County Commissioner. Length is 66 minutes. The event was a fund raiser for the Allen West Foundation at http://www.allenwestfoundation.org/ . Video by Vance Jochim of the Lake County watchdog blog www.FiscalRangers.com . Read more →

Attend Today's Tavares July 4th Parade AND be sure see Dinesh D'Souzas Patriotic Movie "America" this weekend

Tavares, FL July 4th, 2014 Be sure to attend the July 4th Parade in downtown Tavares. Be there before 4:30. Parade starts at 5pm Today is the great patriotic holiday, July 4th. “America” is a patriotic movie now in theaters, including the AMC theaters in Leesburg, where the producer, Dinesh D’Souza, describes all the complaints about America by liberals, then takes them apart one by one. You walk out of the theater being proud of America, not hostile towards America like Obama and the liberals. I saw the movie yesterday, and it was great. It helps understand the clear difference between American hating liberals and American loving patriots and conservatives. One big learning point for me is that the way that people increase wealth in most other countries is through CONQUEST, using force to TAKE property or countries. In the US, we have Constitutional freedoms and property rights they don’t have, and thus INDIVIDUAL Americans ALL have the opportunity to build wealth through entrepreneurship and improving property values. Dinesh provides examples. It is a big difference, and “professional” media reporters need to educate themselves on these issues if they really want to be a “balanced” reporter and also provide visibility... Read more →

FL House Rep. Larry Metz Provides Update on FL 2014 Legislative Session

The 2014 Florida Legislative session is over, and Lake County's FL District 31 Rep. Larry Metz held a community update meeting in Clermont, FL to describe wins and losses in the recent legislation session. Links to his Powerpoint and Video are included. Read more →

Thuy (Twee) Lowe wins Seminole County Straw Poll for FL US Congressional Dist. 5 race (which includes part of Lake County)

Lake County, FL resident Thuy Lowe wins straw poll in Seminole County in her race to beat incumbent Corrine Brown in Florida's US Congressional District 5, which includes part of Lake County. Read more →

Will Democrats Be Able to Vote in Florida House District 31 Republican Primary?

Last minute political tricks may result in Democrats and other voters voting in the Republican Primary for Florida House District 31. District 31 covers Apopka, Mt. Dora, Eustis and Tavares areas. Read more →

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Visits Lake County and we have video and pictures

Florida Gov. Rick Scott made a campaign stop in Lake County, FL. Here are links to a video of the event, a newspaper article and pictures on Facebook. Read more →

Conservative Lobbyist John Hallman Explains 2014 Florida Legislative Session

Tavares, FL May 21, 2014 See VIDEO link below. Conservative Lobbyist John Hallman visited the North Lake Tea Party (FL) yesterday and provided an overview of the 2014 Florida Legislative session. We made a video of his talk at: http://youtu.be/AwLnIV1kY1E Hallman works with the Liberty First Network, and is a lobbyist working to protect conservative values in Tallahassee. He has worked on the taxpayer, conservative side of issues like septic tanks, Common Core, Second Amendment issues (gun rights), Red light camera abolishment, and Craft Beer restrictions. The focus is to offset the influence of Corporate and special interest lobbying interests aimed against taxpayers or Liberty issues. He also discusses actions by local Lake County Senator Alan Hays and chances of Gov. Rick Scott being re-elected. Visit the Liberty First website at www.http://libertyfirstfl.org and Visit the North Lake Tea Party at: www.NorthLakeTeaParty.com. Video by Vance Jochim - visit his fiscal watchdog blog at www.FiscalRangers.com . vj Read more →

Leslie Campione Running for Re-Election - Video at North Lake Tea Party

Lake County Commissioner Leslie Campione is running for re-election and gave this 60 minute talk at the May 7, 2014 meeting of the North Lake County Tea Party. The video contains links to her website and to that of the North Lake Tea Party. Read more →

Joseph Stephens Should Drop Out of the Florida District 31 Representative Race

Joseph Stephens, one of five Republican candidates for Florida's House District 31, should drop out of the race. We don't think he is serious. See the video and decide. District 30 includes the Florida cities of Apopka, Mt. Dora, Tavares & Eustis, and covers sections of both Lake County and Orange County, FL. Read more →

Lake County FL area Florida District 31 House Candidates Need to Learn School Board Legislative Priorities

Tavares, FL Jan. 17, 2014 This was sent by email to the District 31 Candidates today: To: Republican Florida House District 31 Candidates (Apopka and northeast section of Lake County including Mt. Dora, Eustis & Tavares) (B. Grassel, Terri Seefeldt, Jennifer Sullivan & Randy Glisson) Attached are the long version of the Lake County School Board's Florida legislative priorities discussed on Oct. 21, then the shorter list approved by the Lake County School Board late last year on Nov. 4th. (Source is Natalie Challenger at the District office.) Download Board approved 2014 legis.priorities Download Legis.Priorities 2014-shortened list The priority lists will be used for discussions with Legislators in the upcoming legislative session. Lake County School Board member Tod Howard is the new legislative liaison for the School District and you might talk with him about the priority list and develop an understanding of them and have a position on their legislative priorities you will support. I am encouraging voters to ask you about your positions on these issues so you don’t appear to be one issue candidates. Vance Jochim Lake County Fiscal Rangers Chief Fiscal Watchdog Volunteers Searching for Ways to Improve Local Government Fiscal Management, Efficiency & Effectiveness Tavares,... Read more →

Two Videos of Congressman Dan Webster in Lake County, FL

Tavares, FL - Aug. 23, 2013 Congressman Dan Webster was in Lake County, FL for two or more "town hall" meetings and I made videos of BOTH of them - the links are below. I attended one in Mt. Dora on Monday, and then another yesterday in Leesburg. The first was wild and crazy with upset Republicans and Democrats asking tough questions. Webster avoided direct conflict by requiring several people ask their questions, then he provided selective responses. However the Leesburg event was a calm and cool presentation to the Leesburg Chamber of Commerce where no questions were allowed. So, if you watch both of these videos I made, you will see a range of emotions and methods of discussing them. My observation is many Republicans are angry and want him to act tougher on issues, which he doesn't do. His Leesburg presentation does offer some ideas of his back room methods to get some change, but it isn't on the big stuff and no one was allowed to ask questions at the Leesburg event. Watch both videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkApCorNemo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2ya5MedlFQ Read more →