If you’ve already voted, you probably noticed that the challenger for State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle’s seat is a blank line.  The reason for this is that SOMEONE installed two write-in candidates during the primary campaign.  This was a trick designed to lock out Republican and Independent voters from being able to vote in that race.  I’m not sure whether it was Rundle or her challenger, Rod Vereen, who got the two non-campaigners to file to run, but the outcome is such that only Democrats had a say in who gets to be on the ballot for Tuesday’s general election.  Being a Republican, I didn’t get to pick my candidate of choice, but if I had been given the opportunity to vote, I would have cast mine for Anyone But Kathy.  As such, when I voted on Thursday, I wrote Mr. Vereen’s name in, despite the fact that he’s now out of the race.

Likewise, in the race for House Representative District 107, Barbara Watson scared up two bodies to run as write-in candidates in her challenge for John Patrick Julien’s seat.  Again, Republicans and Independents were kept out of the loop in the primary.  I’m sure she figured that was her only shot at getting enough votes to win (aside from the alleged absentee ballot fraud that I’m still convinced occurred no matter what a disinterested Tallahassee judge says), because Mr. Julien missed out on a sizable amount of non-Democrat votes.  Be that as it may, on the general election ballot, we have a choice between Barbara Watson and [blank].  I chose [blank] and wrote in John Patrick Julien.  For what it’s worth.

Regarding Katherine Fernandez Rundle’s race, though, it’s anyone’s guess who urged the two ghost candidates to run since the Office of the State Attorney isn’t so much about partisan politics as it is about putting criminals behind bars.  Something that Rundle seems to have a problem understanding, especially when the alleged criminals just happen to be elected officials.  Or when she needs to keep the voting bloc of said elected officials happy in order to get re-elected.  Or when said elected officials just happen to be married to Circuit Court Judges.  I’m just saying.

There are those who claim that Rundle would have received the bulk of the Republican votes, and therefore, the write-ins were her opponent’s fault.  She wouldn’t have gotten this Republican’s vote, so I’m not sure if that’s a valid assessment.  Nevertheless, she’s on the ballot instead of Mr. Vereen.

But, folks, here’s the good news!  The Miami New Times Number One Blogger Al Crespo has decided to toss his hat in the ring and he’s asking for your vote!  Too bad I didn’t know about this earlier, or I definitely would have written his name in.  Damn!

If you’re tired of the same old same old, and want to elect someone who is unafraid to go after the bad guys, please consider writing Al Crespo’s name in as your choice for State Attorney.  Just go to Al’s website, The Crespogram Report, to read his platform and then when you get to the polls on Tuesday, do your civic duty to make it happen!

AL CRESPO FOR STATE ATTORNEY! WOO HOO!

Stephanie Kienzle

“Spreading the Wealth”