Yesterday, we received confirmation from the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections that we have collected enough valid petitions to earn a place on the ballot! Thank you so much for putting your trust in me – I am honored by your support! Thanks also to all of our wonderful volunteers who spent hundreds of hours talking to voters and sharing our plans to strengthen our economy, support our schools, protect our children, preserve our natural resources and bring accountability and integrity to Tallahassee. Becoming the first candidate in this race to earn a spot on the ballot through the petition process jibes perfectly with the fact that our campaign funding is also coming primarily from those who live in District 34 and not special interests and lobbyist. (Please see Sunday’s Scott Maxwell column relating our approach to that of my opponent, Rep. Chris Dorworth.)
This achievement is just one of many that shows the strong support we are getting from people throughout the District who are sick of business as usual and who want someone who truly cares about the community to represent them in Tallahassee. I am honored by that trust and promise to always put the best interests of the people of District 34 ahead of politics and special interests.
Please continue to support our campaign by clicking here or on the PayPal button on our home page and making a financial contribution at whatever level is comfortable for you and by sharing this link with your friends.
Thank you so much!
Steve
Below is the press release sent out last night to local media:
For more information, please contact
Steve Barnes 407.417.1628
or Vicki DeSormier 407.314.9276
May 5, 2010
Steve Barnes, Democrat for Florida State House District 34, qualifies by petition
Steve Barnes, Democrat for Florida State House District 34, has collected enough voter signatures to have his name appear on the ballot, making him the first candidate in the race to achieve that goal.
Barnes, who was elected to the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District in 2008, needed 872 signatures (one percent of the registered voters in the district) to qualify by petition. He and his volunteers turned in 1,078 signatures, of which 916 had been verified as of Wednesday, according to Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel.
“I am so honored by the trust the voters have placed in me and for the hard work of our fantastic volunteers,” Barnes said. “This achievement is symbolic of our focus on meeting residents face to face and listening to their concerns. We will continue to reach out to voters from all walks of life right through Election Day.”
The petitions were gathered from Democrats, Independents and Republicans throughout the district, which includes portions of Sanford, Lake Mary, Heathrow, Longwood, Winter Springs, Casselberry and Winter Park.
If a state house candidate cannot qualify by petition, he or she must pay a filing fee of $1,781.82 to get on the ballot.
“While we could have easily written a check, I felt it was important to ask voters for their support and to be good stewards of our donors’ money,” said Barnes. “This approach demonstrates my commitment to hard work and fiscal discipline. If the voters of District 34 choose me to represent them, I will bring that same approach to state government.”
For more information about the campaign, please visit www.SteveBarnes2010.com.
