Using his CCE – essentially a political slush fund – Rep. Dorworth steered $500 to Judge Clayton Simmons’ campaign fund in June – long after the judge had been assigned the case. The story also points out that my opponent’s attorney is assisting in the judge’s re-election campaign.

While I am not suggesting that the money was a bribe, it certainly gives the appearance that my opponent does not respect the independence of the courts.

(To his credit, Judge Simmons agreed to recuse himself and return the money after being interviewed by the Sentinel. Simmons also said he was unaware that he had been assigned my opponent’s case or that the money from the CCE was controlled by Dorworth. Judge Simmons has a reputation for integrity and fairness and I take him at his word.)

Also of concern is the fact that Dorworth’s foreclosure process began in 2007, but the case has yet to be heard. The average length of time for the foreclosure process to be completed is roughly a year. Perhaps my opponent has just been lucky. Perhaps he just has a great lawyer (who happens to be helping with the re-election of the judge in the case). Perhaps this is all just a coincidence. But for the thousands of Central Floridians who have lost their homes since 2007, that is of little comfort.

I am making no allegations of criminal activity, but as a sitting member of the Florida Legislature, my opponent should have known better than to make such a contribution. The public has a right to be secure in the knowledge that our courts are above political influence. His financial contribution and close political ties to the judge assigned to his case have led some to question that independence. Such doubt weakens our system of government and cannot be tolerated.

Hopefully, an independent investigation will be conducted to determine whether or not there was any wrong-doing. Such an investigation would reassure voters that the courts remain independent and also clear the good names of any innocents who have been wrongly implicated.

I will leave it to the voters to decide whether my opponent’s activities make him unfit for public office. For me, the most important quality in any candidate is integrity. When a candidate lacks that character trait, their political affiliation or positions on the issues make no difference. To earn my vote, a candidate must first earn my trust.

If I am elected to serve the people of District 34, I will always treat the office with the dignity and respect it deserves and I will always conduct myself in a way that reflects the decency and goodness of the people I represent.

Sincerely,
Steve

Full story below:

Dorworth gives money to judge assigned to his case; prompts recusal
Uncategorized — posted by scottmaxwell on August, 16 2010 7:25 AM

The judge assigned to the foreclosure case of State Rep. Chris Dorworth’s house recused himself from the case last week – after the Sentinel learned and asked about a 500 donation Dorworth’s political committee gave to the judge’s re-election efforts.

Generally, it is frowned upon for people involved in court cases to steer money toward judges handling the case.

Judge Clayton Simmons seemed to realize this, immediately telling Sentinel reporter Rene Stutzman that he would recuse himself return the donation from Dorworth’s Citizens for an Enterprising Democracy.

Simmons said he hadn’t even realized the nondescript-sounding committee was run by Dorworth or even that he had been assigned to handle the case, since he had yet to take any action on it.

At issues is the $1.5 million mortgage on Dorworth’s 8,000 square-foot mansion in Lake Mary — a home that county property records say is now worth less than $1 million.

Another potential conflict, said the judge, was that Dorworth’s lawyer, Damon Chase, was also involved in the Simmons’ re-election efforts.

Dorworth, an aspiring house speaker, did not respond to a request for comment about the June 3 donation.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Don’t forget, Tuesday is Primary Day – Don’t forget to vote!

Among those supporting to our campaign: Volusia County Deputy Sheriffs, Daytona Beach Police and the Police Officers of Winter Park and Longwood. The Longwood Police Department is located just across the street from our campaign headquarters at 335 Ronald Reagan Blvd., and we are always happy to have officers drop by to chat.

Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line for us each and every day. For that, they deserve our support. Unfortunately, some members of the Legislature have been working to cut their pensions and health care benefits and many officers have not had a raise in more than four years.

While I recognize the challenges of Florida’s current economic crisis, I believe it is absolutely wrong to break our promises to those who protect our children and keep our streets safe. Such attacks weaken morale, lead to higher turnover and discourage our best and brightest young people from pursuing careers in law enforcement.

While cuts proposed by some Republican lawmakers might result in short-term economic relief, they would also result in increased crime, increased costs to small businesses and homeowners and a lower quality of life for all of our residents.

In the end, short-changing our law enforcement officers short-changes us all. As crime increases, tourism suffers, property values fall, our children are more likely to become victims and our families become less safe. It’s time we all stood together to honor and support these local heroes. I am proud to say that I stand with our law enforcement officers and I am extremely honored to have their support.

Rather than debate the merits of a ban on drilling just a few miles off our beaches, Republican House leaders have hinted that they might gavel the session to order and then almost immediately close the session without addressing the issue. That’s just wrong. Even if some legislators oppose a ban, they should at least give the matter a full hearing. Legislators aren’t being asked to ban near-shore drilling, only to allow Florida voters to make their own decision in November. If legislators put the measure on the ballot, it would require the support of 60 percent of Florida voters to take effect.

By refusing to even allow Floridians the opportunity to vote on this critical issue, the leaders of the House are saying they don’t trust the voters or think that it is appropriate for us to have input into the decision. Regardless of where one stands on the issue, that’s just wrong. Republican legislators say the amendment isn’t needed because Florida law already prohibits drilling within state waters. But in each of the past two sessions, Republican leaders tried to change that law. That’s why Floridians deserve a say and why the state constitution is the proper place for such a ban. Unlike legislators, most Floridians don’t get campaign checks from the oil industry. In fact, they provide those campaign dollars every time they go to the pump.

Even as oil continues to wash up on Florida’s pristine beaches, my opponent, who voted twice to open up drilling just three miles from Florida’s shores, told the St. Pete Times that if the Legislature does consider the amendment, he will vote no. That’s not a huge surprise given the fact that he has received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Big Oil.

If I am elected this November, I will always fight to protect our beaches, our fishing industry and our tourism-based economy.

While Republican opposition to protecting our beaches is indefensible, what’s even more troubling is their insistence that average Floridians don’t deserve a say in how our government is run.

In addition to fighting the ban on drilling, Republican leaders also have spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to fight against the Fair District amendments (5&6), which would end the process of Gerrymandering districts, a process that ensures incumbents never face serious electoral challenges. By drawing their own districts, legislators essentially get to choose their voters instead of voters being allowed to choose their representatives.

On issue after issue, the current crop of Republican leaders in the Florida Legislature – including my opponent Chris Dorworth – has said no to allowing Floridians a meaningful voice in our own government. Tonight, I am leaving for Tallahassee to insist that legislators stop denying Floridians the right to participate in how our lives are run. I will report back soon.

Steve

This is a great opportunity to get to know Steve and to learn how you can help him win back District 34 from the special interests.

Our office is located at 335 Ronald Reagan Blvd. (427), about two blocks north of SR 434. Please contact Vicki to RSVP. Hope you can join us!

Power abhors a vacuum and our lack of participation in the political process creates the openings that special interests need to move their agendas forward. Our nation is at an important crossroad in history. The power of special interest money and the rule of unscrupulous leaders threatens to destroy everything that this nation was built upon. Despite that, we the people still have the opportunity to set things right: By becoming more involved in our political process, we can take back the power that is rightfully ours. By voting, contributing to candidates we admire, volunteering on campaigns, writing letters to elected leaders and newspapers and protesting when our government goes too far, we can make a difference.

Our forefathers put their lives on the line to secure our independence. The least we can do is to participate in the process they created and fight to ensure that their dream does not die on our watch.

Below is the full text of the Declaration of Independence. If it’s been a while since you read it, please take the time to do so now.

Thank you,

Steve

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

A suggested donation of just $34 includes the cruise, a light dinner buffet (cash bar) and the best view of fireworks anywhere without fighting the crowds! There will also be a silent auction featuring artwork, gift certificates to local restaurants and other fun items.

Boarding begins at 6 p.m. for music and drinks at the dock. Final boarding call is at 7:15 p.m. (Best to arrive early to beat the traffic. The Romance offers free, private parking.) The ship will return to the dock around 10 p.m.

Please e-mail your RSVP to Vicki right away. Space is limited and tickets will be first-come, first-serve. To reserve now, click on the PayPal donate button and type “July 4 cruise” into the field labeled “Purpose,” and use your credit card to make the $34 contribution. Your ticket will be waiting for you at boarding!

The Romance docks in Sanford at the Monroe Harbor Marina on Lake Monroe in downtown Sanford. 433 North Palmetto Ave., Sanford, Fl 32771.

Special thanks to our hosts, Rep. Scott Randolph and his lovely wife Susannah and Rivership Romance owner Robert Hopkins! If you would like to join the host committee or have items you would like to donate to the silent auction, please contact Vicki at 407-314-9276.

Please join me and members of the Democratic Party’s Veterans Caucus as we celebrate Memorial Day in Downtown Sanford Monday morning. We will have a small booth set up along the parade route on First Street beginning at 10 a.m. Please feel free to drop by to learn more about the caucus and to join in our efforts to ensure that our military men and women receive the respect and benefits that they have earned. Thank you for your service.

Steve

“Steve has been in the classroom and knows the challenges teachers and school employees face every day,” said FEA President Andy Ford. “He has been vocal and active in the effort to prevent Senate Bill 6 from becoming law and we need leaders like Steve in the Legislature to guard against further assaults on the teaching profession.”

Barnes, whose daughters attended Seminole County public schools, said he was thrilled by the endorsement.

“As a parent, I am extremely honored to have the support of Florida’s public school teachers,” he said. “If elected to the State House of Representatives I will work tirelessly to ensure that our children receive a quality education that will allow them to compete in the global economy.”

Barnes, who is challenging incumbent Rep. Chris Dorworth (R), was endorsed last month by both the Seminole Educators Association and the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association.

“Never before in my experience has there been a candidate so right for the members of the public school communities in District 34,” said Chris Spiliotis, who represents Seminole’s teachers. “I am confident that Steve will advance the cause of a quality public education for all of the public school students in our state during his tenure in Tallahassee.”

For more than a decade, Barnes has been involved in schools around Seminole County including Goldsboro Elementary, The Harbor Learning and Literacy Center, Millennium Middle and Seminole High schools. He currently volunteers with the Friends of the Seminole County Environmental Studies Center and the Families in Transition Program, which serves homeless students.

Barnes, a Democrat, opposed SB 6, which tied teacher pay to FCAT scores and created an unfunded mandate that would have cost local school districts millions of tax dollars to implement new standardized tests for subjects like art, music and physical education. Rep. Dorworth voted in favor of the bill, which was later vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist.

The Florida Education Association represents more than 250,000 teachers and educational staff professionals in Florida’s 67 school districts.

“Rebuilding Florida’s economy will require a well-educated workforce capable of performing the high-tech jobs of the 21^st Century,” said Barnes. “I am absolutely committed to ensuring that Florida’s schools prepare every student for those opportunities.”

Barnes also received the endorsement of the Florida AFL-CIO, which represents more than 500,000 Floridians including construction workers, health care professionals, teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, retirees and their families.

“I am honored to have the support of so many of Florida’s working families,” said Barnes. “Over the past two years, my opponent has proven that he is out of touch with the people he is supposed to represent. He voted to nearly double fees on auto tags, drivers’ licenses and fishing licenses while pushing for tax cuts on the sale of private planes and yachts costing more than $300,000.”

“Despite his rhetoric, it is clear that Rep. Dorworth is out of touch with the middle class. The people of Seminole and Orange counties deserve better. If I am elected this November, I will work tirelessly to rebuild our economy and to faithfully represent the people of this District.

Barnes, who lives in Sanford, is a former journalist and teacher. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with degrees in political science and journalism and was elected to the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District in 2008.

Local teachers will be hosting a fundraising party for Barnes Saturday, May 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cork and Olive, 4247 W. Lake Mary Blvd., Lake Mary, Fl 32746. Suggested donation is $20.10. The event is open to the public. For more information, please visit www.SteveBarnes2010.com

Join the Seminole County Democratic Veterans’ Caucus. We will be meeting from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 18 at the Casselberry branch of the Seminole County Library, 215 N. Oxford Rd., Casselberry, Fl.

This is an organizational meeting hosted by Affirmative Action Chair Marian Williams. You do not have to be a Veteran to attend, just a Democrat who wants to support our troops and veterans. Annual membership is just $45.

That year, he outperformed every other Democrat running in the county, including President Obama (49%) and Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (53%). And, despite running in a down-ballot race (Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District) Steve earned 93,000 votes – just 6,000 fewer than President Obama. All of this was accomplished on a budget of just $4,000!

This year, Steve has a great shot at unseating incumbent Rep. Chris Dorworth, R, whom the Orlando Sentinel called the worst legislator in the state.

The campaign is running smoothly, fundraising is on track and Steve qualified to get on the ballot by petition just last week!

So, if someone asks you, “Can a Democrat win in Distict 34?” The simple answer is “Yes we can!”

To help make this win a reality, please join the campaign by making a financial contribution via the Pay Pal link, volunteering for canvassing, phone-banking, or office work or by hosting a house party and introducing Steve to your friends.

Thank you!