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County Political Scene
The cornerstone of a free Republic is the accountability of those elected to represent us. It is the responsibility; indeed the duty, of the 4th Estate to question those in authority on behalf of the electorate, and to report their responses. It was in this effort that I wrote the following e-mail to Marion County Commissioner Jim Payton, to elicit his views on the two subjects in my inquiry. As of this date, I have received no response from the Commissioner. We realize that the Commissioner is a very busy man, and that his duties must sometimes take precedence over inquiries from constituents or reporters, and in this spirit, wish to extend to him the benefit of the doubt. We do feel, however, that these issues are important to the city of Dunnellon, as they will greatly impact the citizens of his district. As voters, we have a right to expect a response. Should Commissioner Payton deign to respond to our inquiry, we will publish his response verbatim, as promised. Should he fail to respond, however, Dunnellon Online will reprint his lack of comment in every subsequent issue, and let the readers be the judge. To do any less would be to abrogate our responsibility as journalists, which we are loathe to do.
Editor
Dear Commissioner Payton, I am the editor of a new publication, Dunnellon Online, which will cover news and events in the Dunnellon area. I have had contact with you and your office regarding some personal property issues in the past, and you have been very gracious and helpful, for which I am much obliged. It is my hope that you can provide me with some information, on the record, that I may transmit to my readers in the inaugural edition of Dunnellon Online. The two main issues I would like your input on are: What is your reaction to Mayor Ewer’s suggestion that Ocala/Marion County sell water to South Florida? Are you amenable to this proposal, or do you oppose it, and if so, why? I would be grateful for any comments you would like to make on the topic. What is the status of the new FEMA flood zone maps, and when can we expect their approval and implementation by the county? My understanding was that this was scheduled for early in 2006 – is this date still realistic? These are two issues that readers of Dunnellon Online are greatly interested in, and would appreciate the opinion of the Commission. To insure that your comments are reported accurately, I will publish your reply verbatim, sans editing. Thank you for your valuable time in this matter. I eagerly anticipate your input in what I hope will become a valuable asset to the Dunnellon area.
Cordially,
Robert Randall Burke Editor Dunnellon Online www.dunnellononline.com
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