Live Oak — To the Editor:



After your publication of my response to the Amendment 4 question,I received a number of phone calls wanting me to explain my position on why I answered the way I did. Let me clarify my answer and my position on this Amendment. First ,I do not support and would never vote for Amendment 4. It would cost jobs and cause higher taxes do to the cost to enact it. Further more it has been tried in a local version by the people of St. Pete Beach, since adopting their version of this Amendment it has cost the taxpayers there over half-a-million dollars in legal fees from nearly a dozen law suits, this would be something Suwannee County could not afford. My original answer was meant to address the peoples right to be heard, our Republic is based on electing representatives to do the will of the people, those elected representatives must be chosen by the people to reflect their values and wishes. The people can speak at the ballot box on the large controversial issues, but on routine items they must elect representatives who they can trust to use their judgment to do the peoples will. If they are out of step then they should be voted out of office. My basic platform is to reform tax's, reduce government, and listen to the peoples concerns and act accordingly by representing them to the best of my ability. For Suwannee County this would mean reviewing and controlling the spending practices all the while encouraging growth and development in such a way as to  provide employment and a broader tax base. I do apologize for any misunderstanding about my position in regards to the survey. Thanks to all who gave me feedback, I look forward to having many more discussion I would appreciate your vote on November 2nd.  



Phil Oxendine

Candidate,

District 4,

Suwannee County Commission





To the Editor:



We Republicans in Congressional District 2 have the good fortune of having five good candidates vying for Rep. Allen Boyd’s current seat. The chances of the Republican primary winner gaining that seat have never been better. However, we must choose our candidate wisely.

Newspaper articles and editorials have stated several times that there is very little difference in the five Republicans. But there are big differences that are evident when you listen to their words.

Some don’t understand that they are running for Congress and not for president. They make statements such as, “When I get to Washington I’ll secure our borders, I’ll get spending under control, I’ll pass a balanced budget amendment, I’ll make our nation secure again.” One candidate said that when he got to Washington he’d pass the Fair Tax bill immediately.

Those statements draw applause and cheers but are totally unrealistic. They forget that our representative is only one vote of 535. Do they understand how to make and repeal laws? Do they understand how long it takes to amend our Constitution?

One candidate does. That candidate is Eddie Hendry. He knows the issues and understands what it means to be in Congress. He doesn’t speak in platitudes and slogans. He doesn’t make unrealistic claims. He sticks to the most important problems facing our country — the economy and national defense. And he is not a Johnny Come Lately to the Fair Tax. He knows that the Fair Tax has a five-year phase-in period. He knows that if passed immediately we will still have to control spending and taxes until the Fair Tax is fully implemented.

As much as we would all love to repeal Obama care, Eddie also understands that it simply cannot be repealed right away. His plan is to caucus with current congressmen such as Eric Cantor and Michele Bachmann to defund the law and work to replace it with the kind of law we need for the nation’s health care.

I support Eddie Hendry because he is the best of the five. Focus on his words. Visit his website. You too will be convinced that he should be our pick to beat the Democrats in November.



Blake Riels

Live Oak