SCFA - 2008 Voter's Guide

2008 Brevard County Voter's Guide

Candidate positions on Church-State Separation
Intelligent Design - Sex Ed - Stem Cells - Gay Marriage - School Prayer - Abortion - Ten Commandments - Religious Discrimination - Taxpayer Funding of Religion

Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to support or oppose any candidate or political party.

Note: In general, Opposes or Voted against - indicates support FOR Church-State Separation
and Supports or Voted for - indicates OPPOSITION to Church-State Separation

---- If you have any information relevant to this guide, please contact us ----

---- If you have any information relevant to this guide, please contact us at spacecoastfreethought@yahoo.com ----

FEDERAL

PRESIDENT (Note: Only candidates who could potentially receive enough electoral votes to win are included)

John McCain/Sarah Palin	REP	McCain Abortion: Supports prohibitions on abortion except in case of incest, rape, or maternal life. Supports prohibitions on all public funding. Supports parental notification and supports punishment for transporting minors across state lines [7] Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Opposes restrictions on public funding but supports restrictions on cloning human embryos [7] Gay Issues: Opposes federal constitutional ban on gay marriage but supports state constitutional and federal/state legal restrictions. Supports leaving "sexual orientation" out of the definition of hate crimes. Supports "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." [7] Sex Ed: Supports abstinence-only sex education [7] Religion in Public School: Supports teaching Intelligent Design. Supports religious symbols and memorial prayers in public schools [7] Taxpayer funding of religion: Supports school voucher programs [7] Palin Same as McCain EXCEPT: Abortion: Supports prohibitions on abortion except in case of maternal life only. [7] Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Supports restrictions on public funding [7] Gay Issues: Supports federal constitutional ban on gay marriage. [7] Sex Ed: Supports abstinence-only sex education but would oppose restrictions on discussion about contraceptives [7] Taxpayer funding of religion: Opposes school voucher programs [7]
Barack Obama/Joe Biden	DEM	Obama Abortion: Opposes prohibitions on abortion except state restrictions on late-term abortions (as long as they have an exception in case of maternal life). Opposes parental notification and opposes punishment for transporting minors across state lines [7] Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Opposes restrictions on public funding [7] Gay Issues: Opposes federal constitutional ban on gay marriage and attempts to deny equal rights to gay couples. Opposes leaving "sexual orientation" out of the definition of hate crimes. Opposes "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." [7] Sex Ed: Opposes abstinence-only sex education [7] Taxpayer funding of religion: Opposes school voucher programs [7] Biden Same as Obama EXCEPT: Abortion: Supports federal restrictions on late-term abortions. Supports ban on public funding [7] Gay Issues: Opposes federal constitutional ban on gay marriage and attempts to deny equal rights to gay couples but supports federal legal ban [7] Sex Ed: Supports abstinence-only sex education [7]
Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle	CON
Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente	GRN
Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez	IPF
Bob Barr/Wayne Allyn Root	LIB

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 15 (Congressional District 15)

Bill Posey	REP	Supports Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment [1, 8] Supports Student-led Prayer at Public School Functions [1] Supports Abortion Waiting Period [1] Supports Prohibition of Embryonic Stem Cell Research [1] Voted for Academic Freedom Bill (a pro-Intelligent Design bill)
Stephen Blythe	DEM	Opposes Taxpayer-funded Vouchers for Private Schools [website]
Trevor Lowing	NO
Frank Zilaitis	NO

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 24 (Congressional District 24)

Tom Feeney	REP	Supports Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment [1, 8] Supports Student-led Prayer at Public School Functions [1] Supports Abortion Waiting Period [1] Supports Prohibition of Abortion in Case of Incest or Rape [1] Supports Prohibition of Embryonic Stem Cell Research [1] Supported Government Funded Religious Discrimination in Head Start [6] Supported Barring Recovery of Attorneys' Fees in Civil Rights Lawsuits[6] Supported Federal Constitutional Amendment to Outlaw Same-Sex Marriage[6] Supported Removing Federal Court Jurisdiction over Pledge of Allegiance Issues[6] Supported Removing Federal Court Jurisdiction over the Defense of Marriage Act[6]
Suzanne M. Kosmas	DEM
Gaurav Bhola	NO

STATE

LEGISLATIVE

STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 24 (Special Election) (State Senate District 24)

Thad Altman	REP	Supports Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment [8, 9] Supports Taxpayer-funded Vouchers for Private Schools [9] Supports Student-led Prayer at Public School Functions [9] Supports Abortion Waiting Period [9] Supports Prohibition of Embryonic Stem Cell Research [9]
Kendall T. Moore	DEM

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 29 (State House District 29)

Ralph Poppell	REP	Supports Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment [8, 9] Supports Taxpayer-funded Vouchers for Private Schools [9] Supports Student-led Prayer at Public School Functions [9] Supports Abortion Waiting Period [9] Supports Prohibition of Embryonic Stem Cell Research [9]
Wes McCarville	DEM

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 30 (State House District 30)

Ritch Workman	REP	Supports Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment [1, 9] Supports Taxpayer-funded Vouchers for Private Schools [1, 9] Supports Student-led Prayer at Public School Functions [1, 9] Supports Abortion Waiting Period [1, 9] Supports Prohibition of Embryonic Stem Cell Research [1, 9]
Amy C. Tidd	DEM

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 31 (State House District 31)

John Tobia	REP	Supports Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment [1] Supports Taxpayer-funded Vouchers for Private Schools [1] Supports Student-led Prayer at Public School Functions [1] Supports Abortion Waiting Period [1] Supports Prohibition of Embryonic Stem Cell Research [1]
Carol Drake Wheatley	WRI

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 32 (State House District 32)

Steve Crisafulli	REP	Supports Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment [9] Supports Taxpayer-funded Vouchers for Private Schools [9] Supports Student-led Prayer at Public School Functions [9] Supports Abortion Waiting Period [9] Supports Prohibition of Embryonic Stem Cell Research [9]
Tony Sasso	DEM

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 80 (State House District 80)

Debbie Mayfield	REP
Neal Abarbanell	DEM

COUNTY

SHERIFF (Countywide)

Jack Parker	REP
Gary E. Young	DEM

PROPERTY APPRAISER (Countywide)

Jim Ford	REP
Larry E. Hughes	DEM

TAX COLLECTOR (Countywide)

Lisa Cullen	REP
Laura Dils	DEM

SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS (Countywide)

Lori Scott	REP
Frank C. Grieco, Jr.	DEM
Frank Buckoski	NO

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 1 (County Commission District 1)

J. Roger Shealy	REP	Supports Posting of Ten Commandments in Government Buildings [2, 10] Supports Anti-Abortion Legislation [2, 10]
Robin Fisher	DEM
Ilene Davis	LIB	Opposes Posting of Ten Commandments in Government Buildings [2] Opposes Anti-Abortion Legislation [2]

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 3 (County Commission District 3)

Trudie Infantini	REP
Edward (Ed) Geier	DEM

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 5 (County Commission District 5)

Andy Anderson	REP	Supports Posting of Ten Commandments in Government Buildings [2, 10] Supports Anti-Abortion Legislation [2, 10] Signed Petition Supporting Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment (#2) [5]
Daniel Reyes	WRI

CANAVERAL PORT AUTHORITY, DISTRICT 5 (Canaveral Port Authority)

Malcolm (Mac) McLouth	REP
Peter Nichols	DEM

NONPARTISAN

SUPREME COURT RETENTION (Incumbent Information | Voted on Statewide)

Charles T. Wells

NON

FIFTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL RETENTION (Incumbent Information | Voted on by Fifth Appealate District)

Kerry I. Evander	NON
C. Alan Lawson	NON
Richard B. Orfinger	NON
William David Palmer	NON
Thomas D. Sawaya	NON

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 4 (School Board District 4)

Karen Henderson	NON	Opposes Posting the Ten Commandments in Public Schools [2, 10] States that Evolution is only a hypothesis, not a fact [2, 10] Opposes Prohibition of Sex Education in Public Schools [2, 10] Opposes Anti-Abortion Legislation [2, 10] Supports Teaching Faith-Based Intelligent Design [4]
Gary A. Shiffrin	NON	Opposes Posting the Ten Commandments in Public Schools [2, 10] States that Evolution is only a hypothesis, not a fact [2, 10] Opposes Prohibition of Sex Education in Public Schools [2, 10] Opposes Anti-Abortion Legislation [2, 10]

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 5 (Special Election) (School Board District 5)

Stuart Rowan	NON	Opposes Teaching Faith-Based Intelligent Design [4] States that Evolution is only a hypothesis, not a fact [10] Opposes Prohibition of Sex Education in Public Schools [10] Supports Anti-Abortion Legislation [10]
Andrew J. Ziegler	NON	Supports Posting the Ten Commandments in Public Schools [2, 10] Supports Prohibition of Sex Education in Public Schools [2, 10] Supports Anti-Abortion Legislation [2, 10]

SEBASTIAN INLET DISTRICT, DISTRICT 1 (Sebastian Inlet District)

Jonathan "JB" Bredemeyer	NON
Joseph D. Hallowell	NON
Jenny Lawton Seal	NON

SEBASTIAN INLET DISTRICT, DISTRICT 2 (Sebastian Inlet District)

Tim Freeman	NON
Donnie "DJ" Jenkins	NON	Opposes Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment [email]
Beth L. Mitchell	NON
Lisa Roma	NON

SEBASTIAN INLET DISTRICT, DISTRICT 3 (Sebastian Inlet District)

C. Raymond Reed	NON	Signed Petition Supporting Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment (#2) [5]
Jeannett Westlake	NON

SOIL AND WATER DISTRICT, GROUP 3 (Countywide)

Reed C. Cary	NON
Nancy Marr Stephenson	NON

SPECIAL DISTRICTS

BAREFOOT BAY TRUSTEES (Barefoot Bay Recreation District)

Robert J. Allan	NON
Joseph B. Klosky	NON
John M. McAfee	NON
Charles W. Mershon	NON

HOLIDAY PARK TRUSTEE, GROUP 2 (Holiday Park Recreation District)

Richard H. Hayes	NON
Edward C. Goodfield	NON

CITY

CAPE CANAVERAL COUNCIL (City of Cape Canaveral)

Robert E. Hoog	NON
John Johanson	NON
Leo Nicholas	NON
Jack Olive	NON	Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]
Betty Walsh	NON

COCOA MAYOR (City of Cocoa)

Mike Blake	NON
David Golding	NON
Dontavious "Tay" Smith	NON	Opposes leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Supports rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]

COCOA COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 (Cocoa Council District 2)

A. Dora Jackson	NON
Jake Williams, Jr.	NON	Opposes leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]

COCOA COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 (Cocoa Council District 3)

Charlie Love	NON
Pat McCrary	NON

GRANT-VALKARIA COUNCIL (Town of Grant-Valkaria)

Wally Bowles	NON	Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Supports rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]
Cathy Landrum Demott	NON
Lisette M. Kolar	NON
Jason B. Mahaney	NON
Dan Robino	NON

INDIALANTIC MAYOR (Town of Indialantic)

David Berkman	NON
Robert L. Cochran, Jr.	NON

INDIALANTIC COUNCIL SEAT 4 (Town of Indialantic)

Mike Borysiewicz	NON
Randall S. Greer	NON

INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH COUNCIL SEAT 1 (City of Indian Harbour Beach)

Tim Muth	NON
Gene Newberry	NON

MALABAR MAYOR (Town of Malabar)

Thomas M. Eschenberg	NON	Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]
Bridget A. Ports	NON

MALABAR COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 (Town of Malabar)

Donald E. Krieger	NON
Charles D. "Chuck" McClelland	NON
Steve Rivet	NON

MELBOURNE COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 (City of Melbourne)

Mike Nowlin	NON	Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Opposes rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]
Tammy Sandberg	NON	Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Opposes rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]

MELBOURNE COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 (City of Melbourne)

Kathy Meehan	NON	Opposes leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Opposes rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]
Pat Poole	NON	Opposes leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Opposes rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]
Merrill Robertson	NON	Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]

MELBOURNE BEACH MAYOR (Town of Melbourne Beach)

Rita A. Karpie	NON
Thomas R. Shaw	NON	Opposes rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Opposes tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]
William G. Stacey	NON	Opposes leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Opposes rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]

MELBOURNE VILLAGE MAYOR/COMMISSIONER (Town of Melbourne Village)

Scott McCoy	NON
Lyle Zody	NON

PALM BAY COUNCIL SEAT 2 (City of Palm Bay)

Brian Jacob Anderson	NON
James Brock	NON
William Capote	NON
Natasha C. Logan Munnings	NON

PALM BAY COUNCIL SEAT 3 (City of Palm Bay)

Michele Paccione	NON
Bruce Wechsler	NON	Supports prohibiting public health care program funding of abortions [website] Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [website, 10] Says that "Separation of Church and state simply means not establishing a State religion. Nothing more." [website] Supports permitting religious symbols to be displayed on public property if only private funds are used [website] Supports Anti-Abortion Legislation [website] Supports making government decisions consistent with "biblical principles" [website] Opposes tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [website, 10]
Grace White	NON

SATELLITE BEACH COUNCIL (City of Satellite Beach)

Michael E. Chase	NON
Jeffrey E. Fleis	NON
Pamela Stamm	NON	Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Supports rejection of Church-State Separation [10]

TITUSVILLE COUNCIL SEAT 2 (City of Titusville)

Martha Jane (MJ) Long	NON	Signed Petition Supporting Florida Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment (#2) [5] Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Supports rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]
Andrew Whitaker	NON

WEST MELBOURNE COUNCIL (City of West Melbourne)

Pat Bentley	NON
Stephany Eley	NON	Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]
Bill Metrick	NON	Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Opposes rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]
Damian Wilson	NON	Supports leaving sexual orientation out of the definition of hate crimes [10] Supports rejection of Church-State Separation [10] Supports tax support for faith-based programs for teenagers [10]

AMENDMENTS AND REFERENDA

FLORIDA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS (Statewide)

(2) Florida Marriage Protection Amendment

NON

Would define marriage as being only between one man and one woman and outlaw any other legal unions that have the same rights