Boyd: give the voters a voice Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL) recently joined Con- gressmen John Tanner (D-TN) and Zach Wamp (R-TN) at a press conference to highlight the need for a fair redistricting process in the wake of the re- cent Supreme Court ruling. In June, the Supreme Court re- fused to denounce the current, often politically-tainted, redis- tricting practice and ruled that it is allowable for states to break with the once-a-decade redistricting tradition. "Last month's Supreme Court ruling was a step back for the American people and unfortunately did not get us any closer to establishing a fair redistricting process," said Congressman Boyd. "Redraw- ing congressional district maps for political gain divides communities of interest, polar- izes Florida voters along parti- san lines, and silences the con- stituency. We need meaningful changes in the way we elect our representatives-changes that will take redistricting power away from politicians and give it back to the people of Florida where it belongs." Congressman Boyd is a cosponsor of the Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act (HR 2642). This legisla- tion calls for an independent, bipartisan commission in each state to redraw congressional district maps every 10 years and restricts redistricting ef- forts from taking place be- tween census cycles. Re-districting is traditional- ly conducted every 10 years, following the decennial cen- sus, to ensure equal population in each congressional district. Many have come to view the process as a partisan opportu- nity to strengthen some in- cumbencies and weaken the chances of their political op- ponents. Due in part to the re- districting system, 95 percent of incumbents retained their US House seats in the 2004 election, and only seven seats out of 435 changed hands from one major party to anoth- er. The Fairness and Indepen- dence in Redistricting Act has been endorsed by FairVote, the National Taxpayers Union, and Public Citizen. Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL) Qualifying Continued From Page 1A more years. Circuit judges are elected for six-year terms. Suwannee County District 2 Commissioner Doug UDell was re-elected to his seat with- out opposition and will serve another four-year term begin- ning Nov. 21. UDell is cur- rently in his third four-year term. District 4 Commissioner Billy Maxwell, in his first term, drew two opponents. Judge David Fina Billy Maxwell R Smith Jim Davis Rod Smith Jim Davis One of the three, Linda Dye, Maxwell or Diana Robinson, will win the seat Sept. 5. New election laws say the person with the most votes, regardless of how many, is the winner. All three are Democrats and no Republicans are seekiipg that seat. In the School Board race, three nonpartisan seats are up for grabs. In District 3, Dan Marsee is challenging incumbent Julie Blake Ulmer, in her first four- Linda Dye Diana Robinson Charlie Crist Ed daSilva year term, for that seat. The winner will be decided Sept. 5. In the District 4 School Board seat, James Cooper, Ed daSilva and Jane T. Lowe are all vying for that seat that will be vacated by current School Board Chairman Barbara Ceryak after 16 years in office. Ceryak is retiring, leaving the seat up for grabs. In the District 5 School Board race, there's no race at all. Incumbent J. M. Holtzclaw Douglas UDe Debbie Boyd Douglas UDell Debbie Boyd J.M. Holtzclaw David Pope was returned by the district to serve another four-year term. Holtzclaw is currently serving, his seventh four-year term. In the District 11 State Rep- resentative race, Debbie Boyd (D) of Newberry, David Pope (R) of Alachua and Ray Walk- er (R) of Lake City are all vy- ing for that seat that will be vacated by Suwannee Coun- ty's Dwight Stansel due to term limits. Stansel served eight years in the House. Statewide in the gubernator- ..;:A- .-- ,, ~r:":- Julie Ulmer .. W Dan Marsee 1 Tom Gallagher Jane Lowe ial race, Democrats Jim Davis of Tampa and Rod Smith of Alachua are campaigning hot and heavy and both completed their final qualifying paper- work in Tallahassee on time. Davis and Smith will face off Sept. 5 to see who will be the Democratic nominee to face the Republican winner cur- rent Attorney General Charlie Crist or Florida's chief finan- cial officer, Tom Gallagher - Nov. 7 for the governor's job. Voter registration remains .open for the Sept. 5 prima- ry through Aug. 7 at 5 S p.m. Early voting begins Aug. 21 from 8:30 a.nm. until James Cooper 5 p.m. M-S through Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. After the Sept. 5 election, registration is open from Sept. 6 through Oct. 10. Early vot- ing for the Nov. 7 election be- gins Oct. 23 and runs through Nov. 4. ********S*********S****** 2006 Suwannee County qualified candidates Circuit Judge Third Circuit (Nonpartisan) James Roy Bean; Perry; E. Vernon Dou- Sglas, Lake City; David W. Fina, Live Oak State Representative District 11 Debra (Debbie) Boyd (D), Lake City; David Pope (R) Alachua; Newber- ry; Ray Walker (R) County Commissioner District 2 Douglas UDell (D), Live Oak, no opposition County Commissioner District 4 Linda Dye, Well- born (D); Billy Maxwell (D), Live Oak, incumbent; and Di- ana Robinson, Live, Oak (D) School Board District 3 (non partisan) Dan Marsee, Live Oak; Julie Blake Ulmer, Live Oak, incumbent School Board District 4 (non partisan) James Cooper, Live Oak; Ed daSilva, Live Oak; and Jane T. Lowe, Wellborn School Board District 5 (non partisan) J.M. Holtzclaw, O'Brien, incumbent, no oppo- sition Arrest i: Continued Fromn-.age2A Larney, July 22, Otis James Thomas, 51, McAlpin, pos- session of cocaine, posses- sion of drug paraphernalia, violation of probation on original charge .of posses- sion of controlled sub- stance, LOPD B. Williams. July 22, Spencer David Warner, 35, 4087 CR 249, battery, SCSO D. Watson. July 23, Michael James Eveland, 26, O'Brien, vio- lation of probation on origi- nal charges of purchase of cocaine, possession of con- trolled -substance, battery domestic violence-two counts, SCSO B. Akey. July 23, Heidi-Ann Teal Hofer, 29, 8828 145th Dri- ve, theft of credit card, fraudulent use of credit card over $100 more than two uses, grand theft III, LOPD J. Rountree. July 23, Michael Robert Johnson, 29, 1710 E. Howard St., failure to ap- pear on original charges of passing worthless checks- two counts, SCSO C. Tomp- kins. July 23, Alane Williams, 45, 13365 106th Place, dri- ving while license suspend- ed with knowledge, LOPD B. Williams. Cosmetology Classes start August 10. Call 386-364-2798 for more information. SUWANNE- E HAMILTON TECHNICAL CENTER 415 S.W. Pinewood Dr. Live Oak, FL 32064 (386) 364-2750269852-F . July. 24,,,.Nancy R.oberts . Collins, 54, Lake City, hold for Columbia County, SCSO M. Jelks. July 24, Moises Espinoza- Vega,.23, McAlpin, no valid driver's license, SCSO T. Roberts. July' 24, Angela Marie Geib, 23, 646 Washington Ave. SW, sentenced to sev- en days in county jail, SCSO D. Downing. July. 24, Stanley Ger- hauser, 52, 134 Horizon Circle, violation of proba- .tion on original charges of grand theft motor vehicle, grand theft III, P and P S. O'Hara. July 24, Audrey Denise Green, 45,. 3249 161st St., possession of crack cocaine, LOPD A.'Land;J Bates. July 24, Joe Hewett, 26, O'Brien, failure to appear on original charge of worth- less checks, SCSO M. Jelks. July 24, Eric Lee Kemper, 31, Lake Butler, failure to comply on original charge of sexual offender registra- tion, SCSO S. Law. July 24, Terry L. Light, 39, Mayo, violation of pro- bation on original charge of felony child support (Ohio), P and P Blair. July 24, Thomas A. Pip- .kin, 54, 3249 161st Road, possession of crack.cocaine, LOPD A. Land/J. Bates, July 24, Ozell Robinson, 30, 103 George St., conspir- acy to sell or deliver co- caine, SCSO M. Ramirez. July 24, James A. Steven- son, 35, Tampa, contempt of court for failure to pay, SCSO S. Law. July 24, Elmo Walker, 47, 609 Scriven St., violation of probation on original charges of possession of controlled substance-three counts, LOPD R. Raymond. NWTF ATTENTION HUNTERS AND CONSERVATIONISTS: The Suwannee River Strutters / Live Oak Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will be holding an organizational meeting to plan the Annual Banquet for February, 2007. If you have ever attended a banquet or would like to, we want you! We are looking for anyone With an interest in the great outdoors willing to help you plan the greatest event of the year! Our organizational meeting will be held August 1 at 7:00 pm. For information, please contact: John Baucom 208-0672 or 590-0256 283030-F PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Live Oak is applying for a grant through the Florida, Department of Environmental Protection to develop Harrell Heights Park located at 902 Winderweedle St. NW We want you to have an opportunity to let us know the recreational needs and facilities you would like considered for this project. Anyone interested is invited to attend the meeting to be held August 1, 2006, 5:30 P.M. at the park area located at 902 Winderweedle St. NW. 282475-F Attention American Profile readers! Here 's a peek' a[t 'wht'% ihside the Friday.' I'ly 28, Ameirican Profile which is a bonus newsmagazine in each weekend edition of the Suwannieei Democrat. COVER STORY: Superlatives LISA-From California's redwood forest to Florida's Gulf Stream waters, the United States is home to hundreds of superlatives-the biggest, the tallest and the smallest of everything imaginable-from the longest covered bridge in Windsor, Vt., to the shortest river near Lincoln City, Ore. PEOPLE: Keeping the Faeth-For more than 150 years, the Faeth fanmly in Fort Madi- son, Iowa, has been growing apples at Faeth Orchards. Although their business has changed over the years, the Faeth family's love for its orchard and its hentage hasn't. PLACES: Lobsters and Lighthouses-Home to historic lighthouses and a bustling com- mercial harbor, Rockland Maine, pop. 7,609) is rich in maritime histo-r seasoned sea- men and fresh lobster. The town celebrates its love of the sea Land the delectable crus- tacean each summer during the Maine Lobster Festival. FOOD: Butterfinger Dessert-An Illinois reader shares this recipe for a delicious dessert. FOOD: Sand Tarts-A New Mexico reader shares this cookie recipe. HOME: Better, Faster Kitchen Cleaning-Carving out some time to deep clean and clear out the clutter in your kitchen is important. These tips will help you get the job done fast. a ^ $1,000 in cash or i an opportunity to drive a real Nextel Cup race car at 't the Richard Petty Driving School _ Call for complete details 386-;55-0600 or 386-362-3433 S i DI' D .l i *, , i i, I -- PAGE 3A NSUWANNEE DEMOCRAP/LIVE OAK WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2006