CONSERVATIVE CONTROL STARTS SMALL
COMPILED BY LUCY MANESS WARNER
AUGUST 3, 2016


HORRIFIC LOCAL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AD BY TEA PARTY CANDIDATE -- BEFORE YOU READ ANY FURTHER LISTEN TO THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO WITH THE SOUND AT FULL VOLUME. IMAGINE THIS ASSAULT ON YOUR EARS BEFORE YOU’RE EVEN OUT OF BED.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BEVKNFAQ3s&feature=share
Janet Adkins attack ad August 2, 2016. You have to hear it to believe it!


THIS WOKE ME UP TODAY, WITH A SENSE OF SHOCK. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A SINGULARLY NASTY AND LOUD AD REMINISCENT OF THE TEA PARTY GUY CARLOS BERUFF DOING IN A LOCAL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT POSITION? BOTH ADKINS AND BERUFF ARE RECIPIENTS OF SOME BIG MONEY, MOSTLY ADKINS, AND THE ADS ARE BOMBASTIC. THIS IS OUT OF PLACE IN THE SITUATION OF A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT POSITION, I THOUGHT. IT’S ODD, BUT NOT COMPLETELY SURPRISING.

THE TEA PARTY RIGHT HAS BEEN INFILTRATING LOCAL POLITICS AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH EXTREME SOCIAL/ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY AND EVEN BLATANTLY RACIAL MATERIAL EVER SINCE THEY CAME ON THE SCENE. THAT’S THE CONTEXT FOR A CANDIDATE LIKE TRUMP’S EMERGENCE. THIS IS BOLSTERED BY HEAVY POLITICAL USE OF THE INTERNET AS WELL.

SANDERS RECENTLY RECOMMENDED THAT LEFT-LEANING PROGRESSIVES DO THE SAME THING – FORM ACTIVE INTERNET GROUPS AND RUN OUR CANDIDATES TO LOCAL/STATE/FEDERAL OPENINGS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I AGREE WITH HIM. WE NEED THE STRONG GRASSROOTS PUSH THAT THE TEA PARTY HAS BEEN USING. WE NEED TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST A PERVADING DARKNESS THAT HAS EMERGED.

IT TURNS OUT THAT JANET ADKINS IS A SOCIALLY RIGHTLEANING REPUBLICAN WITH SOME SCHOOL BOARD EXPERIENCE, BUT NO OTHER EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AT ALL. HER OPPONENT IS ALSO A REPUBLICAN, BUT A GENTLER AND MORE EDUCATION-ORIENTED ONE – A HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND WELL-LIKED TEACHER OF MANY YEARS. SHE IS IN FAVOR OF COMMON CORE AS IT STRESSES THE TEACHING OF KEY SKILLS AND SUBJECT AREAS. SHE HAS MADE A GOOD SHOWING FOR HERSELF FINANCIALLY SO FAR ALSO, THOUGH ADKINS IS AHEAD, MAINLY FROM HIGH ROLLERS.

ADKINS WANTS TO SEE THAT NO LIBERAL-LEANING IDEAS ARE TO BE TAUGHT IN THE NASSAU COUNTY SCHOOLS. THE OPPONENT IS WINNING, I PREDICT, HOWEVER. SINCE TODAY’S AD, HUNDREDS OF FURIOUS RESPONSES HAVE BEEN RECORDED ON THE NASSAU COUNTY FACEBOOK SITE AGAINST ADKINS. HER HIGHPRICED TV AD IS PROBABLY GOING TO SINK HER RATHER THAN RAISING HER BOATS. SEE THIS EXCELLENT AND INFORMATIONAL ARTICLE BELOW ON THE RACE.



http://fernandinaobserver.com/2016/02/05/follow-the-money-comparing-adkins-and-burns-campaigns-for-school-superintendent/

Follow the money: Comparing Adkins’ and Burns’ campaigns for School Superintendent
Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst


Because the 2016 race for Nassau County School Superintendent between Republican candidates Janet Adkins and Kathy Burns appears to be the one that is generating the most interest at the local level today, I decided to look more closely into the campaign contributions that both candidates received during calendar year 2015. Initially I also included Libertarian candidate Cheryl Reynolds James in my calculations, but since she has reported only 5 donations totaling $900.40 to date, I decided to reserve judgment on whether she is a serious or credible candidate.

Superintendent_sign-1067x600 Statistics in the table below were taken from campaign treasurer reports on file with the Supervisor of Elections. I have included cash, in-kind and loans from the candidates to their own campaigns, as well as the candidates’ own contributions to their campaigns. Any errors or omissions may be laid at my feet, not those of either the candidates or their treasurers.

[Note: Schools 1, 2, 3, 4 charts on website.]

Adkins’ fundraising has far outpaced that of Burns. However, if you eliminate the highest category of contributions ($500+), the statistics are not that far apart:

The major difference is among the high level contributors. I compiled the following, again from records provided by the candidates, to indicate the source and amounts provided by the contributors in the highest categories, breaking out $500 donors and $1,000 donors. Note that the highest donation that can be given per election cycle is $1,000.

Given that the Nassau School Superintendent position should be a matter of concern primarily for Nassau County people, it is striking that of the highest donors in the Adkins campaign, only 11 out of 76 come from Nassau County individuals and businesses, while 29 of Burns’ 38 high level contributors are listed with Nassau County addresses, including current Superintendent of Schools John Ruis.

Voters should take into account that as a State Representative, Adkins developed many contacts with lobbying firms and advocacy groups. Also, charter school proponents and health-related organizations make up a large portion of her contributions. But what do these groups have to do with running the Nassau County School District? Why would they “invest” in Adkins’ campaign?

Should candidates for county office need to raise so much money to mount a campaign?

And my final question: Is this campaign about how best to educate Nassau County children or how to secure the highest paid elected office in the county?

You be the judge.

Our county’s children will be directly impacted by this election. And unless you are a registered Republican, you will not have a voice in this election.


Suanne Thamm Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.


16 RESPONSES TO FOLLOW THE MONEY: COMPARING ADKINS’ AND BURNS’ CAMPAIGNS FOR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT

Robert Warner says:
FEBRUARY 5, 2016 AT 7:07 AM
Who would have guessed…. And Adkins just voted in the Florida Legislature to allow gun carry on Florida Campuses. Perhaps Cheryl James, the libertarian running as a third candidate for the GOP nomination for Superintendent, might want to follow the lead of Rand Paul’s principled withdrawal from the GOP nominations process and withdraw herself from the race. Might open up county wide this critical school board election to those that care more about the quality of their children’s education than the agenda’s of their sponsors.

Peggy Bulger says:
FEBRUARY 5, 2016 AT 9:39 AM
Thank you Suanne, for giving us FACTS . . . there have been many rumors and intimations concerning the non-local support for Janet Adkins and the lobbyists who are investing in this Nassau County race to benefit financially with our school children as the losers. This information gives us definite information on which to base our vote. Our schools are rated as excellent and our school administrators and teachers deserve the BEST for a superintendent. Dr. Kathy Burns is a most qualified and respected educator who has no hidden agenda . . . . she wants to continue and improve on the outstanding work of the Nassau County School System. I hope that all of Nassau County voters realize how important this race is!

Mrs. Audrey Stone says:
FEBRUARY 5, 2016 AT 11:23 AM
I wrote a Letter to the Editor months ago, supporting Kathy Burns, and wish to once again give her my support. Ms. Adkins is a politician and I am not criticizing her for that; she has done her job and done it well; but now her term of office is coming to an end, and she is looking for another “job” – well, everyone in Nassau County who is eligible to vote needs to come out strong for Ms. Burns, who has devoted years and years to our school system. She is indeed well qualified for the position of Superintendent and has earned it. Money for Ms. Adkins is coming from people who have absolutely no interest in our Bd. of Education!

Steve Crounse says:
FEBRUARY 5, 2016 AT 9:06 PM
Ms Stone, my feeling is, That the outside contributors to Ms Adkins campaign, have great interest in this race for Superintendent of Schools. All monetary, a lot of money flows a school system this size, but unfortunately the children don’t always benefit. Always follow the money.

Dave Lott says:
FEBRUARY 5, 2016 AT 1:02 PM
Very informative and interesting. Thanks Suanne.

Genece Minshew says:
FEBRUARY 5, 2016 AT 2:51 PM
Wait, why is Dayspring Village and Health each giving political contributations? Aren’t these non-profit organizations that take in government funding for their clients? What money was actually used for these contributions? I understand that Rep. Adkins husband is the director there. I’ve generously supported their Santa program but now I must rethink where my money goes. This does not seem right.

Thomas C. Washburn says:
FEBRUARY 5, 2016 AT 6:17 PM
Thank you, indeed, Suanne, for this informative article.
My question #1: Why is this position even an elected one? And, it certainly should not be the result of a partisan election.
My question #2: Why are Dayspring Village and Dayspring Health making large partisan political contributions to Adkins!
My opinion: The candidate with the educational degrees and background is the obviously correct person for this job as Nassau County Superintendent of Schools.

Steve Crounse says:
FEBRUARY 5, 2016 AT 7:28 PM
Great questions above, and concerns. Just remember this contest will not be in the general election. It will be decided in the Republican Primary, between Janet Adkins and Dr. Kathy Burns. If you are not registered in the Republican Party, You will not have a vote for Nassau County Superintendent Of Schools. Nothing against Ms Adkins she seems like a nice person, and served herself and Nassau County in the State House. I thank her for that. But this is about all our Childrens Education. She is not the best candidate for Superintendent of our Schools. Only one qualified person is on the ticket. Dr K. Burns. This position in most communities, is a Non-Partisan position, and advertised, as was our City Managers Job. That conversation is for another day. make sure you are in a position to vote in this important election.

Al Smith says:
FEBRUARY 5, 2016 AT 10:06 PM
Great article Suanne. Following the money will almost always lead you to the truth, in this case, the truth that Janet Adkins is a powerful POLITICIAN. A powerful politician who is losing her job to established term limits. With that said, it appears that Ms. Adkins is now attempting to utilize her political power to buy her way into a new elected job, Nassau County Schools Superintendent, regardless of her qualifications, or should I say, lack thereof. Adkins touts her service as a Florida State Representative, wherein she served on a few educational committees, as her qualifications. I’m sorry, but serving as a Florida Representative & sitting on a few educational committees is not going to cut it. The Office of School Superintendent is a very vital position within our county. We currently have one of the best school districts in the entire State of Florida. We have at least one school that has been recognized as one of the best in the entire United States. With that said, do we really want to turn over control of our schools to a “career politician”? I sure hope not. Dr. Kathy Burns is truly the only qualified candidate running. Dr. Burns has dedicated most of her adult life to the education of children. Her qualifications trump Adkins, A Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, A Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership, and finally a Doctorate Degree in Education. Voted teacher of the year on (3) different occasions. I may be wrong, but don’t believe Adkins has any degrees associated with education, nor do I believe she has ever worked in a public school. So with all that said, do we elect a person who has dedicated herself to public education, Dr. Kathy Burns, or someone who has been nothing but a career politician and who is searching for yet another elected job? For me, the answer is simple, Dr. Kathy Burns.

Leona J Byrne says:
FEBRUARY 6, 2016 AT 12:55 AM
Professional politicians have a place in the world, just not here, not now. Nassau County needs a professional who is passionate about education, not someone looking for a cushy stopover on their way up the political ladder.

Robert Warner says:
FEBRUARY 6, 2016 AT 10:05 AM
Since the existence of a third candidate in this GOP primary for our Nassau County Schools Superintendent seems a critical issue, perhaps it is time to look at the third candidate more closely?

Orlando Avila says:
FEBRUARY 6, 2016 AT 4:00 PM
The 3rd candidate is a Libertarian who will only appear in the General election ballot. Here [sic] presence is what is causing this primary to be a closed primary.

Robert Warner says:
FEBRUARY 7, 2016 AT 6:47 AM
I know. We need to ask why.

John Bertsch says:
FEBRUARY 6, 2016 AT 1:13 PM
When we moved to Fernandina Beach eleven years ago, we were dumbfounded to find out that the Superintendent of Schools was elected. We had lived in suburban New York City (Westchester County) and our Superintendent of Schools was selected by the Board of Education ( a 5-7 member body of local citizens, who volunteered to run and were elected by the voters for 3 year periods). These BOE members received no remuneration of any sort and represented some of the best schools in the United States. The recruitment of a new Superintendent of Schools was a thorough review of an applicant’s background and credentials. The minimum requirement was at least a Master’s in Education–current Superintendents are required to have either a Ph.D or Ed.D and several years of experience in both the classroom and administrative office. The selection process consisted of the BOE members and a committee of selected teachers and parents.

We no longer have any children in a school system, only grandchildren. However, we are still dumbfounded with the Nassau County system. It is far better to separate politics and education. They do not mix – and this has been proven over and over again. One only has to look at the state of Kansas for proof.

Steve Crounse says:
FEBRUARY 7, 2016 AT 5:15 PM
I think this dialog, is a good one and timely. I would hope there will be an open forum by the Candidates to discuss these concerns with the Electorate. Why outside Nassau county contributions from Lobbyist and Corporations? Charter School operators?, it’s our School System? Why would a Charitable Organization be Donating to a Partisan Election? Isn’t their operations financed by Grant Moneys ( our tax dollars) and Donations. Is that even legal? who would make those decision at the Charity? Who financed the Libertarians Application to Run for Nassau County Superintendent of Schools? What possible qualifications could she have to even be considered for that position? Or could it be possible that the only reason this person ran was to deny over 40% of the Electorate in Nassau County the right to Vote for our Childrens future education. Could it be that, The political bosses in Nassau are pulling the wool over the Electorate eyes once again? Lets hope, we don’t give them another chance. Dirty politics, is not the right of either the Democrats or Republicans We all deserve a say in ours and our kids future. Make sure you can Vote in the upcoming Republican Primary. It’s the only time, we all will have a chose.

Robert Warner says:
FEBRUARY 8, 2016 AT 7:09 AM
Steve Crouse asks the right questions. There is still time this week to change one’s registration to GOP and access one’s right to vote in this gamed primary. Sad thing is that now outside influence and “exploitation” are using our top rated public school system and our kids’ minds as it’s next target of opportunity.

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED.



https://www.facebook.com/groups/Nassau.County.Fl.RRR/ -- RRR MEANS RANTS RAVES AND REVIEWS


School Superintendent Fight With “Conservative/Moderate to Liberal” Arguments Between Two Republicans --

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Political party, Republican. Spouse(s), Doug. Children, Emily, Douglas. Alma mater · Florida State College at Jacksonville (A.A.) University of North Florida (B.S.) (M.B.A.). Profession, Information technology. Religion, Baptist. Janet H. Adkins (born on October 9, 1965) is a Republican member of the Florida House of ...

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JANET AND DOUG ADKINS -- A POWER COUPLE:

Doug Adkins lobbying AGAINST privatization:


http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/state-rep-jane-adkins-fight-to-save-northeast-florida-state-hospital-lacks/992177

State Rep. Jane Adkins' fight to save Northeast Florida State Hospital lacks full disclosure
By Shannon Colavecchio, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 1:05pm

TALLAHASSEE — A freshman lawmaker's fight to save the state mental hospital in her district from privatization is more complicated — and personal — than it looks.

Rep. Janet Adkins' husband owns and operates Dayspring Village, a Nassau County assisted-living facility that gets patients from Northeast Florida State Hospital.

Since July 2006, Dayspring has received more than $300,000 in contracts through the Department of Children and Families to house mental health patients, according to the DCF.

Dayspring executive director Doug Adkins has joined his wife's crusade — becoming an outspoken advocate against the privatization of Northeast Florida State Hospital. Some lawmakers and legislative staffers have confused him for a lobbyist.

"I've never represented myself as a lobbyist," he said.

The Adkins' interest in policies affecting publicly subsidized health care illustrates the conflicts that can arise between part-time Florida lawmakers' private interests and their public votes.

In these final weeks of the legislative session, those votes can cause big changes.

The future of Northeast Florida State Hospital is playing a large role in tense budget talks between lawmakers seeking to fill the state's $3 billion budget deficit. Privatization giant GEO Group, based in Boca Raton and represented by several powerful lobbyists, wants to privatize the Baker County hospital.

Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, is fighting that bid. She started crying during a recent committee meeting when the proposal was discussed. She never mentioned her family owned assisted-living facility's relationship with the state hospital.

"When you have a citizen Legislature, you're going to have an overlap of things people are involved in," said DCF Secretary George Sheldon. "She has a broad responsibility to represent her constituents, which includes that hospital. But clearly, it's a relationship that probably ought to be publicly disclosed."

Doug Adkins, whose 94-bed facility cares for adults with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, is not registered to lobby the Legislature.

Yet his resume on the Web site for Dayspring states he is "actively involved in legislative lobbying and policy debates in Tallahassee regarding ALF (assisted living facility) care."

He drops in on Senate staffers to talk about legislation or deliver "talk sheets" in favor of legislation affecting assisted-living facilities for the mentally ill.

Some of the legislation that gets decided by lawmakers — Janet Adkins included — could affect the Adkins' assisted-living facility.

She is sponsoring legislation that would create a group to develop recommendations on state policy and budgeting issues affecting Florida criminals with serious mental illness.

The first committee stop for HB 349 was the House health care services policy committee, on which Janet Adkins serves. She joined six representatives in a unanimous "yes" vote.

That legislation has brought little attention to Janet Adkins. It's her fight to keep Northeast Florida State Hospital in state hands that has garnered headlines.

Joe Infantino, the hospital's administrator, said his facility released 41 patients since July 2007 into an assisted-living facility — four to Dayspring Village.

Also, Dayspring between July 2006 and February 2007 had a subcontract worth more than $82,000 with Northwest Behavioral Health Services to provide up to 10 beds for mental health patients at $55 a day, according to the DCF. Between February 2007 and June 2008, Dayspring secured another subcontract from Northwest Behavioral — this time worth $240,900, and for 12 beds at $55 a day, according to the DCF.

According to the Agency for Health Care Administration, Medicaid reimbursed Dayspring Village a total of $212,773.92 for assisted-living care services during the state's 2007-08 fiscal year.

Shannon Colavecchio can be reached at scolavecchio@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.

State Rep. Jane Adkins' fight to save Northeast Florida State Hospital lacks full disclosure 04/14/09 [Last modified: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 10:25pm]
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Two Years Later, Doug Adkins Lobbying FOR privatization:

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2011-05-13/story/florida-legislators-husband-making-behind-scenes-push-mental-health

Florida legislator's husband making behind-the-scenes push for mental-health privatization plan
Doug Adkins, who owns a private facility, says lobbying efforts do not conflict with wife's work.

By Matt Dixon Fri, May 13, 2011 @ 12:00 am | updated Fri, May 13, 2011 @ 10:10 am

In the final weeks of the legislative session, a plan to privatize 20 mental-health beds in Northeast Florida was pushed by the owner of a Nassau County mental-health facility. The new business would be worth more than $400,000 in state funding and also bring additional federal dollars.

Doug Adkins, the husband of state Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, owns Dayspring Village, a facility that specializes in schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorders. On April 28, he met with Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, and David Wilkins, secretary of the Department of Children and Families, to lobby to have language he had written inserted into the state budget.

That didn't happen because time ran out on the legislative session, but officials said the issue is not dead.

The plan would eliminate 82 state-funded beds for mental-health patients who may be violent and shift 20 beds for less-dangerous patients to a private company in Northeast Florida. The Adkins plan did not mention a specific facility.

The state had already recommended doing away with the 82 beds at a savings of $9.9 million. Taking the additional 20 beds off the state's books would cut costs by an additional $1.7 million, according to a copy of the two-page plan reviewed by the Times-Union.

Adkins, who is also a Nassau County Republican state committeeman, says that there is no conflict between his wife's work as a state lawmaker and him lobbying for the "bed swap" plan.

"I've been in this industry since before Janet and I met or got married," he said. "We are very careful to make sure things don't look like any sort of conflict."

He currently has a 12-bed DCF subcontract worth $240,000 through Jacksonville-based Northwest Behavioral Health Services, according to that agency. Since 2006, Dayspring has been awarded additional DCF subcontracts worth a total of $322,900 through Northwest Behavioral.

Janet Adkins, who did not return requests seeking comment, has played an influential role in the state mental-health industry. Since getting elected in 2009, she has been a driving force in preventing Northeast Florida State Hospital in Macclenny from becoming privatized.

Since 2007, Doug Adkins' 94-bed facility received seven patients directly referred from that hospital, records show.

Janet Adkins has also filed a bill in 2009 that would have created a group to make recommendations on how to best handle criminals with mental illness, and another in 2010 that would have created a forensic mental-health probation and parole program and create mental-health courts. Both bills failed.

Wise did not return calls seeking comment.

So, what would the bed transfer mean in dollars and cents?

"Rest assured that there would be a combination of Medicaid, Medicare dollars and state/federal dollars," Denise Marzullo, president of Mental Health America of Northeast Florida, wrote in an email. "They would sign a contract that would provide funding per bed and then bill Medicaid, Medicare once they are eligible to do so."

Estimates regarding how much in federal money would be available under the bed swap plan are tough to come by, Marzullo said. State numbers, though, are easier to pin down.

The plan would save the state money because the beds cost $333 per day, and facilities like Doug Adkins' can do it for $55 per day. Under the plan, the state would be pay a private facility $55 per day for each of the beds, or roughly $401,500 annually.

A spokesman for the state DCF said the agency would be amenable to the type of plan proposed but it was too late in the game to get the language into the recently crafted 2011-12 budget.

"Once we get past the budget, we would be more than happy to look at the proposal," Joe Follick said.

He said that language written by Adkins could be added by the Legislative Budget Commission, a panel of lawmakers who makes mid-year budget tweaks.

Doug Adkins said the plan is about cost savings.

"We all know the state needs to cut back," he said. "I think this plan really helps do that."

matt.dixon@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4174


Answers to Doug Adkins’ claims (latest first):

LibR8r
Sunday, May 15, 2011 @ 8:51 pm
The mental health system, and I use the word "system" quite loosely here, in north Florida is woefully inadequate. Presently, the jails and medical hospitals, neither of which are equipped to meet the needs of the critically mentally ill, are carrying the lion's share of the load. That means that people in need of care are not getting it and systems designed for other purposes are forced to provide services/staffing that are not within their mission.

Privatization essentially means that someone/business entity is going to make a profit at the expense of those living with mental illness while those people living with mental illness and not able to access the private services will languish. It's shameful.

angie
Saturday, May 14, 2011 @ 5:35 am
Republican$ love privatization - regardless of the consequences and increased cost to taxpayers.

Republicans' Floriduh - a state government of, by, and for the Corporations.

Mr. Jones
MORE
59 points
Mr. Jones
Saturday, May 14, 2011 @ 2:25 am
Westside, he's not the only one. I'm also allowed to get on here and spew my rhetoric and slanted views.

westsidebestside
MORE
0 points
westsidebestside
Friday, May 13, 2011 @ 10:20 pm
It appears that "MilitaryRetiree" has an issue with the company that he used to work for and is using this opportunity to lash out by making innuendos about people that he probably doesn't even know. Besides, who said anything about "the wife" pushing for privatization or pushing the concept, as you put it? The article said that she has been the driving force to keep the state hospitals from becoming privatized, so your argument doesn't add up to me. Another thing, what if I do know Mr. Adkins or Rep. Adkins as you suggest? Does that mean that I can't have an opinion on the matter or are you the only one that should be allowed to get on here and spew your rhetoric and slated views?



http://floridapolitics.com/archives/194427-janet-adkins-builds-a-strong-lead-in-nassau-county-school-commish-race

Janet Adkins builds a strong $ lead in Nassau County school commish race

A.G. GANCARSKI
November 12, 2015, 1:43 pm

The next move for State Representative Janet Adkins: a run for Nassau County Commissioner of Schools. And as her husband and campaign manager, Doug Adkins, writes in an email, things are going well.

Adkins, who served on the Nassau County School Board for a decade before running for the State House in 2008, has over a 2 to 1 lead in contributions ($50,815 to $19,371) against her only meaningful competition: School Board member Kathy Burns.

Meanwhile, Rep. Adkins has a very specific fundraising goal, and she’s not quite there yet.

“We expected this campaign will cost in excess of $169,000 and will continue to work hard to raise the money to help ensure our campaign can the message out to the voters and outline my plan to improve our schools,” Rep. Adkins said.

Team Adkins is benefiting from well-established connections, both in Northeast Florida, and Tallahassee, as October’s numbers suggest.

Just 22 donations were made to Adkins last month, totaling $13,750.

8 of those are maximum contributions, including from lobbyist Ronald Book, Charter Schools USA, School Development HC Finance, and “Unreasonable Leadership Book,” associated with charter cheerleader Gary Chartrand‘s book, which was “meant to show how an established company … can undergo progressive transformation and flourish — provided that its leaders temper their risk-averse tendencies with selective yet bold out-of-the-box thinking,” says Chartrand.

The $500 club includes two familiar names: Duval County School Board member Scott Shine and former State Legislator and Jacksonville City Councilman Jim Tullis.

Meanwhile, Burns’ October was quieter, and one where she spent more than she took in.

Her just over $1,300 in contributions came from 13 locals; meanwhile, she spent $1,500.



From the Janet and Doug Adkins CLEARLY conservative website (Obviously included because of its' SHOCKING content):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppMxzk7ymyw
Comments centered on evolution and the learning of basic skills

Bill Nye: Could Common Core be the antidote for Creationist teachers?

Published on Sep 3, 2014
]
Bill Nye (The Science Guy!) discusses two lines of logic for Common Core opponents. The first is that standardization might stymie the passion of teachers and take the fun out of learning, an idea that Nye admits deserves some consideration. The second (and inappropriate) reason is that fringe anti-scientists like Creationists would be forced to stop pushing their distorted agenda.

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Transcript - If I were king of the forest we would have math in the core curriculum. Science would be in the core curriculum. English in the core curriculum. Elementary science is where you get scientists. Everybody in the space program, everybody who's a doctor got interested in science when he or she was seven or eight years old, before they were ten, not when they were 16 or 18. That's where you spend your money is science education in elementary levels. Now, people are opposed to core curriculum I believe for two reasons. One of them good and the other just not. The first reason, my perception is they are afraid having these core curriculums, these standards, prohibits teachers from having time to do other stuff that they're good at. It takes away from other things that a teacher brings to the party. And by that I mean what is your favorite thing about your favorite teacher? And it's his or her passion. It's his or her like I'm so excited about this I want you to get excited about this when you're a little kid or when you're any student at any level, even if you're a 58-year-old guy going to the Smithsonian to take a course in oceanography for fun. It's the passion of the person presenting it that gets you going. So, by having too many standards that have to be met too rigorously, the concern is, and I understand this, that you'll keep students from having any fun and getting excited about anything.

But the other reason people seem to be, my perception of what people don't like about core curricula is that it forces them to learn standard stuff when they could be teaching their kids things that are inconsistent with what we know about science. I'm talking about people that want to teach creationism instead of biology. And that's just bad. And the excuse or the justification is you don't want the government telling you what to do. We all have to learn the alphabet everybody. I'm sorry, if we're we're going to have a successful society, it's not an arbitrary arrangement of letters, you got to learn it. Sorry. And the same way if you're asking me everybody's got to learn a little bit of physics, chemistry, mathematics and you got to learn some evolution. You got to learn some biology.

I mean the idea is obvious right? You have a certain minimum that everybody's got to meet. What? Everybody's got to learn the alphabet. Everybody's got to learn to read. The U.S. Constitution is written in english so everybody's got to learn to read english. It would be great if you learned some tonal languages, some romance language that would be good, but our laws are written in english. Everybody's got to learn to read english. Everybody's got to learn math. Everybody's got to learn some algebra. Everybody's got to learn some biology including evolution. So what's not to love? But I know there are people opposed to that.

Directed / Produced by Jonathan Fowler, Elizabeth Rodd, and Dillon Fitton



FINALLY, A GOOD PIE-THROWING ASSAULT ON ADKINS:

http://wonkette.com/594260/white-republican-congresslady-has-badass-idea-for-getting-rid-of-black-congresslady

White Republican Congresslady Has Badass Idea For Getting Rid Of Black Congresslady
By Evan Hurst - September 28, 2015 - 8:30am

Gerrymandering is just a fancy word for racism y'all

Wonkers, meet a nominee for the coveted Legislative Shitmuffin Of The Year prize. Her name is Rep. Janet Adkins, and she is a Republican congresslady from Florida. Is she a asshole? Well, if she kisses her own ass with the mouth that said this idea, then yes, she is:

In a private gathering during last month’s Republican Party of Florida quarterly meeting, state Rep. Janet Adkins told a group of North Florida GOP activists that the key to defeating Corrine Brown, a black Jacksonville Democrat, is boosting the number of black prisoners in her district.

“You draw [Brown’s seat] in such a fashion so perhaps, a majority, or maybe not a majority, but a number of them will live in the prisons, thereby not being able to vote,” said Adkins, a Nassau County Republican, referring to black residents.

Oh, we think we see what she is saying! You draw everything all cattywampus so all of a sudden, Rep. Brown’s district is full of not just The Blacks, but The Blacks who are currently in prison and thus not eligible to vote! Just kidding, we did not have to translate that for you, as Rep. Adkins didn’t really mince words.

But come on, you’re saying, surely this isn’t the strategy she wants out there in the press. And you are right! Because just before she said her racist fuckpuddle of an un-American, un-democratic idea, she said this:

“Let me give you inside ball game. Are there any reporters in here?” she said. “Any reporters? OK. So, inside ball game.”

What a dickface.
Of course, according to Politico Florida, Rep. Brown’s district was ALREADY gerrymandered all to fuck (so badly that it was ruled unconstitutional), and then the Florida Supreme Court ordered new lines drawn (by Republicans), which just made it worse:

On maps passed by both the House and Senate during an August redistricting special session, lawmakers redrew Brown’s seat to stretch west from Jacksonville to the Tallahassee region. It currently winds from Jacksonville to Orlando and is considered one of the most gerrymandered seats in the country.

And for SOME reason, Brown doesn’t like the new map, because then the share of eligible black voters in the district would drop even more, partially due to how there are 18 prisons in it. And oh, by the way, did we mention that Florida Democrats are pretty sure the entire reason the old lines were drawn the way they were is so Democrats are “packed” into Brown’s district, leaving the surrounding districts safe for the white Republicans?

Adkins has issued a non-apology apology, saying she’s real sorry if she made anybody mad. This is because she is a fuckbiscuit who isn’t actually sorry, and also she is a asshole. Rep. Brown, for her part, is suing in federal court, and we hope she wins, because fuck Florida Republicans, right in their smarmy earholes.

[Politico Florida via Think Progress]

Evan Hurst
http://wonkette.com
Evan Hurst is the Senior Editor of Wonkette. He spends his days deflecting the sad glances of his black lab, Lula, who would please like him to stop typing letters to the internet and throw the squeaky chicken in the backyard instead. Though the internet does not give him credit, it's probably his fault Aaron Schock is no longer a congressperson, due how Evan would not stay off his tail during the SCANDALS. (Not in a sex way, in a writing way!) Also, he writes songs and plays the piano, at the same time! Lastly, Evan is a Southern person, and thus is casting polite judgment on you, right now, for reading this. Bless your heart.

Read more at http://wonkette.com/594260/white-republican-congresslady-has-badass-idea-for-getting-rid-of-black-congresslady#61uWipVPlgxVX0up.99




https://www.facebook.com/groups/Nassau.County.Fl.RRR/ -- RRR MEANS RANTS RAVES AND REVIEWS

RANTS

Pat Bullard
16 hrs
OK everyone! If you are upset about this horrible campaign ad that Janet Adkins has come out with than lets get involved. Kathy Burns is going to be needed sign wavers in the next few weeks. Contact her and let her know that you will be willing to do this for her because we certainly DO NOT want Adkins in the Superintendent's position. Let's show her she cannot bully her way into office.

Pat Bullard
16 hrs
I am appalled at the slanderous ad that the Adkins campaign has now created to try to discredit an amazing woman (Kathy Burns). I guess their philosophy is to win at any expense to innocent people like Kathy Burns. She is running a clean campaign and her goal is to do what is best for the children of Nassau County. She has never gotten into dirty campaigning and has never attacked her opponent in a negative way. Kathy Burns is the epitome of a Christian who is running for office to make our county the best it can be. She doesn't have an agenda for her own benefit as her opponent does and she certainly would never stoop to the level that the Adkins has stooped to. Once again I will say that the Adkins are a disgrace to the Republican Party.

more comments
William Frederico
William Frederico Holy crap! Honestly it's almost funny, Adkins has lost her mind.
Like · 3 · 1 hr
William Frederico
William Frederico Everyone should report the video on YouTube as hate speech.

Kim Pruitt Page
17 hrs · Fernandina Beach, FL
RANT: Well, now we know where Janet Adkins' money from the PACs in Tallahassee and Miami is being spent. I just saw the most ridiculous, vitriolic advertisement on TV, stating that Kathy Burns supports both Islam and the "dangerous" sharing of restrooms between the sexes in our schools. It would be laughable if it weren't so disgusting. Janet Adkins cannot win the Superintendent's race on her qualifications or her reputation, so she has stooped to an all-time low. It is shameful.

Hal Keene
2 hrs · Jacksonville, FL
Rant:
So I just looked over flyer from Janet Adkins. She's really reaching here. And honestly it pisses me off that she's bashing Dr. Burns for taking donations from unions. I am a union member as well AS FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS. So if you wanna reach I'd suggest Mrs. Adkins doesn't like unity nor the associations that stand behind and for, our first responders.

Paul Olson I have to credit the Adkins campaign. They have achieved something I would have thought impossible - unity in the RRR community. Close to 100% of RRR is in agreement on Adkins. Amazing.
Like · 7 · 1 hr
Chris Calderon
Chris Calderon Adkins supporters are too busy trashing their own signs for their campaign's victim card idea
Like · 2 · 1 hr
Leora Driver
Leora Driver Have you seen this commercial? I recorded it this morning. This is what happens when you are threatened.


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