Letter: Questions The Record’s legal advice

Letter: Questions The Record’s legal advice

Bob Hamby
Palm Coast, FL

Dear Editor:

I have written to The St Augustine Record publisher, Delinda Fogel, editor Kathy Nelson, and opinions editor Jim Sutton because they are quoting Florida law — without giving the statute. It appears to unfairly diminish the value of the other Republican candidate in the District 6 race, Derek Hankerson.

In The Record on Sunday, they published “Editorial: FSU job could complicate local senate race”. The newspaper editorial describes three scenarios where Thrasher, a candidate who qualified for re-election, might ditch the elected office in favor of the presidency of Florida State University.

The Record states, for a fact, what will happen if Thrasher drops out before the Primary Election, August 26th. They say we should not expect that scenario. But, if you can imagine for a moment that The Record could be wrong, Thrasher’s Republican opponent, Derek Hankerson, advances to the General Election to face a Democrat and an independent.

And, what if Thrasher survives the Primary — but drops out before the General Election in November? The Record describes a political maneuver that will play out between the Republican Executive Committee members in St Johns, Putnam, Flagler and Volusia County, who will decide who the Republican candidate will be to face the two other candidates.

But WAIT a minute … The Record says, “State law would prohibit Hankerson from being that choice.” Really? I don’t understand that. Because Thrasher refused to withdraw from the campaign to pursue the FSU presidency, the voters in four counties may be voting for a ghost. I don’t like the smell of that, either. In any event, I want the newspaper to give me more than their opinion of how we will or will not elect our next state senator.

I have asked The Record to please provide me with the applicable statute rather than quoting Thrasher or his surrogates. The Record editorial had the sound of “Chicken Little” rather than responsible journalism.