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League of Women Voters of Florida

League Announces New Board Appointees

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The League of Women Voters of Florida is pleased to announce new additions to our Board of Directors. We welcome the Honorable Mark Pafford, who brings extensive government experience to the League; veteran political strategist Stephanie Owens; Marty Sullivan, Co-Chair of the Florida League’s Natural Resources Committee; and Maggie Lawrence, media buyer and project manager with SalterMitchell.
“The League is honored to welcome these new appointed directors,” said League President Pamela Goodman. “These new members will contribute significantly to the League’s continuing efforts to act on selected governmental issues and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. We look forward to working with them.”
The new board appointees will each serve one year along with the five officers and five directors who were elected during LWV Florida’s biennial convention in Fort Lauderdale earlier this month.
The League of Women Voters of Florida, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, please visit the League’s website at: www.TheFloridaVoter.org.

League Members Gather to Shape the Future

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Nearly 200 League members gathered in Fort Lauderdale Beach on Friday and Saturday at their State Convention to make decisions that will help direct and shape the League of Women Voters of Florida for the next two years.
But the overriding headline was the League’s explosive 65% membership growth this past year. LWVF is now the second largest state league in the country. Orange County with more than 750 members is now the second largest local league in the country, followed by third place Palm Beach and St. Petersburg fourth. A number of Leagues throughout the State have doubled their membership.
This is a year of which we can all be proud,” said LWVF President Pamela Goodman. “Our non-partisan, multi-position stand is drawing new members daily. But it is not just a question of numbers, it is the energy, knowledge, and determination of our members that makes Florida an example to Leagues throughout the nation. Our historical process is one of credibility and integrity. In the end, we make things happen.
The Open Primary Study, which achieved consensus earlier this year by its membership, was added to the League’s statewide positions. The aim of the study, which was headed by Orange County’s Michele Levy, and took two years to complete, was to examine ways to increase voter participation in primary elections. It recommended “statewide use of an Open Primary election system that would allow for the broadest possible voter participation, including No Party and Minor Party affiliate voters.<
Vikram Amar, dean of the University of Illinois College of Law, who spoke on the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, said that slavery was the biggest single driver behind the Electoral College. Dr. Amar said that today the Electoral College benefits from just a handful of states. “It is a good moment in U.S. history to change the Electoral College rules,” he said. “…we need a standard, national ballot
Additionally, The League formally began their work as a coalition partner in the campaign to get the citizen initiative regarding Restoration of Former Felons Rights on the 2018 ballot and discussed their role in the Constitution Revision Commission process.
There were workshops, caucuses and meetings, as well as time to make friends, influence people and hear words of wisdom from the League’s National President Chris Carson, Rick Christie, editorial page editor Palm Beach Post, former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fl., and Chris Hand, the senator’s co-author of “America The Owner’s Manual.”
Officers and Board Directors were also elected. Goodman, from Palm Beach County League, was re-elected as President for an additional 2 year term.
The remaining Board elected are:
1st Vice President: Patti Brigham,
2nd Vice President: Cecile Scoon,
Secretary: Pat Drago
Treasurer: Theresa Francis-Thomas
Board Members: Shawn Bartelt, Anna Eskamani, Lisa Hall, Julie Kessel, and Michele Levy
Nominating Committee: LaVonne Grayson, Mary Gutierrez, and Maggie Fernandez
The League of Women Voters of Florida, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, please visit the League’s website at: www.TheFloridaVoter.org.

Consumers Win In Gulf Power Settlement

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Proposed Drastic Fixed Charge Hike Rescinded

In a settlement to a challenge mounted by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and the League of Women Voters of Florida, represented by Earthjustice, Gulf Power has agreed to rescind a drastic fixed charge hike proposal that would have hurt customers.
“We are glad that Gulf Power has agreed to do the right thing,” said Earthjustice attorney Bradley Marshall. “Raising this fixed charge on monthly bills would have unfairly penalized people who use less energy, and that makes no sense.”
Gulf Power wanted to increase the monthly fixed charge on its residential customers’ bills from the already high amount of about $18 to nearly $50. This rate restructuring proposal was unprecedented nationally and would have hit families on low and fixed incomes hard.
“The voices of the citizens were instrumental in this decision. This shows that people are paying attention, getting educated on issues that affect them and speaking out,” said Pamela Goodman, President of the League of Women Voters of Florida. Leading up to the hearing, Gulf Power customers were very vocal in their opposition to the proposal, providing comment at public hearings in Panama City and Pensacola, as well as sending over 1,000 letters to the Public Service Commission.
“We are pleased to see Gulf Power withdraw the unprecedented fixed charge increase from their rate proposal,” said Dr. Stephen Smith Executive Director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “We firmly believe excessive fixed charges prevent consumers from being able to manage their bills with common sense actions like investments in energy efficiency and solar self generation. As rates continue to go up, consumers need the freedom and flexibility to control their cost while protecting the environment.”
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and the League of Women Voters of Florida applaud the abandonment of this unfair rate restructuring, but due to other concerns were unable to sign the settlement agreement.
The hearing is scheduled to begin on March 20th at 1 P.M. at which time the parties will present the settlement to the Public Service Commission.
The League of Women Voters of Florida, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, please visit the League’s website at: www.TheFloridaVoter.org.

 

Lisa Hall Joins LWVF Board of Directors

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The League of Women Voters of Florida announced on Tuesday that Lisa Hall will be joining the state board of directors. “Lisa represents the professionalism and expertise that is the hallmark of the League of Women Voters. It is a pleasure to be able to work alongside her,” said Pamela Goodman, president of LWV Florida.
Lisa Hall
Lisa Hall draws from nearly three decades of media experience – on both the receiving and sending ends. After nearly 17 years as a broadcast news producer, she launched her intended career in public relations in 2000 and led the public affairs practice as Senior Vice President of Salter>Mitchell (formerly Herrle Communications Group) until July of 2013.
As director of public affairs, Lisa played an important role in strategic planning by facilitating brainstorming sessions, developing creative content and identifying news angles. Lisa has led statewide campaigns that have resulted in major client victories. She led a grassroots campaign that helped save Florida’s State Library, spearheaded media and community relations that resulted in the largest preservation land purchase in Florida history and creation of the Babcock Ranch Preserve in Southwest Florida, and engaged Florida newspapers as reliable and outspoken allies for three Supreme Court Justices facing organized efforts to remove them from the bench in the 2012 merit retention races. The more than 272 articles covering the unprecedented attempt to politicize the court included 120 editorials and opinion columns published during a 10 month period.
While Hall is continuing her work with Salter>Mitchell clients as a senior consultant to the firm, she launched Hall+Media in part to pursue additional opportunities to advocate on behalf of judicial branches that are under siege across the country.
A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Hall moved to Florida in 1987 to accept a position as news producer for WSVN in Miami. In 1990 she migrated north to Tallahassee, where she continued her journalism career as capital bureau chief and regional manager for a television news cooperative serving 10 stations across Florida. She went on to serve as News Director for WTWC and then as Managing Editor for Florida’s News Channel before making the move to public relations. Hall is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) and is also credentialed as a Certified Public Relations Counselor (CPRC) by the Florida Public Relations Association. She is active in numerous community organizations.
The League of Women Voters of Florida, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, please visit the League’s website at: www.TheFloridaVoter.org.