• If it were up to high school and college students in Duval County, the two candidates on the ballot for the 2008 Presidential Election will be Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Paul and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama. That was the outcome of a two-day mock convention last week at the University of North Florida sponsored by the Duval County Supervisor of Elections Office. Since 2003, the 17- to 25-year-old age group has become the largest percentage of registered voters in the county. Last January, 5,300 Duval County students registered to vote during a two-day drive at high schools and colleges.

• Speaking of ad agencies, The Hoffman Agency is also adding to its staff. Allison Zimroth has joined Hoffman as an account executive, Jessica Reilly as an art director, Jon Bosworth as a marketing strategist and John Davis as a media planner.

• A representative of the Louisville Orchestra Musicians’ Association sent a letter to “the citizens of Jacksonville, Florida” about the state of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. The letter reads: “We the musicians of the Louisville Orchestra are alarmed by the Jacksonville Symphony administration’s recent decision to lock out its musicians.” They are urging the administration to provide a fair contract to the musicians.

• The last day to register for the winter camps at the Museum of Science and History is Dec. 10. Camps are scheduled fro Dec. 17-21 for children in grades K-5. The schedule is as follows: Dec. 17-Fun With Food, Dec. 18-Victorian Christmas, Dec. 19-Winter Wonders, Dec. 20-Santa’s Toy Shop and Dec. 21-Christmas Tree Chemistry. For more information or to register, call 396-7062, ext. 230.

• You’d think the State’s Division of Elections would know that John Peyton is the mayor of Jacksonville and has been since 2003. Not so. A Nov. 13 letter from Kristi Bronson, chief of the bureau of election records, is addressed to Mayor John Delaney. Another letter from Bronson dated the same day, is addressed to Mayor John “Payton.”

• The Jacksonville Aviation Authority’s annual fish fry is Dec. 18 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Sheltair Aviation Services in the west hangar.

• “Holiday in the Hamptons” — a fundraiser for the Monique Burr Foundation for Children — is Dec. 1 at the Golf Club of South Hampton. For tickets or sponsorship info, call Clockwork Marketing Services at 285-3217.

“The President is the only lobbyist that 150 million Americans have. The other 20 million are able to employ people to represent them—and that’s all right, it’s the exercise of the right of petition—but someone has to look after the interests of the 150 million that are left.”
– Harry S. Truman, speech to the Press and Union League Club, Oct. 25, 1956.