• Election season is beginning to heat up. Voters, do you know the last day to change party affiliation? Candidates, do you know when petition signatures are due? Not to worry. The Daily Record has compiled all the important dates to mark on your calendar whether you’re running, voting or both. See page 6. And on Monday, look for a list of all the seats up for election, the filed candidates and how much campaign money they’ve raised and spent.
• Sad passing this week: Irma Knight, the mother of Justice Coalition Executive Director Ann Dugger, died Tuesday at the Northeast Florida Community Hospice on Ramona Boulevard. She was 75.
• More action over St. Johns River water withdrawals: Nassau County recently joined St. Johns County as a “primary conflicting governmental entity in conflict resolution procedures” with Seminole County over its application to draw 5.5 million gallons a day from the river. St. Johns Riverkeeper attorney Michael Howle said the action is a way for Florida counties to resolve disagreements amongst themselves and is “far less adversarial than the administrative hearing we’ve filed,” he said.
• As for the administrative hearing filed by Riverkeeper and the City of Jacksonville against the St. Johns River Water Management District, Howle said administrative law judge J.L. Johnston has been assigned to the case, although proceedings likely won’t begin until the summer.
• Don’t want to work? Just want to bang on your drum all day? The D-Line, the official drumline of the Jaguars, is holding auditions for drummers and cymbals to join the squad for the 2008 season. Tryouts are 10 a.m.–5 p.m Saturday in the West Club of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Parking will be in Lot M. All musicians are required to bring practice pads and sticks.
• It’s a ways off, but the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee City Council appreciation lunch is set for June 10. During the luncheon, the committee will honor Council President Daniel Davis, Council Vice President Ronnie Fussell, the rest of Council and their staff members for their work over the previous year. If you are interested in attending, call Kelly Gerlach at 366-6646.
“Vote for the man who promises least; he’ll be the least disappointing.”
– Bernard Baruch, financier and presidential advisor