Voting Matters

The Communication & New Media Department

Comprehensive Campaign to Keep Your Right to Vote!

Palm Beach County Charter Review Initiative

• Independent Charter Review Committee (Commission appoints representation)

• County Commission acting as Charter Review Committee

The Communication & New Media Department

County Commission Proposals

• Appointed Supervisor of Elections

• Appointed Tax Collector

• Consolidate some departments

• Elect non-partisan commissioners

• New districting mixed 5 single-member/2 at-large

• Voter approved sale of conservation easements

The Communication & New Media Department

County Commission Timeline• January 2011

– County Commission held initial discussion

• April 2011 – County Commission approved broad process to

receive public input

The Communication & New Media Department

County Commission Timeline• Summer 2011 (June – September)

– Public meetings to educate and gather input from the public regarding possible charter revisions

– Written and online surveys are distributed to prioritize suggested charter revisions

– Survey results are tabulated

• Fall/Winter 2011 (November)– BCC reviews survey results

The Communication & New Media Department

CNMG Outreach Response• Determine Key Stakeholders in tier system

– Chambers of Commerce (County, Municipalities, Special Interest)

– Civic Groups (Taxpayer Advisory Board, Tea Party, South Florida 9/12, League of Women Voters, Jewish Women’s Federation, Urban League)

– HOA/Neighborhood Groups (Century Village)

The Communication & New Media Department

CNMG Outreach Response

• Partnered with other Constitutional Officers

The Communication & New Media Department

CNMG Outreach Response• Developed Talking Points (Ask Anne);

Sample Responses

• Set goals for stakeholder comment card distribution/collection

• Attended each PBC public input meeting

The Communication & New Media Department

Survey Card

The Communication & New Media Department

Ask Anne – Constitutional Officers

The Communication & New Media Department

Ask Anne – Elections & Power

The Communication & New Media Department

Talking Points

The Communication & New Media Department

Sample Messages

The Communication & New Media Department

CNMG Outreach Response• Set up Charter Review webpage

• Included Charter review articles in TaxTalk and monthly HOA Newsletters

• Attended various community/neighborhood association meetings

The Communication & New Media Department

Charter Review Landing Page

The Communication & New Media Department

TaxTalk Newsletter – Charter Review Article

The Communication & New Media Department

Local Press Coverage – Palm Beach Post Editorial

The Communication & New Media Department

Local Press Coverage – Citizen Letter to the Editor

The Communication & New Media Department

Corruption Collage of Charter Counties w/out Constitutional Officers

The Communication & New Media Department

“Voting Matters” Accomplishments

Campaign Goals Accomplishment300 public input cards submitted 348 Cards submitted

“Keep elected constitutional officers” was the top charter review comment of the constitutional officer respondents (532/768)

500 Charter Reform Ask Anne FAQs distributed

950 Charter Reform Ask Anne FAQs distributed

1 Print & 1 elect Media Covering Driver License Service Offering/Real ID Requirements

Coverage in 2 print media (Palm Beach Post & Sun-Sentinel); Grassroots coverage in United Civic Organization of Century Village Newsletter; Town Crier; Palm Beach County Tea Party website)

The Communication & New Media Department

Preliminary Public Comments• Appointed Sheriff

• Appointed Supervisor of Elections

• Appointed Tax Collector

• Consolidate some departments

• Eliminate term limits

• Elect all commissioners at-large

• Elect non-partisan commissioners

The Communication & New Media Department

Preliminary Public Comments, contd.

• Add two commissioners by region (north/south; east/west)

• Eliminate commissioners from serving on other boards (SWA)

• Place constitutional offices under the Inspector General• Implement instant runoff voting for commission and

constitutional offices• Place Sheriff’s budget in county control • Cap yearly millage increase to no more than 1.5%

The Communication & New Media Department

Public Comments - Final Results

• No changes

• Keep Elected Constitutional Officers

• Keep 8 Year Term Limits

• Keep Single-Member Districts

• Do not switch to a Strong Mayor format

The Communication & New Media Department

Top Ten Public Charter Review Comments

The Communication & New Media Department

Keep Elected

ConstitutionalOfficers