“Voices on the Street” is a recurring sound montage on Central Florida Matters. If you know of a community location or an aural theme illustrative of your neighborhood, or a time of year, or a particular subject, the sounds of which evoke a place in time, let us know. Click on the “contact” link and advise us with an email.

Seminole Chronicle newspaper managing editor, Michelle Yoffee, comments on news that matters to her. Feature length – 03:52

A feature of every Central Florida Matters is a 3-minute commentary presented by a voice that matters on an issue that voice believes matters.

The voice you’ll hear is that of Michelle Yoffee, managing editor, of the Seminole Chronicle newspaper, a weekly news source for the cities of Oviedo and Winter Springs in Seminole County, commenting on local news that matters to her.

Central Florida Matters encourages you to post your own reaction to this commentary. Visit the “commentary” segment on-line at cmfmedia.org.

Should you wish to be considered for a future commentary segment on Central Florida Matters, please click on the “contact” link to send us an email which should include adequate information for us to understand your issue and to offer contact information to include your name, email address and a daytime telephone number.

Additional Feature Information

• Transcript
• Bio

About the Interview: Each candidate was given 18-minutes to responds to the same 4-questions on experience, city budget and city services and the candidate’s character and integrity. Follow-up questions differed between candidates based on their initial answers to the 4 questions. Each 18 minute interview was edited into a 6-minute segment which you will soon hear. The full 18-minute interview for each candidate is posted below.

About the City of Oviedo: Oviedo has a population within its borders of 32,850 residents. The median age of the population is 34.8 years. Forty-one percent of the population has graduated from college. There are 20,200 registered voters in the city. It is anticipated that 12% will vote in this election. The most recent annual budget which the current council approved totals $60,133,986 from which approximately $24 million is assigned to a general fund to operate most city services like police and fire.

About the Council: The council is the governing body of the city, and operates under a “Council Manager” form of government, whereby the council appoints a city manager to oversee the daily operations of the city government and implement the council’s policies. The city manager serves at the pleasure of the council. Ideally, the manager is apolitical and the council is non-partisan. Four council members and the mayor comprise the Council. Those 5 are responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws, voting to spend money and developing a vision for the city.

About the Office: The council members and the mayor serve a 2 year term. They are elected by all registered voters in the city who vote, not just voters in a particular part or district of the city. There are no term limits for either position. The Mayor is paid $12,800 annually. Each council member is paid $10,800 annually.

Extended Interviews

Candidates for Mayor

Andrew’s Website Email Andrews

Mary Lou Andrews is the current Mayor. She devotes her full time to the post. Mary Lou Andrews extended interview length – 17:18

Lopez’s Website Email Lopez

Darrell Lopez is 52 years old. He has been a resident of Oviedo for 20 years. He is married and with his wife has 2 children. Darrell Lopez serves as President and CEO of Zfone Communications, a provider of voice over Internet phone calling to businesses. Darrell Lopez extended interview length – 14:49

Candidates for Councilman Group 1

Email Hartzler

Jeff Hartzler is 24 years old. He is a life-long resident of Oviedo. He is not married. Jeff Hartzler is a an event coordinator at the University of Central Florida. Jeff Hartzler extended interview length – 11:15

Henken’s Website Email Henken

Steve Henken, the current office holder. He is 47 years old. He has been a resident of Oviedo for 14-years. He is married and with his wife has 2 children. Steve Henken is a vice president for a world wide cable TV manufacturer. Steve Henken extended interview length – 17:08

Smith’s Website Email Smith

Judith Dolores Smith is 55 years old. Though born in Sanford, Florida, she has been a life-long resident of Oviedo. She is married. Judith Dolores Smith heads her own editing service for self-publishing authors. Judith Dolores Smith extended interview length – 17:23

Additional feature information

• Seminole County Supervisor of Election’s Website
• City of Oviedo, Fl., Website
• Seminole Chronicle Newspaper
• Seminole Voice Newspaper

Voter turnout in the Longwood city elections on November 3 is expected by the Supervisor of Elections to be 10 to 12% of registered voters. If you are one of that small but important group of voters, you want to cast a smart vote. The following interviews with each of the four candidates from Longwood will make voting smart easier.

The city commissioners are elected at-large for a 3 year term. The winning candidates in this election will become part of a five member city commission that monitors a $26 million dollar budget used to provide services from public safety to playgrounds. They will receive a annual salary of $4800 for representing Longwood’s 14,000 residents.

Each interview was conducted at the candidate’s home and lasted for 18 minutes. They all covered the same general topics. Each interview was then condensed to 6 minutes but the entire interview can also be heard at this web site by clicking on the extended interview for each candidate.

The candidates are heard in the order their name appears on the ballot. For the district 3 seat, the candidates are Bob Cortes and Mike Holt. The candidates for district 5 are John Richardson and Brian Sackett.

Extended Interviews

Cortes’s Website Email Cortes

Bob Cortes is 46 years old, and has been married for 25 years to his wife Virginia, they had 3 children . They moved from Puerto Rico in search of better health care for their eldest son Robert Jr. who died of Cerebral Palsy. Twelve years ago they came to Longwood where Bob is the proud owner of Cortes Towing Service. Bob Cortes extended interview length – 18:19

Holt’s Website Email Holt

After 6 years on the commission, Mike Holt is seeking re-election. Mike is 53 years old has lived in Longwood for 20 years. He and his wife Pam have 3 daughters and a dog who believes he is key to the family. Mike works in the security division of Macy’s. Mike Holt extended interview length – 18:11

Richardson’s Website Email Richardson

John Richardson retired as a Lt. Col after 33 years in the army. He and his wife Elise moved to Longwood in 1991 where he worked as a security specialist at Lockheed Martin. They raised 3 sons one of whom was killed in an automobile accident. At 66 Mr. Richardson is battling for a seat on the city commission. John Richardson extended interview length – 13:50

Sackett’s Website Email Sackett

Are you smarter than a 5th grader? Brian Sackett has spent 31 years making sure the 5 grade students who leave his classroom will always win the game. Brian and his wife Mary, a two time cancer survivor, have lived in Longwood for 20 years. They have 3 daughters. He hopes to continue as commissioner for District 5. Brian Sackett extended interview length – 20:10

Additional Feature Information

• Seminole County Supervisor of Election’s Website
• City of Longwood, Fl., Website
• Seminole Chronicle Newspaper
• Seminole Voice Newspaper