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 Kyle Taylor, commenting on a local newspaper pioneer. Kyle Taylor is publisher of the Observer Newspapers, which includes the Seminole Voice, Winter Park and Maitland Observer and the East Orlando Sun.

Central Florida Matters encourages you to post your own reaction to this commentary.

Should you wish to be considered for a 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 please include a daytime telephone number where we may reach you.

Additional Feature Information

Transcript of Commentary Kyle Taylor Bio

Additional Resources

• Seminole Voice
• Winter Park and Maitland Observer
• East Orlando Sun

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, by most accounts, was the moment fighting ceased and ended what we know today as “World War I.” Throughout most European nations, that November 11th date became known as “Armistice Day.”

“Armistice” means a temporary cessation of hostilities, and while “temporary” turned to “permanent” in 1919 upon the signing in France of the “Treaty of Versailles,” Allied nations from that day forward celebrated with reflection and solemn pride those veterans who died in service to their country in that “great war.”

In 1926, Armistice Day was officially recognized by the United States and were it not for the fact that shortly there after World War II broke out in Europe, we might still be calling that 1918 date “armistice day.”

In that second “World War,” the US contributed more than 16 million Americans in the defense of freedom. As a result, the US Congresses changed Armistice Day to “Veterans Day” to more contemporarily and formally recognize all American veterans of war for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

In World War II, 407,000 of our soldiers died in service. 292,000 died in actual battle. On Veterans Day, November 11, we will remember them and all others who died before and since that war.

We will also salute those American veterans still living. And in south east Seminole county, particularly in the communities of Oviedo, Geneva and Chuluota, we will also salute the valor of one of the members of the Veterans of Foreign War post 10139 who, they represent, is one of the oldest and last living World War II veterans in the area.

He is but one of those American veterans who returned home alive, though not without a better understanding of mortality and the role he believes Providence played in his safe return…

At 86 years of age and in apparent good health with a vivid memory, Harley M. Jones, of Chuluota, Fl, is a decorated World War II Army Air Corps veteran of 23 years.

Harley M. Jones has a story to tell, perhaps not unlike some who lived through it and returned to share it…with the hope that such a story will add to our Veterans Day celebration and remind us of why we pause to reflect…remember…and honor.

Jones – the grandson of a Civil War veteran — was born in 1923 in Tallapoosa, a little town in North West Georgia. The youngest of 9 siblings, the Jones family moved to Atlanta and eventually to Jacksonville, Florida, where after graduation from High School as Jones puts it he took a job as a “soda jerk, delivery boy and sweeper-up.”

With the attack on American soil at Pearl Harbor and the ensuing declaration of war fresh in Jones’ 18 year old mind, he moved back to Atlanta in 1943 for better work in a civil service job.

Listen (above) as he tells his story

Jones went on to serve another 22 years in the military. He was honorably discharged in 1967 and worked as a US Postal clerk in Orlando until his retirement in 1997.

On Veterans Day 2009, he will be undergoing surgery to correct a cataract condition in his eye. He’ll be watched over by his 2nd wife, Dorothy, whom he married 6 years ago. His first wife, Melba, to whom Jones was married for 53 years died in 1999. Melba and Harley have two daughters – Patricia and Susan. Both live in Florida. Jones is the grandfather to their 4 sons.

Jones has served several terms as the Commander of the VFW post in Chuluota Florida.

Jones — like many American veterans – past and present, living or deceased – will be celebrated on November 11…because their service to our country matters.

Extended Interview & Pictures

1943	Harley M. Jones and Stephen McKenney Steck Extended interview (50:43)

B-24 Crew Jones, back row 4th from left

Air Medal presentation

2009

Additional Feature Information

• VFW Post 10139 – Chuluota – Geneva – Oviedo
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (national)
• U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Hear the brief personal statements of each of the 5 candidates running for elected office in the City of Oviedo. The election is Tuesday, November 3

Two positions are set to be filled or refilled for candidates who run for and are elected to serve as Mayor or as a city council member. 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

Two residents are running for the position of Mayor and 3 other residents are standing for election to the position of Councilman Group 1.

Using the order on which each office and name was printed on the official ballot, we gave each candidate up to 2 minutes to offer a personal statement.

Candidates for Mayor

First is the office of Mayor. There are 2 candidates for this office…the current mayor, Mary Lou Andrews, and her opponent Darrell Lopez.

Mary Lou Andrews has been a resident of Oviedo for 16 years. She is married and with her husband has one adult child. Mary Lou Andrews owns a technical writing and desk top publishing company. Andrew’s Website Email Andrews

The other candidate for Mayor is Darrell Lopez. He 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. Lopez’s Website Email Lopez

Candidates for Councilman Group 1

Next is the office of Councilman Group 1. There are 3 candidates for this office and appear on the ballot as Jeff Hartzler, Steve Henken who is the current office holder, and Judith Dolores Smith.

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 Email Hartzler

The next candidate for Councilman Group 1 is 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. Henken’s Website Email Henken

The last candidate for Councilman Group 1 is Judith Dolores Smith. She 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. Smith’s Website Email Smith

Additional feature information

On a previous edition of Central Florida Matters, you heard from these four candidates in interviews on topics related to their qualifications, city budget issues and their character and integrity. Those interviews may be heard by clicking here or by entering the word “Oviedo” or “government” in the search box at the top of this page or clicking on the archive category “government” on the left pane of this page.

Additional Resources

• Seminole County Supervisor of Election
• City of Oviedo, Fl
• Seminole Chronicle Newspaper
• Seminole Voice Newspaper
• Orlando Sentinel

This Voting Smart segment features an interview with political scientist, Michael Hoover. He offers an assessment and overview on the State of Municipal Leadership.

As residents and taxpayers, if you live in a city, you’ll find its government and, by extension, its elected official have a sustained impact on your life–considerably more than our legislature or congress. Knowing this is oft-times exacerbated because the small-population cities, like in Seminole County, by comparison to their much larger sister cities to the south – like Orlando and Winter Park – often and by circumstance function beyond the focus of mainstream media – the traditional media assets always in play in larger cities. Thus, the uninformed small-city voter may find it more difficult to understand the leadership and the issues at play….particularly during an election season

So, it seems – now, days away from the November 3rd election, the State of our Elected Municipal Leadership is worthy of assessment and examination.

Extended Interview

Dr. Michael Hoover and Stephen McKenney Steck Extended interview (42:21)

To help us that understanding, we turn to an academic who is a lifelong native of Central Florida and a political scientist.

For most of the past 30 years, Dr. Michael Hoover has held the position of a full professor of Political Science at Seminole State College. He graduated from Evans High School in Orlando and gained his undergrad degree from the University of Florida… his Masters degree in political science at the University of Central Florida… and his Ph.D. in the same subject at the Union Institute in Cincinnati.

In this interview, we ask Professor Hoover to respond to a range of issues about municipal leadership. Those issues included how leadership is affected by different forms of city government, whether a city-held office is a stepping stone to higher office, a roster of major issues over which elected leaders have impact on a resident’s daily life, whether a local city council member or mayor has any greater or less impact on the daily life of residents than a legislator or member of congress, how the length of a city official’s term in office may affect the quality of leadership and the factors or measures a city resident might overlay on to a city government to gauge the quality of its elected municipal leadership.

Additional feature information

• Professor Michael Hoover – Resume
• Seminole State College
• Tri County League of Cities
• Florida League of Cities

As part of our series “Voting Smart” listen here to brief personal statements by the 4 candidates for the Longwood city commission. The election will be held on Nov. 3. Early voting is available beginning October 29 at the Supervisor of Elections office.

The election is to fill the post of commissioner for District 1 and for District 5. Each commissioner in Longwood is elected at large by all registered voters in the city and serves a 2 year term.

On this feature the four candidates appeal directly to the voters of Longwood in 2 minute, unedited statements about their candidacy.

The statements are presented in the order in which their names appear on the ballot.

Candidates for city commission in District 1

Bob Cortes is the Challenger in the race. Mr. Cortes is 46 years old, He and his family have lived in Longwood for 12 years. Mr. Cortes is the owner of Cortes Towing Service. Cortes’s Website Email Cortes

Mike Holt is seeking re-election After 6 years on the commission,. Mr. Holt is 53 years old. With his wife and daughters, he has lived in Longwood for 20 years. Holt works in the security division of Macy’s. Holt’s Website Email Holt

Candidates for city commission in District 5

John Richardson is the Challenger in this race. Mr. Richardson is 66 years old and a retired Lt. Col in the U.S. Army. He and his family moved to Longwood in 1991. Richardson’s Website Email Richardson

Brian Sackett is the incumbent seeking re-election after 6 years on the city commission. He and his family have lived in Longwood for 20 years. He is teacher in Seminole County Schools. Sackett’s Website Email Sackett

Additional feature information

On a previous edition of Central Florida Matters, you heard from these four candidates in interviews on topics related to their qualifications, city budget issues and their character and integrity. Those interviews may be heard by clicking here or by entering the word “Longwood” or “government” in the search box at the top of this page or clicking on the archive category “government” on the left pane of this page.

Additional Resources

• Seminole County Supervisor of Election
• City of Longwood, Fl.
• Seminole Chronicle Newspaper
• Seminole Voice Newspaper
• Orlando Sentinel

Only days remain before voters in the Seminole County, Florida, cities of Oviedo and Longwood go to the polls to cast their ballot for candidates running for elected office.

Each city has two offices for which a candidate must be elected. Oviedo will seat a mayor and a council member. Longwood will seat two council members.

Before they cast the deciding voice in the polls on Tuesday, November 3rd, producer Stephen McKenney Steck visits his regular haunt at the Oviedo Shopping Center to give neighbors one last voice on this issue.

Steck asks a handful of randomly selected voices to take on the role of a candidate for city council and tell him what the planks of their platform would be, whether they could craft a campaign slogan and whether they knew of any legal qualifications one must have to stand for elected city office.

Is there a real candidate for 2010 lurking among one of these good citizens?

“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.