Florida's water crisis will be a big issue on the ballot in FL-18; how about your district?     The way it should be: In this race, clean water will be a big issue Here’s something we’d like to see a whole lot more of. Congressman Brian Mast is a Republican who represents the 21st District communities perpetually at risk for discharges from Lake Okeechobee. He's been a loud and sometimes lonely voice when it comes to clean-water issues. Earlier this year as discharges pounded the Caloosahatchee, St. Lucie and Lake Worth Lagoon, Mast demanded answers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and held press conferences to demand the floodgates be closed. Cynics may say the theatrics didn’t accomplish much, but Mast’s approach puts the onus on the agencies to justify every move, every decision. And his focus on the issue draws more attention — more people — to the clean-water cause. Meanwhile, other lawmakers at the federal, state, even local level sat on their hands as the discharges wreaked havoc. They uttered not a word, lifted not a finger. It’s as if they didn’t care — and perhaps they don’t. So Mast has been pretty strong on water issues. But he’ll be facing a Democratic challenger in November who’s said he wants to be stronger. Thomas Witkop is a political newcomer still learning the intricacies of Florida’s water crisis, but he’s expressed an intense interest in developing expertise. On his campaign website, "Waterways" is the first issue listed. At a Rivers Coalition meeting in Stuart last week he and several members of his campaign team showed up to learn. So here we have a race in which the leading candidates are making clean water a central issue. That is exactly what we need to see throughout south Florida. Imagine if every lawmaker, every challenger prioritized the issue this way. Would it magically fix everything? No! But clean water would constantly be on the public agenda in a way it isn’t now. Both elected officials and challengers would be pushing public agencies to do more, spotlighting the issues, educating the public, demanding fixes. If we want to ultimately solve these problems, that’s what it’s going to take. So kudos to both Mast and Witkop; keep it up. And hopefully other candidates in other races will follow suit. ICYMI: Qualifying period for federal candidates ends; here's who's on the ballot Last week we posted the list of candidates who'd filed to run at the federal Senatorial and Congressional level, along with state legislative and county commission candidates in our eight-county south Florida region. Since then the qualifying period for federal candidates has ended, narrowing the field. For the listing of candidates who qualified, and links to their campaign websites (where available), click the button below.   VIEW THE LIST OF CANDIDATES AT VOTEWATER.ORG Cloudy with a chance of a 'lost summer' VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart (above) joined Eve Samples, Friends of the Everglades Executive Director, and TCPalm outdoors writer/columnist Ed Killer for a May 1 panel discussion in Stuart on Lake O discharges, the politics of clean water — and the prospect of another “lost summer” in 2024. Verdict: Maybe, depending on what Mother Nature throws at us. But the message to the crowd at the Council on Aging Martin County Kane Center was upbeat: We face an uphill fight, but change is possible. Have you signed the Right to Clean Water petition yet? The drive to get an amendment to the Florida Constitution guaranteeing “an enforceable, fundamental right to clean and healthy waters” is in full swing; have you signed the petition yet? If not, visit the Florida Right to Clean Water website, and click the “petition” link. Petitions can also be picked up at the VoteWater office, 3727 SE Ocean Blvd., Suite 200A, Stuart, FL 34996. VoteWater fully supports the drive to get the amendment on the 2026 ballot. Help fuel our fight for clean water and political accountability From the exhaustive research behind our upcoming “Dirty Money Project” to our lobbying, this newsletter and beyond, the drive for better policy and policy-makers takes time, and it takes money. Your support can help us dig deeper, reach farther and have a greater impact. Please consider donating or becoming a member today! DONATE BECOME A MEMBER VoteWater 3727 SE Ocean Blvd Suite 200-A Stuart, FL 34996 | (772) 212-2939 VoteWater | 3727 SE Ocean Blvd, Suite 200-A, Stuart, FL 34996 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!