'Ghost candidates': We call bullsugar

It’s election time, and you know what that means: Lots of bullsugar going on.

Specifically, we’re getting reports of potential “ghost candidates” popping up around the region, including in Martin County, where long-time commissioner Doug Smith will benefit from a write-in candidate who filed to run in District 1, closing the August GOP primary to Democratic and Independent voters.

That likely hurts Eileen Vargas, a Republican running against Smith who has made stopping out-of-control development one of her key issues. With write-in candidate Kenneth J. DeAngeles qualifying, only GOP voters can cast their ballot, effectively disenfranchising more than 52,000 Dems and Independents.

Smith is an old hand at this sort of thing, as detailed in this TCPalm story. Yet for some sorry reason, this remains legal in Florida — and many take advantage of it.

Elsewhere, down in Miami-Dade, the Miami New Times reports that a mysterious new candidate with a mysteriously familiar name just joined the Florida House of Representatives District 106 race against incumbent State Rep. Fabián Basabe.

In August, Republican Basabe will square off against challenger Melinda Almonte; the winner will then face former Florida Democratic state Rep. Joe Saunders in November.

But ALSO on the November ballot will be Maureen Saunders Scott, who filed to enter the race as an NPA (No Party Affiliation) candidate. Not only that, she will appear on the ballot as “Moe Saunders.”

Right next to “Joe Saunders.”

Think that might confuse voters? And do you think that might be by design?

Meanwhile, in Brevard County, two write-in candidates materialized to close the GOP primary in the tax collector and supervisor of elections race.

Again, it’s not a crime in Florida to run as a “ghost” candidate who does not actively campaign or sincerely seek election. "Moe Saunders" apparently doesn’t even live in Miami-Dade; by contrast Martin County write-in DeAngeles is a local resident, former Ocean Breeze Town Council President and former head of the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce — who perhaps is doing Smith a solid.

Where candidates resort to deception to get elected, it tells you a lot about the candidate. But politics, as the old saying goes, ain’t beanbag.

Though this kind of politics IS bullsugar.

Another high-tech fix for algae; will it work?

When it comes to solving Florida’s water pollution problems, we’re always looking for the silver bullet, the easy way, the shortcut. And these shortcuts almost always involve “technology.”

So we were unsurprised to see a bill filed earlier this month by U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of Southwest Florida — and co-sponsored by Rep. Brian Mast of Southeast Florida — directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to “develop and deploy innovative tech that will filter water and convert retrieved algae biomass into renewable biofuels.”

Will it work? Does such technology even exist at scale? We take a closer look on our blog — and suggest a different approach that would likely work even better, if we could muster the political will to pursue it.

Clean (and dirty) water headlines

• BLOCKBUSTER STORY from The New Republic on how Everglades scientist Tom Van Lent found himself on trial, and how the politics of restoring the 'glades can crowd out good science. Take the time to read this one.

• Jason Totoiu of the Center for Biological Diversity makes the case that because the state of Florida has failed to set numerical standards for cyanotoxins, the federal Environmental Protection Agency needs to step in.

• Amy Green of Inside Climate News gets granular with a story on the tug-of-war over the stormwater treatment areas (STAs) south of Lake Okeechobee and how more capacity in the STAs for lake water could help the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries — but Big Sugar/Big Agriculture won't play ball.

ICYMI: Sugar industry is sweet on Rick Scott

Last week we reported on how Sen. Rick Scott's bid for re-election was bolstered by a pair of $250,000 contributions in late 2023 from U.S. Sugar — and that's hardly the only sugar money Scott and his political action committees have gotten from Big Sugar. For the story, check out the report at VoteWater.org.

Polluters have us outgunned - but you can help even the odds

At VoteWater we work to keep you informed so you can hold politicians accountable.

But for every dollar we spend, Big Sugar and other polluters spend thousands — on political contributions, lobbyists, consultants and more.

You can help even the odds.

By donating to VoteWater, or by becoming a member, you help us aim higher, hit harder and make waves.

Help us turn the toxic tide, once and for all.

P.S.: Have you completed and signed your petition for the proposed Florida Right to Clean Water Constitutional Amendment yet? Why the heck not? Stop by the VoteWater office at 3727 SE Ocean Blvd., Suite 200A in Stuart to pick up a petition — or head over to the Right to Clean Water website to print one at home.