Email from VoteWater Also: Must we spray aquatic weeds?; and how "dirty money" paved the way for ludicrous state land deal SUPPORT OUR WORK VoteWater endorses Ken Russell for Miami Mayor Biscayne Bay is in crisis, and the next Mayor of Miami has their work cut out for them. Ken Russell gets it — and that’s why he’s our pick in the 13-way race for the city’s next Mayor. Russell, a former Miami City District 2 Commissioner whom VoteWater has endorsed in previous runs for the state and federal office, has an impressive clean-water track record and has emphasized environmental concerns on the campaign trail and his well-trafficked social media accounts. In his responses to VoteWater’s candidate survey, he noted that during his tenure as a city commissioner he was behind an Environmental Crimes law that can shut down construction sites that are allowing silt and construction runoff to enter the Bay. He also sponsored a resolution that banned the use of glyphosate by the city, and backed numerous other key environmental measures. “That’s the kind of clean-water advocacy we need from elected officials,” said VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart. “Ken Russell understands the importance of healthy waterways to Miami’s economy and quality of life. The Bay, and the city, need that type of leadership.” “Electing leaders who are willing to stand up to those who pollute our waters is crucial,” said Russell. “The legislation and accountability implemented by those leaders will protect our drinking water and our ocean. I am honored to receive the VoteWater.org endorsement for Mayor of Miami and will work every day to conserve our natural resources.” READ MORE AT VOTEWATER.ORG Miami Mayoral race: Check out responses to our clean-water survey! We asked the 13 candidates running to be the next Mayor of the City of Miami to fill out our clean-water questionnaire so voters can see where they stand on key environmental issues affecting the city. Responses can be found on our survey page at VoteWater.org. We’ll continue to add to our listings if and when additional candidates complete their surveys. And watch this space for more on the Miami Mayoral election! SEE THE SURVEY RESPONSES Breaking Florida's chemical addiction In his October column for Florida Sportsman Magazine, Senior Editor (and VoteWater Board President) Blair Wickstrom notes that unchecked nutrients in our waterways are fueling an explosion of unwanted aquatic plant life — and “instead of mandatory, enforceable laws limiting nutrients from entering the water, Florida spends millions of taxpayer dollars dealing with the aftermath by spraying toxic chemicals trying to control aquatic vegetation.” That’s a growing concern — but as Wickstrom notes, there is another way: mechanical harvesting. Wickstrom took a look at WeeDoo Boats, which makes aquatic weed harvesters that cull the plants without the chemicals, and could even save money for cities and counties addicted to spraying. “The FWC Spray Tanker is hard to turn,” Wickstrom writes, and “even harder to stop.” But doing so could make a big difference for our fragile waterways. Check out Wickstrom’s column in the October issue of Florida Sportsman, or on our Facebook page at this link. State land deal amounts to highway robbery During the 2025 budget negotiations, state legislative leaders pleaded poverty and stiffed Florida’s marquee land acquisition program, Florida Forever, allocating just $18 million. But turns out the state actually has plenty of money to spend on land conservation — so long as you’ve given large amounts of “dirty money” to the right people. On Tuesday, without any discussion Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved spending $83.3 million for a mere 4 acres in the Panhandle town of Destin. The two properties, which will be used for beach access, are bordered on one side by a city park, on the other by an upscale condo development. And they're owned by Pointe Mezzanine and Pointe Resort, two firms registered to Louisiana businessman Robert “Bobby” Guidry. Guidry’s an interesting guy; he once pleaded guilty to bribery in Louisiana, and these days he’s a major political donor here in Florida. At the state level he’s given more than $400,000 to politicians and their PACs since 2018, including $250,000 to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Empower Parents PAC.” And he poured some $38,000 into local Okaloosa County elections last year, making him the top local donor in that community. According to news reports, his companies bought the 4 acres in question in 2016 and 2017 for a total of about $8 million. Earlier this year, just before the 2025 Florida legislative session ended, language was inserted into the budget bill making this acreage a top priority for the state to acquire, ahead of other conservation projects. Guidry's companies had the land appraised twice, and in each case the parcels were valued at over $83 million. That is, more than 10 times what was paid for it less than a decade ago. Can you say “highway robbery?” VoteWater’s Gil Smart told Politico Pro that the price was “insane,” and that additional, independent appraisals should be ordered. "In the era of DOGE, there's no excuse for not trying to get the best deal for the taxpayer," Smart said. But hey, big political donors want what they want; and in Florida, they usually GET what they want thanks to dirty money — and the compliant government it buys. Join VoteWater and make a difference Our fight for cleaner water and better Florida water policy relies on your support; your donations and your memberships fuel our campaigns to expose "dirty money," elevate clean-water candidates and more. Please donate — and power the fight. DONATE NOW BECOME AN ANNUAL MEMBER Become a WaveMaker!   VoteWater | 3727 SE Ocean Blvd. Suite 200A | Stuart, FL 34996 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice