Bryan Palacio/Assistant News Director
bryan.palacio@fiusm.com
Florida’s gubernatorial election has become the entertaining, neck-to-neck, mud-slinging race political pundits dreamed it was going to be, and it all culminated with a debate that was more notable for a fan than for its political correctness.
Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Scott is fighting off former Democratic Governor Charlie Crist and both have spent millions in negative ads against each other. Crist was governor in 2006 as a Republican and forewent reelection opting to run for Senate, a race he lost to current Senator, Marco Rubio. Scott won the 2010 election.
This year’s race — on pace to become the nation’s most expensive campaign, already surpassing $50 million, according to The Miami Herald — is still too close to call with both Scott and Crist having held minute leads.
Part of the reason the race is so close is because the candidates may turn out to be the least-liked pair for any governor’s race in the past 10 years. Both have polled more unfavorable than favorable in recent Quinnipiac University’s polls.
In what was predicted to be among the most heated battles happening this fall across the country, it would be no surprise if students were struggling to make a choice between candidates when the general population of the state seems to be just as split.
Student government leaders at Biscayne Bay Campus have been hosting events on campus to raise awareness about the elections and the importance of voting.
“Students need to know that their vote counts and their voices deserve to be heard,” said Camille Williams, senior journalism major and vice president of Student Government Council at BBC.
But there is more to this race than sound policies — this is also about who can rekindle the flame in voters’ hearts.
“This is part of the reason why we have our ‘Know Your Vote’ campaign,” said Williams. “We want to encourage students to become knowledgeable and aware of the ballot language and people that may be governing our generation.”
The debates touched on the three most important topics to Florida residents: education, jobs and the environment.
Scott is basing his campaign on his ability to provide jobs. Jobs have increased by about 800,000 during his term, although the number of full-time jobs is significantly less than pre-recession numbers.
But Politifact says Scott’s claim that the job loss was Crist’s fault as “partially accurate but leaves out important details,” and adds,“You can’t lay all the blame on one governor.”
Crist has responded by saying that Scott changed his promise from 700,000 extra jobs to just 700,000 jobs, a claim Politifact said to be true.
Scott was also singled out for admitting to the largest Medicare Fraud settlement in the history of the United States for over half a billion dollars as the Chief Executive of Columbia/Healthcare Corporation of America.
Crist’s campaign is focused on his education policy. He said Scott cut $1.3 billion out of Florida schools during his first year as governor, a claim rated by Politifact as mostly true.
Scott has claimed that state funding for K-12 is at its highest ever, which was rated as being only half true, and that Crist was responsible for to 3,000 teachers losing their jobs, which was rated to be mostly false.
Crist rebutted that by accepting President Barack Obama’s Economic Stimulus Package he helped over 20,000 teachers keep their jobs, a claim rated as being mostly true, although “precise numbers of the layoffs are difficult to pinpoint.”
As far as University students are concerned, both candidates have made cuts to the Bright Futures Scholarship program as well as overseen increases in tuition. In addition, they have also both approved the excess credit surcharge when a student passes their required hours for a degree.
For K-12 education, Scott supports high-stakes testing and Crist wants to reduce.
Scott raised the budget for education passing the Florida Families First Budget which increased the spending for all education in the state, including performance based funding for state universities. This funding is based on a university’s success in helping students graduate on time and obtain high paying jobs affordably.
The budget also increases funding for Early Education, K-12, financial aid, and Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) maintenance funding. But even with the raise in the budget, Crist still holds the record for per-student funding.
Originally a Republican, Crist left the party and became an Independent in route to his second unsuccessful attempt for U.S. Senate. He would eventually join the Democratic party, endorsing President Obama in his 2012 reelection. Consequently, he has flopped on a few topics including Obamacare, the economic stimulus and abortion.
Other important topics include: Same-sex marriage, Scott against and Crist for; Scott supporting corporations be in control of their medical coverage — including denying women birth control, as well as supporting mandatory ultrasounds and restrictions on abortion- while Crist supports the decision be made by a woman and her doctor, not her employer; Medicinal marijuana, Scott against and Crist for; and minimum wage increase to $10.10, Scott against and Crist for.
Scott won his previous election by only by around 68,000 votes, or 1.29 percent, meaning students have the opportunity to make an impact.
“This election is really important because, for some of us, it’s the first time we’re ever voting,” said Alexis Calatayud, president of the student government council at the Modesto M. Maidique Campus. “State government affects our lives in more direct ways than a race for congressman or even a president will, because these people decide the things we feel.”
To help students do their research on the candidates, student government has held events throughout the semester to inform students. Coming up, the council at BBC will be hosting their ‘Know Your Vote’ campaign including an event this Wednesday, Oct. 29.
“If you want a say in what happens in our day-to-day life, voting in this election is really important,” said Calatayud. “It doesn’t just affect us today; these people will shape what South Florida looks like when we’re trying to find a job.”
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