2008-10-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

Tuesday November 4 Edition

Last Updated at 9:30 a.m.

This is it. if you are engaged enough to be reading this, I'll assume you have voted or are about to. I want to thank all my supporters, and there are thousands even before the voting ends -- the petition signers, blog readers, yard signers, and contributors. You've been associated with a clean campaign with a strong grassroots component and broad bi-partisan support. You were part of a effort that secured the endorsement of five newspapers, and eight former mayors as well as support from labor, environmental, law enforcement and education groups. Thanks again. We'll see what unfolds tonight.

Sunday November 2 Edition

Spent the day moving between early voting at Gulf Gate, a Get Out the Vote Rally in Newtown and our annual Indian Beach Sapphire Shores picnic at the Jungle Gardens.

The Venice Gondolier Sun is running a story regarding fundraising in the District 1 Commission contest. Please don't assume that because the amount in my campaign account is roughly four times that my Republican opponent, that I am outspending her 4 to 1. All my campaign advertising expenses show up in my campaign account, while my opponent has outside groups spending money on her behalf.

Saturday November 1 Edition

A full day. After the Farmer's Market I headed to early voting at Gulf Gate Library. Then checked in with my father-in-law before heading to a rally in Newtown.

Many people have been talking to me about the attack ad that has been running against me. I took some time to write a blog response to a TV ad I believe is dishonest, irresponsible and disrespectful. (You can see an example of the offensive photo on the blog site).

Meanwhile I learned I have been endorsed by Creative Loafing.

Friday October 31

Been Busy. Yes, I was at the Obama event on Thursday at Ed Smith Stadium. Very inspirational to be with 12,500 others and it was moving to me to see the Obama campaign plane making its approach over the stadium. I was moved to think of all the places in the US, he was coming here, to Sarasota, to talk to us. That was followed by a bald eagle flying over. We're probably one of the few venues he's spoken at where our national symbol is common.

I finally saw the attack ad that is being run against me. I think I saw at the end that it was approved by my Republican opponent. That would be significant because she signed a Civic League pledge against that sort of behavior. If you see the ad, check and let me know if she approved it.

As for the content: The first allegation is pure supposition and factually inaccurate, both directly and indirectly.

The second assertion is also untrue. The biggest supporter of the campaign is an environmentalist that lives in Sarasota County --- me. In addition to foregoing a half year's salary, I've put somewhere around $25,000 of my own money into the campaign. And, just for the record, Carolyn appears to have twice the percentage of "developers' supporting her (29% vs 15%) so I'm not sure why her campaign is casting aspersions on that line of work.

And I believe the third claim is a distortion of what I said (also completely out of context). Perhaps the person that recorded it could provide a copy, since I am supposed to be "on the record". Right now it is a record no one can access and what kind of record is that?

In my opinion, the people that conceived and approved this derogatory and offensive dreck should be ashamed of themselves. One requirement of a county commissioner has to be the ability to sleep at night. I would be unable to air an ad such as that and meet such a requirement. I don't really understand how others can.

Wednesday October 28 Edition

Carolyn Mason and/or her supporters are running an attack ad against me. I haven't seen it but it apparently breaks new ground in lameness. Republicans have been apologizing to me for it and people have been unable to describe it to me without laughing (but I don't think it was meant to be funny.)

(TBA) Jono on Channel 8

Starting at noon, I walked a couple of miles north with Andy Mandell, "Mr. Diabetes". We walked along US 41 from the Sarasota/Charlotte County line into Sarasota. This part of his Wake Up and Walk® Tour -- a 10,000+ mile walk of the perimeter of the United States, which he has nearly completed. I walked in honor of JLK, a friend with diabetes. Andy Mandell was joined by two local vets: Andy Hooker and Woody Schiffman, (seen with Andy Mandell, above).

Tuesday October 27th Edition

Tonight: Candidate Forum at Nokomis Area Civic Association Gather at 6:30. Program starts at 7:00

This afternoon: My father-in-law's birthday party (88th)

Today at lunch: Downtown Partnership update on plans for downtown Sarasota, including the Downtown Improvement District, Downtown Historic District, Fruitville Road Improvement, and the Connectivity Initiative

Last Night: Candidate Forum in Venice. 7 Democratic candidates, 2 Republican candidates, 16 in audience, 5 of whom had not yet voted.

Sunday October 25 Edition

Got an email late last night -- I secured the endorsement of the Venice Gondolier Sun.

Is this a great county or what? I spent a number of hours at Gulf Gate Library meeting voters headed for early voting with fellow candidates Sam Rosenfeld, Barry Sullivan, and Teresa Carafelli. While sunny, it wasn't oppressively hot and I took time to show several voters the bald eagles perched to the east on tall power poles. Gave a new meaning to pole (poll) watching.

Saturday October 24 Edition

Attended an end-of-campaign fundraiser for Keith Fitzgerald, a man dedicated to restoring civil and civic dialog who finds himself on the receiving end of an opponent's campaign of mendacity.

Two new blog entries added in the last 24 hours -- the first a call for some arbiter or referee in the degraded exchanges that pass for campaign advertising and the second an announcement of the Englewood Sun endorsement.

Friday October 23 Edition

Englewood Sun Endorses Miller " . . .we were impressed with his thoughtful approach and what seemed to be a natural drift toward balance on the issues. He will be a positive addition."

North Port Sun Endorses Jono Miller "We were impressed. First, Miller obviously did know his stuff. Second, he really cared that we knew it."

Sarasota Herald Tribune profiles District 1 County Commission Contest

Thursday October 23 Edition

New blog entry documents eight former Sarasota mayors are endorsing Jono Miller.

Made presentation to the Sarasota Veteran's Commission today.

My SNN interview did air along with brief comments from my opponents.

Wednesday October 22 Edition

New blog entry summarizes the campaign's use of the the Internet.

Read about my successful fundraising in this morning's Sarasota Herald Tribune. Blog coverage here.

Looks like my videotaped interview with SNN that was supposed to run at 5:00 p.m. news tonight was bumped by the latest Supervisor of Election fumble -- turns out some absentee ballots don't have the Bentley/Detert race!! Here's a link.

I voted this morning in the Terrace Building along with Barbara Ford-Coates, Keith Fitzgerald, and Morgan Bentley. It was odd to have many of the people I was voting for in the room at the same time. But we were lucky -- our races actually appeared on the ballot.

Rumor has it one of my opponents has some TV spots. I haven't seen them. If you do, write and tell me about them. jonocampaign@gmail.com