If you're a registered Republican in Monroe County, there's something funny going on that you should know about. A small group of Republican powerbrokers are attempting to manipulate next Tuesday's Republican primary election to try to ensure the defeat of the leading Republican candidate for State Attorney, Michael "Mick" Barnes— and to ensure the reelection of the incumbent Democrat, Kirk Zuelch, in November.
That may seem bizarre, but here's the skinny.
You see, under Zuelch's 20-year reign in the State Attorney's Office, certain influentials here have enjoyed, well, let's just call them "special privileges". Like, their sometimes questionable activities— and the sometimes questionable activities of their friends and relatives— have been protected from investigation and/or serious legal action. In other words, justice here has not been equal for all. And that's the way the privileged few would like to keep it.
So they are working hard in support of Barnes' Republican primary opponent, Tavernier Attorney Mark Kohl. No matter that Kohl shows little evidence that he's really a serious candidate. He's raised only about $3000 in campaign contributions, as opposed to Barnes' more than $26,000. That's even more than Zuelch has raised!
As far as we know, Kohl hasn't placed a single campaign ad. And if he has any signs, we haven't seen any.
It doesn't seem to matter to the would-be election manipulators that Kohl probably can't beat Zuelch in November. In fact, we believe that's the whole point to their in-the-shadows support of Kohl.
Here's how the powerbrokers are trying to steal this election from the rank-and-file Republican voters:
Although the brokers themselves don't represent very many votes, they do have considerable political and economic influence. One way they're using that influence is to garner the endorsements of various organizations in support of Kohl— like the political action committee at the Ocean Reef Club, an exclusive community of rich folks on Key Largo.
What they're hoping for, of course, is that these organizations will be able to deliver blocks of votes— and that the overall voter turnout will be so low that these block votes will be sufficient to literally steal the election.
What can you do to combat this attempted theft? Be sure to set time aside to vote next Tuesday, Sept. 5, the day after Labor Day. And tell your friends to do the same. A large turnout will render the efforts of the would-be election manipulators impotent.
Another way the powerbrokers are working for Mick Barnes' defeat— and for the reelection of Zuelch in November— is to pressure their friends in the media to endorse Kohl in the primary. When and if you see a newspaper endorsing Kohl, read between the lines. The editorial folks who are endorsing Kohl know that he's not a serious candidate. They know that Mick Barnes is the stronger candidate and that he can and will beat Zuelch.
And know this: The newspapers that may be endorsing Kohl today are also the newspapers that will be endorsing Zuelch (the status quo) in November! See the strategy? Endorse the weaker candidate in the Republican primary to try to enhance Zuelch's chances in the general election.
We here at Key West The Newspaper have endorsed Key West Attorney Mick Barnes for State Attorney because we are sick to death of Zuelch's selective law enforcement and abuses of power. And we believe that Barnes can beat Zuelch in November!
If you agree, do not fail to vote Tuesday. Write it on your calendar. Stick a note on your bathroom mirror. Set your alarm clock if necessary. But vote!
You can help beat the powerbrokers on Tuesday!