news from the campaign
Campaign Internet site returns after attack!
March 17, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- The Mark For Mayor Campaign Internet site returns after a cyber attack on this past Thursday afternoon.
While editing the site, the campaign site manager noticed a slowing of edits followed by a complete scrambling of the home page with all other pages of the site being totally inaccessible.
During the time the site was non-functional, 142 visitors--a record number visitors--visited the site on Friday, March 15.
"We have recovered from the attack and emerged stronger than ever. Our campaign continued apace during the downtime. We have been holding signs at major intersections around town where hundreds of motorists have expressed their support while passing," Mark said. "Supporters can resume getting current campaign announcements and news and can confidently refer other voters to the site," Mark said.
March 17, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- The Mark For Mayor Campaign Internet site returns after a cyber attack on this past Thursday afternoon.
While editing the site, the campaign site manager noticed a slowing of edits followed by a complete scrambling of the home page with all other pages of the site being totally inaccessible.
During the time the site was non-functional, 142 visitors--a record number visitors--visited the site on Friday, March 15.
"We have recovered from the attack and emerged stronger than ever. Our campaign continued apace during the downtime. We have been holding signs at major intersections around town where hundreds of motorists have expressed their support while passing," Mark said. "Supporters can resume getting current campaign announcements and news and can confidently refer other voters to the site," Mark said.
Campaign Internet site traffic has been steadily increasing
March 6, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- The numbers of visitors to the Mark For Mayor campaign Internet site have been steadily increasing.
Over the past week, an average of ninety visitors per day have visited the site.
March 6, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- The numbers of visitors to the Mark For Mayor campaign Internet site have been steadily increasing.
Over the past week, an average of ninety visitors per day have visited the site.
Mark is "out of the box!"
Mark has strong showings in candidate fora
March 5, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- With only two weeks left in the campaign, Mark is "out of the box." He has hit the streets and is taking his campaign to the people.
"Engaging passing motorists on street corners with my campaign sign, visiting voters in their workplaces and talking to people on the streets has been invigorating," Mark said. "I have been gratified, encouraged and energized by the occasional enthusiastic voter--most of them total strangers to me--who I have been seeing around the city," he said.
Besides keeping a busy schedule of campaign events and activities, Mark will continue actively engaging voters throughout the city for the remainder of the campaign.
music for "Takin' It To the Streets!"
Mark has strong showings in candidate fora
March 5, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- With only two weeks left in the campaign, Mark is "out of the box." He has hit the streets and is taking his campaign to the people.
"Engaging passing motorists on street corners with my campaign sign, visiting voters in their workplaces and talking to people on the streets has been invigorating," Mark said. "I have been gratified, encouraged and energized by the occasional enthusiastic voter--most of them total strangers to me--who I have been seeing around the city," he said.
Besides keeping a busy schedule of campaign events and activities, Mark will continue actively engaging voters throughout the city for the remainder of the campaign.
music for "Takin' It To the Streets!"
Mark gains four endorsements
March 5, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Four strong supporters of the Mark For Mayor campaign have tendered their endorsements of Mark's candidacy. They appear on the "endorsements" page of this site.
March 5, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Four strong supporters of the Mark For Mayor campaign have tendered their endorsements of Mark's candidacy. They appear on the "endorsements" page of this site.
Mark casts his ballot
March 4, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Mark cast his absentee ballot at the Alachua County Supervisor Of Elections Office this morning.
Voters can vote by absentee ballot to avoid waiting in lines on election day.
"Voting feels good. I just did what millions around the world could only dream of doing. We should not neglect our right and responsibility to vote. Now, we need all of our supporters to vote for me for mayor and to encourage their friends and family members to do likewise," Mark said.
absentee voting
March 4, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Mark cast his absentee ballot at the Alachua County Supervisor Of Elections Office this morning.
Voters can vote by absentee ballot to avoid waiting in lines on election day.
"Voting feels good. I just did what millions around the world could only dream of doing. We should not neglect our right and responsibility to vote. Now, we need all of our supporters to vote for me for mayor and to encourage their friends and family members to do likewise," Mark said.
absentee voting
Mark has strong showings in the first four candidate fora
March 4, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- In the first four candidate fora, Mark has had strong performances that have garnered compliments and praise from audience members--including some civic leaders and influential citizens. "Thoughtful and confident are the words that I hear most from audience members," Mark said. "I feel like I have had good answers to questions and have had a strong presence," he continued.
March 4, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- In the first four candidate fora, Mark has had strong performances that have garnered compliments and praise from audience members--including some civic leaders and influential citizens. "Thoughtful and confident are the words that I hear most from audience members," Mark said. "I feel like I have had good answers to questions and have had a strong presence," he continued.
The campaign gets fantastic, new business cards
February 24, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Through the creativity and generosity of campaign supporters, Dustin Stephany and Daniel Solano, the Mark For Mayor Campaign got fantastic, new, two-sided business cards.
People have been highly complementary of the cards. In fact, they have been so taken with the cards that they have wanted to talk about the cards and not about issues.
Contact the campaign to get some cards to share, post and circulate.
February 24, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Through the creativity and generosity of campaign supporters, Dustin Stephany and Daniel Solano, the Mark For Mayor Campaign got fantastic, new, two-sided business cards.
People have been highly complementary of the cards. In fact, they have been so taken with the cards that they have wanted to talk about the cards and not about issues.
Contact the campaign to get some cards to share, post and circulate.
Mark participates in the League Of Women Voters Candidate Forum
February 23, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Mark participated in the League Of Women Voters Candidate Forum this afternoon. The forum occurred at the First United Methodist Church that is just north of downtown Gainesville.
That was the third of six fora and debates that various organizations have scheduled during this campaign. It was the first at which all candidates for mayor and for district four city commissioner participated.
"I had another strong showing," Mark said. "I encourage all voters who have not yet attended a forum or debate to attend one of the remaining ones."
For local media coverage of the forum, see the "news from the media" section of this site.
February 23, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Mark participated in the League Of Women Voters Candidate Forum this afternoon. The forum occurred at the First United Methodist Church that is just north of downtown Gainesville.
That was the third of six fora and debates that various organizations have scheduled during this campaign. It was the first at which all candidates for mayor and for district four city commissioner participated.
"I had another strong showing," Mark said. "I encourage all voters who have not yet attended a forum or debate to attend one of the remaining ones."
For local media coverage of the forum, see the "news from the media" section of this site.
Mark learns of progress on developing energy conservation ordinance
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- At the regular meeting of Green Caffeine this morning, Mark heard Russel Anderson and Dustin Stephany, members of the Gainesville Loves Mountains organization, update attendees on the current version of the Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance (RECO) that they and their colleagues are developing.
Energy efficiency (passive energy-saving methods) and conservation (active or human-behavior-driven energy-saving methods) are the least-cost and most easily implemented means to responsible energy use. Energy efficiency and energy conservation are integral to Mark's first, broad governance objective: establish and pursue a forward-looking and fully responsible energy policy.
Green Caffeine is regular event organized by the Heart Of Florida Chapter of the U. S. Green Building Council. Green Caffeine meets on first and third Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Volta Coffee, Tea and Chocolate Shop in downtown Gainesville to listen to a presenter speak on a sustainability-related topic. Gainesville Love Mountains is a local organization that works primarily to end the use of mountaintop removal coal by Gainesville Regional Utilities.
Russ reported that six cities in the United States and on State have RECOs. As a result of the RECO instituted there, San Francisco reported an average increase in energy efficiency of fifteen percent.
Structured wisely, RECOs:
One attendee reported of an acquaintance's move from Georgetown Apartments in Gainesville to an apartment in Waldo to avoid monthly utility bills of $400 for her family of four.
Attendees identified the need for a concomitant RECO for unincorporated Alachua County to avoid placing Gainesville property owners at a competitive disadvantage to Alachua County property owners. However, the disadvantage could be minimal or nonexistence since energy efficiency upgrades decrease the ongoing building ownership and operation costs.
Attendees also identified the preferability of incentives over mandates or regulations in gaining the support of property owners and buyers and of ideological conservatives for the ordinance.
The members of Gainesville Loves Mountains will continue to develop their proposed ordinance with feedback from all stakeholders and will continue to educate the public about the benefits of it in preparation to introduce it to the Gainesville City Commission and to the public.
Mark stated at the end of the meeting that, were the voters of Gainesville to elect him, he would strongly support a fair and workable RECO for Gainesville.
announcement
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- At the regular meeting of Green Caffeine this morning, Mark heard Russel Anderson and Dustin Stephany, members of the Gainesville Loves Mountains organization, update attendees on the current version of the Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance (RECO) that they and their colleagues are developing.
Energy efficiency (passive energy-saving methods) and conservation (active or human-behavior-driven energy-saving methods) are the least-cost and most easily implemented means to responsible energy use. Energy efficiency and energy conservation are integral to Mark's first, broad governance objective: establish and pursue a forward-looking and fully responsible energy policy.
Green Caffeine is regular event organized by the Heart Of Florida Chapter of the U. S. Green Building Council. Green Caffeine meets on first and third Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Volta Coffee, Tea and Chocolate Shop in downtown Gainesville to listen to a presenter speak on a sustainability-related topic. Gainesville Love Mountains is a local organization that works primarily to end the use of mountaintop removal coal by Gainesville Regional Utilities.
Russ reported that six cities in the United States and on State have RECOs. As a result of the RECO instituted there, San Francisco reported an average increase in energy efficiency of fifteen percent.
Structured wisely, RECOs:
- reduce utility costs for building owners, renters and users
- reduce the many environmental and social costs of producing and using energy
- reduce the effects on local economies of fluctuating energy prices and
- improve the comfort, indoor air quality and durability of homes by eliminating drafts, reducing radiant heat losses and eliminating moisture condensation
One attendee reported of an acquaintance's move from Georgetown Apartments in Gainesville to an apartment in Waldo to avoid monthly utility bills of $400 for her family of four.
Attendees identified the need for a concomitant RECO for unincorporated Alachua County to avoid placing Gainesville property owners at a competitive disadvantage to Alachua County property owners. However, the disadvantage could be minimal or nonexistence since energy efficiency upgrades decrease the ongoing building ownership and operation costs.
Attendees also identified the preferability of incentives over mandates or regulations in gaining the support of property owners and buyers and of ideological conservatives for the ordinance.
The members of Gainesville Loves Mountains will continue to develop their proposed ordinance with feedback from all stakeholders and will continue to educate the public about the benefits of it in preparation to introduce it to the Gainesville City Commission and to the public.
Mark stated at the end of the meeting that, were the voters of Gainesville to elect him, he would strongly support a fair and workable RECO for Gainesville.
announcement
Mark For Gainesville Mayor Internet site receives a record number of visits!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Gainsville, Florida, U. S. A.-- A record 140 visitors visited the Mark For Gainesville Mayor Campaign Internet site yesterday.
Additionally, the daily average number of visitors calculated with data from the launch of the site--not a moving average number of visitors--has been gradually increasing since the campaign launched the site. A moving average would be a more accurate indication of the viewership trend than a full-data-set average.
"Our campaign is clearly gaining interest and momentum with continuing exposure," Mark said.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Gainsville, Florida, U. S. A.-- A record 140 visitors visited the Mark For Gainesville Mayor Campaign Internet site yesterday.
Additionally, the daily average number of visitors calculated with data from the launch of the site--not a moving average number of visitors--has been gradually increasing since the campaign launched the site. A moving average would be a more accurate indication of the viewership trend than a full-data-set average.
"Our campaign is clearly gaining interest and momentum with continuing exposure," Mark said.
Mark attends TXTTAG “hackathon”
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- To support and encourage technology developers and to remain aware of the accomplishments and needs of the innovation community, Mark attended as an observer an application design competition for three platforms this morning.
Eight, young computer application user interface designers who worked in three teams gathered this weekend to compete for cash prizes to develop a user interface for a locally developed mobile application, TXTTAG (TXTTAG.me). User interfaces are the images that computer and smart device users see on the displays of their devices when using computer and mobile device applications. TXTTAG is a mobile application that allows users to send text messages to motorists by using their license tag numbers. Most of the competitors were students at the University Of Florida.
Local mobile application development company, Good, Incorporated, the owner of the TEXTAG mobile application, held the twenty-four-hour “hackathon” in Hackerspace that is located in the basement of Sun Center East to develop a safe, attractive and profitable user interface for their application. A “hackathon” is a marathon computer development competition. Contestants ususally work around the clock. Among the definitions of the word, hacker, is a person who develops software. Hackerspace is an application design and development studio and an electronics and small mechanical device building workshop that is run by the Hackerspace, a non-profit, membership organization that maintains the space and that promotes technology development.
Team Green Sweatshirt composed of Sam Sewall and Katie Russ won the competition for a web browser application by being unopposed and received $500 in prize money. Katie, a psychology major, said that she was drawn to application design as a hobby during her senior year. Sam, who met Katie at the start of the competition yesterday, is a computer game development major.
Matt Carroll, owner of Studio 4 Development, a local application development and design company, won the competition for Android smart device application by only two points over JGS Plus Some and received $500 in prize money.
At the event, Mark talked with his associates in the innovation community about their current projects and involvements. He learned of one developer's difficulty in taking his vehicle parking assistance application to market because of a law in the Gainesville City Code. Mark assured him if citizens were to elect him that he would give his attention to the developer's challenge, including promoting a change in the Code if Mark were to surmise that the Code is unreasonably restrictive.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- To support and encourage technology developers and to remain aware of the accomplishments and needs of the innovation community, Mark attended as an observer an application design competition for three platforms this morning.
Eight, young computer application user interface designers who worked in three teams gathered this weekend to compete for cash prizes to develop a user interface for a locally developed mobile application, TXTTAG (TXTTAG.me). User interfaces are the images that computer and smart device users see on the displays of their devices when using computer and mobile device applications. TXTTAG is a mobile application that allows users to send text messages to motorists by using their license tag numbers. Most of the competitors were students at the University Of Florida.
Local mobile application development company, Good, Incorporated, the owner of the TEXTAG mobile application, held the twenty-four-hour “hackathon” in Hackerspace that is located in the basement of Sun Center East to develop a safe, attractive and profitable user interface for their application. A “hackathon” is a marathon computer development competition. Contestants ususally work around the clock. Among the definitions of the word, hacker, is a person who develops software. Hackerspace is an application design and development studio and an electronics and small mechanical device building workshop that is run by the Hackerspace, a non-profit, membership organization that maintains the space and that promotes technology development.
Team Green Sweatshirt composed of Sam Sewall and Katie Russ won the competition for a web browser application by being unopposed and received $500 in prize money. Katie, a psychology major, said that she was drawn to application design as a hobby during her senior year. Sam, who met Katie at the start of the competition yesterday, is a computer game development major.
Matt Carroll, owner of Studio 4 Development, a local application development and design company, won the competition for Android smart device application by only two points over JGS Plus Some and received $500 in prize money.
At the event, Mark talked with his associates in the innovation community about their current projects and involvements. He learned of one developer's difficulty in taking his vehicle parking assistance application to market because of a law in the Gainesville City Code. Mark assured him if citizens were to elect him that he would give his attention to the developer's challenge, including promoting a change in the Code if Mark were to surmise that the Code is unreasonably restrictive.
Mark attends a lecture on the changing influences of religion in politics
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- The Bob Graham Center For Public Service and the Department Of Political Science at the University Of Florida hosted a lecture this evening by renowned political scientist and author, David Campbell. The title of his lecture was "Why Religion Still Matters In American Politics."
Professor Campbell who teaches at the University of Notre Dame, is the founding director of the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy. He has distinguished himself as an expert on religion and politics and on civic engagement.
Professor Campbell co-authored American Grace: How Religion Divides and United Us, a book that has won numerous awards, with Harvard professor and mentor, Robert Putnam. Additionally, Professor Campbell has written two other books.
Mark learned of many historic and current manifestations of religion in the United States and of many historic and current trends in the influences of religion on our polity.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- The Bob Graham Center For Public Service and the Department Of Political Science at the University Of Florida hosted a lecture this evening by renowned political scientist and author, David Campbell. The title of his lecture was "Why Religion Still Matters In American Politics."
Professor Campbell who teaches at the University of Notre Dame, is the founding director of the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy. He has distinguished himself as an expert on religion and politics and on civic engagement.
Professor Campbell co-authored American Grace: How Religion Divides and United Us, a book that has won numerous awards, with Harvard professor and mentor, Robert Putnam. Additionally, Professor Campbell has written two other books.
Mark learned of many historic and current manifestations of religion in the United States and of many historic and current trends in the influences of religion on our polity.
Mark attends a Public Officials Workshop
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Alachua, Florida, U. S. A.-- The Alachua County League Of Cities sponsored a workshop for public officials and candidates for public offices this afternoon at the Alachua City Hall. The workshop, presented by Marilyn E. Crotty, Director of the Florida Institute Of Government at the University Of Central Florida, covered municipal charters, sunshine law requirements and ethics.
Mark attended the workshop and learned much critical information about the laws that govern governing, and he made many valuable contacts among public officials from throughout Alachua County.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Alachua, Florida, U. S. A.-- The Alachua County League Of Cities sponsored a workshop for public officials and candidates for public offices this afternoon at the Alachua City Hall. The workshop, presented by Marilyn E. Crotty, Director of the Florida Institute Of Government at the University Of Central Florida, covered municipal charters, sunshine law requirements and ethics.
Mark attended the workshop and learned much critical information about the laws that govern governing, and he made many valuable contacts among public officials from throughout Alachua County.
Mark attends panel discussion on the Cabot-Koppers Superfund site
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- This afternoon, Sustainable Santa Fe and the Santa Fe College chapter of the Democracy Commitment hosted a panel discussion on the lengthy and complex history and politics of the Cabot-Koppers Superfund site that is located in the Stephen Foster Neighborhood in north Gainesville. Sustainable Santa Fe is an environmental advocacy organization of Santa Fe College. The Democracy Commitment is a nationwide organization that promotes civic engagement by community college students.
About forty Santa Fe College students, faculty members, staff members and community activists attended the event. Panelists included Donna Waller, a professor of history at Santa Fe College, Rick Hutton, the supervising utility engineer at Gainesville Regional Utilities and John Mousa, a environmental official at the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department. Organizers invited mayor Craig Lowe, but neither he nor a representative attended.
Professor Waller, who, for much of her career also taught political science at the College, has lived near the site since 1980. With her neighbors, she has worked for decades to get the owners of the site and all appropriate agencies of governments to safely remediate the site and the surrounding areas. She provided a thorough overview of the history of citizens' and local officials' efforts to remediate the site citing the many successes that they have had. She acknowledged that the residents of the surrounding area are currently divided on how to proceed and that no one should consider her as a representative of all of the residents.
Mr. Mousa and Mr. Hutton gave overviews of the conditions on and under the site that are based on studies commissioned by the site owner and that various environmental regulatory agencies and staff members and consultants of Gainesville Regional Utilities have reviewed. Through the slides that they presented and through their narratives, they stated that site assessors have detected powerful toxins including dioxin in the Floridan Aquifer--the deepest of the three underlying aquifers from which the City Of Gainesville draws water for water customers in the Murphree Well Field located about two miles east-northeast of the site. Mr. Hutton assured attendees that water supplied by Gainesville Regional Utilities is safe because creosote contaminates only the surface of the soil on the site and dioxin does not migrate with water infiltration because it sticks to soil particles.
Local attorney, Paul Rothstein, who represents many property owners and residents in the area surrounding the Superfund site stated that he and his clients base their suit in part on data that shows that the extent and degree of contamination on and around the site is greater than that presented by Mr. Mousa and Mr. Hutton.
Students asked many questions. Inveterate activists and Mr. John Popejoy, the director of Protect Gainesville Citizens, encouraged the students to support the efforts of citizen activists and his organization by visiting the Internet site of that organization, by becoming a friend of the Facebook page of that organization and by joining the blog of that organization. The last postings on these Internet places were in April and October.
Mark talked with most of the attendees individually and in small groups about the Cabot-Koppers issue, about his history of environmental activism and about his campaign before the start of the program. After the panel discussion and audience questions and comments, Mark introduced himself and said, "If elected, I shall push for the most thorough remediation possible of the site and the surrounding affected area."
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- This afternoon, Sustainable Santa Fe and the Santa Fe College chapter of the Democracy Commitment hosted a panel discussion on the lengthy and complex history and politics of the Cabot-Koppers Superfund site that is located in the Stephen Foster Neighborhood in north Gainesville. Sustainable Santa Fe is an environmental advocacy organization of Santa Fe College. The Democracy Commitment is a nationwide organization that promotes civic engagement by community college students.
About forty Santa Fe College students, faculty members, staff members and community activists attended the event. Panelists included Donna Waller, a professor of history at Santa Fe College, Rick Hutton, the supervising utility engineer at Gainesville Regional Utilities and John Mousa, a environmental official at the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department. Organizers invited mayor Craig Lowe, but neither he nor a representative attended.
Professor Waller, who, for much of her career also taught political science at the College, has lived near the site since 1980. With her neighbors, she has worked for decades to get the owners of the site and all appropriate agencies of governments to safely remediate the site and the surrounding areas. She provided a thorough overview of the history of citizens' and local officials' efforts to remediate the site citing the many successes that they have had. She acknowledged that the residents of the surrounding area are currently divided on how to proceed and that no one should consider her as a representative of all of the residents.
Mr. Mousa and Mr. Hutton gave overviews of the conditions on and under the site that are based on studies commissioned by the site owner and that various environmental regulatory agencies and staff members and consultants of Gainesville Regional Utilities have reviewed. Through the slides that they presented and through their narratives, they stated that site assessors have detected powerful toxins including dioxin in the Floridan Aquifer--the deepest of the three underlying aquifers from which the City Of Gainesville draws water for water customers in the Murphree Well Field located about two miles east-northeast of the site. Mr. Hutton assured attendees that water supplied by Gainesville Regional Utilities is safe because creosote contaminates only the surface of the soil on the site and dioxin does not migrate with water infiltration because it sticks to soil particles.
Local attorney, Paul Rothstein, who represents many property owners and residents in the area surrounding the Superfund site stated that he and his clients base their suit in part on data that shows that the extent and degree of contamination on and around the site is greater than that presented by Mr. Mousa and Mr. Hutton.
Students asked many questions. Inveterate activists and Mr. John Popejoy, the director of Protect Gainesville Citizens, encouraged the students to support the efforts of citizen activists and his organization by visiting the Internet site of that organization, by becoming a friend of the Facebook page of that organization and by joining the blog of that organization. The last postings on these Internet places were in April and October.
Mark talked with most of the attendees individually and in small groups about the Cabot-Koppers issue, about his history of environmental activism and about his campaign before the start of the program. After the panel discussion and audience questions and comments, Mark introduced himself and said, "If elected, I shall push for the most thorough remediation possible of the site and the surrounding affected area."
Independent Florida Alligator reports on candidates' qualifications
Monday, February 4, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- The Independent Florida Alligator student newspaper of the University Of Florida reported on the qualifications of candidates to appear on the ballots in the January 19, 2013 election.
The article in both the online and the print editions featured a photo image of incumbent mayor, Craig Lowe
Monday, February 4, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- The Independent Florida Alligator student newspaper of the University Of Florida reported on the qualifications of candidates to appear on the ballots in the January 19, 2013 election.
The article in both the online and the print editions featured a photo image of incumbent mayor, Craig Lowe
Mark For Mayor campaign site gets a record ninety-two visits
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Yesterday, a record ninety-two people visited the Mark For Gainesville Mayor Campaign Internet site.
"This is good news; support is building," Mark smiled and said.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Yesterday, a record ninety-two people visited the Mark For Gainesville Mayor Campaign Internet site.
"This is good news; support is building," Mark smiled and said.
“Phantom sign maker” gifts homespun campaign yard sign
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- This evening, Mark returned to “campaign headquarters” at 35 Southeast 5th Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. to water his food garden. Leaning against the front of his mini-motorhome, Mark found an unsolicited, homemade, campaign yard sign.
The design of the sign is based on the official campaign yard sign design but was produced by stencil painted text with a pasted-on photo image of Mark's head shot. Attached to the sign was the stencil that the unknown artist used to paint the text.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Mark said. “It is rather touching, really, to receive such tangible expression of grassroots support,” he said.
Two friends have told Mark that the materials recycling not-for-profit organization, Re-purpose Project, located immediately next to “campaign headquarters,” has had a number of substantially constructed, used yard signs. They have suggested to Mark that he could purchase them, paint over the existing messages on them and paint or apply his campaign sign message on them.
“Apparently, one of them or one of their “accomplices” got tired of waiting for me to make signs for my campaign from the used signs at Re-purpose Project,” Mark said with a laugh. “I have been extremely busy updating the campaign Internet site, attending a candidate forum and campaigning among voters face to face,” Mark continued.
Mark welcomes having anyone who would like to do so make as many of the homespun signs as he or she would like to do make. He said that many people are waiting to emplace yard signs on their properties. Mark counted twenty-four used signs at Re-purpose Project. Mark said that he would make them himself, but has many campaigning and administrative tasks to which to attend.
“I would also love to know the identity of the beneficent, “phantom sign maker, so I could thank him or her,” Mark concluded.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- This evening, Mark returned to “campaign headquarters” at 35 Southeast 5th Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. to water his food garden. Leaning against the front of his mini-motorhome, Mark found an unsolicited, homemade, campaign yard sign.
The design of the sign is based on the official campaign yard sign design but was produced by stencil painted text with a pasted-on photo image of Mark's head shot. Attached to the sign was the stencil that the unknown artist used to paint the text.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Mark said. “It is rather touching, really, to receive such tangible expression of grassroots support,” he said.
Two friends have told Mark that the materials recycling not-for-profit organization, Re-purpose Project, located immediately next to “campaign headquarters,” has had a number of substantially constructed, used yard signs. They have suggested to Mark that he could purchase them, paint over the existing messages on them and paint or apply his campaign sign message on them.
“Apparently, one of them or one of their “accomplices” got tired of waiting for me to make signs for my campaign from the used signs at Re-purpose Project,” Mark said with a laugh. “I have been extremely busy updating the campaign Internet site, attending a candidate forum and campaigning among voters face to face,” Mark continued.
Mark welcomes having anyone who would like to do so make as many of the homespun signs as he or she would like to do make. He said that many people are waiting to emplace yard signs on their properties. Mark counted twenty-four used signs at Re-purpose Project. Mark said that he would make them himself, but has many campaigning and administrative tasks to which to attend.
“I would also love to know the identity of the beneficent, “phantom sign maker, so I could thank him or her,” Mark concluded.
Mark campaigns during downtown Mardi Gras celebration
Friday, February 2, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Mark engaged voters in conversation about their concerns and ideas for the City and about his campaign during Mardi Gras festivities in downtown Gainesville tonight.
Mark found many revelers happy to pause to discus political matters. He even garnered several new campaign supporters and some assurances of campaign contributions.
Friday, February 2, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Mark engaged voters in conversation about their concerns and ideas for the City and about his campaign during Mardi Gras festivities in downtown Gainesville tonight.
Mark found many revelers happy to pause to discus political matters. He even garnered several new campaign supporters and some assurances of campaign contributions.
Mark attends vision and planning workshop for the new Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department master plan
Monday, January 28, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Managers and staff members of the Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department presented various components of the newly completed master plan titled, PRCA Vision 2020, for their Department at Ironwood Golf Course this evening.
Having studied landscape architecture and being a health and fitness enthusiast, Mark welcomed the opportunity to provide his reactions to the possibilities that the new master plan suggests and to offer some ideas of his own. He was especially impressed with the proposal for a new, outdoor music and multipurpose venue that other cities and foundations have successfully and in some cases famously operated for many years. Wolf Trap is one such venue. "Besides offering a great cultural and special event amenity, with good management, an outdoor music and multipurpose venue could provide a significant income stream to the City," Mark said.
While the master plan is complete, the managers of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department encourage residents to become familiar with the new master plan and to provide their perspectives on implementation priorities and financing options. Residents may view and download the master plan from the PRCA Vision 2020 page of the Internet site of the Department.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Managers and staff members of the Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department presented various components of the newly completed master plan titled, PRCA Vision 2020, for their Department at Ironwood Golf Course this evening.
Having studied landscape architecture and being a health and fitness enthusiast, Mark welcomed the opportunity to provide his reactions to the possibilities that the new master plan suggests and to offer some ideas of his own. He was especially impressed with the proposal for a new, outdoor music and multipurpose venue that other cities and foundations have successfully and in some cases famously operated for many years. Wolf Trap is one such venue. "Besides offering a great cultural and special event amenity, with good management, an outdoor music and multipurpose venue could provide a significant income stream to the City," Mark said.
While the master plan is complete, the managers of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department encourage residents to become familiar with the new master plan and to provide their perspectives on implementation priorities and financing options. Residents may view and download the master plan from the PRCA Vision 2020 page of the Internet site of the Department.
Campaign launches the new Internet site
Friday, January 26, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Campaign supporters and volunteers visited with Mark at a campaign Internet site launch party last night.
The address of the clean, highly navigable, new site is:
MarkForMayor.us
Sarkara Sweets Cupcake Cafe in downtown Gainesville was the venue for the evening-long party. The owners of the Cafe, Stephanie and Susan Claire Browning, provided a beautiful tray of delicious, bite-sized "micro-cupcakes" on which partygoers snacked.
Besides discussing the campaign with supporters and volunteers, Mark engaged customers of the Cafe throughout the evening, learning their concerns in the process.
Friday, January 26, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.-- Campaign supporters and volunteers visited with Mark at a campaign Internet site launch party last night.
The address of the clean, highly navigable, new site is:
MarkForMayor.us
Sarkara Sweets Cupcake Cafe in downtown Gainesville was the venue for the evening-long party. The owners of the Cafe, Stephanie and Susan Claire Browning, provided a beautiful tray of delicious, bite-sized "micro-cupcakes" on which partygoers snacked.
Besides discussing the campaign with supporters and volunteers, Mark engaged customers of the Cafe throughout the evening, learning their concerns in the process.
The Gainesville Sun reports on the Venzke campaign
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
update, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.--The Gainesville Sun first published an article in the online edition on yesterday, Tuesday, about the Venzke Campaign that well describes Mark and his governance objectives.
Today, Wednesday, the article appeared on the front page of the local section of the print edition of the Sun.
Read the article at:
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20130122/ARTICLES/130129925/1182?p=1&tc=pg
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
update, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.--The Gainesville Sun first published an article in the online edition on yesterday, Tuesday, about the Venzke Campaign that well describes Mark and his governance objectives.
Today, Wednesday, the article appeared on the front page of the local section of the print edition of the Sun.
Read the article at:
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20130122/ARTICLES/130129925/1182?p=1&tc=pg
Mark attends Regional Transit System (RTS) open house on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
RTS seeks citizens' input through online survey
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.--This evening managers and staff members of the Regional Transit Service and consultants hosted an open house to acquaint the public with the Go Enhance RTS transportation study. That study is exploring the prospects for a bus rapid transit service (BRT) along a generally east-west corridor that could stretch along part or all of a southward-bending arc from the Gainesville-Alachua County Regional Airport to beyond the Oaks Mall.
About twenty citizens attended the workshop that occurred in the multi-purpose room of the Gainesville Regional Utilities Administration Building.
Among the information about BRT that Mark learned is the following:
BRT offers most of the benefits of light rail transit (LRT) at a fraction of the cost of it.
The RTS of Gainesville carries more passengers per capita than the transit systems of most of the major cities throughout Florida.
A preceding study concluded that BRT would likely be viable in Gainesville.
The Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) requires minimum levels of various aspects of BRT service to award grant money for the starting of the service.
Like all public transit and vehicle transportation infrastructure, BRT does not pay for itself, so the service would require reliable, ongoing support from some level of government. However, the FTA does not fund ongoing operations of transit systems.
BRT systems can be built in stages.
To attract and retain passengers, BRT systems must be distinctly better than common transit systems. Also, most of BRT routes should have dedicated traffic lanes to expedite BRT service. Those lanes can be shared with high-occupancy vehicles. Governments with jurisdiction on road rights of way can establish dedicated bus lanes or combination BRT and HOV lanes where space and resources allow.
Information about the Go Enhance RTS study will be available on the RTS Internet site by noon tomorrow. The Internet address of the information area of the RTS Internet site is:
www.GoEnhanceRTS.com
Presenters of the workshop strongly encouraged attendees to complete the survey on BRT-related matters at the above address and to encourage others to do so.
Mark participates in Martin Luther King Day observances
Monday, January 21, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A. --To honor Martin Luther King, Junior and his work to realize equality and peace, the Martin Luther King, Junior Commission Of Florida held a series of observances today, the national holiday dedicated to him.
Mark attended the enshrinement ceremony in the Martin Luther King memorial garden on the grounds of City Hall at which two local citizens were recognized for their work over the past year that exemplified the ideals of the late moral leader. Their names were added to those of previous honorees on the permanent displays in the garden.
Mark also attended the rally in the Bo Didley Downtown Plaza at which speakers recounted the work of Reverend King and spoke of the need for continuing his work.
Following the rally, Mark joined hundreds of admirers of Reverend King for a visible statement of solidarity and support for human rights and harmony in a march to the civic center that bears his name on Northeast Waldo Road.
Mark tours the site of the proposed development center for economically disengaged residents
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A.--This morning, City officials and staff members and members and supporters of the Alachua County Coalition For the Homeless and Hungry held an open house at the proposed site for a Development center for economically disengaged residents that advocates have sought for many years.
The former Gainesville Correctional Institute (GCI), located across the road from the Alachua County Fairgrounds on northeast 39th Avenue has fifteen buildings on a twenty-one-acre site. The City has been negotiating with the State Of Florida to acquire the property. Local government officials and service providers and advocates for the destitute and impoverished have many ideas for how the site could provide facilities and programs that would offer clients opportunities to improve their lives and gain economic independence.
“This property offers many possibilities for accommodation, habilitation and economic empowerment for the destitute and impoverished residents of our City, which partly fulfulls the third of my broad governance objectives of my campaign,” said Mark. Mark said that he looks forward to remaining engaged in the development process for the development center.