Happy 4th $2 of July
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 26
JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2024
Ocala prayer vigil ruled unconstitutional By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
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early a decade after the event was held amid a crime spree, a federal judge Wednesday ruled that the city of Ocala violated the U.S. Constitution in organizing and
carrying out a prayer vigil. U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan issued a 50-page decision that sided with atheists, who argued the prayer vigil in a town square violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. Corrigan wrote that the idea for the vigil came from a meeting at the Ocala Police Department
School board divided on how to respond to bidding investigation findings
and was “advertised, and completed through the actions of the mayor, the chief of police and the Ocala Police Department, including its employees and staff.” “If individuals or religious groups had organized a prayer vigil and gathered in the downtown square in the city of Ocala to pray for an end to violent crime (even
How can the high school project move forward? School board has three options to proceed in choosing a contractor for a new SW Marion high school.
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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fter two independent law firms issued reports substantiating malfeasance by School Board Member Sarah James and local construction firm Ausley Construction related to a bid to build a new high school, the school board remains divided on whether to refer the matter to the governor. During the board’s June 25 meeting, Chair Nancy Thrower and Board Member Allison Campbell both indicated they felt obliged to encourage the board to refer the matter to Gov. Ron DeSanatis’ office as a possible ethical violation. School Board members Lori Conrad and Eric Cummings both declined to support forwarding the investigative reports for further action but neither stated any reasons why despite urgings from Thrower, who See School, page A7
with law enforcement attending), the First Amendment to the United States Constitution would have protected the ‘free exercise’ of their religion,” Corrigan wrote. “But because the city conceived, organized, promoted, and conducted the prayer vigil, it violated the Establishment See Vigil, page A8
Superintendent Dr. Diane Gullett listens during a meeting of the Marion County School Board in Ocala on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette] 2024.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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fter two months of heated standstill on the southwest Marion County high school project, the
school board must choose among three options on how to proceed with choosing a contractor—with the danger growing each day of failing to build and open the school in time for the 2026 school year as promised.
In April, a district selection committee chose Wharton Smith Inc. as the winning bidder for the $120 million contract to build a high school in Marion Oaks. In the days and weeks following, competing firm Ausley Construction and School Board Member Sarah James were accused of tampering with the procurement process by violating the “cone of silence” policy and issuing threats to school district staff, another board member, and Superintendent Diane Gullett. An external investigation by the GrayRobinson law firm substantiated the allegations. Before the school board resumed the process of deciding which contractor would build the high school, attorney Brian Williams and Jaime Torrens from Miami-Dade County Public Schools were brought in to conduct an external
review of Marion County Public Schools’ overall construction procurement policies, assessing the district’s compliance with state statutes on procurement, and compared the district’s procurement policies with those of other school districts and local governments in Florida. The review found MCPS’s policies were completely valid and legal, but the report recommended some improvement to the policies. They also found that MCPS deviated from its policy when it allowed James to serve on a selection committee for the project and to score bid submittals and conduct interviews with bidders. On Tuesday, the board heard more details about the next steps. Gullett and staff outlined three options but after nearly two hours of discussion, the members could not reach a decision. See High, page A7
Let the races begin!
Here is an early look at who will be on the upcoming ballots and who will get to decide our local representatives. Staff report
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Screenshot of Facebook post made by MCPS board member Sarah James from the dais during a school district meeting held on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
he 2024 election season is chugging along, and now that the qualifying period has ended, here is a roundup of candidates who have been elected without opposition and those in the running for the primary election in August and the general election in November. Greg Harrell, (REP), was reelected to a second term as Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller without drawing opposition. Jimmy Cowan, (REP), was reelected to a second term as the Marion County Property Appraiser without drawing opposition. George Albright, (REP), was reelected to a sixth term as the Marion County Tax Collector without drawing opposition. Michelle Stone, (REP) drew three challengers, all of whom withdrew. Stone was thus reelected to her third term as a county commissioner for District 5. County Judges Tommy Thompson and Robert Landt both are reelected to
their third terms unopposed. Lori Conrad drew an opponent for Marion County School District 2. The challenger did not qualify, thus Conrad was reelected to a second term. State Attorney William B Gladson was reelected without opposition for a second term. Public Defender Michael Graves was reelected without opposition. Florida State Rep. for district 21, Yvonne Hayes Hinson (DEM) was reelected without opposition.
To be decided in August
Sheriff Billy Woods, (REP), drew an opponent, Milton Simmons Busby Jr., (REP). Since both candidates are Republican, all registered Marion County voters, regardless of their party registration, can vote in the August primary, which will determine who will serve as sheriff. School Board member Allison Beth Campbell drew an opponent, Beth McCall, a former school district member who resigned in 2021 after moving outside the district she
represented. The school district race is a nonpartisan; therefore, all registered Marion County voters will be able to participate. District 1 County Commissioner Craig Curry, (REP), is seeking a second term and drew opponent, Sarah Almedia Dennis (REP). Both candidates are Republican, therefore all registered Marion County voters will have the opportunity to vote in this race. District 3 County Commissioner Matt McClain, (REP), is being challenged by fellow Republican David Blackwell and write-in candidate Rich Brown. McClain was appointed last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the seat after Jeff Gold reigned. Because there is a write-in candidate, this race will be decided only by Marion County registered Republicans. Encouraging a write-in candidate to run to close voting in races to only Republican voters when there are no Democratic candidates has become a popular move in recent years. McClain’s uncle, Bret Doster of See Election, page A2
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Patriotic Drone Show.................. A3 Election Coverage......................... A4 State News...................................... A8 Kut Different.................................. B1 Calendar......................................... B5
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