News Briefs

+ Straw poll tabulation begins despite concerns
Despite concerns that some registered voters in the community did not get ballots as promised, tabulation of the straw poll regarding Lakewood Ranch’s incorporation has begun.

“We will be performing a final count and verification of the results this week,” said Rob Lane, managing partner at Kerkering Barberio, the firm conducting the poll, on Aug. 22. “We will then release the outcome on Aug. 29 to Sen. Mike Bennett’s and (District 67) Rep. Greg Steube’s offices.”

Kerkering Barberio’s news comes after an Aug. 18 press conference during which Friends of Lakewood Ranch leaders Gary Berns and Bob Hendel said they knew of at least 129 registered voters who did not receive ballots.

Berns said Friends members are concerned registered voters were unintentionally disenfranchised.

“We’re not pointing fingers at anybody,” Berns said. “We know there’s a problem. We don’t know how endemic the problem is.”

Lane said the integrity of the straw poll is critical.

“We want to make sure we have checked and double-checked anything before we make any official comments (about the 129 ballots),” Lane said. “We’re an independent party here. We’re trying to make sure there’s integrity of the process, and hopefully, these results are representative of what the community feels on this issue.”

Friends members are concerned the number of disenfranchised voters could be much higher and could affect results of the straw poll.

Brian Jones, president of Andrick and Associates, the company that handled the printing and mailing of the ballots, said his company sent out ballots to nearly 12,000 registered voters. Of those, about 1,400 voters had ballots sent directly to the forwarding address.

+ Back-to-School Splash Bash returns to Lakewood
The Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp. will offer East County family’s one last chance for summer fun with its annual Back to School Splash Bash.

This year’s event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 27, at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA pool and pavilion area. Guests are being asked to bring new or used children’s books to be donated at the event.

+ Manatee offers financial aid for seniors’ energy bills
Manatee is now accepting applications for a state grant that offers financial help to residents 60 years old or older who are facing an economic hardship

The county has through March 31 to distribute $78,000 to customers in need through the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly grant program, to customers of Florida Power & Light and Peace River Electric Cooperative. To be eligible, applicants must be part of a household with at least one person who is 60 years old or older in the home, have a documented heating or cooling emergency and a gross household annual income equal to or less than 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.

For more information, call 749-3030 or visit www.mymanatee.org.

Rep. Steube to host open house
District 67 Rep. Greg Steube will host an open house from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at his district office, 5830 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Steube said he wanted to give constituents an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the office and its staff.

Steube, a veteran, also is launching a care package drive at the office for military service members who are deployed oversees, in preparation for the Christmas season, and to help the local organization, Manatee Operation Troop Support. Items being collected include cardboard boxes and stamps, and food items such as beef jerky, Clif bars, peanuts, cashews, dental floss, razors, white socks and more.