Today, the Orange County Commission will address the ongoing Sick Time saga, following the latest court ruling. A three-judge panel ruled Orange County must place the Sick Time initiative on the next ballot because the Commission violated the “plain meaning of its charter.” Commissioners have been ordered to adopt a resolution within 30 days to put the matter to voters in the next election, currently scheduled for August 2014.
However, I’m urging the Commission to seek another solution. I urge the County Commission to call for a special election to address the Earned Sick Time citizen initiative at the earliest possible date.
There are many reasons I ask the Commissioners to consider this solution. Our community is in need of decisive action and leadership. This is an opportunity for our commissioners to move our county forward and put this issue behind us. And, now is the time to act.
A special election would benefit everyone.
First, a special election is in the best interest of the Mayor. The ruling was decisive and the County’s actions were embarrassing. Mayor Jacobs actually voted to move the measure forward ultimately and now is the time to call for that vote. Waiting until 2014 will only distract our community and this issue will be used by political opponents as a partisan and electoral one. The “Sick Time coalition” has been more interested in attacking Mayor Jacobs and filing lawsuits, than holding town halls or canvassing door-to-door to educate the community. Calling a special election would put the pressure and accountability back on the real players in this policy fight, to focus on the issue at hand. This decisive action would also set Mayor Jacobs apart and redefine the entire issue long before the 2014 county elections.
Second, a special election is in the best interest of Orange County. A call for a special election would finally elevate this above the politics and courtrooms and allow our county to weigh in once and for all. It would also move this issue beyond text messages and stall tactics by both sides. The people being left out of this argument are the only ones who really matter: the voters and residents of Orange County.
Third, a special election is in the best interest of both the Chamber of Commerce and Citizens for a Greater Orange County. I am frustrated that supporters of the Sick Time initiative do not have a strong community campaign set up in regards to public outreach and voter education, and I am frustrated that opponents of sick time would rather find loopholes or delays, instead of allowing voters to cast their ballots. It seems both sides are content with stalling and this distraction will not be productive to Orange County if it lingers through our 2014 elections. Forcing both sides to actually discuss the matter and how it will impact Orange County will allow them to refocus on their actual mission to serve the community and not play politics.
Earned Sick Time should not become a partisan issue, nor should it be used by either side as part of their 2014 electoral strategy. Earned Sick Time should be about our community and our working families. A special election would give the 50,000 residents who signed a petition, an opportunity to have their issue on a ballot.
A special election would signal that the power rests with the voters of Orange County and would allow the community the real debate they deserve on this important matter. I believe a special election is also needed so that there is closure on Orange County’s first citizen initiative to qualify by petition, before state legislative pre-emption regarding family and medical leave. No matter what happens in Tallahassee, Orange County deserves a vote on Sick Time.
Orange County Commission: You can deliver that vote. Call a special election and let the people have their vote.
