[Nfbf-l] Congressman Cliff Stearn defeated in stunning upset

[Sherri]

It was a very close vote and sad, in spite of his political affiliation, 
that we lost a valuable supporter.

Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Lenora J. Marten
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 6:36 PM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Congressman Cliff Stearn defeated in stunning upset




Congressman Cliff Stearns, who introduced the Fair Wages for Workers with
Disabilities Act of 2011, and the Safety Pedestrian Enhancement Act of 2009,
has been defeated. He has been a great friend and supporter to the
blind community of Florida. I'm still somewhat in shock over this. It was
a stunning upset with Yoho winning by slightly more than 800 votes. Just
goes to show that each and every vote is important.

Lenora

from Tampa Bay Times - 
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/cliff-stearns-concedes-defeat-ted-yoho

AUGUST 15, 2012
Cliff Stearns concedes defeat to Ted Yoho



Based upon the results from last night, it would appear that there are not 
enough provisional ballots to make up the difference for me to win this 
primary election," he said in a subsequent statement. "Therefore, I am 
conceding the election to Ted Yoho and I talked with him wishing him the 
best in his effort to represent the wonderful people of north central 
Florida. I have had an excellent and rewarding experience working in 
Congress for my fellow Floridians.
“I am disappointed that I won’t be able to continue my investigations of the 
Obama administration such as the risky loan guarantee to Solyndra and 
holding Planned Parenthood accountable to the taxpayers. There is so much 
left to do in conducting oversight over the White House and the President’s 
growing expansion of government into our lives.”
“I stand proud of my 24-year record of conservative leadership and of 
defending our traditional values in Congress. It has been an honor, 
privilege, and the high calling of my life to serve the many outstanding 
citizens of Florida in our nation’s capital. I will leave the House of 
Representatives with a joyful heart and the satisfaction that I did all I 
could to advance the conservative cause. It is time for me to return to my 
family and explore new directions. While looking to the future, I also thank 
all the wonderful people who have supported me and my work over these many 
years.”
Stearns called friends early this morning to say he was going to concede.
"I'm sure there's a lot of disappointment and you could see it in his eyes 
and face last night," said former state Sen. Jim Horne of Jacksonville. 
"I've know Cliff for a long time. He's an incredible guy."
But Horne said the anti-incumbency mood was too powerful. "It was like an 
ocean wave sweeping in. The hyper-partisan politics of Washington have 
poisoned voters' view of all politicians. People were willing to throw out 
the good to make sure they are throwing out the bad."
Stearns, 71, had emerged in the past two years as a chief antagonist of the 
Obama administration, heading up the investigation in Solyndra and launching 
a contentious probe into Planned Parenthood. Horne said that probably did 
not hurt him in the solidly Republican district, again citing 
anti-incumbency as a driving factor in the race.
Yoho, a 57-year-old veterinarian in Gainesville, has said he'd serve only 8 
years. He tapped into tea party angst, still simmering two years after the 
movement emerged, and won a string of straw polls that portended Tuesday's 
outcome.
"He’s the kind of guy I’d like to go fishing with," Ray Carlile, chairman of 
a tea party group in rural Suwanee County, said of Yoho. He said Stearns was 
in office too long and turned off voters with negative campaigning.
"He thought he was invincible at first but then tried to make up for lost 
time and got a little desperate," Carlile said.
Stearns was forced by redistricting to run in the newly redrawn District 3. 
He was not as familiar with some voters and seemed to have underestimated 
Yoho while focusing his fire on another rival, state Sen. Steve Olerich. 
Stearns as of late July still had $2 million in the bank.




































































































Lenora J. Marten
NFB-Florida Secretary
FOPBC President
NFB-Jax Chapter Secretary
bluegolfshoes at aol.com
904-777-5976 / 904-229-9554


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