THE VILLAGES - Our infamous Daily Sun local columnist (with the developer's newspaper) is at it again. This time we have a new fear tactic. Probable insurance-rate increases. Possibly no more coverage. Possibility, probably. Sounds like plain and simple speculation to me. Where's our columnist's homework on these issues? I did some.

There are no appreciable increases in accidents because of due to night time driving. In fact, there are none reported in Lady Lake while driving at night as of the date of this column. Just so we understand it, that's zero accidents at night in Lady Lake. There were, however; accidents in the daytime. Maybe we should ban driving golf carts in the daytime and only allow them out at night.

Our world in The Villages would be a much safer place for we us seniors who are unable to care for ourselves, based on columnist's appraisal of our senior population. Lets ask Sumter and Marion for 24-hour driving privileges and then allow us to come back and ban daytime driving throughout The Villages if those same statistics prove to be true throughout our community. We would be accident-free, according to the statistics available to this date in Lady Lake.

Our columnist's criticism and accusations against our commissioners and law enforcement officials for lack of research is also unfounded. Did she not read the quote in the paper dated Aug. 7.2003 in The Reporter from a respected law enforcement official? He stated he would rather see Town Square with a "whole bunch of golf carts than a whole bunch of cars." He It was also stated that in more than over 20 years doing his job he's only seen "one fatal golf cart accident." I ask how many were fatalities in automobiles in that time span. Our columnist should do that research, if she does any at all, and publish it in her column. I know of two last December. If that individual was driving a cart, I believe that tragedy would not have happened. Could it be our columnist is wrong about our representatives and law enforcement officials doing their research? More than likely.

Remember our columnist's attempt to instill fear in our hearts about safety and accidents because of due to nighttime driving. This was the first fear factor used by our columnist. We Villagers are unable to comprehend the concept, would have massive road kills as some loosely used the term. AARP statistics for automobiles were always a favorite quote and another fear factor used. Seniors were feeble, couldn't see, poor health and all the other stats that were used and do not apply to carts. In regard to the new fear tactic about insurance. Another bomb. I also called many insurance companies and the response was the same. No difference in rates or accidents whether day or night driving is allowed. In fact, the companies I communicated with support the idea of driving at night. They feel it's a better choice than LSV's and much safer.

Our columnist seems to feel that we are pioneers at this new endeavor. We're not the first to try this, in fact we're probably close to the last to allow it. Why aren't rates going up and polices being canceled now when carts are driven at night in the majority of retirement communities? Because history is on our side. It's not a dangerous issue and if our columnist would do her own homework these fear tactics would not appear in our local papers anymore and that's what I hope will happen. This horse is beat to death. We do not need anymore fear factors that don't apply to this issue.

Our columnists also seems to manipulate the discrimination word. The fact is, the residents of The Villages are the ones being discriminated against. Most other communities already enjoy this driving privilege and our community does not.

Where was our columnist when the issue was voted on in Lake County? The first question asked by the commissioners was, "Is anyone in this room opposed to this issue?" There was not one negative response - complete silence. When it passed, the commissioners were applauded by all attending.

Who's the minority here? I applaud the Lake County commissioners and those of Lady Lake for doing their job. Voting as their constituents want them to, in favor of this issue. I do hope the surrounding jurisdictions will also support this issue. It is what the majority want in spite of the columnist's remarks and her opinions.

Special exemption wasn't necessary
There is little doubt that The Villages Regional Hospital will eventually have to expand, given the tremendous growth in the area.

But a slow, state-mandated review process doesn't sit well with The Villages' developer, Gary Morse. So what is a six-figure donor to the Republican Party to do? Call on his friends in the Legislature to speed up the process from years to months.

That is what happened when "The Villages bill" sailed through the GOP-controlled Legislature in June and into the hands of Gov. Bush to sign into law. A law so specific it applies only to two hospitals in counties that have had a 60 percent population growth in the preceding 10 years, have one acute care hospital within their borders and no other hospital within 10 miles.

How convenient.
How unfair.
Ocala's two hospitals - Munroe Regional Medical Center and Ocala Regional Medical Center - are saying just that. They have been saying that for months, and no legislator, including Ocala's own state Reps. Dennis Baxley and Larry Cretul, cared to listen. So the hospitals, both of which had major expansions that had to meet the state-required certificate of need process, filed a lawsuit last week, arguing the Legislature's "special exemption" permitted quick expansion to The Villages hospital.

Every hospital in the state of Florida, prior to expansion, is required to show a certificate of need to the state Agency for Health Care Administration. The CON process is intended to closely monitor hospital growth and prevent shortages and surpluses of hospital beds in various regions in the state.

Why should The Villages Regional Hospital be any different? It shouldn't.

Munroe and Ocala Regional went through the CON process in recent years. No doubt a costly and lengthy process for both. Even though both hospitals were filled at times beyond capacity and had to send patients elsewhere, the need for more beds was undeniable. Regardless, the Agency for Health Care Administration required both hospitals to go through the cumbersome CON process.

As a result, Ocala Regional opened its new $55 million West Marion Community Hospital a year ago along the State Road 200 Corridor, and an $88 million expansion/modernization is near completion at Munroe. It took some time and some campaigning, but both hospitals got what they wanted and are prepared for more growth in the area.

Their competition to the south, The Villages Regional Hospital, didn't want to wait. There is no denying the rapid growth in The Villages, but there has to be some kind of regulation in place for all hospitals to follow.

It's only fair.
If The Villages' hospital were to go through the certificate of need process, the hospital it would have to submit a balance sheet and profit-and-loss statement documenting the last two fiscal years' of operation. In operation only for a year, The Villages hospital would have to wait at least another year before it could apply for expansion.

That just didn't correlate to Morse's grand plan. The developer is still waiting for approval to purchase The Villages Regional Hospital from Leesburg Regional Medical Center for $65 million.

Ocala hospitals question the constitutionality of a special law created to serve a private entity. They cite, convincingly, Article III, Section 11(a)(12) of the Florida Constitution: "There shall be no special law or general law of local application pertaining to ... private incorporation or grant of privilege to a private corporation."

Sounds like "The Villages bill" did just that.

State Reps. Anna Cowin, R-Leesburg, and Hugh Gibson, R-Lady Lake, have criticized the CON process as too slow, too costly and inefficient, particularly in high growth communities. If they really believe that, why don't they lead the charge to change the law in the Legislature? They are, after all, lawmakers.

Don't count on it.
This law deserves close scrutiny in the courts. It should have received such in the Legislature. Let's hope a judge has a better sense of what is fair and constitutional.

Preserve single-member districts in Sumter County

At a time when many counties throughout the country are moving to single-member districts, Sumter County is moving backwards toward at-large elections for county commissioners. At one time Sumter did elect commissioners at-large, and then, in response to community wishes, it went to single-member districts.

In Lake County there is a petition being circulated to bring to the ballot a reversal from at-large to single -member districts. There are valid arguments to support either side of the issue. The validity lies in the specific circumstances of a county, and the method in which it has been divided. And then, of course, one should study the motives of those proposing a change.

Single-member districts are deeply rooted in American political tradition. From our inception to the present, electoral representation has been grounded on the concept of territorial units and sub-units. Soundly imbedded in our Constitution is the protection of minority rights. Although the majority is a recognized decision-maker, American Democracy has traditionally protected the representation of those who, for whatever reason, would fall into a minority.

At the national level we elect representatives from districts in which they must reside, and they are elected by the voters in that specific district. The mentality being that one person must be responsible to that district and those that elect him, or her. They are able to stay closer to those they represent and the electors hold them directly accountable. This does not hinder the House of Representative in making national decisions that may be the best for the country; yet there is always a voice and the opportunity to influence from each district. The concept of representative government should not differ within a county, especially when interests and traditions vary greatly, as they do, with the Sumter population.

In Lee County in 1990 in District 4, incumbent Bill Fussell bested challenger Vicki Lopez-Wolfe by more than 1,000 votes in his district, yet lost in a county-wide election giving Wolfe a less than one half of 1 percent victory. This could change for Lee County if state Rep. Bruce Kyle, R-Fort Myers, has his way. He is proposing a referendum on single member districts. Kyle is supported by the local NAACP, ACLU, and Democratic Party. However, the Republican Party and all five county commissioners oppose the move.

In November 2002, Pinellas County Commissioners, following the first single member district election for commissioners, voted to create single-member districts for School Board members. For Pinellas County it will lead to a greater racial diversity. In Sumter and Lake counties, it would not be so much a racial equity, but a cultural and economic equity.

In 1964 the United States Supreme Court became involved in redistricting controversies. The court relied on the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to announce the rule of one person, one vote, defining the individual citizen as the basic unit of electoral politics. In 1980 the Supreme Court held that . . . "Minorities must prove that a challenged election structure was designed or maintained intentionally to dilute voting strength." In looking at the political and population demographics of Lake and Sumter counties one must ask if there is, in fact, an intended effort to dilute the voting strength of those living outside of The Villages.

There are sound arguments for both single-member and at-large districts. Those who would support the at-large districts would purport that since commissioners vote on issues that affect the whole county, the total electorate should be selecting each commissioner. They will liken the commission to the U.S. Senate, where each State elects two at-large.

Those who support single-member districts will put forth a much stronger argument. These can be addressed, basically, in three categories. The first being, greater accountability to those being represented. This would improve the ability of a commissioner to meet with people of the district, and to better understand their needs. Secondly it would mean cheaper campaigns, dramatically reducing the high cost of running for the County Commission. Additionally, it would provide the voters with greater exposure to the candidate. A side benefit, being that by lowering the cost, many qualified, but not wealthy, people may be able to seek the office. Lastly, maintaining single-member commission districts will greatly reduce the threat of a monopoly developing control over an entire county.

The Villages, rightfully, gained a district in Sumter County, giving them two, and by the time of the census in 2010 there will easily be three districts that reach into The Villages in Sumter. This is good for many reasons, including an increase in jobs and the fact that greater revenue will be generated. However, the interests of most living in The Villages and those to the south are different. As Villagers we are not raising children and most of us do not even have grandchildren living close. We need commissioners that can focus on our needs and be responsive to the residents.

Likewise, those residents in other sections of the county need commissioners who are accountable to them and their needs. We cannot allow the traditions and culture of Sumter County to be diluted by a monopoly. There is no reason that the diversity of the people in Sumter cannot be reconciled. We need a mutual respect for those in business, small and large; we need a mutual understanding for different viewpoints; and we need an aggressive movement to preserve the history of this wonderful county and its people. The wealthy and powerful cannot be damaged by their recognition of others. However, they do hold in their hands the power to dilute the meaning of life for some.

Preserve the single-member districts in Sumter County. Every voice should be able to be heard, and every idea respected.

MERLENE FRANK :
There is no denying the rapid growth in The Villages, but there has to be some kind of regulation in place for all hospitals to follow. It's only fair.