Entries from July 2006 ↓

Though I made a big deal out of Carl making the ballot via petitions in June, he only officially qualified for the ballot on July 18th after submitting necessary paperwork. In that filing, he made sure to utilize his popular nickname his students and friends call him.

Carl “Z” Zimmermann will be listed on your ballots in District 48 come election day. Be sure to make the last letter in the alphabet the first one you think of when casting your vote.

Early this year, Carl took it upon himself to work with friends and advisors to try and tackle an issue that is termed as a crisis for the citizens of Florida. It is an epidemic of sorts, a drag on household wallets and a painful reminder of inaction in Tallahassee. It’s not going to be an easy fix, yet leadership on the issue is needed to bring about change. The issue, of course, is homeowners’ insurance.

In February, Carl published his policy on homeowners’ insurance on the web and it has been the most popular draw to the site from people doing web searches on the subject. He has also since heard from citizens in the form of emails, phone calls and in-person pleas as the situation has only worsened. Some in the district have seen their rates increase 330% or more! The Florida Legislature didn’t protect homeowners against thousands of dollars in increases or being flat-out dropped. The government’s job is to protect us and they have failed spectacularly.

It’s gotten to a point that the only recourse for some is to move out-of-state, and there is no guarantee even that will work. With property taxes sky high, rising interest rates, the insurance crisis and a saturated real estate market to boot, citizens will find themselves stuck in a rut they can’t escape.

We can all see there is a problem and it needs a solution — yet Republicans are running on empty slogans, hollow claims of support of issues and banal rhetoric about being "tough on" this or that but offering nothing to back it up. Have you had enough of the rampant increases in insurance rates that have been a mainstay the last few years? How can you not have?

Here on the Zimmermann 2006 web site, we’ve added a poll feature (on the left sidebar under the navigation menu) asking residents what is their biggest issue — at state level — of the 2006 election cycle. Does the state of education in Florida top your concern list? How about the rampant escalation of homeowners insurance prices in Florida? Go ahead and vote!

After your vote, you can use the comment feature on this post to discuss the issues that matter to you more in depth.

Canvassing district 48 is a monumental task that encompasses dozens of neighborhoods and subdivisions in north Pinellas and south Pasco counties. At current, Carl is walking the district and meeting it’s residents every day of the week and he’s seeking company on this endeavor. If you’re able to donate 2 hours of your time on weeknights (between 4 PM and 7 PM) or time on the weekends and join Carl walking through your neighborhood, please contact us and volunteer.

Regardless if you can volunteer, keep an eye out for our campaign vans making their rounds through the district on there way to a neighborhood near you. The vans are a means of increasing the campaign’s visibility while Carl and company are out walking.

Happy Fourth of July from Carl Zimmermann and his staff to everyone. Even in times of trouble or discord, the birthday of our nation is hard to ignore or dismiss. It’s a time to remember how great we can be as a country as well as the sacrifices, hardships and divides the nation has bridged over it’s lifetime.

We hope you and yours have a happy and safe holiday.