NO PETITION RECOUNT ON SALARY SLASHING PETITION DRIVE

A victory Monday for Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards in the battle with political activist Dewey Smith and his Home Rule Charter Committee, as Circuit Judge John Laurent ruled that petitions submitted to change the charter to cut in half the salaries of the county's top elected officials do not have to be recounted.

Smith, whose other petitions to reduce the power and limit terms of those officials were approved, has been represented in the legal wars by former Florida House Speaker Johnnie Byrd of Plant City. They are considering a possible appeal of Laurent's decision, and Smith says he has not ruled out beginning a new petition drive on the pay issue.

The Home Rule Charter Committee wants to make changes to the Polk County Charter which would make the constitutional officers --- Supervisor of Elections, Clerk of the Courts, Tax Collector, and Sheriff --- in effect elected department heads under the control of the Board of County Commissioners. In addition, their terms would be limited to eight years. Voters will decide these two issues at next year's general election.

The petition drive battle has to do with questions of "massive fraud" by the paid petition collectors. SOE Edwards even saw her signature several times, although she says she never signs any petitions for fear of conflict of interest issues.