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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is VoteWater.org? Expand

VoteWater.org is comprised of volunteers who are experienced water quality advocates throughout the state of Florida. Many come from the non-profit sector that are not able to weigh in on political campaigns but have used their knowledge of the issues to volunteer for VoteWater.org in their personal time. You can read more on the About Us page.

What is the goal of VoteWater.org? Expand

To help ensure water quality concerns in Florida get stronger representation and political action from our elected officials throughout the state of Florida. We must reach a critical mass of educated and strong elected officials before these issues are addressed in a meaningful way by our legislative bodies. Learn more on our solutions page.

Who Makes the Endorsements, ratings? Expand

The County Captains do, in collaboration with our team. The captains are a nonpartisan volunteer group of individuals from around the state, many who have been fighting for better water management in their local communities for decades. The group consists of business leaders, educators, fishing guides, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters.

Please explain the ratings, what's the difference between favor, support and endorse? Expand

The one check, two check and three check rating system was designed to give voters a good, better, best option whenever possible.  Generally, no response to the questionnaire from a candidate resulted in no rating. But, the VW team also was called upon to make judgement calls based on a candidate's track record, responses to our questionnaire, and any negative data found in the process.

What does Dirty Money (the DM column) indicate? Expand

Special interest groups, especially the Sugar industry in Florida, have proven to be a corruptive force in state politics for decades. Our 2020 analysis revealed US Sugar and FL Crystals alone pumped over $6 million into influencing the outcome of Florida Senate and Florida House races.

By investigating the public campaign finance databases, the Vote Water team was able to identify specific candidates accepting money from various Political Action Committees who receive the majority of their donations from the very industries undermining water quality efforts in Florida.

Dirty Money ratings are as follows:

  • Dirty: The candidate has accepted thousands of dollars from groups detrimental to Florida water quality
  • Mixed: The candidate accepted less than $1000 from these groups
  • Clean: The candidate did not accept any money from these groups
  • Incomplete/Empty: The candidate's campaign finances were not yet investigated

Where can I see the questions asked of candidates? Expand

From any county voter guide, click on a candidate's name to go to their standalone page. If they answered the questionnaire, there are 5 expandable blocks that have the questions and their answers. They were all asked the same four questions and then the fifth was changed out for federal, state and local races, including a question targeted to the three water management districts we focused on.

What criteria do you use to rate the candidates? Expand

The questionnaire is one of several factors we consider when analyzing a candidate's strengths and weaknesses on water issues. We also take into consideration past positions, voting record, past campaign contributions, environmental work, candidate interviews, and their position to affect meaningful policy changes.

After the primary elections will you create new Voter Guides with possibly new endorsements? Expand

Yes, VoteWater will be re-evaluating candidates throughout the run up to the election and may decide to modify ratings if new information comes to light.

Why 14 counties? Why just the four races: county commission, state senator, state representative and U.S Congressional races?  Expand

Being volunteer-based, and with the evolution from Bullsugar voting guides to Votewater, there just wasn't enough time or resources to effectively cover more counties or races. However, with the early success of the VW team we look to expand in both geography and the number of races for the next election cycle.

Where can a candidate request an endorsement questionnaire or ask a question? Expand

Please send an email to team@votewater.org with candidate information and your request.

What is VoteWater.org's affiliation with Bullsugar.org? Expand

VoteWater.org is a bullsugar.org campaign. Bullsugar.org is a 501c4 non-profit organization based in Stuart, FL founded in 2014 with the goal of stopping the toxic Lake Okeechobee discharges to our coasts and sending clean water south to the Everglades and Florida Bay. In 2018 the Bullsugar.org Voter Guides received over 350,000 visits from people looking for direction on clean water candidates.

How do people find out about VoteWater and the Voter Guides? Expand

The VoteWater.org campaign is both a grassroots effort shared by an army of water warriors spreading the word, but it is also supported by a significant traditional media campaign such as full page ads in Florida Sportsman magazine and TV commercials as well as social media campaigns. In addition, hundreds of VoteWater yard signs can be found throughout coastal Florida thanks to our most enthusiastic supporters.

How can I help? Expand

You can make a donation!

With your support, we can ensure that voters will have clean-water choices from both parties in the upcoming election.  Our primary goal is always to amplify the Clean Water Voter Guides. We're looking to fund traditional advertising campaigns on television and magazines, as well as social and text messaging programs. And certainly, we want as many yard signs out as possible closer to the election dates.

You can contact your candidate and pressure them to support VoteWater.org and engage in our process.  LET YOUR REPRESENTATIVE KNOW THAT VOTEWATER REPRESENTS YOU ON OUR WATER ISSUES.

You can also help spread the word about this important initiative via social media. Thank you!

Sugarcane Burning References

  • Burning Sugar Cane Pollutes Communities of Color in Florida. Brazil Shows There’s Another Way.
  • Why are the country's worst smoke days in Florida?
  • Friends of the Everglades "Stop Sugarcane Burning"
  • NoBigSugarMoney.com, "Jeopardizing our fresh air and clean water"

Wetland permitting authority should be returned to the federal government.

  • Trump wetlands rule rollback makes about 6 million acres in Florida unprotected
  • EPA clashes with Fla. over use of Trump WOTUS rule
  • Florida has lost 44% of its wetlands since 1845
  • Wetland Loss, 404 Wetland Permitting and Wetland Mitigation Banking in Florida
  • NOAA: Southwest Florida a ‘hotspot’ for wetland loss

Fair water consumption use/damage by over-pumping

  • The Case for Universal Water Fees in Florida
  • The Effects of Nestle Bottling Co.’s on Florida Springs

Seagrass Death

  • Algae Blooms, Seagrass Loss, and Manatee Deaths
  • Why Florida’s massive seagrass loss is so devastating
  • It’s a sin what we’ve done to Florida’s seagrass

Glyphosate Spraying

  • Florida’s Ongoing Struggle with Non-Native Water Hyacinth
  • Herbicide used in FL as a cure-all is more like a kill-all
  • Don’t Feed The Algae

Biosolid Runoff

  • Florida Sportsman – Watermen Documentaries – Biosolids
  • BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT 2018 – STATE SUMMARY
  • Brevard County leaders have failed to address our poop problem

Development is pushing growth further into Florida’s rural and natural areas - Comprehensive Plan

  • Planning and Growth Management
  • FDEP – Local Government Comprehensive Plans
  • Florida has lost 44% of its wetlands since 1845
  • Wetland Loss, 404 Wetland Permitting and Wetland Mitigation Banking in Florida
  • NOAA: Southwest Florida a ‘hotspot’ for wetland loss

SB712 Wastewater Treatment References

  • FDEP Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) Program
  • 'Clean Waterways Act' passes Florida Senate; what does it mean for the state?
  • Despite efforts to curb pollution, Escambia County still struggles with its haunted past
  • DeSantis Will Push 2020 Legislature to Toughen Fines for Municipal Sewage-Spillers

Lake Level References

  • Army Corps of Engineers, Release 2/22/2019, Corps takes action to lower Lake Okeechobee in advance of the wet season
  • Palm Beach Post 7/17/2019 Army Corps wans Immediate Changes to Lake Okeechobee Management
  • Miami Herald 3/2/2019 Corps looking to lower Lake O this rainy season to avoid fouling Florida Coasts

Phosphate Mining References

  • FDEP Phosphate Mining
  • The Clock is Ticking on Florida's Mountains of Hazardous Phosphate Waste
  • Phosphate giant Mosaic agrees to pay nearly $2 billion over mishandling of hazardous waste
  • Battle over phosphate mining roils small Florida town

Hold major polluters accountable

  • Florida DEP BMAPs
  • BGATF Final Report
  • Letter to Chief Science Officer
  • Poll: Floridians willing to pay for clean water; coalitions: here's how they should do it
  • Florida Senate Bill 712 (Full Text)

EAA / CERP Capacity References

  • South Florida Water Management District Lays out plans for Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Storage reservoir project
  • Should EAA Reservoir be Redesigned to clean water better? TC Palm Newspaper, August, 2019
  • Local Scientist says EAA reservoir needs more treatment areas November 23, 2018. NBC Report
  • Environmental Groups Disagree on whether now is the time to force a change to the EAA reservoir. 

Fully fund pollution monitoring and enforcement

  • Florida DEP BMAPs
  • BGATF Final Report
  • Letter to Chief Science Officer "the provisions in SB 7121 are not capable of achieving the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)"
  • Marco Island waterways added to state impairment list
  • State looks to reduce Caloosahatchee pollution

"Sugar Free" Politicians

  • Sugar's decades long hold over Everglades came with a price
  • Big Sugar's Influence Stretches from South Florida to Washington
  • The No Big Sugar Money campaign
  • Open Secrets: Sugar Cane & Sugar Beets Political Influence
  • Netflix Docuseries: Rotten, Season 2 Episode 4 "A Sweet Deal"

Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR) and Deep Injection Wells (DIW)

  • Fractures as Preferential Flowpaths for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Injections and Withdrawals: Implications for Environmentally Sensitive Near-Shore Waters, Wetlands of the Greater Everglades Basin and the Regional Karst Floridan Aquifer System
  • Lessons Learned from Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Systems in the United States
  • $300 million scheme to send polluted water underground is untested and unwise

Make human health a priority

  • Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM)
  • Water Control Plan for Lake Okeechobee and Everglades Agricultural Area
  • Central & Southern Florida (C&SF) Project

Corporate Partners

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