Tea Party Activist County Council Candidate, Margie Patchett is well known for her loud anti-government political rhetoric. She makes a lot of unsubstantiated claims that so far, have never been challenged by any of our local media.

However, last Wednesday she made a claim that will not go unchallenged.

On August 4^th, Patchett was making a radio appearance on the WELE 1380AM mid-day radio show hosted  by Paul Carpanella when she begin listing groups who she claimed were supporting her and she included “democrat club(s)” (Audio).

The idea that any Democratic club is supporting Margie Patchett a candidate who is clearly identified as a Tea Party, 912’er darling is totally ridiculous.

Soon after the statement I emailed Margie Patchett to inform her of my intention to challenge her claim and asked that she provide “any written statement(s) of support from any democratic club(s).”

It should be noted that under Florida Election Laws “it is unlawful for any candidate or person on behalf of a candidate to represent that any person or organization supports such candidate, unless the person or organization so represented has given specific approval in writing to the candidate to make such representation.”

This law was enacted to protect the public from unscrupulous candidates who make false claims of support.

Margie did not respond to the request so I contacted all Volusia County Democratic Clubs (and the Volusia County Democratic executive Committee) and provided them with the audio recording of her claim.

They unanimously denied any support for Margie Patchett and affirmed that they are supporting Patchett’s opponent, former State Representative Joyce Cusack.  

I emailed Margie Patchett a second time and provided her with an audio copy of her statement and the written response from Democratic Clubs and asked again that she provide documentation of support or issue a public retraction.

So far, Margie Patchett has declined to respond.

Ms. Patchett should realize very soon that ignoring this situation is not a good political strategy. The press has requested copies of the audio and emails, and in the next few days the County Democratic Executive Committee will likely file a complaint against her.

Margie Patchett should come clean by providing statement of support or retract her claim..

Margie patchett supports FireTransport..  “At least in emergency situation” (Audio).

Think I’m making this up? 

Here is an excerpt from her website

“As Executive Director of Volusia Tax Reform, our organization has been showing our elected officials how to get the job done for the past four years.  Four years ago we told the County Council that real estate was the cornerstone of our economy.  We told them that if they did not do the right thing and reduce the tax burden then our economy would go into a downward spiral.

Of course it does not take a financial genius to figure out that this financial crisis did not start in Volusia County. It is well established that it was triggered by a liquidity shortfall in the United States banking system caused by the overvaluation of assets – one of the many side effect was the  collapse of a global housing bubble.

 While we all wish we could pay less property taxes, they certainly have not caused  our economy to go into a downward spiral.

 Margie Patchett campaign slogan is “Let’s Take our County Back”. When asked “from whom” she answered “ from special interest groups, lobbyists and putting it back in the hands of the people!”

I have no idea what special interest groups and lobbyists Margie was talking about but it is a fact that our current county council was elected by the people.

But, looking at her campaign team and her primary source of funding, it is quite evident that Margie’s Campaign is heavily supported and funded by what is probably the most aggressive group of lobbyists in Volusia County – realtors and land developers.

Not that there is anything wrong with this, but let’s not be hypocritical about it!

It is unclear how Volusia County Council candidate Margie Patchett’s newly revealed opposition to a possible constitutional amendment banning oil drilling in Florida’s Coastal waters (3 to 9 miles off Volusia County’s beaches) will play with the voters of Volusia County but her answers to that question is rather interesting.

I am against the ban. Right now it is about jobs and the economy. We need to get citizens to work, not place more people on the unemployment line. Also we already have bans in place that we cannot drill close to shore. What is wrong with what is currently in place? We need to be proactive as well, that is why our campaign is collecting dawn dishwashing liquid at our campaign support locations and shipping them to wildlife refuge centers to help the wildlife. (From Margie Patchett’s Facebook Page)

Some have compared Margie Patchett to Sarah Palin – Looking at her answers, they may have a point.