To the editor:

Florida’s corrupt political system is a microcosm of the demise of our democracy since the 2010 United States Supreme Court ruling on Citizen United that reversed century-old campaign restrictions and enabled corporations to make unlimited campaign contributions.

A combination of unrestricted flow of dark money with a closed primary system has compromised the political process by allowing extreme candidates to secure their party’s nomination with a limited field of voters. In a truly representative form of government, the people select the candidates. However, a closed primary system, including loop holes for write-in candidates, allows the political party to select a disproportionately small number of voters to cast their votes for the primary candidates.

Unfortunately, extreme candidates heavily funded by special interests and low voter turnout in the primary, have an easy path to secure their party’s nomination and, as in the state of Florida, a coronation in the General Election. To further exacerbate the problem, a large number of voters (approximately 30%), disenfranchised from their political party, and registered as no party affiliation/Independent voters, are prevented from voting in a closed primary system further narrowing the field of eligible voters.

Florida’s water resources are in peril because of the sugar industry’s undue influence at the local, state and federal level of government. Decision makers have chosen to align their political fortunes with financial support from the self-serving sugar industry and have abdicated their responsibility to protect and restore our waterways.

With an entrenched political system no longer representing the public’s interest, the people have recourse to amend the state constitution to addresses their grievances. Such is the case with the Right to Clean Water Constitutional Amendment campaign.

Enshrining this fundamental right in the state constitution elevates the protection of Florida waters above a political process in which special interests have a corrupting influence over environmental policy.

Passage of this constitutional amendment allows citizens to hold our Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other state agencies, legally accountable to prevent harm to Florida waters. When determining court rulings, “deference shall be given to the best available scientific evidence,” not political influence. In cases where regulatory failure causes a violation of the people’s fundamental right, courts can order agencies to correct these failures and remedy water quality problems.

Fed up with dirty politicians and dirty water and interested in a proactive and effective approach to implementing a viable solution to ensure the restoration of our precious water resources, please take the time to visit floridarighttocleanwater.org and support the Right to Clean Water Constitutional Amendment campaign. Your meaningful support by signing the petition as well as encouraging others to do likewise will help to overcome the inertia of our policy makers that have failed to “get the water right”.

Ray Judah

Former Lee County Commissioner