Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board Endorses Lee Constantine For Seminole County Commission, District 3
Constantine in District 3
The argument for Republicans to select incumbent Lee Constantine is much the same as the argument for Dallari. If anything Constantine was even more outspoken in his opposition to River Cross and his defense of the voters will to keep eastern Seminole County rural.
Constantine’s passion for land preservation is consistent with his long record of advocating for environmental protection. He’s been on the front lines for years in trying to protect Seminole’s waterways, including his early support for rules to stop fertilizer from polluting waterways.
Like Dallari, he’s supported policies that have made Seminole County a place where people want to live, not a place to avoid.
The two also supported the county’s decision — a wise but difficult decision — to require that residents wear face coverings in public places to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Constantine’s opponent isn’t so sure. Ben Paris, a Longwood city commissioner who seems well versed on some of the issues, says there should have been more public input, raising the possibility of more delays and more community spread.
Paris said he would have voted against the River Cross project “as presented” but begged off committing to how he would have voted on the land swap, saying he didn’t have much information on it. That’s quite a statement, considering how much information was available and how passionately Seminole residents felt about it. He either wasn’t paying attention or didn’t want to answer the question.
Republican voters have zero reason to doubt where Constantine comes down on protecting the rural zone, and whose side he’s on. They should pick him as their candidate to run in the fall.
Orlando Sentinel Endorses Lee Constantine for Seminole County Commission, District 3
