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Mack’s office: Time spent in district not an issue
Connie Mack
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CAPE CORAL — With three weeks to go before the Nov. 4 general election, opponents of U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers — and some residents — say he doesn’t spend enough time in Southwest Florida.
The congressman’s camp, though, says Mack has spent the bulk of his time, when Congress was not in session, in his district during the last six months, and that accusations to the contrary are “silly” political posturing.
His critics disagree.
“It’s important that our local interest is heard, and the only way to do that is to be here,” said state Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, who is looking to unseat Mack.
Saunders has attacked Mack publicly at several candidate forums for not attending the forums. Saunders has also accused Mack of living in California with his wife, Congresswoman Mary Bono, R-Calif., and not Southwest Florida.
An e-mail from Jeff Cohen, Mack’s chief of staff, detailing Mack’s schedule since April 1, provides event listings for 40 days his office says the congressman spent in Southwest Florida since April. The e-mail states that 81 days were spent in Washington D.C. while Congress was in session. Approximately 71 days, which include holiday weekends, did not list specific appearances, but much of that time also was spent here in his district, Cohen said by phone Friday.
Of the 192 days in the calendar period reported, Mack spent 81 days in Washington, D.C., 85 in Southwest Florida, and 14 in California. He also took 12 days vacation with his wife to celebrate their one-year anniversary, Cohen said.
Mack married Bono in December 2007.
The schedule provided “also doesn’t reflect all of the times when he’s just home in Fort Myers just being a dad,” the e-mail reads, in part.
In another e-mail, Cohen states that “in the last six months, Connie has been in California with his wife fourteen days. I think he and his wife are allowed to spend a few days of quality time wherever they choose to be without prying eyes.”
At a forum hosted by the Cape Coral Civic Association last month, Saunders accused Mack of spending too much time in his wife’s home state.
Mack, who was in D.C., was not present at the forum.
Saunders, who is running under no party affiliation despite his Republican status in the Florida Senate, said he doubts the veracity of Mack’s itinerary.
“I don’t care what a calendar says, I haven’t seen him here,” Saunders said.
Jeff George, another Mack opponent running under no party affiliation, also said Mack doesn’t spend enough time in his district.
“I think it is one of the major issues with Congressman Mack. When I go around talking to people, it’s one of the main complaints I hear,” George said.
Not all of Mack’s opponents think his presence in Southwest Florida, or an alleged lack of, is an issue in the campaign.
Democrat Robert Neeld, who ran unsuccessfully against Mack in 2004 and 2006, said Mack’s move from the east coast of Florida in 2004 didn’t preclude voters from electing him.
“Yes, I’m concerned about it, but the majority of voters obviously don’t think it’s an issue,” Neeld said.
He said voters should focus on more important issues.
“The largest single issue is the deficit. The Federal Debt Clock ran out of digits recently,” Neeld said.
Comments
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Blah Blah Blah.
Mack needs to go away.
#1 Posted by LieStopper on October 13, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vote for anybody but this carpetbagger.
#2 Posted by 12gauge on October 13, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And, now he has the nerve to hold a cocktail party for his poor new wife Congresswoman Mrs Bono- The cocktail party will be in Port Royal -one stop shopping - on Sat Oct 18th, and costs $500 per.
WAKE UP SOUTHWEST FLORIDA!! This is exactly why we need new leadership in congress--Burt Saunders has our vote-
#3 Posted by thelistener on October 13, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets see, a man who leaves his wife for a home wrecker represents the party who some thinks believes in family values? I guess John McCain, Newt and Rudy has another buddy in Mack.
#4 Posted by JohhnyB on October 13, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Johhny, that's irrational.
Republicans wrote the book on family values.
Mack confesses his sins adnausem each and every week. That makes it right.
Dems are whacked out liberals who want to redistribute the wealth!
#5 Posted by LieStopper on October 13, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cya Mack Daddy
#6 Posted by coyotesfft on October 13, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mack is a hero for voting against the bailout--twice!
#7 Posted by Bramble on October 13, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I dunno, after Saunder's pyramid scheme involvement, Saunders shouldn't be questioning travel as the end all be all to this race.
There's more to BOTH these candidates that meets the eye.
If anything, this will be a close race!
#8 Posted by beetlejuice on October 13, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Connie Mack is a clown, and anyone who thinks he cares about Southwest Florida is way too gullible to be voting. Listen to the man talk. He does not have a grasp of the issues here, nor does he care about them. He has ridden here on Daddy's coattails, and his daddy rode on his daddy's coattails--and on and on for this imposter family's history in our state. Burt Saunders lives in Naples and has proved for over a decade now that he cares about Southwest Florida. He has bipartisan support, and he certainly has my family's support.
#9 Posted by Zoey on October 13, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While I am not happy about Mr Saunders involvement in this questionable travel business I will still support him over Mack any day. Mr Saunders has lived here in SW Florida for years raising his family and working for the community.
As stated above Mack relocated to SW Florida just so he could run for office using his father's name. He posed as this big family man during the election then dropped his ex wife and family the took up with Ms Bono. Another fine example of a moral leader.
I will be supporting a man who is a true part of this community and not one who just stops by for fund raisers and photo ops. I am supporting Burt Saunders.
#10 Posted by swfl_ff on October 13, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The congressman’s camp, though, says Mack has spent the bulk of his time, when Congress was not in session, in his district during the last six months, and that accusations to the contrary are “silly” political posturing.
Apparently he wasn't around to make the comment in person.
;-)
#11 Posted by Optipess on October 13, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If anyone has add'l info on Saunders role in YTB, please list here, otherwise do not rely on NDN's info on his involvement. Do not judge till you have the facts.
#12 Posted by trehuger on October 13, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mack is awful, he can't get anything done with that silver spoon stuck in his mouth, if this guy gets re elected we deserve all the baloney that we have been fed, je is horrid and doesn't have the brains to be dog catcher.
Please do not vote for this candidate.
#13 Posted by artdude on October 13, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vote Democrat!
#14 Posted by greathornedlizard on October 13, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let' see. Mack:
Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (May 2008)
Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)
Voted NO on investing in homegrown biofuel. (Aug 2007)
Voted NO on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC. (May 2007)
Voted NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jan 2007)
Voted NO on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq. (Jun 2008)
And did we learn this from the NDN? No, they prefer extensive coverage of the man's marriage to a celebrity's widow.
#15 Posted by retiree on October 13, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
* Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
* Voted YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999)
* Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
* Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. (Jul 1998)
- Good enough voting record for me.
#16 Posted by personalj on October 13, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Go away Mack you have not done a thing for us
#17 Posted by coolkraft on October 13, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
come on, the dudes rich. He does want to say he does not have a job, so this is a pretty good gig. But please, you want him to hang around the Cape and have people complaining about sewer hook ups?
So please leave him alone, vote him in every year until he drolls on himself.
Then honor him for a lifetime of service.
#18 Posted by sandinmyshoes on October 13, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey if you had a hot tart to mess around with would you be in Ft Misery or California Dreamin. Guess Connie needs the extra income and perks. Vote Bert.
#19 Posted by chap914 on October 13, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sandinmyshoes...stop drinkin and posting..as in your......he does want to say he does not have a job? WHAT R U SAYING?
Getta grammer check and get some control of whatever U R trying to say.
Anyway...so what will it B....pyramid scheme LIAR...or Connie Mack?
Yackity YACK YACK!
#20 Posted by beetlejuice on October 13, 2008 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LIAR? Liar? LIAR? LIAR? LIAR?
Who's the liar?
Voter's will decide.
#21 Posted by beetlejuice on October 13, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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