Letters to the Editor

Observer unfair to Jepson!

I have come to realize the unfairness of the Observer editorial staff toward Chris Jepson and his column. I say this because of the placement of his column on the same page as the one by Louis Roney. This is like placing a photo of a train wreck (in Jepson’s column position) next to Mr. Roney’s column each week. While there would be some interest in viewing a train wreck initially, there would be little in revisiting this week after week. Especially since a reading of Mr. Roney’s column will leave one looking forward to the next week’s issue.

Having read the letter by Joe Rizzo professing his thankfulness (“Jepson’s column is refreshing” on May 12) for Mr. Jepson’s column, I can only come to two scenarios that may explain Mr. Rizzo’s views:

1) He has dyslexia and thought he was reading the Jepson column, but was actually reading Mr. Roney’s column.

2) He owes Mr. Jepson a large sum of money and cannot pay it.

Mr. Jepson says he embraces a diversity of ideas, but he cannot provide one example of liking a conservative viewpoint or idea. At the same time, he has never found a liberal viewpoint or action that he disliked. If you cannot find fault in anything that Nancy Pelosi has uttered, then you’re completely hopeless! She has provided jokes for every comic on TV talk shows.

Please do not believe that this opinion piece was written by a hardened Republican.

Actually, I am registered as an independent voter. I tend to lean more toward Republicans but usually vote for candidates from both parties in partisan elections.

—Gene Smallwood

Winter Park

Delay new board rules

Wake up Winter Park! Do you care that your City Commission has just passed on first reading a new board membership ordinance? This would change the long-standing variety of the number of members to the various boards to a minimum of seven on each board. This means the mayor could appoint five new members to Planning and Zoning all at once. This question was presented to the Commission without any response: If this happens, how do you stagger appointments on these boards for the future? It was also suggested that this new ordinance not go into effect until the 2012 board appointments.

—Nancy Shutts

Winter Park

Protecting your hard-earned money

These days, dealing with daily financial pressures can seem overwhelming to most Florida families. Learning how to make good financial decisions can protect your hard-earned dollars and allow you the freedom to do more of what you love. Whether you are starting a new career, buying your first home or just trying to put gas in your tank, I want you to know that as your CFO, I am committed to ensuring you have the tools you need to build a strong financial future.

As CFO, I oversee the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS). My department serves consumers and taxpayers through its work in 13 different divisions and additional initiatives I set forth. A world of information and assistance is provided by the department on issues ranging from insurance education and assistance, fire prevention and safety, and even unclaimed cash and property. I have also established additional priorities to assist Floridians including fighting fraud, consumer protection and fiscal transparency.

One of the 13 divisions I oversee, the Division of Consumer Services, helps consumers make informed insurance and financial decisions. My dedicated and experienced staff are continuously trained and informed about any changes that occur in 26 different categories of insurance. Consumers can contact a specialist directly by telephone between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the statewide, toll-free number 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236). Consumers can also visit www.MyFloridaCFO.com for 24-hour access to our online Insurance Library, consumer guides, a calendar of free consumer workshops offered around the state, or to ask a question of an insurance specialist. Other items available include:

• Verify Before You Buy - Check agent and company information and licensure before purchasing an insurance policy.

• Complaint Comparison - Consumers can compare the number of complaints an insurance company has compared with the number of policies they have in force.

• Disaster Assistance - The Division also offers information on protecting your home and family in the event of a natural disaster.

Additionally, I also oversee the Division of Insurance Fraud, a sworn law enforcement agency that serves and safeguards citizens and businesses in Florida against acts of insurance fraud and the resulting impact those crimes have on taxpayers, both personally and financially. Our investigators are certified law enforcement officers with the authority to enforce the criminal laws of Florida in relation to insurance transactions.

Florida’s Division of Insurance Fraud leads the nation in the recovery of insurance fraud-related losses through court-ordered restitution. If you or someone you know has been the victim of insurance fraud, please visit www.MyFloridaCFO.com or call our Fraud Hotline at 1-800-378-0445.

Individuals who provide tips can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $25,000 for information that directly leads to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme. The Department of Financial Services to date has awarded almost $250,000 to about 40 citizens as part of its Anti-Fraud Reward Program.

To find out if the Department’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property is holding unclaimed cash or property for you, call (888) 258-2253 or visit www.FLTreasureHunt.org

I hope you learned more about my office and the many ways we serve you every day. Visit www.MyFloridaCFO.com to learn more.

—Jeff Atwater

Florida Chief Financial Officer