About Me

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

THANK YOU!

Hello Highlands County!! I hope this finds everyone in good health and doing well!

I want to start this off by saying a huge "THANK-YOU" to all of you who supported  and voted for me! Election Day was a wonderful success Thanks to YOU!  Without all of you, I could not have done it, so Thank You a million times!
 I am very excited going into this leg of the campaign! We have some EXCITING things coming up on the agenda which we will be revealing soon, so keep tuned to the blog and/or our FB page and/or follow us on Twitter!
 We were at the Caladium festival on Saturday and really enjoyed the local talent! Being there, surrounded by our neighbors from across Highlands County, made me feel so blessed and amazed again that you all have stood with me and supported me in such an awesome way! Highlands County is truly the Best!!
We have so much more to share and we will try to keep this blog updated a little better this time! Our FB page is updated regularly so feel free to check in with us there!

For all you've done, for all your support and prayers, and for continued encouragement, THANK YOU!

Will write more soon,

Penny

Saturday, July 21, 2012

What a Candidate says when they say nothing...

The old adage is... actions speak louder than words!  We have been told this all our lives by parents and teachers, soon we found ourselves saying the same thing to our children.  When I thought of this line the other day I thought it would be fun to do a blog post in light of the election process seeing that I am a Candidate for public office. Now as a disclaimer, this is not about any particular candidate, its just random thoughts, hope you enjoy and let me know what you think or what you look at in a Candidate.
We all know that Politicians are prone to talk...a lot.  To be fair, they have to talk...a lot, in order to get the votes that they need.  But sometimes what they say out loud and what they really are inside is two totally different things.  To be elected one needs to personify what the electorate is looking for, therefore sometimes the reality of what a Candidate is inside is hidden or masked over.  How then does a Voter know, or what can a Voter look for as evidence of the true person behind the campaign smile?  Could it be that we need to listen to the Candidate when they are not saying anything?  If so, how can one do this and what can we learn?  Here are some random thoughts of mine, which I sincerely hope Voters are thinking about me.

1.  What experience does this Candidate have for the office they are running for?   
The particulars of this will vary by Voter.  Has the Candidate been passionate about this office or issue prior to the top seat being vacated?  What variable does the Candidate bring to the table?  Maybe we should look at the past to determine the present.

2. Who is funding the Campaign?
Do you know that many Voters don't realize that all campaign contributions are public record and are available on the counter in the elections office?  Many people don't realize that this information can be emailed to them upon request.   What groups of people are connected to this particular candidate?  Are they the people that you feel best define your values and will be a good representative for you?

3. How is campaign funds being spent?
Again, this information is available in the Candidate financial reports that are filed regularly with the Elections office.  Is the Candidate being fiscally responsible with their funds or are they overspending on comparable campaign items?  Does this mean the Candidate will be irresponsible with taxpayer dollars?  Do they buy unneeded items?  Again this will be determined by each Voter.  


4. How does their campaign signs look?
Are they signs neat and orderly?  Were they installed straight and at a good angle for viewing?  Do they convey a message to the voter?  Sometimes Candidates take a rap for their signs, I have been unfairly judged for placing signs where I do not have permission.  This has been found to be untrue, I will admit that I have had some signs placed in the right of ways by zealous campaign workers, but this is true of every Candidate, and we have promptly removed all we have been made aware of.  All signs should be placed where the owner has given permission.   


5. What does the campaign literature say?
Is it informational?  It is easy to read and understand?  Does it talk about the position, experience and goals for the office sought?    


6. What was the character of the Candidate prior to becoming a Candidate?
Ask around, find multiple people in various settings who have interacted with that Candidate prior to them becoming a Candidate.  What was their personality?  Were they personable and friendly?  Are they kind, sincere and honest?  Did they interact with all people or only a select few of their social circle?  What kind of a job ethics do they acquire?  Are they people of faith (if that matters to you as a voter) or have they listed a church for a good showing since they became a Candidate?  


7. How do they run their campaign?
Is the campaign ran with passion for the position or is it all negative towards a fellow Candidate?  So many times Voters complain about negative campaigns and then allow the negative comments to decide who to vote for without checking out any of the 'facts' the other candidate is mentioning.  If a Candidate does not focus on the office but only on the other Candidates while campaigning, will that negativity be brought into a public office once the campaign is over or is that Candidate simply doing the Voters a favor by bringing the opponents flaws to light?   

All these questions listed, which is not exhaustive by any means, are ways that you can find out about the Candidates running without hearing a word.  Each of us should be looking and researching for each Candidate.  What do we expect out of the Candidate for each office sought and are they able to fulfill that expectation?  
On the side of Candidates, of which I am one, campaigning is extremely tiring and taxing.  Anyone who comes forward to run for office deserves respect and a little tolerance now and then.  We are all humans and sometimes Voters forget that. However, we need to be real and not phony, the public has an understandable dislike for government due to some bad politicians.   It is time to be authentic, it is time for all voters to vote for people who have proven themselves to be such.  
What does your Candidate say when they don't speak a word?????

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Proud to be an American!

Sitting here thinking today about this amazing Country I live in... My America. My heart is overflowing with pride for this land and her people and all she represents. Freedom. A word we take so lightly, but one that so many long to say they had. I live without fear of my life being taken as I proudly state my position on everything... political to religion and everything in between. What an amazing blessing! Opportunity. America offers each person so many opportunities to excel. To reach for the stars. To achieve their grandest dreams. "One Nation under God"... "In God We Trust"... these phrases, no these motto's, are on our currency, our monuments, in our Pledge, and apart of anything that represents America. Something that we are so accustomed to seeing... does it still give us a thrill when we see it? It's a privilege to live in a Country that was based on the One that is able to take care of and preserve it. God. I could go on and on about America for I love her so! But I will close with the words of a song that says all that my heart feels.

"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me. And I'll proudly stand up next to her and defend her still today. Cause' there ain't no doubt I love this Land. God Bless the USA!"

Thursday, June 21, 2012

53 Days!!!!

August 14th is coming quick.  We have only 53 days left!!
I have enjoyed this part of the campaign, looking forward to moving on to November.  Thank you for your support and help throughout this phase of our campaign.

Now is the time for you to be sure your Voter's Registration is up to date and current with address, party, name changes or signature updates.  Remember you can go online at www.votehighlands.com to download, pre-fill and print a registration form and then mail it to our office, or you can come down and visit us at the office, or if you only need to update your address, you can call me at 402.6655 or my direct extension at 402.7028.

Absentee Ballots can also be requested by visiting the website or calling at the numbers I gave above.

This election is vitally important to the future of  your  Elections Office!  Our votes will need to be counted accurately and the office ran with leadership to continue the legacy that Joe has brought to you over the past 16 years.  I believe that Joe's success comes from working for Mr. Whitehouse for 10 years prior to becoming Supervisor of Elections and now I have 8 years experience, continuing the excellence you have come to know with our office.  Do we believe it is luck or happenstance that Highlands County has experienced trouble free elections???  I can assure you it is not!  The experience has made the difference!  As one of our neighboring County's Supervisor said to me last week, " your experience is vital to this campaign, Penny, what we are facing ahead is enough to unnerve the most seasoned Supervisor"!  Let's not leave it to chance this time either!   Vote for experience!  Vote Penny Ogg on August 14th!

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Campaign Meeting











These are some photos from one of the campaign meetings! A big shout out again to Dan and Heather Mahaffey for allowing me to use their facility to have the meetings. Also, a big thank you to the crew, who so a fabulous job taking care of us while we're there!! The cake that we had was sooo yummy and it was beautiful too!!!
 It's been wonderful to have the support of so many that come faithfully each week, or keep in contact with me to see how everything is going! Your support has meant everything to do! I appreciate it so much more than I could ever tell  you!
We will be having these meetings each Monday night from 7-9 p.m. I would love to see all of you there! If you want to, also, invite a friend!!!
 Thank You again for you interest and support! Have a great weekend my friends!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Thank you Barry Foster & WWTK

Yesterday I had the wonderful privilege of speaking on the Barry Foster Show, WWTK, 730 AM.  I appreciated so much the invitation and the kindness of the host.  4 people also called in to the show and it was an honor to speak with them.  I cannot explain how humbled I am to have your support!
As I spoke I tried to explain again how important the experience that I have is in making the decision on who to vote for in this election.  Experience makes all the difference!
As another Candidate, for another office, said this week, when I got appointed to my current office, I had to no idea how big the learning curve would be, I whole heartedly agree, however the difference is that Candidate had 4 experienced people sitting on that board to help in that learning curve and immediately correct any errors. As the Supervisor of Elections, especially on Election Day, you have to make decisions that are affecting our vote and you will not have that panel for support.  Now, I know some of the Candidates are saying that the staff would be able to be that panel, I disagree in 3 areas.
                   1. Anyone knows that someone has to lead an office, if this were not true than other
                       businesses would simply train their workers and never have to pay a manager.   It
                       would be much more cost efficient.  For that matter why would we have a
                       Supervisor of Elections position?
                   2. You have to figure that maybe the staff will not stay, or for some unforseen reason
                        will be forced to leave, as we all know life is uncertain at best. 
                  3. If you have ever been around the Elections Office on Election day, you will know that
                      it is a seriously busy place...the staff has their own work to do, we cannot be doing
                      the Supervisor's job too. 
Our votes are so important, please consider carefully who you vote for this Election!  Vote for experience, Vote for Penny Ogg.   I humbly ask for your vote and support!
Thank you again, Mr. Foster for your time and for having me on your show!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Do you know what today is????

It is Buy a Musical Instrument Day

Yes, May 22nd is buy a Musical Instrument Day!   Music is a big part of all of our lives.  It expresses our feelings and lifts our spirits.  I love music, especially patriotic...there is nothing like hearing the Star Spangled Banner or Proud to be an American! 
Did you know that I play several musical instruments???   Actually I play 3, can you guess which 3?
I also love to sing, especially at church. 
Do you play an instrument or like to sing?   Why don't you leave a message and tell us what you play or maybe what your favorite song/group is?    I'd love to hear your stories of music!
All of us can polish up our vocal cords because soon 4th of July will be here and we will want to make music to celebrate our Country!
 
God Bless America, and may God bless us all!

Thank you all for your support,
Penny