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If we wanted a little quiet time in Martin County before the local elections, we have it.

Once May rolls around, I expect the political scene to heat up to a boil. Candidates didn’t normally begin campaigning this early and the negative advertising if at all was done in the shadows. But even in "Little Ole" Martin County things are changing.

Imagine people who now start their campaigns so far in advance of the qualifying date.

We will get more into who the announced candidates are and their platforms at a more appropriate time. Now just the highlights. The two county commission races for Districts 2 and 4 are already highly contested. Sarah Heard has drawn two challengers. That is good for her since Sarah’s base is strong and the opposition will split the remaining vote.

The more anticipated race will occur in District 2 where there are no declared candidates. The incumbent, Stacey Hetherington, is likely to see a challenge from current Stuart Commissioner Chris Collins. Collins has been campaigning for some time even though he has yet to declare.

If I were going to pick the biggest danger to Martin County’s way of life it wouldn’t be developers, the degradation of our environment, or the lack of jobs or housing. They can all be handled through the political process. Yes, there are disagreements among the factions but isn’t that what politics is all about? The sides argue their points, the voters chose, and we shake hands and move forward.

With the coming of Collins that has all changed. For the past nearly four years, he has twisted political consensus and ignored the other Martin County Difference. Civility and Consensus.

That is why it has been so hard to stop the man. He doesn’t play by the rules the people of Martin County established years ago. And that is a shame the way he has changed our politics for the worse.

On the political front just look at his social media posts. Besides being very well done. They are beyond the Pale as to our way. More importantly he has bent the rules and even the law to serve his purpose. The entire current development code for the City of Stuart is illegal. Yet there it is because of either apathy or fear for people to stand up for what is right.

Standing up is what the public must do to fix wrongs. Perhaps you agree with Collins about development. That is not the point here. The way we govern ourselves is by following the law. Collins ignores it when it is inconvenient. Is this the kind of leader we want in Martin County?

I believe it is important that we stand up and reclaim our Martin County Difference. And you can’t do it by following a false leader or one without integrity. To save our way of life Collins must be defeated.

We introduce a new columnist this week, Jordan Bromberg from Volunteers in Medicine. Here is a person that may have retired from working for a paycheck but has now devoted himself as a physician to helping people that would not have medical care otherwise. That is community activism without an agenda.

So, sit back and enjoy another cup of coffee as you peruse Friends & Neighbors.

Have a great Sunday Morning!