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Commissioner Mark Brown, Commissioner Stuart Dodd, Mayor Roseann Minnet & Newly elected Commissioner Elliot Sokolow Election night March 11, 2014
Dear Readers… The voters of LBTS got it right once again!… Candidate Elliot Sokolow won the election for Commission Seat 1 tonight in a very close race due to candidate Eric Yankwitt not dropping out …in my opinion… Candidate Sokolow did everything right in this election and deserved this win!… He was prepared and organized from the start…He sent out the first mailer with the absentee ballot attached and he won the absentee ballot vote with 202 votes…former Commissioner Clottey who sent out an absentee ballot weeks later won 173 votes and Candidate Yankwitt who did not won 50 votes … Elliot walked door- to- door … He sent out a second personal post card from his wife … as well as taking out informative ads and attended meet and greets …He answered every question he was asked by newspapers ( by email and in person) and voters and businesses as well as organizations and in debates without ever changing his answers no matter the audience…He received the Pompano Pelican endorsement after the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board blew their endorsement by not knowing the current facts of our town…Elliot sent out a final mailer which contained the endorsement of the full LBTS Commission as well as the Mayors of Sea Ranch Lakes and Pompano Beach and the Chair of the Hillsboro Inlet Commission!… He made a large number personal calls and availed himself to all those who called him or stopped him throughout his run for seat 1 whether he was walking into town, to commission meetings, to attend special events, to meet the business owners or even while holding his sign in the last days leading up to election day!… On election day he was at the Town's Jarvis election hall from 7 am until 7 pm to hand out palm cards and meet all those voters who made their way to cast their ballot…. All in all Elliot Sokolow did just as those who commissioners that endorsed him had done…his due diligence …thus earning his seat just as they all did!… Perhaps Commissioner Sokolow will also do what so many of the present commission have done if he chooses to go for a second term…be unopposed!… Congratulations to Commissioner- Elect Sokolow and all those who supported him, aided him in his campaign, endorsed him and voted for him!… LBTS will now move forward much as it has over the last two years with a commission comprised of those who want the best for our town and will continue the civility we have all enjoyed on the dais and in the town for the most part!….
For those who tried unsuccessfully to define this fine man negatively …tried to revise our town's history …put forth false claims and fear-mongering of the town's finances and future … as well as ignoring the election rules and regulations…their political days are definitely over …as their consequences for actions this election of not adhering to those requirements may not be!….
The referendum items results are as follows- #1 yes/ #2 yes/#3 no/ #4 yes/#5 no/ #6 yes ….#3 …the Mayor -Commissioner without a 2 year gap should have passed and should come back on the ballot in 2016 ..to make it fair ….and most likely will!….
COMMISSIONER SEAT 1 DISTRICT 1 LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA (VOTE FOR 1)
2 of 2 Precincts Reporting
Choice Votes Percent
Birute Ann Clottey 445 39.24%
Elliot Sokolow 486 42.86%
Eric Yankwitt 203 17.90%
Comments Off on Here's The Scoop …. Elliot Sokolow Wins Commission Seat 1 In Lauderdale-By-The-Sea! …. On March 11, 2014 …..
Tags: Lauderdale by the Sea Commission Seat 1 Election March 11 2014, Lauderdale by the Sea Commissioner Mark Brown, Lauderdale By The Sea Commissioner Stuart Dodd, Lauderdale By the Sea Commissioner-Elect Elliot Sokolow, Lauderdale By The Sea Mayor Roseann Minnet
Posted in local government, Local News, Local Politics, News, Opinions, Politics, Scoops
March 5, 2014 by Barbara
"We endorse him believing he has no personal agenda and won't require a learning curve to effectively serve the people of LBTS."…Pompano Pelican Newspaper
Dear Readers- We are days away from the March 11, 2014 Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Municipal Election. I am hopeful …very hopeful that readers and the majority of voters in our town have actually taken the time to see the striking differences between the three candidates running for Seat 1 the seat that holds a commission member from the north end of town yet is voted in town wide. There have been a flurry of debates over the last weeks… The first one was not televised at the what many including this writer consider to be the last gasps of a dying political action organization…the CIC (Citizens Initiative Commission)…It was held at the Surf and Yacht Club on Palm Road on the beachfront that houses them when these straggling die-hard members who have rarely even met since they were trounced in the 2010 election try hard to retain some sort of relevancy as the town progresses without them. I have touched on this debate before …We heard that no timely notice of the meeting was made and at least one candidate was not notified of the format and the surety of the debate itself until the morning of!… This writer was told that one member of the board promised their would be no Furth attacks which many have witnessed over the years and saw once again when Cristie Furth came to the dais at the 2nd February Town commission meeting during public comments that were comprised of falsehoods, fear-mongering and her skewed revisionist history before being challenged and admonished by Commissioner Scot Sasser who has enjoyed an unopposed election to become our Mayor due to the very progress and changes resulting from the 2010 election she tried to cast a shadow over …Of course this appearance was made in order to put her co-hort/puppet candidate in a multitude of past CIC misdeeds former Commissioner Birute Clottey in the commission seat he now leaves!… At the CIC debate it is said former Commissioner Clottey promised those very same CIC holdovers to do whatever they wanted her to do as she has in the past…which is exactly why in 2010 she was left alone on the dais without the CIC backed slate to serve out her final 2 years alone!… Eric Yankwitt did what we have seen from this debate as well as the following two…toot his own horn- on what he has already done in what can only be described as a "Superman Complex" with a myriad of cliches and one-liners to make up for a lack of preparation and knowledge on the issues!… As this meeting ended it is said Marc Furth wanted more money …about $66,000 for the coral reef project which is his last attachment to the town outside his El Mar hotel…Former Commissioner Clottey and Eric Yankwitt were a go without the details to appease the Furths and the CIC ….Candidate Elliot Sokolow stated he could make no such promise without seeing the specifics!….
Before and in between these debates the voters received campaign literature by mail from Candidates Sokolow ( the first with an attached absentee ballot ) and Clottey with a coupon mailer containing a slip from Candidate Yankwitt (most of those never made it past the circular mail despensor aka the garbage can!)… While both mailers introduced the candidates only one…Elliot Sokolow's offered voters factual information…all of which checked out and can be verified by those who served with him and hold him in good steed following his long service on numerous boards as well as running Sea Ranch Lakes as mayor and finance director….Clotteys' overinflated claims were immediately countered by LBTS commissioners both past and present !… On the topic of campaign literature …voters should be made aware of former Commissioner Clottey's very real problems with her required election financial reports…all three!… ( a final report will come after 3/11) ….While Clottey professes she is a knowledgable professional when it comes to business and finance…her reports filed say otherwise!… Clottey has walked down a eerily familiar McIntee ethics charged path…Apparently she has not declared (as required) all her expenditures in a timely manner and claimed reimbursements made to Marc Furth which are not allowed ….she is supposed to know as a candidate and the professional she professes to be!… Clottey and her team may find themselves facing the same election board in Tallahassee as McIntee did as soon as this election is over!…Do voters really want someone who cannot follow the requirements to report a small campaign's finances to be integral in running out town's finances?… This came right after the former commissioner had to apologize and then replace illegal campaign signs due to not following those requirements!… Clottey has tried as her managers Furth et al have tried to spout campaign rhetoric on reserves being drained and painting a picture of a bleak future of our town with high taxes and no money left to run it!… $15 million …is the mantra…but what that $15 million is …is…(the meaning of is..is) …depends on which speech is being made and to whom…..It could be $15 million saved by going to the VFD in 2008 to present…(hardly a solo effort made by Clottey) …$15 million in reserves used for all the new improvements made in the last few years…… All made with no hard solid facts to back them…Catchy dour mantras to reel in unaware voters and get Clottey-Furth back with a platform to continue with more pre- 2010 mantras…Really?…Is that even possible?… Say it ain't so!… One aside about Clottey-Furth-CIC and their claims that the downtown project was not frugal enough …The cost was $4.75 million … no loans..no debt…no increased millage…and….the kicker…The very same CIC has the downtown project photos with positive captions plastered on its own CIC facebook page…and the Furths…used the same downtown project photos to market their hotel a few months back touting the very improvements/ finishing touches candidate Clottey claims she would have held back on !… Too funny!… Candidate Yankwitt is all over the place with his campaign…he irritated and inflamed the town, the businesses and the residents with a blitz of campaign signs made illegally set in areas not allowed and not wanted!… For an attorney as well as being on the Planning and Zoning board which had signs on the agenda he should have been well aware of the rules for campaign signs …or chose to purposely ignore them…which should be a red flag for voters!… Candidate Yankwitt is a member and treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce and sadly it looks as if he and the Chamber have decided to be political in this election !… He is the only candidate who chose to go the realtors association for their endorsement which aided him in an email blitz to help put up more signs and proclaimed he is the candidate that can help them in the future!…Hmmm…. will he then recuse himself when short-term/vacation rentals rears up on the dais…as it has on the campaign?…. The Chamber…businesses …hotels backing Yankwitt is beyond reason to this writer…How can you back someone who at every turn claims gambling is in our future?… That's as mind boggling as those same entities backing Clottey who makes ongoing claims of run down hotels…drunken patrons…fights downtown…a downtown unsafe to visit … Is that the kind of marketing …representation these businesses want?… Candidate Sokolow has a business actual business experience and still runs a successful business…He fully understands what has transpired with the downtown project and the commission led decisions over the last two years… He is the lone candidate who has stated he loves what was accomplished and can see the benefits that come from it now and in the future!… The other two candidates have all but discounted the present successful commission at every turn!… Remember… Mayor Minnet and Commissioner Dodd were unopposed in 2012… and as stated above Vice Mayor Scot Sasser and Commissioner Vincent were unopposed this year…That alone should tell voters what the real deal is in LBTS !…
The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board embarrassed itself by endorsing Clottey (the didn't endorse her in 2008) and basing it on her false assertions and antiquated town issues long since resolved apparently without even checking with their own LBTS assigned reporter who followed up this flawed endorsement correctly stating the wrong side Clottey was repeatedly on when she served her first term (backing fired TM Colon…her other bad acts are in previous posts…scroll down)… It is said that at a mini- debate with her opponent Elliot Sokolow …(Eric Yankwitt failed to show up!)… Clottey claimed she voted independently 99% of the time…Ha!… This writer found her voting record for 2008-2009 etc…perhaps she needs to hit refresh on that response for the 99% was with McIntee as well as the new 2010 majority when she was left to falter on her own as her backers slid away from sight with a landslide win kicking them to the curb in 2010!… The Pompano Pelican did what the Sentinel did not by doing their due diligence and endorsing Elliot Sokolow based on his resume… his campaign … his interview…and finding him to be consistent… factual…and more importantly qualified …They stated…"We endorse him believing he has no personal agenda and won't require a learning curve to effectively serve the people of LBTS."…
The final two debates were the Property Owners Meet the Candidates and the League of Women Voters Candidates Night … The first was pretty well attended with approximately 75 people in the hall…It came after some contentiousness concerning the group itself …its history…and any perceived agenda the group may or may not have due to conflicting reports of candidate Clottey being a hands raised installed member of the board …only to state she was not …with no minutes provided to show that hands raised installation was reversed!… There were a few who felt gotcha questions would be aimed at Clottey opponents and attacks might be in store… There were signs put up without identifying the POA ( as is routinely done with all their signage for meetings at Jarvis)… as well as the naming of it (Meet the Candidates) leading to voters thinking it was the LOWVoters event thus nullifying the LOWVoters taking place on March 4th …( LOWVoters had a small turnout which was blamed on both the POA event & lack of signage/advertising it)…The questions at the POA event were certainly bazaar … leaving the candidates to literally punt a good many of them!… Questions ranged from streamlining special event applications which impact few voters at best and have been quite improved over the last two years compared to prior years… As Clottey went sideways in her responses and Yankwitt responded in what would become his "hero" persona touting the events he has put on (which this writer is told brings forth the same small participants for each) …Sokolow spoke of online access and approval…The second question dealt with getting more to participate in elections and special events …which enacted more off the cuff general responses on the difference between participation of the two and possibilities to enhance each and proved once again to be a pedestal for Yankwitt to blow his horn on what he spearheaded….The third question about where in the budget would each make increases and decreases brought forth Yankwitt an attorney going after the budget for our contracted Town Atty. stating they are paid for board meetings etc… which is rather startling to hear from this candidate due not only to the fact he's an atty. but that he spoke at this meeting (off the cuff ) and at the CIC debate of hiring paid help to help the commissioners out with the Town Manager etc… Huh?… Clottey piled on about the cost being "300 grand" each year without litigation services …stating the budget was tight and then veering off about highly paid staff employees doing work around town beneath their pay grade!… Clottey was around when her pal Esther Colon brought this law firm to the town without divulging until this writer caught it that she (Colon) had a prior connection to the firm … Mayor Minnet was instrumental along with other commissioners over the past 3 years in working to cut some costs and get the firm to decrease some costs…If the charges have increased substantially it would seem to me it was from the required Charter /ordinance changes which like the downtown project should not occur at such a large cost for at least another decade!… When the budget is checked it makes sense to put Town Atty. services out to bid…not only to see who else is out there but to see if the current firm wants it badly enough to negotiate more…Sokolow spoke with proficiency about the costs in government and outsourcing and what that saves long term… How to preserve and celebrate our heritage was next …Sokolow responded it was important and was being done with the mid-century modern -low-rise architecture celebrated and encouraged throughout the town as well as encouraging displays of historical photos and maintaining buildings… Eric diverted and blanket answered this one with broad strokes of running in order to keep and protect our small town…again with I..I…I… ( he really doesn't need a commission…just a soap box will do!)…. Clottey spoke of what she was practiced to do in response to such a question…gave a heads up in recognizing her supporter and self-proclaimed "Town Historian" Jerry Sehl and of course finding the first of many opportunities to bring up the Furth's #1 agenda item (besides getting a foothold with Clottey getting seat 1 on the dais) the coral reef -bio rock completion…The candidates were then given a minute to summarize/rebut their opponents… Elliot Sokolow stood out as he actually did summarize each item in order like a checklist and stated there was not much to rebut as Clottey reiterated her bio-rock statements and Yankwitt again went with his "hero" complex as bounced around looking for a complete sentence…There was audience questions which had an off camera moment with a former commissioner's wife due to her not signing her name as required …The commissioners were asked what they had done in the last 5 years in town… Candidate Sokolow responded not much since he had only lived here for three…This writer thinks the question was particularly skewed as many of the previous to "old timers" …Had it been asked slightly differently he could have easily responded to his time on the Hilsboro Inlet as well as other boards that impact LBTS…He was not idle as others up on the dais with him were for some of those 5 years…Eric same- old self promotion we heard with each response…Clottey was inflating a good portion of her impact as she had done previously in this campaign…Next question was about their top five priorities and to wrap this one up this writer will sum it up this way…Clottey was stuck in 2007 and Yankwitt was stuck in his chest pumping one-man has done it all mode…and Sokolow spoke of the topics that we would expect offering up his proven expertise to tackle ….Again, here's where the gambling issue arose and again what this writer cannot wrap her head around when it comes to such reckless rhetoric being used in a campaign race such as alarms of dirty business going on with new hotel buyers…ulterior motives and Clottey adding on to it with her pontificating on bad sidewalks on El Mar Drive and people falling …(harkening back to her first term claims of homeless people on the beach and her unsubstantiated claims of "the people" being adversarial when it came to dealing with BSO)…lost hotel rooms…and investors who "thought they were going to make a killing"…now compare that to Sokolow who spoke of the improvements being made…Vacation short term rentals came up with Clottey speaking of her personal impact and Yankwitt giving a few usual responses and only Sokolow providing why we are where we are currently with these rentals as he recounted what the Town Atty. stated when asked by Mayor Minnet after this came up at the previous commission meeting when the Mayor asked Town Atty. Trevarthen to explain the situation yet again.. thus showing he attended the meeting and retained the answer to the question rather than doing what his opponents offered up!… In closing Clottey again spoke of her resume and her many unsubstantiated claims ….Candidate Sokolow's closing at the POA sponsored debate showed that he gets it…He understands what has happened in the last two years … He spoke of what he has seen and liked and why he decided to run as well as promising to continue this path we are on with civility, accountability, professionalism and fiscal responsibility… He was clearly seen in sharp contrast when compared to his opponents …so much so that many who had been leaning toward his opponents now leaned toward the man in the middle seat on the dais the evening of February 27th …Elliot Sokolow… One more debate to go …
Tuesday March 4, 2014 …one week before the election … the League of Women Voters Candidate Night was miserably attended and the questions and answers were like watching a rerun of answers although they were to different questions… That result was due to election time responses no matter the topic!… The opening- answers and closings were one minute each … It began with Candidate Yankwitt who was again unprepared and stated he was asked to run although he did not say by whom and as seen in the prior debate his reasons for doing so were keeping the the town's small time quality of life and an eye on the budget …saying he is an accountant…Candidate Clottey gave the same opening as she did prior about the VFD and the 15 million and what she continues to claim it went for before being cut off… Candidate Sokolow chose to take this debate opening as a chance to expand on his long and distinguished community service that spans 40 years and covers all the bases when it comes to picking a candidate on qualifications… He ended with his Pelican endorsement "We endorse him believing he has no personal agenda and won't require a learning curve to effectively serve the people of LBTS."… and asking for the opportunity to do so …The questions included what are the top two priorities each candidate hoped to accomplish and how they would do it… Elliot Sokolow responded he would like to examine in great depth and detail the budget revenues and expenditures to look for places to cut expenses and raise revenues without feeing people to death…He also offered up the desire to revisit the VFD serving Sea Ranch Lakes as it has in the past…He has the real ability to do something that can benefit LBTS …He also stated he would look at traffic and parking…Eric Yankwitt stated as he had previously…parking-parking-parking…and flood insurance (how can a town commission do anything about flood insurance rates?) …He then rambles about not finding parking when he did not live in town and finding it once he did…huh?… He then did the north/south divide number and needing to bring people together… Birute Clottey spoke once again about maintaining infrastructure and in the first of many times it seemed she was channeling others she spoke of keeping out capital improvements looking nice (Diane Boutin ) before going back to who we do and don't want in our town and fear-mongering that boogie man mantra Fort lauderdale's "Beach Place" and being declared a nuisance by Fort Lauderdale…What?….She said we are in good financial shape but don't want to spend recklessly …(we have not done so)… Tourism was up next and what each would do to aid in it… Clottey stated the town hasn't decided who it wants to market to…(she missed the marketing presentation at the last commission meeting which more than covered how far reaching the current consultants have gone and which specific areas they have covered…oops!)…Clottey went back again to those young undesirables …and the certain types of quality people we want down in town and the money they should have…Sokolow spoke on the ongoing partnership and dialogue the hotels/restaurants/ residents need due to the fact that those businesses are the "lifeblood of this community " and bringing in the marketing experts as well… Yankwitt did the one-man show and spoke of meeting with the Mayor of Broward County and the needed balance of tourists inside and outside (?) …from over the bridge and bad hotels ( he doesn't want to fill those!)…but we can't fine them to death…Seems from what this writer has heard that fining to death worked with the sale of a few!… Economic development and incentives for new and old businesses was up next… Sokolow responded that many were helped by the Commercial Blvd. project and more such improvements are coming (He was speaking of Comm. Brown's work with the county for 4 million for El Mar)… and added that it seems time for the businesses to contribute as well… Yankwitt asked for the question to be repeated and went back to the Chamber and his position as treasurer on the Chamber ( past candidates have stepped down when running I believe to avoid conflicts and politics within the Chamber)… he spoke of repairing the relationship and spoke of Sister Cities (a debacle he was involved in a short time ago that caused quite a ruckus with charges of actions that many claimed were made without regard to the past Sister Cities participants) aiding in tourism "from across the ocean" …he then digressed to say government should stay out of business…and added the wonderful Commercial Blvd. before being cut off…Clottey said that at the last debate she said the businesses and residents should sit down and that the businesses have a pretty good idea "who's commin in " and "who they want to keep out"…After saying again we should listen to them she said we are a small town and how much economic development do we want?… It was time again for the parking issue and whether it should be public and/or private … for a garage that is…Yankwitt brought up his study he claims was a year and a half in the making and presented to the local chamber as well as the Broward chamber…Hmmm. would this be the study done and shown on the LBTS Chamber site and his campaign facebook site?…Why no mention of bringing to the LBTS Commission over the last year?… He stated a parking garage might change the way we interact and change the businesses…My take this guy does not work well with others…it's that hero complex…My concern…the last LBTS Commissioner who thought he was a hero…McIntee!…Clottey said we have been "talkin" about this for many,many years and with a parking study in the works it's premature …need to see results but prefers a public/private venture not done with taxpayer monies …She then stated the parking fund was flush with a million dollars due to the credit card machines …many of those upgrades were done after her first term…and against much of supporters wishes …(progress you know…dirty word to some stuck in time)….Sokolw responded as well that the parking study results call for us to wait and see adding he has not experienced any parking problems and sees much of the problem is due to changes of parking being 2-3 blocks away rather than the old time ability of parking right in front of the business people are patronizing …he ended by saying he was not in favor of using public money… The Chamber was yet again the topic … the question was the relationship with the town…all three candidates spoke of a need for a chamber and a resolution to whatever issues there are …Clottey spoke as she has in the past while on the commission of the chamber not speaking up for local merchants in town…Eric pompously touted his takeover of the beach clean up which up until last year was done not only by the chamber but by Mayor Minnet with the aid of Aruba and others successfully… Next he will tell us he invented the internet…(previously posted…ego size seems much the same!)… The 2nd coral reef project … Clottey did some election time backpedaling as well as channeling her opponent Elliot Sokolow in stating she needed to see what it entails before approving it and wants the county to kick in… Elliot recalled and recounted the CIC debate and the original ask for an additional wire to the first reef and his concerns over the costs for that citing a problem he dealt with while on the Hillsboro Inlet Commission and the cost being prohibitive especially for a town our size…He spoke of a partnership with Nova the premiere entity when it comes to coral reef structures… Eric wondered off to grants and the reef being part of the solution to save the beach (ours is approximately the size of a king size bed !) …jumping to the sea oats …his serving on the League of Cities ( we were told as an associate member )…Then it was traffic congestion on A1A … where Eric Yankwitt spoke of the 4-way red light experiment and the backup traffic resulting from it and spoke then of the hole in the dike scenario before offering up an overpass…the pelican hopper and going personal about being a walker and that parking is a challenge…Elliot Sokolow said we need to sit down with DOT and county …and get rid of the all red which has nothing as jaywalkers still go across and it just adds to the traffic problems on A1A… he stated the obvious that the congestion comes from people coming to the town and we want them!… Birute Clottey said it was the 64,ooo dollar question and stated it's high season …that removing the 4-way red would improve the traffic and went to the dark side in this writer's opinion channeling past ideas of Las Vegas like overpasses that are also popular in european nations!… How exactly does that solution fit with our small seaside town and how is that fiscally responsible?… naturally the next question was …music on Friday and Saturday nights and…parking and traffic during the events…Clottey said it was a tradition…( a tradition she did not always support and often thwarted just because her group wanted payback!) …She said she wasn't going to stop them…This writer doesn't buy that for a minute with who are her handlers )… She spoke of an old study which I believe was skewed by a former consultant of 900 people crossing west to east and said congestion is a reality of life… Yankwitt said he is a part of the congestion because he and his fiancee ( spiritual partner) enjoy the weekly events which gives the town vitality and said we should extend the Pelican Hopper …offer spread out parking and people movers… (his money saving seems to go somewhere else…assistants… people movers…overpasses…adds up the $)… Sokolow said he was also in favor of the music but due to the hotel owners and residents who are impacted by the loudness the decibel levels need to be looked at ( to adjust what is now allowed) … On traffic and street closures he once again talked of the partnership needed and alternatives to be considered such as the new plazas….Public bathrooms…we knew that one was coming… Elliot Sokolow said he is in favor of them stating that is not fair to businesses to open up bathrooms to non patrons and that we need to look at what kind we are going to install…location depends on if the purpose is to alleviate the restaurant use then the parking lots next to EggN Ham or the newly purchased property just south of Commercial on El Mar could work …if not El Prado… Eric Yankwitt said bathroom are tricky and took a very weird take on whether they should be provided when tourists being encouraged to use restaurants to become patrons and then residents ending with it's gotta be El Prado…Huh?… Birute Clottey said the issue was hard to find the solution for before digressing in to where Minto security guards say beach-goers go to bathroom by them with no bathrooms available…(ugh)… She then took a page from Mark Brown in 2012 who pushed for modular units that could be moved and tested for not only location but for safety and security,…Just when you thought you heard it all…global warming!… And flooding concerns… Candidate Yankwitt spoke of Hurricane Sandy and watching it from home as well as his brother's bad experience in New York before stating global warming /climate change is perhaps upon us…he said we needed to protect the beach …and spoke again of the coral reef …sea oats …and recycling …and all of us coming together …we can resolve anything …kumbaya comes to mind!… Candidate Clottey said it's not anything we as a community can prevent and that it's an issue we as citizens of the US and the world need to participate in!… She spoke of our town being higher than Fort Lauderdale and sand loss as well as roads being washed away and that a time will come when we have to give those roads back to the ocean!… Candidate Sokolow responded after the moderated participated stating this was a difficult problem … by stating it's a difficult problem but that he didn't think the people in the hall are capable of solving in any short order… He brought it back to what we can do in the short term (decades…in my book)…by continuing with projects such as the sea oats (Comm Brown was in charge of a sea oats planting the week prior) which has some actual science behind it as a deterrent for high waters and winds… Thank goodness someone had the wherewithal to not be a bumper sticker candidate!….On to the next question…Town budget tax rate concerns and what changes would you make going forward?…Clottey said her priorities were not to raise taxes …stating most goes for public safety and we don't want cuts there…She went back to her previous statements about the Town Atty. costs and her charges of overpaid staff that are in jobs that don't offer enough work at their pay grade leaving them to do the work of employees making 1/3 of what they are paid?… The Town Manager needs to address these consistent charges made by Candidate Clottey as to there being any validity or calling it out as false!… Sokolow answered that he wanted voters to understand the arcane and boring tax bills and to understand the percentages and what they really mean to LBTS taxpayers…19 & 1/4 % goes to LBTS and 80.257% goes to the county, school board etc…and a 10% tax cut equals approximately a $40 dollar reduction yearly… He would look at every line item in the budget and see where cuts could be enacted and believes in outsourcing which is cost effective and efficient…Yankwitt… took a different tact… an odd departure…that was a head scratcher for sure… He said we have the hardest working town employees he has ever seen… "They're $100,000 getting paid $7 an hour. Do the math!"… The TM needs to answer this as well…id there any town employee only making $7 an hour in our town…the rest of the remark…anyone who can figure that out… kudos!… He said they could go through the budget sure…but as an accountant as it accumulates it's a big chunk…(huh?)…He spoke of us having the lowest tax rates in Broward but on the flip side property values are relatively high …we pay a lot per person…that means when you have a rich town hall you have a poor taxpayer !… He said that needs to be examined…..Question on short term rentals in neighborhoods was bound to be included and it was… Clottey did the same response as she offered up prior about the impact to her adding that companies are buying up homes nationwide and turning them in to hotels…asking if that's what we want in our town…She spoke of the League of Cities initiative and the need to get on board to get rid of short term rentals… Sokolow repeated as he had prior about the Town Atty . what we have on the books and until state laws change all we can do is report any code violations or suspected use of less than 7 days … Yankwitt who seemed to be going after Sokolow as the questions progressed …said Candidate Sokolow was correct about the Town Atty. bit offered up a different solution of not fining people only to forgive those fines …he wants to educate our neighbors…opening our doors… saying that to call the police … on violators would lead to living in a different kind of country…we are a small town…it's all addressed in our zoning laws and we can't have short term rentals in residential neighborhoods!… Yikes!… Topping that was the inevitable gambling question Yankwitt used as a campaign issue… It was tied to the State Legislature and casinos in South Florida…Elliot answered it began in the state legislature over one property in Broward and one in Dade …and we do not have a property that is large enough in LBTS… If it ever came to be allowed in every corner he would lead the opposition in our town…it's not needed …. Eric held up the Town Topics special issue and said it was one of his campaign issues…again he spoke of the newly bought properties on El Mar surmising reasons for their purchase from expensive condos to gambling …Birute said there would be not casinos unless some Indian Nation was going to buy up half of El Mar…can't open one…and we shouldn't be "talkin" about it or people will think we are seriously considering it …She ten again spoke of Indian Tribes …Hmmm…I think the politically correct term is Native American!… The soft ball question of the night was next in the form of what personal attribute do you have that is unique to you that will make a difference as a commissioner… Candidate Yankwitt was first to answer and said he has energy, enthusiasm and is passionate about this town…he said he has shown it over the last several years with his Thanksgiving dinner and theater events…He again used Vice Mayor Scot Sasser's campaign slogan of having two ears and one mouth… "You sir are NO Scot Sasser!"…Just couldn't resist!…He also spoke of his fiancee once again …Candidate Clottey said she was elected before and it didn't go to her head…she wasn't an ego head… She said she listened gave careful consideration …she said she was a leader and harkened back to her time as a member of the Barry University Senate and dealing with highly educated people …what a hard job that was!…Especially when they could walk out at any time thumbing their nose at you..She said she has the personality to do an excellent job… Please Clueless…was a major disappointment as commissioner …and an embarrassment too many times to count…and on thew wrong side of progress….as well as having it in for Mayor Minnet …In this writer's opinion nothing is different 2 years later to put her back in!…Elliot said his personal attribute is patience acknowledging his upcoming 50 year anniversary as well as his 40 year careers in business and giving back as a "perennial volunteer" who did it all for no pay (except health insurance on Hillsboro) …he stated he does it because it needs to be done… The last question…3 major issues facing LBTS… Clottey spoke of the town's finished capital improvements and infrastructure and keeping it maintained (again) who we are going to market the town to (again) drainage projects and the drainage project in her area of Bel Air which she said was done by the county 15 years ago…sub standardly …Yankwitt said Parking parking parking (again) …Flood insurance and being apart of the senate bill or we will suffer (again) the challenges at the beach ..which he cleans (again)…infrastructure…sand coming in …washing away …tourist attractions…and heights…(again!)… Sokolow spoke of the long term issues…our aging infrastructure underground….run down properties at the south end entrance to town and elsewhere and traffic..not parking…
The closings… Elliot Sokolow was first with thanking the League of Women Voters and talking about public safety…the VFD and Sea Ranch Lakes …the budget and traffic and that his first official act will be to sign the personal code of conduct …and he promised to respect and listen to all as well as to vote with his conscience for what the people want…he said experience matters and he has the relevant experience from day 1…to keep us moving forward!… Birute Clottey was next saying she has a vision for the future and will continue moving forward with maintenance- infrastructure (yep…again) …stopping extravagant spending (hmmm overpasses like Las Vegas and european countries?)…keeping taxes low low rise community (again)… zoning laws not made by commissioners (can't be done now)… finishing with saying she delivered on every promise she made and offering continued progress and financial accountability… Her commission resume does not live up to her new promises and her campaign issues stated above should be a big red flag to voters!… Eric Yankwitt was last and was made the most underhanded slight seen during this campaign…He thanked all including his fellow candidates before stating there were distinctions between them …that he cares…and "nobody cares that you care until they know you care …and I've shown that over the last couple of years ..(compare that to his opponents and it shows he cared less in time served giving back!)…He touted his time on P & Z and the League of Cities which his opponent served on as a board member not an associate member adding his profession (s) as an atty., accountant and mediator … he said they were all successful and he is a small business owner …"They've been in business to a degree"… What!… Candidate Sokolow's resumes are way beyond any resume Candidate Yankwitt has put forth!…That speaks volumes to this writer on what is really behind the "approachable" character this candidate purports to be!… With that the debates were over for 2014!…
As the days count down there is likely to be calls made by and for candidates …signs being held on street corners along with final mailers and ads…Then it comes down to the LBTS voters… What do we want 2008 or 2010 and 2012?… It should be an easy decision …Who is best to continue on with what has happened since we took back our town in 2010 and progressed on and off the dais offering our residents and businesses everything they said they were missing in 2008 to 2010!… The only candidate that can assure LBTS 4 more years of civility …professionalism and fiscal responsibility is Candidate Elliot Sokolow….Make sure you fill in the second bubble on your ballot and let's close the door once and for all on 2008 foes and stragglers knocking on our doors to see if we have forgotten the past…as well as yet another character who purports to be just a nice guy sitting on the dais… again ….in my opinion!…
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Tags: Birute Ann Clottey, Elliot Sokolow, Eric Yankwitt, Lauderdale -By-The-Sea Commissioner Chris Vincent, Lauderdale by the Sea Candidate Birute Ann Clottey, Lauderdale by the sea Candidate Elliot Sokolow, Lauderdale by the Sea Candidate Eric Yankwitt, Lauderdale by the Sea Commission Race Seat 1 District 1, Lauderdale by the Sea Commissioner Stu Dodd, Lauderdale by the Sea Mayor Elect Scot Sasser, Lauderdale By The Sea Mayor Roseann Minnet
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Here's The Scoop …. 48 Hours Before The January 31 2012 Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Nonpartisan Municipal Election For Commission Seat 3 …
January 29, 2012 by Barbara
COUNTING DOWN THE HOURS TO A COMMISSION SEAT ….
Mayor Roseann Minnet holding a Mark Brown sign …
Dear Readers… here we are 48 hours before the 2012 nonpartisan municipal election in LBTS for seat 3 … What was supposed to be a dull election due to it becoming only one race for one seat after the seats for the Mayor and Commissioner from the south ended up unopposed has proven to be anything but!… A lack of participation by many who naively thought neutrality would be the ongoing headline for this race between Mark Brown and Edmund Malkoon came to realize that could not continue to be the case when their perceived idea that there was no real difference between these two candidates quickly fell to the wayside as they observed each candidate's campaign began providing us with so much valuable insight concerning each candidate's qualifications, ethics and character … Mark Brown has run what everyone agrees is a concise above-board campaign showing he not only walked the walk …and talked the talk …literally…. he made it his business to reach out to voters as well as residents who cannot vote but reside in the town opening up lines of communication and accessibility that he vowed would remain in place after the election as well … He was overwhelmingly successful in discarding any possible preconceived ideas some voters might have had about who he really is to those who only knew his name from his byline and the opinions of others… Mark made sure he covered all the bases in preparation along with following the rules and regulations required by candidates on all fronts …He helped absentee voters to participate in this race with a mail in attachment on his first mailer which included his fully verifiable bio…He went door-to-door with additional information and took the time to follow-up with anyone who had more questions or concerns…He went into neighborhoods and businesses alike in order to be up-to-date with what was at the top of the list of issues for both and what they were looking for in representation on the dais …He made sure he met with Town Administration to relay any concerns he might be addressing in order not to blindside anyone thus providing additional help and dais input to aid in getting answers quickly rather than going for a "gotcha" type of grandstanding at the podium that may cause an initial stir of emotions from the audience but rarely offers any concrete answers as a result…He made and is making phone calls to voters as well as going anywhere he has been invited to speak to offer up real answers to whomever is asking and never promising anything that was not possible in order to get a vote… His supporters have grown in numbers and include four members of the current Commission as well as most of the LBTS past Commissioners along with most of the members of the 2010 Master Plan Steering Committee which was the committee his opponent Malkoon vice-chaired for less than a 2 -year term including the MPSC Chairman… (MPSC disbanded by Comm.) … He is endorsed by the UOT-PAC after his opponent Malkoon actively pursued and received an endorsement from the opposing CIC-PAC essentially jumping ship on ideals in an email stating just that… (Malkoon is a longtime participant/member of UOT) …He received the endorsements for seat 3 from the 2 local papers ByTheSeaFuture and Pompano Pelican both based on his qualifications and his campaign… His second mailer continues to show the first-rate campaign he's run in offering up his thanks to voters as well as his 5 reasons for making sure it is Mark Brown sitting on the dais next month for 4 years… (see below) …He has withstood first time …nasty party politics being introduced into LBTS' traditional nonpartisan election by those Malkoon cohorts/advisers bearing grudges and an opponent who clearly felt the need to knowingly cross the line in what I can honestly say is the only campaign I can recall where a candidate has tried so hard to make so much of so little …in his resume, achievements, experience and what he stands for… Malkoon on the other hand has provided voters with a hodgepodge of a campaign which shows a disturbing willingness to twist and turn on a dime …literally….depending on who has opened their arms to him at a specific moment in time throughout the past months!….. He has shown a sad lack of drive as well as maturity in handling just his own campaign … He had little to report in contributions received from supporters compared to his opponent Mark Brown…(prev. posts) …He has only one CIC-PAC Commissioner supporting him and may have one or two from the CIC-PAC as well as a result of promising to promote their ideals and doing so at the podium on Jan 24th in public comments…(prev. post Jan 16 2012 email CIC board) …. His MPSC members have largely chosen to support his opponent Mark Brown in large part we are told due to his dismal and disappointing time serving as vice-chair…(prev. posts) ….He put up yard signs with a last minute sticker on some (one side vs 2 side requirement) as well as some with no disclaimer as required …(see below) ….He violated Fl. State Statutes introducing party affiliation in an ad in the BTSF newspaper on Jan 20, 2012 (see below) …and then made excuses to the Sentinel he had not heard from the State blaming "troublemakers"…as well as offering "no comment" to the Pompano Pelican even though he has been in receipt of the Candidate Campaign Book that includes all the rules and requirements which he is required to read and to run his campaign by……(prev. posts) …. He has a few die-hard supporters who have openly attacked and made ominous warnings of "going after Brown supporters"… He has "protectors" who despite meaning well in their role further exacerbated the growing word-of-mouth concerns of Malkoon's fragile state emotionally to serve in an elected position… His one and only mailer (see below)…again shows the same content seen in previous election materials, ads and debate info proclamations based on so little while embellishing it beyond fact!… Malkoon puts forth his "lifetime resident" moniker still…leaving out the fact he lived in Unincorporated Broward along with all his north end neighbors until annexation in 2001…Which means Malkoon became a LBTS resident the very same year his opponent Mark Brown did in 2001!… His Commission appointee and volunteer activities amount to less than a 2-year term that came from being appointed in 2010 by a sitting LBTS Commissioner who supports his opponent Mark Brown …Volunteering for numerous Town special events…is yet again padding for a weak resume…Mark Brown also volunteered in Town special events as well as being a driving force in providing transparency to voters on many political actions such as keeping the Town's Community Center open and operating under the same longtime director in his 5 years as a volunteer Editor on the local newspaper …Malkoon has repeatedly made claims of having finance and marketing acumen as a basis for him being elected …He had to backtrack on those bold assertions first seen in election materials and ads when he was called out on lack of degrees or work experience in either… This writer further called out his Realtor claim asking for it to be clarified as a Sales Assoc. classification under his mother's licensed agent license… Personal mortgage problems on his property arose during his first attempt at running in 2010 which further cloud using financial acumen as a real argument to elect him to make decisions involving taxpayer dollars… It was shown that attacks made against his opponent Brown concerning taxes was not only taken out of context but that Malkoon intentionally stated his stance for lower taxes were untrue in videos providing Malkoon at the podium in full agreement with his opponent in 2010 and again in 2011!…Malkoon states he is a member of the Republican Club of LBTS in the mailer which may skirt the statute he violated in the Jan. 20th BTSF ad but once again proves he is fanning flames for votes in what he knows is a nonpartisan race …He states he is a member of the LBTS Chamber of Commerce and again we must add he ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the board …He states one endorsement from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors (he received $250.00 as a result-prev. post) …His opponent Mark Brown respectfully declined to participate in a letter (see below) in order to not compromise any future dealings on hot-button real estate issues…What is glaring in the Malkoon mailer is that he chose to leave out being a member of the UOT-PAC as well as the Jan. 16, 2012 CIC-PAC endorsement!… In the waning hours left before the ballots are counted it is important that voters make it their business to ensure the correct Candidate succeeds in representing us by voting for Mark Brown for seat 3!….
MARK BROWN 2ND MAILER…
MALKOON LETTER….
MALKOON SIGNS ….
no disclaimer ….
Hard to see clear sticker with disclaimer lower left corner -one side only …
MALKOON PARTISAN BTSF JAN 20, 2012 AD….VIOLATING FL STATE STATUTE NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS …
MARK BROWN LETTER TO GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE REALTORS…
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Tags: Here's The Scoop .... 48 Hours Before The January 31 2012 Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Nonpartisan Municipal Election For Commission Seat 3 ..., Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidates For Seat 3 Mark Brown And Edmund Malkoon
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Here's The Scoop … Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate For Seat 3 Edmund Malkoon Turns Out To Be His Own "Troublemaker" In This Election …/ The Final Candidate Treasurerer Reports Due Before the January 31st Election ….
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR TROUBLEMAKERS…
Candidate Edmund Malkoon holding his own sign on Jan 26, 2012 …
Dear Readers … Once the election is over Candidate Edmund Malkoon's 2012 campaign will stick around for a long, long time in LBTS voter's minds as an example of what not to do when seeking a seat on the dais!… Malkoon as readers know by now is 36 years old and a resident of the north side of town who actually began his quest for the second time (he pulled out in 2010 after finding he had no support) believing a few self proclaimed movers and shakers had the seat sewn up and ready for his ascension to it!… Just that belief alone by the candidate should be enough to make voter's shake their heads at the utter lack of maturity this candidate seems to possess… That childlike wishful thinking by Malkoon turned out to be just the starting off point in this aimlessly lackluster campaign …. We heard early on that due to a need to "protect" Malkoon and his mother some voters were refraining from participating in this 2012 race out of sympathy and deference for the pair!… This writer could not believe it!… While Malkoon's opponent Mark Brown was actively campaigning much the same as commission candidates had in 2010 he was not receiving the full support he would have enjoyed if he was opposing Commissioner Clottey or another CIC-PAC candidate due to the growing number of those joining the "staying neutral" crowd so as not to upset the Malkoons!… Edmund Malkoon showed he had a thin skin and a penchant for wining when making calls to those who stated otherwise and were showing support for his opponent …Malkoon put up yard signs after Mark Brown put up his which violated the required disclaimer be printed on both sides…We are told he said he had permission from the State to attach stickers and he applied a very small sticker to some but not others and only on one side…we are told…Now you know damn well that had this been a different candidate and a different race those same people "protecting" Malkoon's decisions,mishaps and mistake would be the first to require that the candidate who blew the requirement remove the signs immediately leaving that candidate to decide if he/she wanted to spring for the correct disclaimer required signs with more campaign funds!…Malkoon pulled the "sick card" 48 hours before the Meet the Candidate Forum setting off Town personnel to deal with the possibility of no forum and a change of date rather than just sucking it up and doing whatever it took to meet the obligation long publicized…He sent an email to Town and the Commission that showed not just a lack maturity and professionalism but a rather unnerving need for sympathy and a "atta boy" for effort in announcing he would rally from his sickbed after all when he was hit hard by the outrage that came from such a childish act in a political campaign… On the dais at the LOWV Meet the Candidate Forum Malkoon continued to embellish his credentials as he had done in print interviews and in his election materials while attacking his opponent using the local boy vs Washington insider tactic seen at the Presidential campaign level… It was laugh out loud funny when Malkoon claimed he was a lifelong resident of LBTS …He lives in the north which was Unincorporated Broward until 2001 when it annexed into LBTS which was the very same year his opponent Mark Brown bought his residence in the north….. Malkoon fibbed about his stance vs. his opponent on the millage rate and this writer exposed it and more with the archived video on the Town's website…. Malkoon has fibbed about his history of political stances which this writer also exposed from his public comments seen and written on the Town's website in the archives as well… Malkoon promised sewers with the sewer reserves now in savings in the south part of town to the Palm Club when he went there to court their votes …He promised everything including the kitchen sink to the CIC in the middle of the month for an endorsement from them and then sent the CIC Board an email promising to promote their ideals as a result of receiving it!…The UOT-PAC Board decided that was too much and reconsidered their stance on no endorsement to endorse Mark Brown as a result of Malkoon's new agenda …Incredibly Malkoon's "protectors" lashed out at the UOT Board on this one as well!… Malkoon proved his new allegiance before the election by promoting Marc Furth's desire for a referendum on zoning at public comments at the Jan. 24, 2012 Regular Town Commission meeting… Malkoon biggest decision though was when he violated the State of Fl. rules pertaining to nonpartisan elections …Many think it was under Cindy Geesey's tutelage that he placed that kind of an ad in the January 20, 2012 ByTheSeaFuture newspaper extolling his party affiliation vs. his opponent in this LBTS non-partisan election …This writer was tipped off of the violation resulting from his action and posted it that day…The story was picked up by the Sentinel as well as the Pompano Pelican …Malkoon claimed in the Sentinel he was waiting to see if he would hear from the State if he did anything wrong and blamed it on "troublemakers" rather than own up to his decision to violate the rules contained in his own candidate handbook he was required to read (for the second time as a candidate) …In the Pelican he gave a terse "no comment" rather than respond…We hear his "protectors" want to overlook all of this as well… Again, another candidate …another campaign these same Malkoon Protectors" would be calling for it to be publicized and leading the charge for complaints to be filed with the State and for the candidate to pay for what he/she had done!…Hell, they would be holding the signs that would spell it out on the street corners themselves!… This writer is still hearing that this small crowd is so much into this "Malkoon Protectors" mode they are lashing out not only as if he were a child being "bullied" in school but much, much more that I cannot even go there in print….Again readers…this calls for these same "Malkoon Protectors" to look back at the past two elections at least to see candidates have long been called on their actions in a campaign on blogs and in print with no such "protection" being cited to derail the issues or the offenses made by that candidate …It makes this writer drum up Tom Hanks in a "League of Their Own"…and the line "There's no crying in baseball"…Well….there's no crying "bully" in politics on the local level !…. This is a race between two candidates for a seat on the dais for 4 years…In those 4 years this person will be making decisions with our taxpayer money for use in our town…It will be up to this person to do their due diligence each and every time they prepare to vote on doing so … Malkoon has shown a lack of due diligence as a candidate as well as being openly available to promote the desires of anyone willing to offer him support to attain that seat for 4 years….and even if those desires are not the ones he stood for when he decided to run or is known for historically….Mark Brown has done quite the opposite…He has shown he is accessible to all townspeople …He has done his due diligence and then some in this first-rate campaign …He has made just a few sensible generalized promises to voters no matter where he stood to make them in town including at the Candidate Forum and in his election materials with a remarkable amount of forthright candor and honesty…With a resume that is obviously no match for his opponent and a resolute statement of not being beholden to anyone Brown should win by a landslide if voters vote for the right reasons and not to "protect" someone who is clearly not cut out for politics or governing again this year…
In the Jan 26, 2012 Sentinel article Malkoon said the following…"I haven't heard anything from the state if that's an issue," Malkoon said. "People are just trying to be troublemakers in the election." Below in today's Pelican he offered the reporter "no comment"…. We are told that due to the full intent of Malkoon's actions to introduce party affiliation into this election a complaint will be filed after election day as a matter of principal as it should be…
Excerpt from 1/17/12 Pelican…
"Political ad appears to violate state elections law
By Judy Vik
Pelican Staff
LBTS – A town commission candidate in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea may have violated a state election law by including his political party affiliation and that of his opponent in an advertisement in a local newspaper.
Edmund Malkoon, a candidate for Seat #3, ran the ad in the Jan. 20 edition of the monthly ByTheSeaFuture newspaper. Malkoon included his Republican Party status in the ad as well as his opponent's Democratic Party affiliation.
According to state law, "A political advertisement of a candidate running for nonpartisan office may not state the candidate's political party affiliation. This section does not prohibit a political advertisement from stating the candidate's partisan-related experience. A candidate for nonpartisan office is prohibited from campaigning based on party affiliation."
For enforcement of any willful violation of this provision, a complaint must be filed with the Florida Elections Commission. The commission has exclusive jurisdiction over this matter and may impose a fine not to exceed $1,000 per count.
Asked about the ad before Tuesday's commission meeting, Malkoon said he had "no comment."
"If elected officials break the law, they should be held accountable for their action. The same applies to candidates," his opponent Mark Brown said. "The laws are there for a reason, and people should comply with them."
Brown said he would like to see Malkoon's ad brought before the State Division of Elections for review but does not plan on taking that action himself."
http://pompanopelican.webs.com/apps/blog/show/11936505-political-ad-appears-to-violate-state-elections-law-
JANUARY 27, 2012 CANDIDATE TREASURER REPORTS…
In this final report …(some pages shown below) …Candidate Mark Brown received $350.00 more in contributions were a combined candidate loan/ supporters total of $19,021.74 …His expenses in this 4th report time period of Jan 7-Jan 26 were $3,480.75 with a total of $12,195.54 ….He received 4 more contributions from supporters 3 were from LBTS supporters including VM Dodd …His expenditures were for 2 BTSF newspaper ads/1 Pompano Pelican newspaper ad/ 2 were for printing costs/ 1 mailers list/ 1 was postage for his 2nd mailer which started arriving to voters today (to be posted) … Candidate Edmund Malkoon received $2,210.00 in contribution plus $100.00 "in-kind" (food from Athena By The Sea for fundraiser on Jan 7, 2012)…His total contributions to date /loan to himself combined a total of $6,150.00… His expenditures for this 4th report time period Jan 7-26 was $2,639.41 with a total of $4,856.29 … Malkoon received most of his contributions at a fundraiser at his neighbor's house on Jan. 7th..Those included Cynthia Gaynor (Bob Fleishman's wife …Their company contributed $200.00 in Dec.)/ Bel Air neighbors mostly those on his neighborhood board as well as Comm. Clottey/ Chuck Gress/Robert Schuyler/Linda Ritchie/ Athena By The Sea (in-kind) $100.00 for food…He received a few contributions after the 7th …Arthur Franczak/$250 from the Realtors of Florida Assoc. … Mark Brown declined to partake in endorsement citing possibility of any future decisions coming before the commission on such hot-button topics such as vacation rentals… The 2010 candidates from UOT did the same for the same reasons… Malkoon's expenditures were for Office Depot/ByTheSeaFuture ad/ Minuteman Press/Constant Contact in MA an emailing marketer/ Fedex for $2,210.63 on Jan 25, 2012 presumed to be the 2nd mailer which Malkoon stated in his Jan 16, 2012 email to the CIC Board "I also will have a mailer going out before Weds." …which would have been Jan.18th…Just another fib or misstatement and lack of follow-through by Malkoon yet again ….Many were wondering if Malkoon's one and only mailer contained or now contains the same party affiliation violation Malkoon put in his Jan. 20th BTSF ad… I guess we will see … If it does it will rack up the penalties he could face when complaints are filed… cha ching!…
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Tags: Here's The Scoop ... Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate For Seat 3 Edmund Malkoon Turns Out To Be His Own "Troublemaker" In This Election .../ The Final Candidate Treasurerer Reports Due Before the Janua, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidates for Seat 3 Mark Brown/Edmund Malkoon
Here's The Scoop ..Lauderdale-By-The-Sea & CIC Endorsed Candidate For Seat 3 Edmund Malkoon Is Taking "A Wait And See Approach" On Violating Fl. Election Rules While His Campaign Cohort Cindy Geesey Disses LBTS Democrats In Sentinel Interview !!!!…
LEAVE IT TO CINDY ….
Dear Readers …leave it to Cindy Geesey to sink Candidate Edmund Malkoon's ship…She blew it up big time in her quest to go after her former colleague Brown . The result will be a major loss for Malkoon next Tuesday at the polls as well as a black mark for Malkoon with monetary damages when he faces the consequences in front of the Fl. Election Commision panel after the ballots are counted and a complaint against his actions has been filed making any future attempt for a run for office out of the question!… The Furth led CIC board once again has some explaining to do to whomever is left in their dying organization as to why they endorsed the full-fledged Republican team of Malkoon-Geesey for seat 3 in 2012!…
"Broward Politics
Is your party showing in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?
By Larry Barszewski January 26, 2012 02:17 PM
Town commissioners in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea are elected in nonpartisan races, but one candidate in the town's upcoming election has taken out an ad showing the two candidates' party affiliations.
Commission candidate Edmund Malkoon ran an ad in the local ByTheSeaFuture newspaper this month listing himself as a Republican and opponent Mark Brown as a Democrat. The election takes place along with the Republican presidential preference primary, which could lead to a larger percentage of Republicans turning out to vote.
According to Mary Cooney in the Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office, nonpartisan candidates are prohibited by law from campaigning along party lines. Cooney wouldn't say the ad broke the law – that's for the Florida Elections Commission to decide if it receives a complaint.
Malkoon is taking a wait-and-see approach.
"I haven't heard anything from the state if that's an issue," Malkoon said. "People are just trying to be troublemakers in the election."
Brown said he'd like to see the issue go to the elections commission, but he won't be doing anything that might be seen as a last-minute gimmick before the Jan. 31 election.
"I'm a very firm believer in obeying the law. Elected officials have a responsibility to obey the laws," Brown said. "The same holds for candidates."
One of Malkoon's supporters, Cindy Geesey, isn't shy about her partisan leanings.
"I hope enough Republicans are on the ball in this city to get Edmund into office," said Geesey, calling Brown an "unrepentant Democrat."
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2012/01/is_your_party_showing_in_laude.html
Malkoon once again shows he is not ready for prime-time when it comes to being a seated Commissioner in LBTS… He comments "I haven't heard anything from the state if that's an issue," Malkoon said. "People are just trying to be troublemakers in the election." after telling another reporter from a local paper "no comment" last Tuesday night when questioned about the violation… Malkoon signed a form affirming he received the rules he was to follow in his candidate's handbook upon filing to run for his seat … It contained the following ….
"A political advertisement of a candidate running for nonpartisan office may not state the candidate's political party affiliation. This section does not prohibit a political advertisement from stating the candidate's partisan-related experience. A candidate for nonpartisan office is prohibited from campaigning based on party affiliation."
More Malkoon pre- election hits to come tomorrow!….
Comments Off on Here's The Scoop ..Lauderdale-By-The-Sea & CIC Endorsed Candidate For Seat 3 Edmund Malkoon Is Taking "A Wait And See Approach" On Violating Fl. Election Rules While His Campaign Cohort Cindy Geesey Disses LBTS Democrats In Sentinel Interview !!!!…
Tags: Here's The Scoop ..Lauderdale-By-The-Sea & CIC Endorsed Candidate For Seat 3 Edmund Malkoon Is Taking "A Wait And See Approach" On Violating Fl. Election Rules While His Campaign Cohort Cindy Gees
Here's The Scoop … Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate For Seat 3 Edmund Malkoon … Throws Party Politics Into Town Nonpartisan Municipal Election In Desperation Play For Votes Thus Violating Florida Statute Election Rules!!!!…
DEAD MAN WALKING…..AS MALKOON VIOLATES THE RULES!!!!….
Dear Readers …. Edmund Malkoon did it…he really did it… he killed his own candidacy with a big assist from Cindy Geesey!…
He chose to run his final ad in the ByTheSeaFuture newspaper as a two column comparison with his opponent for Seat 3 Mark Brown as Malkoon the Republican vs. Brown the Democrat at the start and at the conclusion in a municipal race that is non-partisan!…In doing so he violated the 2011 Florida State Statue on running in an non-partisan election!!!!… Below is an excerpt of section 3 with a link to the statute….. including this portion…
This writer has put a call in to the Broward County Supervisor of Elections to Malkoon's actions…I was advised that a complaint can be filed with the Fl. Division of Elections and given the info for doing so… http://election.dos.state.fl.us/index.shtml … Anyone can file a complaint against Malkoon for his actions and they will take it from there…
"106.143 Political advertisements circulated prior to election; requirements.—
(3) Any political advertisement of a candidate running for partisan office shall express the name of the political party of which the candidate is seeking nomination or is the nominee. If the candidate for partisan office is running as a candidate with no party affiliation, any political advertisement of the candidate must state that the candidate has no party affiliation. A political advertisement of a candidate running for nonpartisan office may not state the candidate's political party affiliation. This section does not prohibit a political advertisement from stating the candidate's partisan-related experience. A candidate for nonpartisan office is prohibited from campaigning based on party affiliation."
http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/106.143
If that isn't enough reason to kiss this candidate goodbye factor in that he chose to continue on perpetuating false statements of his past stances on taxes as well as to demean his opponent's distinguished career while again lamely trying to pad his own… Malkoon may want to lay low for a good long time after this and what looks to be a major loss at the polls on the 31st!… Voters in our town need to send a clear message to Malkoon and his Co-horts Cindy Geesey and Bob Fleishman that their brand of dirty politics that violate the election rules have no place in this race or any future races for a seat on the dais !…Both local papers the Pompano Pelican http://pompanopelican.webs.com/ and the ByTheSeaFuture (link below) did so already by both endorsing Mark Brown as well as the UOT-PAC Board in an email sent out yesterday …. This writer will add the missing 3rd column of the facts Malkoon left off in his party affiliated ad and I am asking readers to then take a look at the ad Brown chose for his final ad to see that what is really final is the fact that there is no comparison when it come to the Candidates for Seat 3 …It's Mark Brown! … If you haven't done so already voters…make sure to read this edition of the ByTheSeaFuture and get your pencils ready to fill in the bubble next the the first name below Commissioner Seat 3 …Mark Brown!…
Malkoon Jan 20, 2012 BTSF Ad…
COLUMN 3… BCBYTHESEA….FACTS…
1- Malkoon violates the Fl State Statutes by publishing party affiliation in a non-partisan municipal race…
2-Malkoon states he's a lifetime resident of LBTS.. but actually it was Pompano Beach due to the north annexing into LBTS in 2001 …the very same year Mark Brown bought his condo then moving here full time in 2003 (Thanks to a reader for this one!)…
3- Malkoon says he's a LBTS Real Estate Business owner… He is listed as VP on his family's business and as a sales assoc. classification for his license…The business has been listed in Pompano Beach according to Sunbiz.org as late as March 2011 …Malkoon on the same Sunbiz.org has other businesses that opened and closed over the years that look shaky at best… Collective Capital Group Inc./Edmund F. Malkoon, P.A./Efm Ventures, LLC/Fred G. Malkoon Real Estate, Inc.
Mark Brown was no "Washington D.C. Staffer" as Malkoon puts down in move to downplay Brown's distinguished career…Mark Brown was a reporter in Washington and a Chief of Staff for two Congressmen receiving awards for his work from the Speaker of the House …
4- Malkoon was the self-proclaimed Co-Chair of the Master Plan Steering Committee for less than one full 2-year term that began in 2010 and ended with the committee being disbanded …. Too funny to state Brown has no LBTS experience in comparison when it was Mark Brown who voluntarily wrote and covered the LBTS government thus making the LBTS government transparent in the process in order to allow for a change in LBTS…
5- Malkoon cites his volunteerism in Beach clean-ups/Halloween/Easter/Fourth of July as well as being past Pres. of Bel Air Civic Assoc….Brown voluntarily took photos…and publicized those events before and after each one as well as volunteering the past 3 years on Halloween and participated in the Beach clean-ups as well as covering them and taking photos …Malkoon again followed the lead of his mother and father in joining his neighborhood association … Malkoon intending to downplay the comparison of Brown's time on his condo board and the N. Beach Civic Assoc. doesn't wash…Mark served on the Civic Assoc for 6 years and is still on his condo's board… doing so with no familial ties to ensure a spot on either…
6- Malkoon claims a history of cooperation with all Town organizations…not so!…Malkoon was ready to run against the CIC candidate in 2010 and wanted to do so again 2012…Malkoon was an active member of the UOT-PAC campaign committee in 2010… He only recently pandered to receive an endorsement from the CIC as a result of losing support from the UOT of which he has been a member … Mark Brown is inaccurately compared as being "inflammatory and divisive"…Mark Brown collected the facts…did the research and then wrote about them under his own name …It was up to the readers of his articles to decide if they agreed or not…Malkoon saved his remarks for the Topix blog and out of the line of fire…
7-Malkoon says he publicly opposed higher taxes…as previously posted with links to the Town's video archives..Malkoon took no such action…He agreed with Mark Brown in 2010 on raising the millage 1/10th of 1% when the budget hits were still being uncovered from the former TM…Malkoon not Brown went on to say the same in 2011…
8- Malkoon claims the endorsement of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors Assoc….Mark Brown turned down the offer from the get-go of participating for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors Assoc. endorsement just as the UOT-PAC candidates did in 2010 … acknowledging the concerns of voters who oppose vacation rentals and wanting no appearance of conflict if this issue came up while serving on the Commission…Malkoon left off his endorsement from the CIC-PAC …Mark Brown is endorsed by the UOT-PAC Board as well as both local paers The ByTheSeaFuture and the Pompano Pelican..
9& 10- Malkoon says he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce …He is a recent memberwho failed in 2010 to receive enough votes to be a Chamaner Board Member…Mark Brown is a past member of the Chamber and has been voluntarily active in promoting the Chamber and it's events over the past 5 years through the local newspaper ….Malkoon states he is a member of the Property Owners Association and his opponent Mark Brown is not… Mark Brown is a past member of POA …as anyone can be for $10 living in LBTS…
11-Maloon states he is a member of the Lauderdale Beach Republican Club….again violating the statute…Mark Brown chose not to actively join any local political group upon retiring to LBTS remaining non-partisan…
Mark Brown Jan 20, 29012 BTSF Ad…
The Jan. 20, 2012 ByTheSeaFuture ….
http://www.bytheseafuture.org/
Comments Off on Here's The Scoop … Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate For Seat 3 Edmund Malkoon … Throws Party Politics Into Town Nonpartisan Municipal Election In Desperation Play For Votes Thus Violating Florida Statute Election Rules!!!!…
Tags: Here's The Scoop ... Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate For Seat 3 Edmund Malkoon ... Throws Party Politics Into Town Nonpartisan Municipal Election In Desperation Play For Votes Thus Violating Florida S, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidates For Seat 3 Edmund Malkoon /Mark Brown
Posted in Civic Organizations, local government, Local News, Local Politics, News, Opinions, Scoops
Here's The Scoop … One Candidate For Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Seat 3 Is Already Waffling … UPDATED …
January 9, 2012 by Barbara
BUTTERING UP THE VOTERS …..
Dear Readers … the first printed interview with candidates Brown and Malkoon is out today in the Sentinel (see below) …It goes beyond this writer's last post in a most disturbing way that should again give voters pause when they fill in that bubble for Commission seat 3 on their absentee ballot or at their polling place on Jan. 31st… It appears the reporter pinned down candidate Malkoon on his qualifications thus making Malkoon reel back his election material claim that he majored in "International Finance and Marketing" at FAU conveniently or should I say purposefully in my opinion giving voters the idea that he has a degree in both and perhaps a career in both…In the Sentinel article he has been dialed back to "Education: Graduated from Ely High School, 1993; undergraduate course work at Broward College and Florida Atlantic University"…meaning he took courses and it means nothing except it was a way to embellish his resume and qualifications which are sorely lacking in reality…But that didn't stop Malkoon who moved the waffling of his background on to his career in the interview in the paper doing much the same by stating…" Malkoon has worked in credit card, mortgage and real estate fields and says that business background will be a plus when overseeing the management of the town's finances."… What Malkoon conveniently or purposefully left out in my opinion was the fact that he is not a licensed real estate agent …That Malkoon was working in insurance from home during the last election from this writer's recollection of his almost daily conversations with me and the UOT campaign group of which he was an active member (thus that point quashes his printed claims of "Malkoon said he promoted his favored candidates without criticizing the other side."..GULP!)… Malkoon does not state the overwhelming concern when he was slated to run pre-Sasser in 2010 concerning his personal problems with his own mortgage on his home … I would not have divulged this one had Malkoon not included mortgage in this article in his list of work experience! … I want a commissioner on the dais who can handle the taxpayer's monies and that must be based on how they handle their own…or lack thereof!…Malkoon once more gives his work experience as a "Realtor" …but again no mention of being a licensed agent…no mention that he works in a family Real Estate business …(see below)…Waffling on his local contribution to a town board is done by not giving the dates of service as most candidates customarily provide …His appointment came after the last election in 2010 by those he campaigned hard for and that committee was disbanded by the full commission last year before a full 2-year appointment was realized due to there being no need for the committee to exist anymore as well as the total exasperation felt by many commissioners and taxpayers with what was coming out of those meetings..This writer believes much of that resulted from Malkoon's actions and input…especially after he declared commissioners should not be allowed to speak at board meetings much less attend them!… I have repeatedly posted that Malkoon was in my opinion skirting violations of sunshine laws with his emails to some fellow MPSC members and was way out of line when he chose to come to the podium at commission meeting seemingly to represent the committee (although no vote was taken at the meetings for him to do so) misrepresenting the collective opinions of the committee to the commission…Malkoon in his statement "We were forced to take sides, but now, like I said, I feel a certain segment of society is being left out because it didn't win … I want to restore that voice to people that feel that way." …is pandering to the CIC most likely due to the lack of support he is seeing from the UOT … It is again this writer's opinion that if there are even any CIC members left to court votes from …those votes will not be for Malkoon but against his opponent who has held steadfast with his stances,resume and experience…Any CIC voters who are considering such a move should look hard at Malkoon's stance for he was for making El Mar 2 lanes…for a parking garage…for public bathrooms…and anything else on the "I'll take one of each"redevelopment menu some were proposing at the MPSC meetings …Of note: Mark Brown has stated he will bring back public bathrooms if elected…MIA was that it was Brown who stated from the get- go to try a temporary structure in the El Prado area to see how it fares…
This writer has been asked why am I so hard on Malkoon…because I do not think he is qualified to be a commissioner in LBTS…I do not think he is "owed" a seat on the dais…He has proven to me he is ineffective …Once again in the "anything can happen" climate of LBTS politics…I could just foresee a low voter turnout for this election and a handful of voters believing that while most voters understand and agree Malkoon is absolutely not right for the job they will throw him and his mom a "bone" by casting a sympathy vote as to not cause him embarrassment of a lack of votes (as we have seen in a lack of contributions) only to have him win as a result!…
This writer has also been informed that a few of Malkoon's most vocal supporters are supporting him because I support his opponent!…That is about the stupidest thing I have ever heard as a voter! …Can you imagine if all voters supported a candidate using this criteria rather than the candidates qualifications…God help us!…Snicker…snicker!…
Tonight is the UOT-PAC meeting …It will be the first time in quite a while these candidates will be side- by- side and put in a position of showing the differences between them … Both should be called on what they represent as qualifications and what they can offer voters once on the dais …
"Lauderdale-by-the-Sea candidates support commission agenda
By Larry Barszewski, Sun Sentinel
5:19 p.m. EST, January 8, 2012
The election: On Jan. 31, town voters will choose a new Seat 3 commissioner. Commissioner Birute Ann Clottey is not seeking re-election.
The candidates: Mark Brown and Edmund Malkoon
The background: Warring factions were prevalent in town elections as recently as two years ago, but the feud has essentially disappeared in this year's Lauderdale-by-the-Sea elections. Vice Mayor Stuart Dodd has been re-elected without opposition and the two candidates for Clottey's seat share views similar to those of the commission majority.
Town affairs have quieted down considerably since a new commission majority took over in 2010. The commission quickly disposed of former Town Manager Esther Colon and brought in former Fort Lauderdale City Manager Connie Hoffman to take the reins of the town's administration. Commission meetings have gone from combative to congenial.
The issues: The commission has pushed an aggressive agenda, which both Brown and Malkoon support. They want to continue revitalization plans for Commercial Boulevard and State Road A1A. They agree the town needs to update its aging sewer system and fix drainage problems. And they say the projects need to be accomplished without raising the town's tax rate.
Each candidate sees himself as the one better able to maintain the town's progress and to keep the commission from backsliding into past disputes.
Malkoon has worked in credit card, mortgage and real estate fields and says that business background will be a plus when overseeing the management of the town's finances.
Malkoon stresses his ties to the town, where he has lived most of his life, and his participation in local activities. He says he has tried to build bridges with all sides in town, including those on the losing end of the last elections.
Unlike Brown, who ran editorials critical of past commissioners in the local ByTheSeaFuture paper, Malkoon said he promoted his favored candidates without criticizing the other side.
Brown says that because of his past experiences as a congressional aide and reporter, he knows what it takes for government to get things done and to accomplish the town's goals. He says his editorials at ByTheSeaFuture, which he started because of his opposition to much of what was being done in town, helped shape decisions in town.
For Brown, ethics and the conduct of town officials continue to be top priorities.
A side issue that Brown says he will pursue if elected is public restrooms for the beach.
The positions:
Brown: "I think the town is headed in the right direction and it wasn't for a long time … I thought the newspaper provided an outlet for people in town who were unhappy with the way commissioners were conducting themselves and the way the town was spending money."
Malkoon: "We were forced to take sides, but now, like I said, I feel a certain segment of society is being left out because it didn't win … I want to restore that voice to people that feel that way."
[email protected] or 954-356-4556
Family: Single
Education: Bachelor's degree, George Washington University, 1973
Occupation: Retired; former editor, ByTheSeaFuture; former reporter, Griffin-Larrabee Washington news bureau
Political career: Former chief of staff, U.S. Rep. William Hughes, D-N.J., 1989-94, and U.S. Rep. Tim Roemer, D-Ind., 1995-2002; congressional aide to Hughes, 1977-89
Civic activities: Former president, North Beach Civic Association; board of directors, Corniche Condominium
Edmund Malkoon
Education: Graduated from Ely High School, 1993; undergraduate course work at Broward College and Florida Atlantic University
Occupation: Realtor
Political career: None
Civic activities: Current vice president and former president, Bel-Air Civic Association; co-chairman, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Master Plan Steering Committee; member, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Chamber of Commerce"
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-elect-lbts-brown-malkoon-20120108,0,3241350,full.story
An update per a Reader's question about Malkoon's stated profession…
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER AND A "SALES ASSOCIATE"…which is what Malkoon is listed as …What it amounts to is that the candidate did not pursue the classwork in order to be a broker..that says a lot when considering his qualifications to be a sitting commissioner…in my opinion…
"The difference between salespersons and brokers
Before the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) was introduced in 1967, when brokers (and their agents) only represented sellers, the term "real estate salesperson" may have been more apt than it is today, given the various ways that brokers and agents now help buyers through the process rather than merely "selling" them a property. Legally, however, the term "salesperson" is still used in many states to describe a real estate agent.
Real estate education: To become licensed, most states require that an applicant take a minimum number of classes before taking the state licensing exam. Such education is often provided by real estate brokerages as a means to finding new agents.
In many states, the real estate agent (acting as an agent of a broker) must disclose to prospective buyers and sellers who represents whom. See below for a broker/agent's relationship to sellers and their relationship to buyers.
While some people may refer to any licensed real estate agent as a real estate broker, a licensed real estate agent is a professional who has obtained either a real estate salesperson's license or a real estate broker's license.
In the United States, there are commonly two levels of real estate professionals licensed by the individual states, but not by the federal government:
[edit] Real estate salesperson (or, in some states, Real estate broker):[2]
When a person first becomes licensed to become a real estate agent, they obtain a real estate salesperson's license (some states use the term, "broker") from the state in which they will practice. To obtain a real estate license, the candidate must take specific coursework (of between 40 and 90 hours) and pass a state exam on real estate law and practice. To work, salespersons must be associated with (and act under the authority of) a real estate broker.
Many states also have reciprocal agreements with other states, allowing a licensed individual from a qualified state to take the second state's exam without completing the course requirements, or, in some cases, take only a state law exam."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_estate_broker
'Licensee Details
Name: MALKOON, EDMUND FRED (Primary Name)
(DBA Name)
Main Address: 2073 SE 17TH CT
LAUDERDALE BY SEA Florida 33062
County: BROWARD
License Mailing:
LicenseLocation:
License Type: Real Estate Broker or Sales
Rank: Sales Associate
License Number: SL627358
Status: Current,Active
Licensure Date: 07/10/1995
Special Qualifications Qualification Effective
View Related License Information
View License Complaint'
https://www.myfloridalicense.com/LicenseDetail.asp?SID=&id=F44081BC5DDF41E39F9A343E8A5D62B2
Comments Off on Here's The Scoop … One Candidate For Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Seat 3 Is Already Waffling … UPDATED …
Tags: Candidate For Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Commission Seat 3 Edmund Malkoon /Mark Brown, Here's The Scoop ... One Candidate For Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Seat 3 Is Already Waffling ... UPDATED ...
Here's The Scoop … The 2nd Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate Treasurer Report For Seat 3 In The 2012 Commission Race …
December 30, 2011 by Barbara
IS THIS LBTS' VERY FIRST "STAYING NEUTRAL" ELECTION? …
Dear Readers …The 2nd Candidate Treasurer Report was due today …Mark Brown handed his in one day early with his opponent Edmund Malkoon turning his in today … This writer made a Public Records Request for them and received them this afternoon… Mark Brown's report was 5 pages with 2 full pages and 1 half page of contributions…Edmund Malkoon's was 3 pages with 1 half page of contributions ..The 2nd reports covered contributions and expenditures between Dec. 10th to Dec. 23rd 2011… Below are a few jpgs from the two reports … What is most interesting and disturbing in this commission race is the rampant remarks from so many of wanting to "remain neutral" in this election by way of not openly supporting a candidate by either donating to them or putting a sign in their yard … How sad and how unfair to these candidates if this is as widespread as this writer is hearing it is!… The right to support a candidate is a gift in this country that other countries fight to emulate…Unless those standing on the sidelines really do believe there is no difference between Brown and Malkoon it makes no sense and is just so wrong… I have also been informed that some of those that are supporting one candidate over the other are doing it not because they support that candidate and what he stands for but are really doing it as a vote against his opponent … What is interesting from the 2nd reports is once again Edmund Malkoon is really seeing the most dismal contribution responses I have ever seen in this town and he still has no donations from any member of the MPSC he sat on!… Those votes I am told are going to Mark Brown…That has to give a voter pause and stick a pin in any thought that there is no difference between the two!…
This report shows Mark Brown received $2,195.00 in contributions in this 2nd reporting period for a total of $18,471.74 …His 2nd round of contributions came from 19 supporters which includes 8 living in LBTS … Edmund Malkoon received $450.00 in contributions in this 2nd reporting period for a total of $3,390.00 His 2nd round of contributions came from 4 supporters which includes 2 from LBTS …..Among those are Comm. Chris Vincent who gave $150 to Mark as well as Edmund (see 1st Treasurers Report post)…Chuck Curtis who is the Fiancee' of Mayor Minnet gave Mark $100.00 as well as giving $100.00 to Edmund …Mark received a contribution from former UOT President Regis Brady for $100.00 while Edmund received a $200.00 contribution from Dryco Inc. which has an address attached showing it is former UOT President (after Brady) Bob Fleishman …Edmund's 2nd LBTS contribution came from Cindy Geesey's husband Adam for $50.00 …As far as expenditures Mark Brown reported $300.00 in this 2nd reporting period with a total expenditures of $8,714.79 …The $300 was for an ad in the ByTheSeaFuture …Edmund Malkoon reported he spent $325.00 in this 2nd reporting period with a total expenditures of $1,275.00 …The expenditures Edmund listed for this 2nd reporting period were $300.00 for an ad in ByTheSeaFuture/ $15.00 to Constant Contact in Massachusetts for marketing/ $10.25 to BSOE for the voter's list…
The next report is due on Jan. 13th two days after the Meet The Candidate Forum in Jarvis Hall on January 11th at 7pm… That debate will be open to the public and will be televised and replayed on channel 78 as well as being available on the Town website … We are told UOT will meet on Jan. 9th at 7pm having invited not only these two candidates but the unopposed candidates (Mayor Minnet/VM Dodd) as well …We have also been informed UOT will not endorse either candidate remaining neutral as well… Edmund Malkoon has continued his green/ bird election theme with emails to voters to vote for him on absentee ballots because he has been a volunteer of town events as well as a "uniter"…He has lawn signs up with the same green but without the bird background seen today in Terra Mar and BelAir … (An expenditure for the signs does not appear on the 2nd report so it must have been after the 12/23 deadline) …. A fundraising e-invitation was sent out by BelAir residents the Koss' for next weekend … They do not show up as contributors on either the 1st or 2nd report … Is there a fundraiser lined up at Athena?… Mark Brown has signs out as well that we are told have been distributed with many inside until after the holidays …. Both candidates were interviewed by the Sentinel this week but it is not known when the article will be online or in print… They will also answer another question in the Jan. issue of ByTheSeaFuture and should also be in the Pompano Pelican…I do not know if either paper will endorse as well…The absentee ballots came to voters already and it will be interesting to see what kind of response will come from those who vote this way…If you are a registered Democrat or Independent the ballot has just one vote for seat 3 listing in alphabetical order Mark Brown first and Edmund Fred Malkoon second…If you are a registered Republican you have one additional vote for the Republican candidate for president…The cost to return the ballot is $1.08 in postage up until Jan 22nd with an addition 2 cents making the postage $1.10 …Hmmm…Will some voters decide to take a pass seeing the cost for one or 2 votes remaining neutral?… The Sentinel ran an article this week telling Republican voters to hold off due to the possibility of some candidates bowing out thus making an absentee's vote null and void…How many voters will follow that advice and then forget until it's too late?… All in all this is really turning out to be a continuing string of strange new occurrences for a municipal race in LBTS… Once again, it is important who is sitting up on the dais for the next 4 years …It is important that voters make it their business to support their choice of candidate in their quest for that seat as well as doing whatever you can to ensure the right person is advocating for you and the future of this town…
The 2nd Treasurer Reports …
Comments Off on Here's The Scoop … The 2nd Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate Treasurer Report For Seat 3 In The 2012 Commission Race …
Tags: Here's The Scoop ... The 2nd Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate Treasurer Report For Seat 3 In The 2012 Commission Race ..., Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate For Commission Mark Brown/ Edmund Malkoon
Posted in local government, Local News, Local Politics, News, Opinions, Scoops
Here's The Scoop … "Snickers" …
A WHOLE PACK OF THEM ….
Dear Readers … Snickers abound in LBTS we are told … and this writer agrees … that one after another those in the know are snickering…bar none!…
SNICKERS #1….
Let's begin with the ByTheSea Future editorial in this week's Dec. issue written by Publisher Michael Arker… Surely his three paragraph ode to the former UOT Chair, self promoter Bob Fleishman whose inflated claims of the role he played in the last election met with fodder out of earshot and had to be a "snicker" in print above the fold ….. This writer received the same such big headed claims via an email from Fleishman's wife and "snickers" were the result of that one as well…….(see e-mail exchange below)…
Excerpt of the Arker BTSF editorial 12/16/11…. link to online BTSFuture below…
"With these realities in mind, I would like to take a moment to reflect on all that
was done to make our town a better, more peaceful and loving community. This
is now our reality, thanks in large part to the strong actions, tireless campaigning
and diligent work behind the scenes of Mr. Bob Fleishman.
As leader of the Unite Our Town movement in 2009-2010, Bob took a real hands on
approach to making the dream of a peaceful LBTS a reality. Yes, it was Bob who
led the way toward bringing us where we are today.
Fleishman's supreme power of persuasion, gift of oratory, unique command of the
English language, passionate zeal and charismatic personality made it possible for
us all to live in this harmonious new realm, free from the strife and discord we
once knew.'
Below is the e-mail exchange between the Mrs. of the holder of "supreme power of persuasion, gift of oratory,unique command of the English language, passionate zeal and charismatic personality and this writer after my behind the scenes account of the Cindy Geesey candidacy fiasco previously posted…. (email address has been x'd out by this writer)
"Thank goodness you finally got a bone to chew on
cyng143xxx
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 8:21 PM
Barbara:
The only part of that "ole bone" is that it has caused me to endure "snickers" in this town and become the supposed "butt end of a joke". As you know Bob and I sometimes have differences of opinion and definitely express them differently. I choose to go to the "Horses mouth". I did. Although you would like to portray my letters an indication of endorsement for Ms. Geesey, it wasn't. Old Guard, New Guard, Old Guard. You are very aware that when UOT first came into being, that there was no Bob Fleishman. Bob became active when the Town needed and got a New Guard and was instrumental in aiding and leading, as Chairperson of Unite Our Town, the fight to remove the Old "Dais" Guard.
What Bob inherited in UOT from its Old Guard was improper filings that led into a Hearing by the State of Florida. Thank goodness he and UOT were "cut a break" and the Committee in Tallahassee voted to drop the case against the PAC committee UOT. My one intention and only intension was to avoid a similar occurrence this year, if the PAC organization was found guilty in actions, that would promote another such insident. I didn't know for sure; however, it is better to be safe than sorry. Since Cindy was making such accusations of an unfair vote occurring against protocol at a UOT meeting, I felt that I should forewarn Ray and then sent out the second E Mail to the Board and a few active UOT members, along with the other Candidates, when I was ignored. It is very interesting how well-meaning guidance to past experience, became a possible endorsement (not) and blackened my thirty-nine year residency here. Even if Cindy were playing "both ends in the middle" as you insinuate, there was still protocol being tested for the UOT PAC. You can imagine just how upset I was to learn, less than 24 hours later, that all of this could of been avoided, if your time line is right and mine wrong. Nonetheless my concern was with UOT, not the Candidates. After all, the UOT Old Guard after Bob's New Guard, that was instrumental in the last election, financially and fervantly, is now the Old Guard back in charge, offering up their same 'ole apathetic attitude.
I agree with you, their has been no UOT fundraiser, no phone committee's that raised just under $10,000.00 for you Barbara, yes, you to direct the payment of the mailings that went out for our three endeared seats. So who was Bob's Puppet Master – spending the bucks. Guess it was you, huh? So many loose words. I'm a bottom line type person, myself, once you cut through the "petty gossip", our three Candidates were elected.
Now for my "Town Crier" and Numbers Man", as you call him – Bob. I hardly think you would of attached those empty words to yourself, would you? After all aren't you, "The Blogger", more of a town crier, than Bob Fleishman? Weren't you part of the back door "Kitchen Cabinet" that worked the numbers for votes (Numbers Gal)?!?!?!?! Sounds like the "pot calling the kettle black" to me. But I, being a little older than you, would rather simply call it POLITICS, as usual.
You seem to feel that unless someone is drinking your flavor of the Kool-aid today, after all you have been for all sides (McIntee, Silverstone, Dodd & Clottey running as the old Dais Guard) (and then against that bunch in the next election), as it fancies you; we are subject to your BLOG. You have the "power of the pen" or computer key pad, as it is, but have a very subjective view.
Just try to stay away from the rumors and ask the "horse" before you go to print.
Cynthia "
"Re: Thank goodness you finally got a bone to chew on
Cynthia, I am fully aware of the past and why Bob became the UOT Chair.It is not quite the version you put forth but so be it. I am also aware of the PAC problem with the state because if you will recall Bob called me to walk him through the answers on the phone a few times and forwarded the information to me which was risky to do at the time. I think you were privy to those conversations even joining in the discussion. I agree he helped get the candidates elected in a certain capacity and at the same time caused the need for multiple "clean-ups" throughout the election from actions he took. There was a core campaign group that met throughout the campaign and were involved in the day- to- day strategy with the candidates. It was the candidates and their hard work who were the most responsible for their big win followed by that core group with the various other extended groups such as the Future paper/ UOT/ Louis and Athena and others who made it what it was. This is the norm in campaigns. We won due to that, multiple strategised preemptive strikes from mailings and signage to debate prep as well as oft needed quick responses to charges made by the CIC et al and finally due to the incredible luck of timing that put Ray Walowicz and Scot Sasser in Anne Siren's Pompano Pelican office at the exact time of the yellow journalism BTSTimes paper put out door- to- door by the Furths et al. Due to that meeting we were able to get the Pelican front stuffer page that tipped the scales one last time and countered what could have really cost us big time on election night. On the subject of this election and Cindy's actions I found the timeline and those actions incredulous as they caused weeks of painful uncertainty for some people that was totally uncalled for. I do believe you were duped. That being said I have seen in the past that you sometimes acts in haste whether or not it is done with the best of intentions sending out emails. I remember the first one I was involved with was the one about Rev Hunsaker while we were at Athena's with Bob early on in the campaign and the fallout afterward. As far as switching sides or drinking the Kool-aid as you stated I have consistently been upfront about why I worked to get the CIC majority out of office after they made the decision in 2008 to act just as badly if not worse than those they replaced on the dais and in the administration. I have also repeatedly made it clear that once a candidate is elected and begins to govern only then do you see what they will really do. Sometimes it works and other times it does not. If they do not govern as this voter or this supporter feels they should then they should be called on their action or inaction and replaced when their term is up. Isn't that what is happening right now on the Federal level as you yourself pointed out in your email? Lastly two final points, I often offer those who email me the option of printing their emails on my site. If your would like me to post your response I will do so and you can always choose not to read what I write. Barbara"
BC- I did not hear back from Cynthia but after hearing that further attempts are still being made to revise who was responsible for the big win of the 2010 slate of UOT candidates by Fleishman and wife and I was also informed Cynthia blindcopied her email to me to others …I decided to print the email and my response to set the record straight… "snickers" will continue to come the Fleishman's way if they continue down this path… perhaps not to their faces but not too long after they are done spewing …in my opinion…
The 1st LBTS Candidate Treasurers Reports are in …They were due December 16th …Mark Brown delivered his first with his opponent Edmund Malkoon turning his in in the afternoon… First I was told the cost I was told for my public request for Brown's would be $2.10 …When I responded I would wait for both and heard back after Malkoon's arrived I was told the cost would be $2.70 so I immediately knew there was a vast difference in the reports these candidates filed!…
Below are the front pages of each candidates report with content below…
Candidate Mark Brown's page 1…
Candidate Edmund Malkoon's page 1…
Brown had a 14 page report done by his treasurer James Corgee… Mark reports he received $7,870.00 ….His donor list contains 67 names …. It included 26 donors from LBTS including many of his condo neighbors which speaks highly of him due to his time on the condo board as president and as a member and what he's accomplished on the board…He's received donations from former Commissioners Clark and Wessels which certainly has weight attached their decision to do so …The former president of the Chamber of Commerce /former Chair of the Master Plan Steering Committee Paul Novak per his High Noon motels also chose to support Brown with a donation which is interesting when you take into consideration that Mark's opponent Edmund Malkoon was Novak's Co-Chair for a while before the committee was disbanded …Hmmm……He received donations from some UOT members while his opponent also a UOT member shows no such donations made to him…. This report also shows that I too made a donation ….My support can be summed up in the answer Mark wrote in the current BTSF question posed to both candidates…as well as the time I spent with him during the last election finding him to be a fair and honest man who is always open to listening to all sides of an issue even going so far as to offer those who oppose his the space in the paper to get their position out…I believe he will do the same on the dais…
The BTSFuture Election question… Excerpt …(llink to current online edition is above)…
"Which do you feel are the most important issues facing the town?" …..
Brown excerpt-
"If I have the honor of being elected to the LBTS
town commission, my first official act will be
to sign the code of personal conduct which the
commission enacted last year. To me, ethics
and personal conduct are the single most important
issues in town. The town government
cannot function properly unless residents have
confidence in the honesty and integrity of their
elected officials, and know that they will always
be treated with respect.
I was appalled by the conduct of the town commission
just a few years ago. That is why I
worked so hard as editor of the town's newspaper
to support passage of both a strong ethics
law to prevent conflicts of interest by commissioners,
and the code of personal conduct to
prohibit personal attacks on town residents. It
is also the main reason why I am running for office
now. If I am elected, I can assure everyone that there will be no going back to
the dark days when commissioners abused their power, wasted our money, argued
for hours over nothing and treated people with disrespect.
As far as other issues are concerned, I strongly support the effort which the current
town commission has undertaken to fix up the town's infrastructure. I have
knocked on a lot of doors and spoken to many residents in recent weeks. One
message I have heard over and over from residents is fix the drainage problems
on our streets. That will certainly be one of my top priorities, along with road
resurfacing and better lighting in neighborhoods which need it.
I also support the ongoing effort to spruce up the main traffic corridors in town,
especially Commercial Boulevard and A1A. If the town looks better, property
values will increase and people will feel better about living or working here. I
will work diligently to assure that the projects we approve are necessary and
cost-effective, that they truly reflect the highest priorities in town, that they have
public support, and that we don't do anything which is inconsistent with the basic
look and feel of the town.
After all, we are not Delray Beach or Ft. Lauderdale or Key West. This is Lauderdale-
By-The-Sea. We have our own look and image which has evolved over the
years. We need to fix up the town, but we have to do so in a manner which does
not undermine our basic character or compromise the uniqueness of our community."
BC- Mark stated as well he will push forth public bathrooms as a priority… While I am not for them at the current time I do know that he offered up some viable alternatives as a sort of test as to their success at the time this heated subject was headlined in 2010 having to do with the structures themselves and the location which struck me as something that might be worth looking in to… I can assure readers that Mark did wholeheartedly support Comm. Sasser's Code of Personal Conduct plan and in its final form when it was signed by all 5 commissioners …Mark's answer to the question shows his time out on the campaign trail provided him with the oversight many see of not including their neighborhoods in any future capital improvements and was pleased on his take of the need to keep LBTS distinctively different from other municipalities as we refresh our community …
Mark shows in his first report as well his expenditures which include his website/mailing lists/postage/printer/registration to run/advertisements/yard signs…He hit the ground running in his campaign by sending out an introductory mailer containing not only his introduction bio but supplying a portion of it that could be used to obtain an absentee ballot …He was the first candidate to go door-to door with handouts, stickers and chip clips that we hear are a hit with those voters who received them… He was the first to have signs which are already up at many properties including those whose doors he knocked on and met for the first time …He has put in two ads in the BTSF paper …Nov. was his bio and Dec. was a holiday greeting…and we hear his keeping the customary election time red/white/blue motif is also being noticed and commented on positively over his opponents green- bird rendition for mailers/flyers and T-shirt(s)…
Edmund Malkoon's first Treasurer's Report was 4 pages in total done by his treasurer…his mother Rosalee Malkoon …He collected donations in the amount of $790.00 ….Malkoon has 6 names of those that donated to him… 3 are from LBTS … they include former CIC Commission candidate in 2010 Marjorie Evans as well as current Commissioner Chris Vincent and one other resident … Malkoon shows expenditures for a portrait at of himself Sears/registration to run/newspaper advertisement/printing/t-shirt(s) for $21.20 at LBTS T-shirt shop Beach King…We heard some UOT members said they were going to donate to both candidates but that has not shown up thus far according to their absence in Malkoon's report…Mr Malkoon's ad in the Dec. issue of the BTSFuture was an election ad which stuck out and seemed very odd considering his opponent as well as Mayor Minnet and Vice Mayor Dodd all put in the customary holiday greeting ads as did the candidates in 2010… In his election ad Malkoon put forth he majored in International Finance and Marketing but does not say if he received a degree …He puts forth he was Co-Chair of the Master Plan Steering Committee .. In fact that was the first time such a title was used and it was most likely not supposed to be …. I have previously posted my change of any support for Edmund came from watching him on this committee and seeing he did not have what it takes to serve on the committee much less the dais… He puts forth he is a member of the LBTS Chamber of Commerce …In fact he ran for the Chamber's board and did not receive enough votes to get on it… He also puts forth his Bel-Air Civic Assoc. roles as a past president and current vice-president …We heard that many neighbors in Bel-Air had problems with him and the group for some actions taken on behalf of all and presented as such to the commission only to find out they were none too pleased with those declarations made at the podium and in letters … Malkoon shows only two donations from his neighbors and none from the Chamber of Commerce or his Bel-Air Civic Assoc. fellow members in this report…that doesn't bode well for a candidate in this writer's opinion… Malkoon chose to use Facebook for his campaign site …I have regularly looked at it …It is also very telling with photos of events Edmund has attended showing him with Mayor Minnet and Broward County Comm. Chip LaMarca which could be construed as receiving their support… Were they asked beforehand?…After all this is Malkoon's campaign site vs. his personal Facebook page…Hmmm… Other than that he has a few updates and comments that seem to be from his young nieces?… As previously posted we have been informed that Edmund was looking for support from the Furths and the Carrs who are a few of the active members of the CIC board representing a PAC that has no candidates to run for office in the 2012 election …After seeing his donation from their former candidate Marjorie Evans perhaps those reports have some validity …Any chance he will attend the CIC holiday party tonight?… Many have commented and this writer tends to agree that Edmund Malkoon is running the race he was going to run in 2010 when the UOT cast him aside and Beverly Kennedy jumped in briefly before Scot Sasser was persuaded to run because she and others did not want Malkoon… His answers to the BTSF question seem to concur with this take on his candidacy… (see link above)…."Snickers" will surely come from those in the north if Malkoon is seen pandering in the south as some claim he is doing to get the votes and perhaps the donations he has not received according to his report…
Comm. Sasser excerpt from Dec. 16, 2011 Pompano Pelican article by Judy Vic (link below)…
"In my opinion, all this centers around pineapples vs. pelicans. It's childish," Sasser said vehemently. "In the future, anything we do with Sea Ranch Lakes should come before this commission before we do it."
http://pompanopelican.webs.com/
The Pompano Pelican reported the "snickers" made on the dais by some LBTS Commissioners such as Comm. Sasser and VM Dodd played hardball with Sea Ranch Lakes on the A1A FDOT project last month concerning a laundry list of changes SRLakes wanted at the 11th hour of this project including changing the benches from pelican motifs to pineapples… Getting no love from the dais our neighbors decided to send via their Town Atty. a cease and desist letter implying legal action if LBTS proceeded with their plans… They got what they wanted and we the taxpayers of LBTS will be left with paying the price…of change orders etc… leaving us with a bad taste for some time to come for many as a result of sour pineapples …
SNICKERS #4 …
DID THE MONARCH OF MUNICIPAL FIRMS NOT SERVE US PROPERLY?….
Some time ago when this writer first began this blog I posted often about our Town Attorney and his law firm…I posted that they were called the Monarch of Municipal firms in Florida for the many towns and cities they served as counsel … At the Dec. 13, 2011 Regular Commission Meeting Commissioner Clottey stated that the referendum on districts which was placed on the ballot in 2003 and to be entered into our Town Charter was improperly done and the statute of limitations on any fixing it had passed as of this year… I previously posted Comm. Clottey heard this from Marc Furth who had contacted John Thompson on the subject … I also posted that John did not find such dire straits as Clottey claimed…I have since been informed that our current Town Atty. was the one to disclose the statute of limitations portion of this latest faulty charter inclusion which will be added on to a long list given some months back at the podium by consultant Cecelia Ward… This is the second one that was a referendum issue improperly done by the counsel at the time which was our former Town Atty. Cherof and firm… I have not seen the details of anything the Town Atty. provided in her assertion as passed on to me but that being stated I am quite confused and hope that when this is on the agenda in January at the first Reg. Comm. Mtg. as Clottey said it would be that not only is it presented with plenty of backup but also some input from the former Town Atty. on how this could be so!… If a referendum vote by the people can be subject to a statute of limitations of seven years leaving whatever was either put in its place to be legal or no way to remedy an act done purposefully or due to an inept act is beyond comprehension …If either scenario is fact then would not some municipalities enact such actions as these in order to essentially over turn the will of the people until the people have no choice but to follow the charter alternative as is being suggested from what info I have thus far?… With this districts referendum coming on top of some serious questions concerning the referendum on heights and how that too was placed in the Town's charter shouldn't the Town put our former law firm on the hot seat?… After all just as we will be stuck paying for the mess SRLakes has left us…we will definitely being paying for the changes we can make for the mess our former Town Atty. may have left us with so many years later …This bar comes with a note on the wrapper…fool us once shame on you…fool us twice …shame on us… fool us more than that… "snickers"….
Excerpt from Sentinel in 1998 …link below…
"Some firms rarely give to political campaigns, yet snag government business anyway. They bank on their strong reputations or relationships with local officials.
Among them is the monarch of municipal firms: Josias, Goren, Cherof, Doody & Ezrol.
Tight with a campaign buck, Josias, Goren and its attorneys have contributed about $1,400 to the Broward County Commission and School Board races since 1993. The firm also bars its attorneys from contributing money to candidates in cities it represents.
"We think it's a conflict," said Jim Cherof, one of the firm's partners. "That's not our role."
"Cash And Connections
A Group Of Lawyers With Political Ties Appears To Enjoy A Monopoly On Local Governments' Legal Work.
January 12, 1998|By JENNI BERGAL and JAY WEAVER Staff Writers
Still, Josias, Goren has been successful by combining decades of municipal experience with political clout. Josias, Goren, which earned $1.56 million last year from local government contracts, is is city attorney in eight cities.
The small, nine-lawyer Fort Lauderdale firm was founded by Steven Josias, a Citadel graduate who was chairman of the North Broward Hospital District in the 1980s.
Josias is closely aligned with U.S. Sen. Bob Graham. He first served as Graham's campaign chairman in Broward County and later became the senator's legal adviser in Washington.
"He is a very political person," said Scott Frank, a former associate at Josias, Goren who now works for a Tampa firm. "He's got power and is a very engaging person in that arena."
Josias also has close ties to Pembroke Pines, where he is city attorney. His relationship with the city dates back 22 years, when he linked up with former mayor Ron Villella, another Citadel graduate. And it was Villella who brought Graham and Josias together.
The firm's other founding partner, Sam Goren, has fewer political ties but also delivers business.
Goren joined the firm in 1977 after serving a brief stint as an assistant attorney for Broward County. He has been able to transcend the firm's Democratic profile, serving as general counsel to the Republican supervisor of elections for about 20 years.
These days, Goren appears to be more directly involved with his government clients than Josias, who lately has been spending much of his time traveling aboard his 58-foot yacht."
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-01-12/news/9801090407_1_city-attorney-firm-lauderhill-city-commission/2
Comments Off on Here's The Scoop … "Snickers" …
Tags: Here's The Scoop ... "Snickers" ..., Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate For Seat 3 Mark Brown /Edmund Malkoon, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Charter Questions On Referendums Passed Long Ago, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Good Neighbor-Bad Neighbor?, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Who Was Responsible For The 2010 Landslide Win?
Posted in Boards, Civic Organizations, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local News, Local Politics, News, Opinions, organizations, Scoops, Web News
Here's The Scoop … Are The Town PACs Pulling The Rabbits Out For The 2012 Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Municipal Election? …
November 13, 2011 by Barbara
COULD OLD TRICKS BE COMING BACK IN 2012? ….
Dear Readers … the first week for formally filing to run for a seat on the dais in the 2012 LBTS January 31st municipal election has come to an end and we hear so far there are four …Vice Mayor Stuart Dodd is running for a second term as commissioner from the south end of town…thus discounting all those who were sure he would take on Mayor Minnet despite his assertions otherwise…Former ByTheSeaFuture Editor Mark Brown filed for the commission seat currently held by Comm. Birute Ann Clottey from the north as did former Master Plan Steering Committee Vice- Chair and former candidate for the 2010 LBTS municipal election Edmund Malkoon…. Making it a three-way race thus far is Commissioner Clottey who long said she was going to be a one-term commissioner….
This writer previously posted that someone should get it through Malkoon's head that if he stays in this race he will split the vote between himself and Brown leaving Clottey to win herself a second term… If that happens Malkoon will become the Bartman of LBTS with the UOT (Unite Our Town) -PAC leading the charge!… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bartman_incident ….. Of course there is now one unknown glitch to this scenario making its way through the rumor-mill that could change this expected outcome for Malkoon and I will address that further down in this post…
We have heard of other familiar "players" perhaps vying for Vice Mayor Dodd's seat in the southern part of town….Included in this duo is none other than former Comm. Jim Silverstone who has suddenly started or rather restarted his 2010 failed re-election campaign in asking to "debate" anyone on town issues….This time it's in the no longer dormant CIC (Citizens Initiative Committee)- PAC website with his very own "opinion" page… If Silverstone does indeed do an 11th hour filing to become the CIC commission candidate alongside Clottey it will be quite a turnaround for those of us who have long heard his spouse was against any such future prospects of returning to politics ….. In doing so Silverstone will once again leave himself open to all of his "Broom Boys" history with his BFF …former Vice Mayor Jerry McIntee as well as his 110% unyielding support of the ousted former Town Manager Esther Colon and her top tier Town co-horts … He and the CIC … have once again jumped into the yellow journalism pool of revisionist history with both feet …in this writer's opinion…stating the Colon et al dismissals were unwarranted and wrong ….while the in- your- face facts are still coming to light concerning the myriad of administrative inefficiencies ..with many of them bordering on serious illegalities … again, in my opinion …that came in to play from her tempestuous tenure …. Voters will have to ask themselves other important questions about Jim -still not a "nice guy"- Silverstone vs. Vice Mayor Dodd…including what is the difference between these two in their voting records…The answer to that ….is really none…with the exception of Colon's need to be replaced!… Vice Mayor Dodd was on record first for wanting to lower the millage rate in town…Jim Silverstone only offered it up as a last ditch effort during his failed 2010 re-election campaign …Vice Mayor Dodd asked for it prior to 2010 during the budget hearings in 2008 for 2009 fiscal year…. I believe…….Vice Mayor Dodd is also on record this year in asking his fellow commissioners for a referendum to be placed on the ballot in this 2012 race for the redevelopment of LBTS…Unfortunately it failed to have any traction both times he tried to get them on board….Nevertheless Vice Mayor Dodd has stood strong and been steadfast when he repeatedly stated on the record that he believes that any big ticket Town projects that could ultimately lead to possible long-term tax implications for his constituents should involve them from the get-go in order to proceed…
As for that rumor that could be a game changer for Edmund Malkoon …turns out it could be even a bigger game changer for all of those candidates who filed last week or those about to file for that matter…. if it actually comes to fruition… I will explain the impact as I see it after divulging the name of the other candidate that might take a run for Vice Mayor Dodd's seat… That candidate is none other than Publisher of the ByTheSeaFuture Paper and former member of the MPSC Michael Arker!… I was alerted to this rumor a few weeks back by a handful of "insiders" who were all out and about sharing the news ….All started out the rumor with the same line… The "numbers guy" Bob Fleishman …(former president of UOT) …. said Arker will run and will win in the south with "sympathy votes" due to his ongoing illness … 600 votes….WOW!…I mean WOW!….
Okay…here we go…
First of all …in this writer's opinion…Bob Fleishman is a "numbers guy" like Occupy Wall Street is an organized protest with a clear comprehensive agenda!….Enough said!…. Second, there is no such thing as a "sympathy vote" when it comes to politics….In the event that a candidate were elected for being ill…It would only mean that it would be likely that the taxpayers would soon be paying for a special election to once again fill an vacant seat on the dais well before the 4 year term was up…Yeah, it's a bit callous but it's something any "sympathetic" voters need to pay heed to…. Also, I do not believe that Arker could ever get a majority of the votes needed in the southern end of town and in the Sea Ranch Club buildings required to win the seat …He is a divisive figure at best ..in my opinion…….That said, the impact of him making the decision to run for whatever reason will turn what has up until now seemed to finally be a welcomed departure from the past two municipal elections in 2008 and 2010 into an all-out no-holds barred political bloodbath!…
Here's how it plays out in terms of that impact as I see it… It will quickly paint a picture of the return of the CIC-PAC "slate" of candidates vs. the UOT-PAC "slate" of candidates whether those other UOT-PAC supported candidates want to be a part of that "slate" or not!… Mayor Roseann Minnet after returning home from vacation has made it clear she will run for her third and final term as Mayor and most likely will be filing to do so in this upcoming week and candidate Mark Brown will be inexorably tied to Arker … With that comes the always in- play game of political perception for them to deal with … These two candidates will now find themselves dealing once again with the CIC fanning of the fears for a major UOT takeover on the dais leading to future changes in big redevelopment including increased heights and of course the future of the VFD …. Just call it the Arker effect…. whether warranted or not…everyone knows political perception is what wins or loses an election …especially in LBTS!… If this happens it will indeed take any heat Malkoon would feel for his stubborn insistence to remain in the race off him during the race and after the votes are counted… That said…the outcome would likely be the same…in this writer's opinion and Clottey will win back her seat for another four years …Malkoon could decide to become an independent candidate set apart from UOT… after they chose to support Brown…but I still think he splits the vote with Brown…
That independent candidate role would definitely apply to Vice Mayor Dodd in this election if both Arker and Silverstone run against him… He long ago stepped down from the CIC after he was elected in 2008 as he said he would do in 2007….counter to the revisionist history written once again by the CIC …(see the How The Sausage Was Made category for the tar + feathering of Comm. Dodd back in 2008)… Voters will easily be able to see in the weeks that come that Vice Mayor Dodd has a most impressive voting record as well as being well in the forefront on implementing perhaps the most agenda items that brought forth much needed changes in policy and in governing throughout his first term as well as being hands-on in town both in projects and events and always being readily available to his constituents…
As for the Mayoral position …thus far no rumors of any challenger for Minnet…Does she get a "pass"?…. Hmmm….Perhaps the CIC who is busy setting up two member meetings according to their site on Nov. 18th and Dec. 20th at their Palm Surf Club headquarters will be able to conjole yet another CIC-PAC old-timer to run alongside Clottey and Silverstone …Could it be Peanuts "call me Larry" Wick round 2?….We don't think it could be her former 2010 Mayoral foe and new CIC- Chair Joe Couriel ….due to the conflict of being the Chair of a PAC which the CIC learned in 2008 was indeed considered a real conflict per Broward County Ethics Commission …Besides Couriel would also have to know that another run for mayor would lead to being subjected once again to reminders of his the less than steller first run for the position which included his and his followers false accusations of racial slurs which ultimately snuffed out his chances to sit in that center seat… He would also find himself in the same uncomfortable position of perhaps being called a "flip-flopper" if he joins in with what appears to be the CIC- Silverstone #1 campaign issue of residential vs business percentages of redevelopment with taxpayer monies as touted recently on their website…and in Silverstone's first opinion piece…
The resident 90% -business 10% issue runs counter to the campaign promises Couriel touted in his first run of many sidewalk cafes and hotels …For Silverstone it runs counter to where his spouse's allegiance must surely be …as an instrumental party to the biggest draw and most important business in the town of LBTS …Aruba Beach Cafe… So while this issue is one this writer could heartily support and in fact has in a different percentage package posted often on this site in the past when the Master Plan meetings were proceeding … I could not disagree more with the CIC-PAC "slate" touting it in order to win this 2012 municipal election…….
It is currently this writer's opinion that anyone who is ready and willing to run independent of either of the LBTS- PACs would give the Mayor a real run for the center seat on the dais along with those independent candidates who run for the other two open seats …if Arker makes this incredible rumor a reality….
No more rabbits!….
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Tags: Here's The Scoop ... Are The Town PACs Pulling The Rabbits Out For The 2012 Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Municipal Election? ..., Lauderdale By The Sea Candidate Edmund Malkoon, Lauderdale By The Sea Mayor Roseann Minnet, Lauderdale By The Sea Vice Mayor Stuart Dodd, Lauderdale-By-The Sea CIC-PAC, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Candidate Mark Brown, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Commissioner Birute Ann Clottey, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Former Commissioner Jim Silverstone, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Former Mayoral Candidate Joe Couriel, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Former Mayoral Candidate L. Peanuts Wick, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea UOT-PAC
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