BlueBroward.org

by Andrew Markoff

My recommendations are a result of researching everything on the Sample Ballot presented to Broward County voters. My research involves the very same efforts that any voter could conduct given the time and knowing who to ask. These are not endorsements- they’re only my conclusions as an ordinary voter who took more time and effort than the average voter to sift through the Democratic primary ballot in Broward County, and so I call them ‘recommendations.’

Only candidates specific to your districts will appear on your actual ballot, but I recommend that everyone reads everything so that more Democrats will be more aware of the personalities we’ve continually encountered and will be encountering in local politics. I am providing ballot recommendations only in an attempt to help you if you want it. I do not intend to offend anyone or to start an argument, but any comment and/or feedback will be appreciated.

Voters can submit their mail-in ballots so far ahead of Election Day that the possibilities of new information, fresh political scandals and other possibly useful perspectives may be ignored. Things happen, and things can happen close to Election Day. Voters should wait a while longer to ensure that they have a complete set of information and recommendations about the ballot. I certainly don’t provide my recommendations more than a couple of weeks before Election Day.

Showing up to vote on August 14th and finding out that for any reason you have been deemed ineligible would forfeit the time needed to contact to the Supervisor of Elections office and try to find out what’s going on. Rather than waiting until it may be too late, it’s safer to vote ahead of Election Day- but too far ahead just because you had requested a mail-in ballot is just ridiculous. Those of us who support a healthy democracy and encourage voter participation should proselytize patience once those ballots are about to go out to voters.

You can pass along some recommendations to others who will be voting in other districts. I’ve listed my recommendations, and you can copy and paste the list and then print it out to take with you whenever or wherever you’re voting. Below my list are the explanations as to why I’ve reached my conclusions about each candidate. I suggest that my explanations are read by all who came here for ballot recommendations because, if I may say so myself, the political analysis of Broward Democratic politics below is not easy to find elsewhere.

 

Broward County Democratic Primary Ballot 2012

United States Senator: Bill Nelson

Representative in Congress District 22: Lois Frankel

Representative in Congress District 17: Frederica S. Wilson

State Attorney, 17^th Judicial Circuit: Chris Mancini

State Representative District 98: Louis Reinstein

State Representative, District 100: Joseph “Joe” Gibbons

State Representative, District 102: Sharon Pritchett

State Representative, District 104: Alanna O. Mersinger

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Howard C. Forman

Sheriff: Louie Granteed

County Commission, District 7: Timothy M. “Tim” Ryan

County Commission, District 9: Dale V.C. Holness

Broward County Judicial Ballot 2012

Circuit Judge, 17^th Judicial Circuit, Group 19: Michael Ian Rothschild

Circuit Judge, 17^th Judicial Circuit, Group 35: Dale Ross

Circuit Judge, 17^th Judicial Circuit, Group 45: Julio E. Gonzalez, Jr.

County Court Judge, Group 5:  Richard Adam Sachs   

County Court Judge, Group 6:  Kathleen Marty “Katie” McHugh

County Court Judge, Group 10:  Robert F. “Bob” Diaz

County Court Judge, Group  32:  Terri-Ann Miller

Broward County School Board Ballot 2012

School Board, District 3:  Michael E. Levinson

School Board, District 4:  Robert Alan “Bob” Mayersohn

School Board, District 5:  Rosalind “Ros” Osgood

School Board, At Large 8:  Franklin Sands

School Board, At Large 9:  Robin Bartleman

 

——— Broward County Democratic Primary Ballot 2012 ———

United States Senator: Bill Nelson

Glenn Burkett is again on the ticket as a Democrat, but he’s thin on the issues. Burkett advocates a healthy lifestyle as the solution to the massive health care access disparities in our nation, and he’s somewhat conservative on other issues that he’s addressed. His career has mostly been in selling nutritional supplements, and his political experience has been solely as a candidate, and perhaps a bit of a nutty one.

I am not anywhere near a conservative, and that translates into not being a fan of the Bill Nelson type. The reason I use the word “type” is because it’s not really Bill Nelson as an individual that’s a problem in regards to senatorial representation. It’s the American political system that promotes such a heavy weight on big business considerations. Not just big business- but gigantic, conglomerate, monopolistic, banana republic-style, scary, we-will-eat-you-alive big business.

Bill Nelson’s style and his politics may be better suited to Northern Florida than to many of us liberals in South Florida, but whadya gonna do?? We truly do not have a choice in this matter, and Bill Nelson always has big funders and his solid seniority as well as a big and solid profile as a US Senator according to what I assume they’re always looking for down at Central Casting. The Democratic Party has relied on Nelson most of the time, though he’s not always reliable- but neither are Florida’s voters.

Let’s hope that the sentiments of swing voters and the momentum for the President go our way closer to November, because Nelson’s presumed Republican opponent, Connie Mack is a terrible option, in my ever-so-humble opinion. In that regard, I am a huge supporter of Bill Nelson to retain his seat.

 

Representative in Congress District 22: Lois Frankel

Here’s my take on Kristen Jacobs jumping late into this race: I’m glad to see voters having a choice for any ticket, and Ms. Jacobs has a personal style and a pretty face (and hair) that may set her apart in publicity photos from Lois Frankel for the average voter. Other than those factors, giving the voters another choice also should give observers like me reason to question the motive for declaring a candidacy. I have to doubt that altruistically giving the voters another option just in case they might prefer to have one is ultimately the motive for Jacobs having jumped in.

Ms. Jacobs may want the job very much, but as yet I haven’t heard her own thoughts on exactly why she’s a better option over Frankel. Lois Frankel stood up against Allen West early on and continued to campaign very hard even after West was districted out- and hopefully into oblivion (though he’s sure to get rich out in right-wing world). Frankel has significant respect amongst politicos and legislators, and she’s had a dynamic and successful career in the state legislature beginning in 1986 and as Mayor of West Palm Beach from 2003.

Frankel had been elected six times as a state representative before being termed out, and she had served as the first female Minority Whip in Florida’s history…make that her-story. Frankel had also been handily re-elected as Mayor later on before being termed out of that office and declaring her candidacy against West. Her hand-picked successor has been elected to replace her in West Palm’s mayoral seat. Obviously, Frankel has been popular as well as influential.

Kristen Jacobs is termed out of the County Commission and jumped in late to the Congressional race after West was no longer the main thrust of the battle for District 22. Jacobs has been, shall we say, very lobbyist-friendly on the commission and a participant in a culture on that commission that has too-frequently failed to engender respect from the wider public. While some saw Frankel as heroic for challenging Congressman West, some may also see her as also tenacious in keeping up a well-funded and consistent battle for the congressional seat since West was districted out of the picture and given his opportunity to perhaps bag another carpet in a new district.

Jacob’s history on the County Commission and in politics should engender serious examination, but I just can’t view her as the more serious candidate in this race. Jacobs claims pro-environmental endeavors by joining and/or heading this or that committee, but the drama on Broward’s county commission while Jacobs had participated probably overrides other efforts in most memories. Frankel’s history is probably enough, and she’s certainly taken seriously enough, so let’s give her the nomination and let her fight the Republican for November. I can imagine that Lois Frankel will continue to fight damn hard for a Democratic seat until then, and I hope that her profile and her political history will be of comfort to voters in that district who likely know her better than they know Jacobs. Good luck, Lois!

 

Representative in Congress District 17: Frederica S. Wilson

This primary race for District 17 is an outrage. Rudy Moise has chosen primary Frederica Wilson after losing to her in 2010 not because of what precisely he believes he can do better, but apparently because of his oversized ego. Isn’t there a second or third world banana republic he could spend his money on to win an election?

If you’re hungry during early voting, Rudy and his clinic money will likely provide you with free hot dogs, potato chips and really loud music blasting from giant speakers outside of an early voting locale. That’s what he tried in his last go around in addition to an onslaught of mailings and television ads.

He and his fans may be offended by my perception of the man, but Rudy Moise is the kind of candidate that Democrats do not need. Voters of our ilk are frustrated enough with the outrageous campaign spending in this political era and the attempts to influence voters with image and ego over blunt and relevant rhetoric about what we need in our political district and in the United States Congress. I agree with Dr. Moise’s stated goals for a stint in Congress, but his goals can only be met if a lot more Democrats are elected to stand alongside him. That’s not a situation that Frederica has been able to enjoy in Washington.

Now, I’m not saying that Frederica is determinedly blunt and relevant in how she addresses our current political dynamics in Washington, but she does try- sometimes. Plus, she got elected, she’s on the ballot again for the primary, and for gawd’s sake, don’t vote for Rudy Moise. Give him another chance instead to organize his community out there on the ground and to try a little harder to influence Congresswoman Wilson to steer in a direction he believes befits the district.

 

State Attorney, 17^th Judicial Circuit: Chris Mancini

It’s very, very hard for me to know who the best choice is for State Attorney. I am not a lawyer, a criminal or a savvy political insider, and Mike Statz deserves a solid reputation for his tenure. But simply playing it safe mostly because of a long, long, long tenure isn’t reason enough to vote to retain Satz, now that he’s actually on the primary ballot. Satz’s entrenched power may be a lot of the reason for the Herald‘s endorsement of him that appears to me to at least transcribe what Satz’s office had written up for them. Given the Herald‘s editorial board track record, that really wouldn’t surprise me.

Mike Satz has been the county’s State Prosecutor since 1976, and he’s had no primary opposition over eight election cycles. Satz has also had no general election opposition- ever. He’ll face Republican Jim Lewis this November, but few Broward voters ever vote Republican anyway. Right now he’s facing opposition on the Democratic primary ballot from Chris Mancini.

I’ve heard little more than frustration expressed on the subject of Mike Satz over the years, and I’ve had the impression that a prosecution here and there had been overkill, let alone the lack of action on other matters in the past. The Herald claims in its endorsement of Satz that he hasn’t been known for over-charging defendants as we’ve seen in recent high-profile cases in Florida that had resulted in embarrassing losses for the prosecution, including in Dade County where Michelle Spence-Jones had been recently vindicated. Others continually point to far lesser known cases that have targeted African-Americans involving alleged drug and other street offenses.

I’ve heard that drug residue has resulted in harsh prosecutorial efforts by Satz’s office while other state prosecutors may not move forward with only such slim evidence. Satz said at a recent debate that he is “ambivalent” about mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenses. I’m a lot clearer on my own stance on mandatory sentencing: they suck, but those decisions have unfortunately been made by the legislature, not by the State Attorney.

There have been higher profile cases in Broward that some also point to as examples of Satz’s political motives overtaking genuine and effective efforts against corruption. He’s moved against politicos who have irked Broward politicians with differing agendas while perhaps allowing more troubling corruption to fester in the background. For most of his time in office, Satz has gained his reputation as being a State Attorney who allowed corruption in the county to fester over many, many years until wide-spread criticism fostered his change in tactics. Targeting street crimes may appease the voters, but some of those in the judicial and political community have grumbled that we should be able to do better than Satz when it comes to more complex criminal activities. Anyway, that’s my impression of at least some of what’s going on in regards to the political community’s perceptions of Mike Satz.

Satz oversees more than 500 employees in Broward and a budget of over $10 million. Surely there’s a lot of criticism to be had from those in the judicial community as well as from those who have been investigated and perhaps tried in court, but we are, of course, judging Satz according to his ballot opposition. Changing horses requires that the other guy can administer the office with the needed competence. Chris Mancini has been unsuccessful in defending some of those prosecuted by Satz’s office, but he has been a Federal prosecutor in addition to his current occupation as a defense attorney. Whatever his legal background, most anyone who pays attention to the judicial community could assert that Mancini is nowhere near as politically savvy as Satz.

Mancini’s assertion that Satz has ignored some corruption in the past is a perspective widely shared over the years, but Satz can assert that corruption cases in Broward are often handled at the Federal, not at the state level. Satz’s office surely cooperates with the Feds, and Satz’s overall management experience is inarguably above Mancini’s. Satz has been criticized for his office’s treatment of minorities not only in the streets but also in regards to hiring for his office, but those criticisms are probably unfair. Mancini acknowledges that minority hiring in Satz’s office has been commendable, but he also calls attention to what he deems a lack of openly LGBT attorneys hired by Satz.

The likely result of this primary and the accusations back and forth is that voters won’t feel comfortable taking a gamble on Mancini and instead vote yet again for Satz, although the last time voters had a choice in the matter was long, long ago. Satz surely argues that his experience should count heavily in his favor, but does it? While county-wide voters may prove reluctant to allow a new prosecutor to take over the whole operation, perhaps the lack of entrenched political relations is a good thing in the prosecutor’s office. Perhaps the county needs a fresh outlook on how individuals who engage in nefarious operations in Broward are targeted by the State Attorney. Mancini claims that Satz has been operating “two systems of justice,” one for the poor and other ordinary sorts and another for the politically connected.

Chris Mancini is not unqualified, and he doesn’t appear to be disliked. He’s not a loyal Democrat, having previously been registered as an independent until he decided to run. He’s also not politically connected the way Mike Satz is, and he may not know how to campaign effectively against a long-time incumbent. He is very unlikely to win. But, it’s been a long time and there’s been a lot of skepticism about Mike Satz’s motives over the years. I’ll vote for Mancini this primary and cast my support towards someone stepping up to give voters a primary choice in the matter of a very entrenched incumbent in the State Attorney’s office. But, as I think that most observers who follow Broward politics probably see as well as I do, it’s a very tough choice to make. There’s much to admire about Mike Satz. I can understand either pick by a Broward voter, but that’s how I reached my decision to recommend voting for Chris Mancini.

 

State Representative District 98: Louis Reinstein

Both Katie Edwards and Reinstein are very qualified candidates for the State House and both have good reputations. Edwards may be known more as a typical Democrat, however, which means that she has at times in her political career advocated for the ‘greener’ side of the fence, if you know what I mean. Some of us wish that legislators would stick to the Democratic side- where ordinary people usually live and breathe.

Louis Reinstein is a self-proclaimed progressive who shares Edwards’ ability to exhibit a personable and impressive persona, but he isn’t connected by family and political affiliations in the legislative arena like she is. Reinstein is stepping up with his values and experience above any political connections. Where Reinstein stands is evidenced not only by what he has said in his campaign but by when and where he’s shown up for progressive causes.

Where Edwards might stand on issues regarding the environment and the more vulnerable populations in our state isn’t nearly as certain. She gets an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, and there are probably a few industries who are familiar with her record in the House representing her former district and who would be happy to see her win the primary to represent where she now resides. I recommend Reinstein, who has been a lot more specific on where he stands and what he intends to strive for in the State House as a progressive Democrat.

Reinstein has been endorsed by Alcee Hastings, who is ethically controversial but liberal and popular. Edwards is endorsed by Property Appraiser Lori Parish, who has also endorsed one of Republican Governor Rick Scott’s recent appointments to the School Board. Take your pick. I pick progressively, and from what I can tell Reinstein is the outspoken progressive and I’d vote for him.

 

State Representative, District 100: Joseph “Joe” Gibbons

Joe Gibbons is smart, energetic and very well-spoken. He’s got a very good amount of legislative experience, and he certainly seems to just love politics. He has his faults as well as his sometimes questionable positions, his occasional political pandering and his continually questioned residency, but he sure as hell ain’t Sheldon Lisbon.

Call him politically naïve, but Lisbon has already had to apologize for his angry rhetoric against the Anti-Defamation League. Demands had also been widespread for Lisbon to retract a campaign letter that had appeared to let his potential voters in the newly re-drawn district know that he is running against guy who might be black and is…brace for it… not a Jew.

Lisbon served for just about two seconds on the Sunny Isles city commission before declaring his run for the State House, and I’m not exaggerating by that much. The new state district lines have created a new constituency for Gibbons to win over, and Lisbon apparently hopes to exploit the aged Jew-iness of his neighborhood to force out Gibbons’ experience and seniority.

Joe Gibbons has got everything that Sheldon Lisbon hasn’t got, except for the white Jew thing, but oh well, whadya gonna do? Vote for Gibbons, that’s what.

 

State Representative, District 102: Sharon Pritchett

I don’t know why this district appears on the Sample Ballot issued by the Broward Supervisor of elections. The district appears to include only Dade County, although there has been re-districting going on in the state.

Both Melvin L. Bratton and Sharon Pritchett have served as originators of the Miami Gardens city council, and both lack endorsements and records that can be readily vetted. Pritchett has been an investigator in the law office of a public defender for almost thirty years as well as a community activist with a Master’s degree in Human Resources/Organizational Management.

Bratton has also been a community activist and is a retired letter carrier and army reservist. Both have extensive experience in Miami Gardens, which has had an impressive government, and both boast a lot of community involvement. Without knowing more than their resumes, Sharon Pritchett seems better qualified given her educational and work experience.

 

State Representative, District 104: Alanna O. Mersinger

I resent District 104. It’s a nice area to live in, and they have three great Democratic choices on the ballot. It’s for that latter reason that the candidates for State Rep. have made this recommendation very tough for me.

Robin Behrman is a school principal with a solidly impressive resume, a good reputation, the endorsements of Bob Graham and state Senator Eleanor Sobel as well as demonstrating a well-intended campaign. Berhman is alleged to have donated money to both Republican and Democratic campaigns in the past, and even if the bigger donations had gone to Democrats, one Republican who had apparently been in Behrman’s favor was Ellyn Bogdanoff. Berhman is also alleged to have donated pretty substantially to far-right Republicans in the past, but I’ve also read an assertion that Berhman did so for Republican primary elections. Who knows?

Maybe she thought she was helping the Democratic cause by throwing some change the way of far-right candidates. Then again, her husband may be a lobbyist with powerful clients in Tallahassee. This is too much to try to verify for the average voter, and the average voter is not vetting a major presidential candidate here. So, suffice it to say for the average Joe or Josephine, that’s pretty much Behrman’s political profile.

Rick Stark was a former Republican. Stark didn’t only donate to and campaign for Republican candidates, but he also served as Treasurer of the Broward Republican Party. That was up until very recently. Bad news, one might assume, except for the matter that those who have worked with him on Democratic Party causes in his district have found him to be smart, dedicated and focused. His past party affiliation was not a matter of his evolving political identity, however. The last couple of years or so do not make an evolution, especially when one then quickly chooses to run for office. Perhaps his recent and very strong affiliations with the Republican Party would serve him well amongst the power players in the state capitol. That’s a worthy consideration, and I’ve considered it for him as well as in regards to Ms. Behrman.

Alanna Mersinger shares a similar professional background in education with Behrman, and she’s also got a slew of endorsements, including that of the Miami Herald. Mersinger has some political experience locally, such as a commission seat on the South Broward Drainage District. Mersinger has also successfully advocated for legislation passed in Tallahassee and has worked closely with state legislators. Mersinger has had involvement in state-wide legislation over many years as well as community activism, and she has a good reputation both personally and as a political figure. Among her endorsements is one of my favorites, Representative Elaine Schwartz.

Mersinger is not only a Democrat, however. Mersinger hasn’t only not backed Republican candidates and kept her money where her mouth is, but she’s a self-proclaimed liberal, and I’d vote for that. Both Behrman and Mersinger appear to be nicely qualified, and Stark may be more of a pro as a political salesman, but Alanna is the most progressive of the three in addition to her experience, and earth certainly needs liberals.

I don’t know how well a more progressive candidate can do in that district. Whatever the case, Allana would have to move there if she wins because she lives in Miramar at present, although those district lines had just been altered.

The state capitol building is not a fun place to work for liberal Democrats, and perhaps either Behrman or Stark could have a better opportunity to advocate for the district amongst other legislators who one might assume are more like their own kind. Then again, the district could be poorly served with so-called conservative and big-business friendly efforts advocated by its representative in the state house.

So, Mersinger might have her shortcomings in regards to her current residency and her liberal politics for the district she’s running in, but what are you gonna do? Moving into the district and advocating for progress as a liberal might also prove to be better for the constituency in District 104. The voters there have to make that choice. I’ll throw my recommendation the way of the most overtly progressive of the three and the candidate with a history as a loyal Democrat, and that candidate is Allana Mersinger.

 

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Howard C. Forman

Have you ever met Howard Forman? You see his name all over paperwork having to do with the Broward courts. I’ve met him. What a nice guy, that Howard. He had been a Hallandale Beach commissioner as well as a county commissioner and state senator, and he seems to have a pretty solid reputation as a very kind and well-respected man. He had also taken on a Clerk’s office that had previously been in severe disarray and spent years catching up and modernizing its operations over his long tenure.

Forman’s opponent, Robert R. Lockwood, has a cause, claiming that the Clerk of the Court’s office needs further technological modernizing. That sounds good, and it hardly sounds far-fetched that an elderly Clerk of the Court hasn’t kept pace with recent technologies. But where’s the outrage? And besides a lack of cries from the public for a new Clerk, where’s the budget for Forman to really impress young Mr. Lockwood? Without a distinct call from the judicial community for a reformation of the Clerk’s office, I think that it’s unlikely that we need to boot Howard.

Perhaps fresh blood would better advocate for increased funding for the office, but what do I know? I haven’t heard complaints about Forman, but I truly admire Mr. Lockwood for stepping up in his young career and making himself a public figure providing a choice on the ballot. One day his day may come, but for now I’m voting to retain Howard Forman.

 

Sheriff: Louie Granteed

Boy, this isn’t fun. Louie and his opponent both have very serious naysayers. Both have some really vile rumors chasing them that could very well be true, but only one has an adult arrest record, a record of termination during his law enforcement career and a paternity suit against him that he lost. Wow. Those rumors and quite a few truths about Scott Israel are worse, it seems to me, than whatever’s been lodged against Louie Granteed.

Granteed just retired from a police operation with a history of corruption, although one might claim him a survivor during a long period in which the Hollywood Police Department has perhaps cleaned up its ways. Granteed continues to be accused of being accused of sexual harassment, but that seems unfair to me given that he was named peripherally in a complaint. The complainant claimed that Granteed and another officer had entered her garage without permission while trying to locate her because she had been AWOL from the force during her shift and entirely out of communication. Granteed denies even entering her garage, and he was dropped from a sexual harassment lawsuit won by the plaintiff against the city of Hollywood.

The work environment at the department for which he had served as Assistant Chief may very well have been overly fueled by testosterone and a degree or more of hostility, but I have serious doubts that Granteed can be faulted for that. Times have changed quite drastically over his long career, and Louie Granteed is genuinely liked by many who have worked with him over many years, both inside and outside of the Department. His administrative history is respected, and there are women in his former department who endorse him and defend his reputation. He’s also endorsed by state Senator Eleanor Sobel and state Representative Elaine Schwartz, two women who I admire a lot and who have known Granteed for many years.

It’s now reported that Louie’s claim of being a “life-long Democrat” isn’t true because the Broward SOE’s office asserts that he had registered as a Democrat in 1986 but had then changed to Republican within that same year before changing back to Democrat within four years or so. That doesn’t bother me at all, especially compared to his opponent allegedly having registered as a Democrat from Republican only just before his most recent run for Sheriff in 2008, a race he lost to our Republican Sheriff despite Broward’s sweep for Obama in the same election.

Granteed has also upset some women because it’s known that he had once entered a strip club years ago when he claims he had responded in person to a friend’s call from the club that had appeared to him as an emergency. To me, however, that’s not any worse than every guy on any police force that walked into a strip club but never had to go public about it.

Lastly, the rumor mill includes the assertion that Granteed is running at the behest of our current Republican Sheriff for the purpose of eliminating Mr. Israel from the general election ballot. Sheriff Lamberti could then win re-election, as the rumor goes, and reward Granteed with a nice job in the county Sheriff’s department for distracting the voters away from the supposedly formidable Israel. Granteed believes that rumor comes directly from Israel or his people, and that certainly sounds likely to me, but… whatever. Such accusations, rumors and doubts don’t compare for me to those lodged against Scott Israel over the years.

Scott Israel has been accused of misleading potential voters to assume that he’s Jewish when he is not, although I don’t know if that’s really true or not. He’s been sued successfully for campaign debts and a co-signed property in foreclosure as well as successfully sued for paternity and child support. Israel called his daddy the NYC detective for help after getting arrested. Some of that was when he was a young adult, and some of it was when he was a fully fledged adult working for the public.

His responses to me when I’ve met him exhibited a disturbing lack of awareness about recent events. The people I know who support him just don’t compare to those I know who support Granteed. Some people like one guy or the other, but any personal dislike that I’ve sensed has been strongly directed against Israel, not Granteed. Louie Granteed is a friendly guy who is genuinely well-liked by those who have known him over his long career in Hollywood.

The office of Sheriff should be non-partisan, but for now it’s not. Loyal Democrats who vote in primaries should pick one candidate. I pick Louie Granteed.

 

County Commission, District 7: Timothy M. “Tim” Ryan

Ken Keechle had served on the county commission until losing his last election. He’s a nice guy, it seems, and he’s a Democrat, and county commission seats are partisan.

Keechle continually had campaign expenditure questions swirling about him in the past, and his spending from his political coffer had certainly appeared extravagant. Keechle had also proclaimed his preference for our system of business lobbyists with their money and their pervasive influence on politicians, and he proclaimed it on the radio. He deemed taking lobbyist money as part of his own free speech, and I had heard him say so myself. Nice guy, though. Moving on….

Charlotte Rodstrom exhibits a very familiar scenario in Broward County. Her Republican husband is termed out of his country commission seat, so his wife jumps out of her newly won city commission seat to run for his county seat. Lovely. They must have productive discussions when they snuggle into bed at night. Moving on….

Tim Ryan is great. He has long legislative experience from serving in the state House that had included actually getting a considerable number of bills passed as a Democrat, and he was an early supporter in the legal community for reforming our legislative districts. He’s progressive, and that showed even in bills that he got passed with a consensus from House Republicans. Fair Districts eventually passed on the ballot after his early and continued support. The guy works well with others.

His family has a solid history in Florida politics, and Ryan’s reputation is solid despite attempts by the Florida Medical Association to sully it during the 2008 campaign for the state Senate. That was yet another shameful episode in Broward politics, and Ryan didn’t deserve it- at all. District 7 and the county as a whole would benefit well from Tim Ryan’s continued public service, so please vote for him.

 

County Commission, District 9: Dale V.C. Holness

OK, this effort to unseat County Commissioner Dale Holness should get some examination, so please have a seat…

When an individual decides to run against an incumbent, there should be a good reason for doing so other than, perhaps, the perceived prestige of the job and the pay and benefits. There should be a cause. Some politicos in Broward believe that Dale Holness has had a cause that has overridden the overall purpose of being a county commissioner, and that cause is the Caribbean community in his district. Holness’ efforts to ensure that county endeavors benefit his Caribbean constituents should be understandable because he’s Caribbean himself, but Holness has been perceived as far too stubborn in that regard.

Perhaps Robert McKinzie is seeking to highlight a long-standing rift between African-Americans and Carribean-Americans in the district by running against Holness. Perhaps he seeks to heal that often perceived rift by actually winning and then pursuing his agenda on the county commission. McKinzie may believe that the tenure of Dale Holness has been lacking and that he could do better. Whatever his cause, he hasn’t made that clear with a campaign.

McKinzie has a nice waterfront home with a pool and a golf course across the street, but that home is outside of the district he’s running in. He’s also the sister of Broward’s prior Supervisor of Elections, Miriam Oliphant, although there hasn’t been any visible participation in her brother’s campaign. McKinzie claims to have a home lined up within District 9 where he says he’ll move with his physician wife and their two children should he win this election, but that house is valued at only a fraction of his current home. He and his wife also own three other properties in the county.

Dale Holness also owns several properties, including the very modestly-valued townhome he lives in with his current wife. He’s been married several times, and his seven children have five different mothers. He’s been sued multiple times, including for foreclosure and in regards to being the landlord of several properties. He did not graduate from college, while McKinzie, the owner of a contracting business, claims a BA in Business Administration from Bethune Cookman College. McKinzie is a Broward native and Holness is Jamaican.

Holness also had a political career as a Lauderhill commissioner prior to being elected to the county commission. His opponent had run unsuccessfully for another county commission seat a few years ago. Holness is a licensed real estate broker and co-founded All Broward Realty in 1988, which is a site frequently utilized for phone banking by Organizing for America volunteers. I think that Holness has been there for the Democratic Party, certainly more so than a lot of other elected officials in Broward.

If Dale Holness hasn’t served his district well enough and has instead stubbornly looked out for the interests of the Carribean-American community over the wider interests of his district and the county, then someone needs to step up and campaign for a change of direction. Robert McKinzie may very well be making an attempt to effect that change, but his attempt lacks the professionalism and the effort that voters should expect from a viable and serious candidate.

So, if District 9 thinks that it should be able to do better, that constituency should stand up and say so. For now, I can only recommend the re-election of Dale Holness.

 

——— Broward County Judicial Ballot 2012 ———

The following recommendations are entirely based on opinions gathered from Broward Democrats and others involved in the judicial community. Judicial races are non-partisan, and I would not vote to replace a sitting judge just because he or she was known to be a Republican. That said, I would also never vote to replace a sitting judge without very serious concerns about the temperament and behavior of that judge. Such serious concerns about sitting judges are thankfully rare.

It could be argued that running against a sitting judge may keep them on their toes, but it’s also highly disruptive in a system of electing judges that is senseless enough as it is. Years of experience and a wide variety of cases are important factors in engendering good judges overseeing their courts, and we should not, I don’t believe, be changing up their seats in elections without a cause that befits the justice system.

For most of these choices, the legal careers and the community involvements of each of the candidates are stellar. The choice of one over the other is more often than not based simply on trial and other judicial experience as well as reputation. What really counts in judicial races are courtroom experience, trial experience, the reputation in the community as well as the perceived motives for running.

It can be very disappointing to be passed over for any job, but there’s only one or sometimes a few more people involved in vetting job applicants. In stepping up to run for judge, however, one can be passed over without ever really understanding why. Voters can vote for a judicial candidate based on the perceived ethnicity of the last name, especially when it nearly impossible for most voters to know anything else. The ballot doesn’t even indicate who the incumbent judge is. It’s asking too much of the general and/or primary electorate to vet judicial candidates.

That’s why I started writing my recommendations in the first place, because the judicial races are the toughest for the voters. I don’t mean to disappoint anyone by not recommending a vote for a particular candidate, but much like applying for any job anywhere, the candidate with the preferred experience and reputation may possess those qualifications only to a slight degree over an opposing candidate. So, you gotta pick one. Here goes:

 

Circuit Judge, 17^th Judicial Circuit, Group 19: Michael Ian Rothschild

Both are terrific candidates, but the consensus appears to be that Michael Ian Rothschild has the superior court experience, and he’s the most recommended from those I’ve asked. Rothschild is the son of a retiring Broward judge. He’s endorsed by state Senator Eleanor Sobel and by our latest Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Nan Rich, amongst other prominent individuals and organizations. He’s also been accused of a recent campaign violation for having been seen in the same restaurant as a campaign victory party for two local officials who won their offices unopposed, but I think that’s really reaching.

Julie C. Shapiro-Harris is the wife of campaign consultant Barry Harris, whose involvement in Broward political consulting has apparently been within breathing room of the Chait scandal. There’s nothing about his wife’s resume and experience that does not profile integrity, however. Shapiro-Harris mainly financed her own campaign in the tens of thousands rather than rely on donors the way Rothschild has been able to build up his campaign chest.

Shapiro-Harris has been a lawyer for a few years longer than Rothschild, yet he has the extensively longer courtroom experience in this race. Both are good candidates, but Rothschild appears to be the more popular, as evidenced by the financial support his campaign has engendered. Either of them could win. While Shapiro-Harris may boast that business interests haven’t tried to sway her interests with their donations, Rothschild may appear to donors as the more likely victor in this race. Shapiro-Harris’ career has involved social services through the Clerk’s office over many years, and I assume that most voters want empathetic judges.

I don’t think that either choice would be a bad one, but Rothschild certainly appeared to be the most recommended because of his varied legal career that included a great deal more courtroom experience than Ms. Shapiro-Harris has had working as an attorney in the Clerk’s office. Neither is a wrong choice, but we gotta choose one, so I’ll recommend Ian Rothschild.

 

Circuit Judge, 17^th Judicial Circuit, Group 35: Dale Ross

Judge Dale Ross has been unfairly slammed recently by the Miami-Herald Editorial Board, and it’s really a shame. One must view Herald endorsements skeptically, as I’ve determined prior to past elections. Their questions may be too limited and their perspective skewed during interviews with candidates rather than enhanced by solid research.

What the Herald wrote about Judge Ross was a disgrace. They appear to have gotten some “facts” entirely wrong and attributed past problems with other judges to Ross. But Ross apparently had no actual oversight powers over his cohorts in regards to what the Herald has alluded, despite being repeatedly elected chief judge during his career.

Judge Ross is a very seasoned judge who has served with distinction. He’s left the bench temporarily for family and medical issues, but he’s carried on with a degree of valor that earns him his continued tenure.

Some proclaim not to like Judge Ross’ courtroom style, and they have usually done so anonymously. But after so many years and in overseeing so many criminal cases where defenders have faced Ross’ courtroom authority, such gossip shouldn’t be a surprise. Although there are individuals who I suppose genuinely dislike his personality, I see no reason to unseat him, especially because his opponent, Michael “Mickey” Rocque, is far, far behind Ross in experience and judicial reputation.

The Herald doesn’t even mention all the good judges they should have also assumed Judge Ross had been responsible for over many years. So, forget the Herald and understand that his perceived arrogance could be mitigated, I hope, by facing a challenger in this election. Let’s hope that he behaves judiciously after you vote to re-elect Dale Ross.

 

Circuit Judge, 17^th Judicial Circuit, Group 45: Julio E. Gonzalez, Jr.

This is one messy race here in Group 45. Julio Gonzalez had been rated an excellent judge, and he’s been popular in the courtroom community in Broward. He lost his re-election in 2010 because of, as many allege, his Hispanic last name on the ballot. Same scenario for all the other Hispanic sitting judges in Broward, too. Yeah, judicial races- aren’t they keen?

The opposite problem has been noted in Miami-Dade, where a Hispanic-sounding name on the judicial ballot may be a plus. That matter out of the way, onto what happened next…

Gonzalez, Jr. then landed a job at a really big law firm- the Scott Rothstein law firm. When that gig imploded after a giant ponzi scheme was discovered, he worked for another firm that some allege was again somehow associated with Rothstein. I don’t know, but I know from the last election that Gonzalez had been very well-respected as a judge, and he didn’t deserve to be unseated. He’s more than respected. He had been the highest-rated judge in Broward County. Gonzalez was one of the most well-liked judges around, with a judicial demeanor that engendered wide-spread admiration.

If any of his above history troubles you, however, then let’s certainly not get into the finances and reputations of the other candidates on this ticket. Let’s just say that people in this economy need jobs- lawyers, too, and sometimes they pile on top of one another for a judge’s seat- except for the one of this group who has considerable wealth but also apparently lacks the reputation to be a judge. But instead of delving into very troubling details about the finances, the debts, the work history, the ethics and the reputations of the other candidates for this seat, let’s not get a few people too upset over those details and instead vote for Julio Gonzalez.

 

County Court Judge, Group 5:  Richard Adam Sachs       

Olga Levine had run in the 2010 election against a sitting judge, but there had been a bit of controversy about her last name. You see, those last names are too frequently an issue of controversy in judicial elections. She ran as ‘Olga Levine’ while her official legal licensing has used the name ‘Olga Gonzales-Levine.’

Some may assume that the Hispanic name was dropped when she ran on the ballot because Jewish names may do better than Hispanic names in Broward judicial races. Levine has worked as a public defender for over two decades with a particular interest in mental health issues.

It’s totally unclear to me why both the Herald and the Sun-Sentinel chose to endorse Olga Levine over her two opponents. There may be a good reason, but it’s not clearly stated. So, for this race, most voters won’t know who to pick except for the fact that Ms. Levine has received the newspaper endorsements.

Perhaps we should be glad for the choice of a judicial candidate who has, like Julie Shapiro-Harris, been working with clients who have social disadvantages, but Ms. Levine apparently also has courtroom experience that has served her better than Shapiro-Harris in regards to getting those editorial boards to endorse her. Ms. Levine’s temperament has been an aspect of qualifications cited by the papers, and they may like that she’s been a public defender.

Robert “Bob” Nichols has been a criminal defense attorney whose clients have included the recently disgraced and convicted Deerfield Beach commissioner Sylvia Poitier. Whatever political observers in Broward think of defending her, Nichols certainly seems well-qualified to me to run for judge.

Richard Adam Sachs also seems well-qualified. He’s the youngest running for this seat by a bit, and this is his first time running. Perhaps the editorial boards didn’t consider Sachs to have the courtroom experience of the other two because he’s a tiny bit younger, but Sachs has the endorsements of the Broward County AFL-CIO and a lot of police and fire unions.

So, you’ve got one who’s got the endorsements of two newspapers, another who’s most recently been a criminal defense attorney and a third who has the backing of the unions. Who to choose?

Well, besides not using her Hispanic-sounding last name on the ballot, Ms. Levine had previously attempted to unseat a judge, even though that particular judge had been reprimanded for a fairly minor impropriety over a decade ago, but she’s had 21 years as a public defender focusing on the plight of the mentally ill and other family issues.

I think that judicial experts should choose judges, but instead they leave it up to us. I don’t think that Broward voters are going to have much of a choice in this particular race beyond going with the Herald and Sun-Sentinel endorsements and voting for Olga Levine. I recommend, however, the candidate with the endorsements of the professional unions who lacks a history of attempting to unseat a judge and tinkering with an ethnic-sounding last name on the ballot, and so I’ll vote for Richard Adam Sachs.

 

County Court Judge, Group 6:  Kathleen Marty “Katie” McHugh

Illene Lieberman has been a county commissioner for a lot of years and a local politician for decades. Like other termed out local politicians, Lieberman is hoping to dash on over to another elected seat.

Lieberman’s political story is so typical in Broward County politics: a commissioner who is chummy with lobbyists and developers and married to an attorney who works very closely with county politicians. It appears to me not only on that commission but throughout the county that there’s a noticeable number of married couples who have a symbiotic relationship in politics: one spouse gets elected while the other lobbies the elected as a consultant, an attorney or as a flat-out lobbyist. Lieberman’s husband was a city attorney who had been involved in considerable controversy involving perceptions of self-interest, so there’s that typical indication of political bedding in Broward.

Lieberman has allegedly behaved on the county commission in ways that had engendered continual outrage over the years. Those ways included talk amongst politicos that Commissioner Lieberman had not showed up at commission meetings for months without explanation and has adamantly served the interests of the most self-interested parties.

Now Commissioner Lieberman apparently hopes to enhance her publicly-financed pension by serving one term as a county judge until she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70. She’s now 65. She earned over ninety grand as a county commissioner, and she’d add two thirds more to her final public salary if she’s elected judge. Nice pension, if she can get it.

Political scandals in the county have too frequently involved Commissioner Lieberman over the years, but she’s stacked up a lot of influence peddlers in her wake and she’s expecting some paybacks from those she might assume owe her for political trades over the decades. Worse, Lieberman’s last name sounds Jewish, which is entirely a political thing when it comes to electoral politics and judicial races. Lieberman not only sounds Jewish to a lot of voters, but her name is politically recognizable as well, so she has a very good chance of winning. That’s too bad. Lieberman is smart and liked among a significant number of legal professionals, and she could do fine as a county court judge, but is she the best choice?

Katie McHugh is the candidate with the bona-fides for judicial experience. While Lieberman has been too busy politicking to actually have a reputation as a legal scholar and counselor, McHugh has a solid resume in the judicial community. She comes well-recommended, and she deserves to become a judge.

If you’re one of those voters who knows little to nothing about the judicial candidates but puts a mark next to a Jewish-sounding name or the more familiar political candidate, then you’ll likely be helping Illene Lieberman’s retirement fund, which is soon to be exploited given her age. If you choose who to vote for judges carefully, especially given that choosing judges by putting a ballot before any average to sub-average voter is a stupid judicial hiring system anyway, then please vote for McHugh. Tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers and any other Broward voters to do the same.

 

County Court Judge, Group 10:  Robert F. “Bob” Diaz

It’s disturbing to me when qualified, good candidates for judge choose to run against an experienced incumbent who hasn’t had ethical complaints or admonishments from higher-ups. Well Robert “Bob” Diaz did suffer at least one complaint involving anonymous emails to and about a colleague, but those emails were about a former judge who was a truly awful presence in the county court. I think that just about everyone involved in the court system was very glad to see that former judge eventually taken out by the voters.

Judge Diaz has also been far from the favorite amongst lawyers who post anonymous comments on the blogosphere, but that can’t be enough reason to unseat a judge, can it? Thankfully, attempts to unseat good judges haven’t happened with frightening frequency in Broward, but this race is one example of good candidates making a disconcerting choice. That choice is likely about the Hispanic-sounding name of the sitting judge because both opponents of Judge Diaz know that there’s a chance they could get his job with their non-Hispanic last names listed along with him on the ballot.

Bob Diaz hasn’t engendered a solid reason to be voted out of his seat, so I certainly recommend voting to retain him, although the ballot does not, unfortunately, indicate for you who’s already a sitting judge. Roshawn Banks and Randy Goodis are qualified and have reasonable reputations. Banks has run before and has been a public defender as well as a prosecutor, and Goodis shares that experience as well as having worked for a firm specializing in defending DUI’s.

Whatever their experience, there is no good reason that I can see for them to have targeted Bob Diaz’s seat. Vote instead for Robert “Bob” Diaz.

 

County Court Judge, Group  32:  Terri-Ann Miller

Melanie Golden is a fresh-faced youngster with the enthusiasm to go with her youth, and she’s enthusiastically running against a sitting judge, which doesn’t sit well with me at all. Some lawyers expect that naive voters who shouldn’t be expected to vote in judges in the first place might just choose whichever last name sounds ethnically like what they assume they’re comfortable with.

Does ‘Golden’ sound Jewish to you? I don’t have any idea if that’s why Ms. Golden chose to run against Judge Miller, but that’s one very clear reason why I don’t like judicial elections. These suspicions about the motives of candidates who run against sitting judges can get so distasteful. I wouldn’t step in to run against a seated judge unless I thought that the public really wanted and needed to get that incumbent judge out.

Terri-Ann Miller is the sitting judge, although the ballot unfortunately doesn’t tell you that, and she’s engendered no cause for her removal. Perhaps Ms. Golden has a promising legal career, but that shouldn’t get in the way of a sitting judge. I recommend, therefore, voting to retain Terri-Ann Miller.

 

——— Broward County School Board Ballot 2012 ———

It’s about as difficult to vote for school board candidates as it is to vote for judges. However any questions are answered by school board candidates and whatever their resumes can tell you are never enough because reputation is the most significant factor. A school board candidate can have the best resume imaginable and answer questions with words you want to hear, but a recent history of profound corruption and disrepute on the Broward County School Board should make it clear that professional histories, the reputation and the relationships engendered by the candidates are more significant considerations.

You can make more astute choices by knowing your district and attending candidate appearances, but I’ll sift through the research and try to provide a well-informed opinion:

 

School Board, District 3:  Michael E. Levinson

Becky Blackwood has had a very controversial career as a school building inspector. She cited discrepancies and bad management, and then she was fired. She was vindicated by later reports that found misspending and mismanagement problems in the county school board operation. She also successfully sued the school board over her termination, but the settlement offers and legal decisions are quite convoluted in that regard.

Now Blackwood is running to be on the school board, although she jumped into the race a bit late in the game. I’m not sure what to make of it. Apparently, she’s a Democrat, but we’re not supposed to concern ourselves with party affiliation for a non-partisan seat. I am concerned, however, about Ms. Blackwood entering only last April in order, perhaps to split the Democratic vote in favor of the current board member, who’s a Republican. Not that we’re at all concerned with party affiliation, are we?

Ms. Blackwood insists, however, that she entered the race to give the public a choice between a teacher as a school board member or someone with experience in building construction. Ms. Blackwood has also been a college professor, and she claims that she better understands the history of corruption on the school board and the backroom dealing.

Katie Leach is the appointment of Governor Rick Scott after whatever arrest or sudden resignation had previously occurred with the District 3 seat on the long-troubled School Board. Ms. Leach is more likely than not on the charter school and voucher bandwagon, but I wouldn’t blame you for feeling absolutely certain about that. That viewpoint might become more apparent should she get elected to stay in her seat.

Although her brief time on the board has been considered highly professional by political players on both sides of the aisle, Ms. Leach is a supporter of Republican politicians in the county and in the state who are the worst players when it comes to public education. Did I mention that she’s a Republican? Well, no, we shouldn’t mention that. Splitting the vote between the two known Democrats in this race may make Ms. Leach’s election a sure thing.

Michael Levinson got on the ballot by petition, although he has no endorsements that I know of. Most school board endorsements may be from those seeking favor from known political figures anyway, and Levinson has no political experience. He has been running for this seat for about a year, however, and those are a lot of signatures he had to gather to appear on the ballot and a lot of walking and meeting the voters.

Levinson is a known Democrat, and I expect that he’ll be progressive when it comes to enhancing our public education system for the benefit of children rather than for the benefit of profiteers. He’s obviously worked very hard to get on the ballot, and I think it’s unfortunate that another known Democrat jumped in late to make Levinson’s chances slimmer. Voters in the district who are greatly concerned about strengthening public education in the face of a right-wing wave we’ve confronted since the last election should have had a surer opportunity to get a known Democrat in the seat. I therefore recommend that you vote for Michael Levinson.

 

School Board, District 4:  Robert Alan “Bob” Mayersohn

This is a very tough race to discern, and my ballot recommendations would have been completed a lot sooner if it weren’t for School Board District 4. The seat had been appointed by Governor Rick Scott after the resignation of the former member, but the Governor’s appointment lives in another district after some redrawing of the lines, so she’s running for another seat.

Nick Steffens has been generally considered the most overtly progressive candidate for this School Board seat, and he’s been recommended to me by a number of people in the district in addition to his endorsement by the Broward Teachers Union. Steffens has had key involvement in the Awake Broward movement to engender both progressive legislation and public sentiment in the face of our current Governor and the right-wing domination of our state legislature.

Steffens is an attorney and a divorced father of a toddler who has engendered significant support from progressives in Broward and from people in his district, but he also has significant problems as a candidate that cancel him out of consideration. Apparently, the Florida Bar had suspended Steffen’s license for ten days last year in addition to requiring that he pay back $5,000 to a client, paid the costs of the Bar investigation and complied with a program for the treatment and monitoring of personal problems.

The circumstances around that five grand of a client’s money sound pretty disturbing, but part of that Bar suspension had apparently included some scenario involving Steffens asking for a settlement from another lawyer. The proposed settlement, however, was allegedly in exchange for dropping a Bar complaint Steffens had lodged against that attorney.

The treatment and monitoring ordered for Steffens by the Florida Bar may be related to gossip on the blogs about Steffens having a serious problem with temperament. It has also been alleged that Steffens had lied about being a campaign manager for county commission Stacey Ritter while others assert that he had been. What to think?

Strangely, it doesn’t appear that either the Sun-Sentinel or the Miami Herald have ever even mentioned Steffens’ suspension by the Florida Bar and the other measures taken against him in that regard. That’s discomforting enough, but this kind of candidacy for elected office seems too typical to me in South Florida. Maybe such a scenario goes well beyond South Florida politics in regards to being typical, but all I can say is that we do tend to see candidates running for seats who don’t seem to be at all coy about their past professional problems, even if such problems can appear significant.

Whatever financial and legal scandals and questionable relationships between politicians and developers and lobbyists and all the rest are known or unmentioned, some candidates appear unfazed, and some run for other seats when differing opportunities arise. We’re seeing that in this election as we have in the recent past. What’s especially disturbing, however, is the lack of appropriate vetting by the local papers, and that appears to be the case with Nick Steffens.

Some may like his ideas and his attitude and his values, but the handling of client money, ethical breaches against another attorney and temperament issues are all very significant considerations. Steffens also has an AVVO.com attorney rating of just 2. I’ll recommend another candidate.

This is an especially difficult district to sort out in the way of candidates, and there are a lot of them. There’s one candidate for this seat who makes it easy, however: a teacher in Margate named Louis Martin Kushner is on the ballot even though he had dropped out of the race. That may have something to do with the fact that he’s barely 22 years old, but I don’t know. You sure don’t want to throw away your vote on that name.

Abby Merle Freedman had vowed to self-finance her campaign, and she had reported a loan for that purpose to the Supervisor of Elections. Freedman believes that self-financing keeps “special interests” out of her campaign. The Sun-Sentinel described her as a “long-time school volunteer.” I could find no website or even a Facebook page for her candidacy.

Andrew Ladanowski has served as the chair of a School Board task force in his district. He’s been a community activist originally from Canada who wants to “streamline operations” from the School Board should he get elected. His primary concerns appear to be about salaries and spending so that funding can be focused on the classroom. Ladanowski has been quoted when reacting to allegedly overpaid maintenance staff in the schools, saying that his solution is to, “Outsource it. Outsource it.”

Rochelle “Shelly” Solomon claims to have led the effort to create the School Board’s Anti-Bullying Task Force. She has four children, all attending Broward public schools. She’s an attorney who had been an Assistant State Attorney some years ago and she’s currently a partner in a Coral Springs law firm.

Robert Alan “Bob” Mayersohn is endorsed by Broward Principals’ and Assistants’ Association and by Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors. I suppose that real estate brokers want good schools, too so that property values can do well as a result, and so that endorsement may mean something. He qualified for the ballot by petition rather than paying a fee of about $1,500 to the Supervisor of Elections Office. He also ran for the School Board in 2010 and finished in sixth place, but he stayed very active with the Board and its issues. Mayerhohn is a businessman who owns a food brokerage company, and he holds a Master’s degree in communications.

Mayersohn had been named 2011′s “Volunteer of the Year” by the county commission and various affiliated bodies in recognition of his advocacy for the interests of people with disabilities. It’s reported on one website that Mayersohn has a son who attends school in Broward, but I don’t know if that’s a public school. His own website doesn’t mention having any children, let alone any children in school.

Residents who are able to meet with and talk to these candidates could probably judge better than I can, and there’s a candidate forum for this race in Margate on August 2^nd.  Based on my research, however, I’ll recommend Bob Mayersohn because of his dedicated involvement with School Board issues over the years and for engendering a solid reputation in his community. He’s been a volunteer and activist who achieved endorsements for his campaign and persevered since his last go around, resulting in his qualifying by petition. Other candidates for this district seat have also built their excellent reputations and persevered with their volunteer efforts and worked hard on campaigning, but I’ll recommend giving Mayersohn another shot at coming out on top.

 

School Board, District 5:  Rosalind “Ros” Osgood

Torey Alston is a young Republican who’s worked on the periphery of electoral politics thus far. He engendered some controversy a while ago when he achieved a very dramatic salary increase as an aide to a county commissioner. It was apparently the last act of a commissioner who had been voted out, and Alston had then become an aide to Commissioner Barbara Sharief. Alston’s salary went into the stratosphere while he had also proudly advocated the supposedly conservative fiscal philosophies of the state Republican Party.

Mr. Alston had also been involved in another controversy as an FAMU board member when the university president resigned under the cloud of the hazing scandal involving the marching band. Alston may have done his best under the circumstances, but that situation was a shocker.

The County Commission and the School Board apparently meet at the same time, but Alston has asserted that he’ll still be able to collect his salaries simultaneously from both jobs. Alston has raised the most money for his campaign. He’s likely very proud of himself. I wouldn’t vote for him.

Christopher C Hugley is a substitute teacher for the county, and Grover C. Monroe is a bus driver. Both would like to provide an employee’s perspective on the school board. Monroe doesn’t have a website or even a Facebook page for his candidacy, but Hugley does, and it’s pretty impressive. He has a history and a perspective that might serve the school board well. As for Monroe, when somebody appears to run just for the hell of it, one could responsively wonder if that somebody is there to split the vote amongst the known Democrats in the bunch.

Ruth Roman Lynch has been on the Broward ballot before for other offices- repeatedly. She’s been the Vice-Chair of the Broward Democratic Party, but what she has accomplished for the party and for getting out the vote in Broward despite the disturbing lack of action by its Chair is beyond me.

Ms. Lynch’s reputation amongst Broward politicos may be a very good one, but it appears to be rather poor based on reading on-line comments about her. She has consulted for candidates and taken lots of fees for this, that and the other thing and written lots of checks on behalf of the DEC and has been caught in disputes in that regard and run for office and sought appointments time and again. And now it’s the school board. I don’t get it, but I don’t get a sense of confidence about having Lynch on the school board, either.

Rosalind “Ros” Osgood is an African-American, which is a good thing for the school board, but she’s also smart, carries the values of the Democratic Party and is endorsed by the Broward County Police Benevolent Association along with a slew of politicians. She was formerly homeless and a drug addict, but she seems to have found herself through religion. After doing so, Osgood earned her doctorate in Public Administration from Nova.

I think that Christopher Hugley’s goals are impressive enough, but Ms. Osgood seems to be the professional politician in regards to engendering the respect and the notice of the wider community, and she certainly seems to have the professional credentials. I can only hope that her religiosity would not conflict with valuing equality under the law for everyone, especially in regards to what is taught to children in school. There’s stiff competition in this race, especially from Torey Alston’s money and influence, but I recommend voting for Rosalind Osgood.

 

School Board, At Large 8:  Franklin Sands

Donna Pilger Korn had been appointed by Governor Rick Scott, and should that make you shiver, her tenure thus far has engendered respect. What she values in public education may align with whatever our Governor values, which surely could make you shiver, but like fellow board member Katie Leach, Ms. Korn may have the ear and the respect of Republicans in the state legislature in regards to funding Broward schools. That is and should be a consideration, but then there are other considerations- those pondered by Democrats…

Ms. Korn has been endorsed by Property Appraiser Lori Parrish, which disturbs me. Parrish is an elected Democrat with a strong party affiliation throughout her history in politics. Should Democrats in positions of leadership- let alone elected Democrats- be endorsing known Republicans, even for non-partisan seats? What do the Broward Democratic Party by-laws say about that?

Is Parish expected to adhere to Party by-laws? Parish may know Korn personally and trust her abilities, but isn’t her endorsement an issue worthy of serious consideration by Democratic Party leaders in Broward County? I don’t know the answers to those questions, but those who monitor the Party’s by-laws and expectations in regards to elected Democrats should… well… look into it.

Korn is also endorsed by the Hispanic Vote PAC and the Miami Board of Realtors, but of course this is Broward realty I’m voting in and I don’t know nothin’ about no vote PAC- but I think that it’s conservative and I know that it’s a super-PAC. The Broward Principals’ & Assistants’ Association also provided an endorsement.

Andrew Luciani may have entered to split the Democratic vote for all I know, but he’s got a real website and a career as a former school principal. I like that his “position statement” asserts that the Board should “provide a clear road map” for where it would like the Superintendant to take them. That recognizes the elected resident’s role in providing oversight for the hired professional, who is really the leader in our kind of local government. Luciani seems sincere, but he engendered no endorsements.

Franklin Sands is termed out of the Florida House after a distinguished career as Minority Leader, and he’s a staunch Democrat. He had hoped to stroll on over to the Broward County School Board until Ms. Korn decided to run for the at large seat when her current district was redrawn. He also has a third opponent making his transition more difficult.

Sands has a stepson who is a registered lobbyist, and where does that stepson lobby for the businesses that hire him? Why, at the school board, of course! Sands has raised a lot of campaign money from big Florida industries, including sugar and casinos. Apparently, there’s significant interest in Broward Schools from big business. Gee, who knew??

There have been rumors that Sands needs the school board job, even at his age of 72 due to financial losses in bad investments at the hands of the notorious Bernie Madoff. It’s a sad and disturbing scenario, and yet Sands genuinely seems to care about promoting our schools as part of a solid educational system throughout the county. Like most local Democrats, Sands wants to ensure that the public education system is accessible to every child and young adult while resisting attempts to use public education funds for private, for-profit endeavors.

Sands could conceivably use his eight-year experience as a leader in the state House to persuade legislators familiar with him to consistently attend to the best interests of our schools. That could help a lot during budget time, and Sands had also served on the school board’s Facilities Task Force in a leadership role.

Sands has a jewelry business background that- aside from his trusting Bernie Madoff- had involved continual planning and budgeting, and his community involvement has included significant public service over many years. His management skills are evidenced, I think, by his concern for the prospects of minority children in the schools. He believes in implementing programs that address the equalization of good outcomes between minority and Caucasian students.

Sands worked as a coordinator for the state Democratic Party, and he’s very well liked. He advocates on behalf of vulnerable Floridians in conjunction with the party’s values, and he could have run, I suppose, for another elected spot that pays a lot more than the school board.

Sands consistently advocates for policies that counter the efforts of the Governor and Republican legislators to diminish public education and increase class sizes, and he advocates to a public that knows him and readily gives him access to community meetings. He’s endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the Broward Police Benevolent Association.

I think he’s a nice guy. I’ll vote for him. We need to do our best to see that school board candidates that believe in public education and consistent funding for it are elected, and I therefore recommend voting for Franklin Sands.

 

School Board, At Large 9:  Robin Bartleman

William “Bill” Barkins is an endodontist from Pembroke Pines who had a beef with the school board years ago, and he had been relentless in fighting for whatever wrong he had perceived by the schools against his son. He had later filed to run against the now-incarcerated Beverly Gallagher, but he had failed to pay his filing fee and was then disqualified or withdrew or something. He’s barely campaigned, if at all, probably because he’s, well, you know, busy being an endodontist.

Barbara Houston Wilson is a former school principal who has run before. Her slogan is “Excellence in Education.” Yeah, good for her. I suppose that Dr. Wilson is running because she believes her opponents are against that or something. She believes in all that kind of it’s about the kids stuff and she’s certainly well-credentialed, but does she have a genuine cause for unseating Robin Bartleman? I couldn’t find one.

Robin Bartleman is currently seated on the board and is a known progressive. Bartleman hasn’t had a high public profile on the board thus far, which given what we’ve seen in recent years is pretty much a really, really good thing.

She’s the only member of the board who’s certified by Florida School Board Association. She’s won a business association award, a Black Elected Officials Community Service Award and the Martin Luther King Humanitarian award from the city of Weston. She’s had a successful career as a schoolteacher and an assistant principal, which had engendered even more community and professional recognitions.

Ms. Bartleman considers Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz her political mentor who had encouraged her to run for the school board after Bartleman’s engagement in political activism in Weston. Bartleman’s political involvement had resulted in her election at the age of 27 as a city commissioner. She has been endorsed by almost literally the phone book, including every union, association and Democratic politician you can think of.

I especially admire Robin Bartleman because she made my recommendation for this particular school board seat an easy one for me. You, too can vote for her with ease.

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That concludes the 2012 Broward Democratic Primary Sample Ballot. Please always encourage your friends, your family, your co-workers and your neighbors to examine every sample ballot and attempt to do some research.

We’re more likely to have a viable electoral system if more citizens engage in trying to figure out all of the candidates and the issues in an upcoming election. It’s not an easy task, but a lot more toes in the water could help familiarize more citizens with the process of voting.

Along with studying your ballot and making choices for the election, you can and should volunteer your time to get out the vote for 2012 with Organizing for America and other organizations that work to enhance involvement in the electoral process. When more citizens vote, more votes are likely to be for Democrats.