1

Lets Go Scott Free in 2014

Municipal Election Issue #2 of 3
What Difference Does It Make Who
Wins A Municipal Council Seat?
Feb. 28, 2014 SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH EVERYONE No. 14-4E
Senator McConnell
Where Are The Jobs?
Speaker Boehner
Where Are The Jobs?
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[Continued on page 2, Authority]
Filling a Pothole
What Difference Does It Make Who
Wins A Municipal Council Seat? After
all, theres only one way to fill a pothole, right?
Wrong.
Theres a Republican way to fll a pothole and a
Democratic way to fll a pothole.
The Republican way is to hire a private contractor
who then hires the cheapest labor he can fndno
health benefts, no retirement benefts, possibly
illegals. The contractor makes a large proft and
after the job, his employees are again out of work.
The Democratic way is to hire full time workers,
with health and retirement benefts at a living
wage. And after the job, the employees are still
employed.
Dont Stand In Line
VOTE IN YOUR PAJAMAS
Request a Mail Ballot
You can request a mail ballot until March 5th !
561-656-6200
Do You Know If Your City Has A
Municipal Election On March 11th?
See page 6
Wheres the Authority?
by Debra Kanter
Do you ever wonder why your city (or
unincorporated county) government has the
authority to create parks? To maintain a police
department? To build and stock a library?
This is the season for municipal elections to be
held. Municipalities reflect and serve the needs
of a community, but you cant just move to a quiet
vacant location and start a town with city services
magically created out of pampas grass and sandy
soil.
Whats in a community? Counties and munic-
ipalities are referred to as substategovernments.
They write a charter, which is like a local consti-
tution, and decide what form of government they
2
[Authority, continued from page 1]
When You Dont Vote
When you dont vote in Municipal and Primary
Elections, by default you cast your vote against the
person your philosophy would prefer. When you
dont vote, that vote is one less the opposition has to
overcome, thus your no-vote is a vote for those you
dont prefer. The inconvenience of voting is just one
small price to pay for the liberty we enjoy.
Voting by Mail (absentee ballot) gives you 30 days to
consider all your choices and to research your options.
To save you postage, volunteers will be available
to pick up your Vote by Mail ballot and deliver it
to the Supervisor of Elections offcethus saving
you the cost of postage. Call the phone number
included with the return address on page 8. Well
arrange for a pick up of your ballot.
What Is a
Committed Voter?
Committed Voters are those who commit
themselves to vote in every election, every year.
They recognize that voting is an essential part
of democracy. They recognize that it is every
American citizens fundamental right to be able to
voice their opinion and their duty to take part in
electing public offcials.
By voting, committed voters take a stand and
help decide who represents them and how their
governments (local, state, and federal) work.
A Committed Voter recognizes that citizens
not only have rights, but with these rights come
responsibilities.
A Committed Voter participates in the political
process by being an informed and active member
of society.
A Committed Voter is one who commits him/
herself to vote in every election.
A Committed Voter requests a mail ballot.
If you request a mail ballot you are committing
yourself to vote.
Bad officials are elected by good
people who dont vote.
want. Most mid to larger size counties or cities
in Florida elect commissions, or councils, vote for
officers such as tax collectors and supervisors of
elections, and employ a professional manager.
They have gained some autonomy from the State
of Florida, known as Home Rule. Smaller rural
communities still owe their authority and power
directly to Tallahassee. This is called the Dillon
Rule.
The Dillon Rule and the 10th Amendment
Originally, American states held all the authority
for substate communities. This was formalized
by the Dillon Rule in the 1868 and reaffirmed by
the U.S. Supreme Court in 1923. The Dillon Rule
states that counties and municipalities derive
their authority from the state (Florida in our
case). States are granted their powers under the
10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
North Florida vs. Southeast Florida
Many smaller, rural communities fill the
geographic area of Florida north of Palm Beach
County. They are mostly Republican, and wield
much political power, as a group. They also make
up the Florida that Miami-Dade, Broward, and
Palm Beach Counties must overcome with massive
voting margins to elect Democrats to state offices.
DO NOT TAKE YOUR COMMUNITYS
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FOR GRANTED.
It is your right as a citizen of your community to
make decisions on behalf of your town. Only then
can you exercise your right to control your own
local destiny. This year especially, it should help
Democrats in Southeast Florida to see that we
must continue to be vigilant, through the power
of the ballot, and keep Rick Scotts influence as far
away as possible. As Tevya, in Fiddler on the Roof
said, God bless and keep the Czar . . . far away
from us!
3
[Continued on page 4, Volunteers]
Its Not Too Late To
Request A Vote-By-Mail Ballot
561-656-6200
Check Your Voter Status
For your peace of mind, its always a good idea to
check the status of your registration and Vote-By-
Mail application. You can quickly do that here:
http://registration.elections.myflorida.com/
CheckVoterStatus. If you dont have a computer,
phone your supervisor of elections offcetheyll
be glad to help you. 561-656-6200
What Do Municipal Advisory
Boards and Committees Do?
(sample for Delray Beach, FL)
Twenty-One Advisory Boards The City
of Delray Beach has twenty-one active advisory
boards and committees, each set up to perform
specific functions.
Citizen Volunteers Citizen participation
in local government is essential to maintain the
quality of life of a community. Opportunities exist
for citizen volunteers to work in harmony with the
government by serving on advisory boards.
Advisory Board Members are appointed
The City Commission appoints members of the
boards and committees. All positions are voluntary
and members are not compensated for their time.
However, the individuals who serve on the boards
and committees provide an invaluable service to
the city. Their advice and expertise on a wide range
of topics assist the City Commission in its decision-
making process. It is this effective involvement of
residents in all aspects of community life that has
made Delray Beach an All-America City.
Meetings Open To The Public All board
and committee meetings are open to the public
pursuant to the State of Floridas Sunshine Law.
All proceedings are matters of public record.
Vacancies Board and committee vacancies are
listed in the News for Neighborhoods, the Citys
monthly newsletter, and on
http://mydelraybeach.com/boards-and-committees#vacancies.
Volunteer Boards
for Delray Beach
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
The Committee recommends incentives for
affordable housing.
Board of Adjustment
The Board hears appeals regarding zoning and
fire codes.
Civil Service Board
Hears discipline appeals from Civil Service
employees.
Code Enforcement Board
Adjudicates allegations of City code violations.
Community Redevelopment Agency
Official Websit: DelrayCRA.org
Governing board for defined redevelopment area.
Delray Beach Housing Authority
Official Website: www.dbha.org
Downtown Development Authority
Official Website: downtowndelraybeach.com/dda
The mission of the DDA is to oversee business
development, market and promote the merchants
of the district, communicate and facilitate a clean
and safe community and work to enhance physical
improvements.
VOTE BY MAIL!
If You Sat Home . . .
If you sat home in 2010, you elected
a Republican majority to the House of
Representatives in Washington, DC.
If you sat home in 2010, you elected a
Republican Government in Florida.
If you sat home in 2010, you elected Governor
Scott.
Make sure you dont sit home in 2014!
Or rather do sit home and
4
[Volunteers, continued from page 3]
The Delray Beach Education Board
Composed of thirteen dynamic citizens--eleven
adults and two students--who have a passion for
education. The primary goals of the Board are to
advise the City Commission on educational issues,
provide policy direction, and to create, host and
promote programming and events that support local
educational efforts. Education is a priority in Delray
Beach, and the Board is committed to working closely
with local schools, both public and private, the School
District of Palm Beach County, and Delrays business,
cultural, and professional community.
General Employees Retirement Fund Committee
Advises on management of General Employees
Retirement Fund.
Green Implementation Advancement Board
Website: sustainabledelray.org
The Green Implementation Advancement
Board provides recommendations to the City
Commission regarding ways to improve the
environmental sustainability of the community;
strategies for improving the environmental
sustainability of the community; incentives
for residents, businesses, and organizations to
practice environmental conservation including
recycling; proposed means to enhance water
and energy conservation; ideas for promotion
of tree planting and xeriscaping; and best
practices to be considered for implementation
in Delray Beach, including long-term strategies.
Historic Preservation Board
Kids and Cops Committee
Seeks solutions to challenges facing youth
through specific programs.
Nuisance Abatement Board
Adjudicate allegations relating to public nuisances.
Parking Management Advisory Board
Advises with respect to parking management
policy and related issues.
Planning and Zoning Board
Assures development compliance with the
City's Comprehensive Plan
Police Advisory Board
Acts as an advisory body to the Chief of
Police, City Manager and City Commission on
police policy and resource issues; serves as a
conduit for the community to address their
issues and community problems through a
cooperative effort; to review community needs
and concerns, expectations and responses
relative to police services and community
policing. Advises the police Department on
and provide support for communication and
education between the community and the
Police Department.
Police and Fire Board of Trustees
Advises on management of Police & Fire
Department employees' pension program.
Public Employees Relations Commission
Oversees the collective bargaining rights
guaranteed to municipal employees.
Site Plan Review and Appearance Board
Reviews applications for new and existing
buildings, signs and landscaping.
5
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Sleepwalking Toward Plutocracy
Marshall C. Whitfield (1935-2012)
for Buzzflash At Truthout
Chapter 3
The Hijackings Threat
To Our Democracy
[Continued from Issue 14-2]
The problem with the hijacked Republican party
goes deeper than the gluttonous enrichment of
the Plutocrats in control.
Thomas Jefferson wrote in an 1816 letter to
George Logan: I hope we shall . . . crush in its
birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations
which dare already to challenge our government
in a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws
of our country.
Then came Lincolns worrisome vision of how
Plutocrats the money power of the country
could destroy our republic.
Lack Of Wisdom And Foresight Unfor-
tunately, our Supreme Court judges have lacked
the wisdom and foresight of Jefferson and Lin-
coln. In the 1886 Santa Clara County v. South-
ern Pacific Railroad decision, the Supreme Court
recognized corporations as persons for purposes
of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The 1886 decision was a key stepping-stone
toward the devastating 2010 Citizens United
v. Federal Election Commission decision by
the Roberts Supreme Court, which opened
the floodgates for corporate money in election
campaigns.
These decisions make it perfectly legal for corpo-
rations to buy control of American democracy,
to replace our government of, by and for the
people with a government by and for big cor-
porations.
[Continued on page 7, Hijackings Threat]
6
[Continued on page 7, Municipal Election]
Do You Know If Your City Has A
Municipal Election On March 11th?
Mail Ballots Were Mailed on Friday, Feb. 21.
Did You Get Yours Yet?
CITY OF ATLANTIS
Seat 1:
Fred Furtado (Inc) - R
Daniel Larkin - R
Seats 3 and 5 are unopposed
CITY OF BELLE GLADE
No election in 2014
CITY OF BOCA RATON
Mayor:
Susan Haynie - R
Anthony Majhess NP
Seat B:
Mohamed Abdalla - I
Michael Mullaugh - R
Craig F Ehrnst - R
Eric Gooden - D
Seat D:
Rosetta V Bailey - R
Robert S Weinroth D
Yaniv Alcalay - R
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH
Dist 2:
Mack McCray - R
Paula Melley - R
Dist 4:
Joe Casello - D
Carmela R Nanton - NP
TOWN OF BRINY BREEZES
Usually no election. When someone steps down, someone else
steps up.
TOWN OF CLOUD LAKE
No election in 2014
CITY OF DELRAY BEACH
Seat 2:
Richard Burgess - NP
Chris Davey - NP
Al Jacquet (Inc) - D
Seat 4:
Pamela Brinson - D
Angeleta E. Gray - D
Jordana Jarjura - R
Victor Kirson - D
TOWN OF GLEN RIDGE
No election in 2014
VILLAGE OF GOLF
No election in 2014
CITY OF GREENACRES
Council Dist III:
Rochelle Gaenger (Inc) - D
Judith Dugo - R
TOWN OF GULF STREAM
6 at-large candidates competing for 5 seats
Robert Ganger - R
Scott Morgan - R
Martin E OBoyle - R
Joan Orthwein - R
Tom Stanley - R
Donna White - R
TOWN OF HAVERHILL
No election in 2014
TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
Commission:
Dennis Sheridan (Inc) - R
Rhoda Zelniker - D
**Ballot question: see below for wording and explanation.
TOWN OF HYPOLUXO
3 open seats and 4 people filed
Linda Boone Allen - D
Bradley Ross Boyle
Michael C. Brown (Inc) - R
Christine Nagy - I
TOWN OF JUNO BEACH
Seat 1:
Jason Haselkorn - NP
Joseph Rooney - R
TOWN OF JUPITER
Dist 1:
Joe Charles
Todd Wodraska - R
TOWN OF JUPITER INLET COLONY
No election in 2014
TOWN OF LAKE CLARKE SHORES
No election in 2014
TOWN OF LAKE PARK
Mayor:
James DuBois (Inc) - D
Steve Hockman - NP
CITY OF LAKE WORTH
No election in 2014
TOWN OF LANTANA
No election in 2014
TOWN OF LOXAHATCHEE GROVES
No election in 2014
** Shall the town of Highland Beach amend its charter to
authorize the appointment of the Supervisor of Elections, Palm
Beach County; the Town Clerk; and a Commissioner appointed by
the Town Commission as the towns Canvassing Board?
Background: The current Canvassing Board consists of the
members of the Town Commission. In other words, if there is
a contested vote, the ballots are reviewed by the current Town
Commission (which gives the appearance of the fox guarding the
henhouse). Highland Beach is the only municipality in Palm Beach
County that populates its Canvassing Board with all of the sitting
Commission Members and follows this procedure. The ballot
measure mends this appearance of possible impropriety.
7
[Municipal Election, continued from page 6]
TOWN OF MANALAPAN
Seat 2:
John J. Murphy (inc) R
Clark Appleby
TOWN OF MANGONIA PARK
Seat 3:
Clarence R. McConnel (Inc) - NP
Edward Earl Smith - D
Seat 4:
Ariyan Alipanah
Kelisha Buchanan-Webb D
Addie L. Green (Inc) - D
VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM BEACH
No election in 2014
TOWN OF OCEAN RIDGE
3 candidates for 2 open commission seats; no incumbents.
James Bonfiglio - D
Rich Lucibella - NP
Roberta Wehr - R
CITY OF PAHOKEE
No election in 2014
TOWN OF PALM BEACH
Next election in 2015
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
Group 3:
Eric Jablin (Inc) - D
Michael J Peragine - R
Group 5:
Marcie Tinsley (Inc) D
Robin Deaton - R
TOWN OF PALM BEACH SHORES
Mayor:
Tom Mills - R
John Workman (Inc) - R
Commissioners Vote for two
John Maffett - R
Tom Sullivan - D
Lisa Tropepe (Inc) - R
VILLAGE OF PALM SPRINGS
No election in 2014
VILLAGE OF ROYAL PALM BEACH
Mayor:
Laurel Bennett - R
Matty Mattipli (Inc)
Felicia Matula - NP
Martha Webster - D
CITY OF SOUTH BAY
Seat 1:
Esther E Berry (Inc) - R
Kina Green-Phillips D
Seat 5:
R. L. Thomas Jr. NP
Virginia K Walker - D
John Wilson - D
Charter question moved to Aug 26th ballot.
TOWN OF SOUTH PALM BEACH
No election in 2014
VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA
No election in 2014
VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON
Seat 2:
Anne Gerwig (Inc) - R
Sharon Lascola - D
Seat 3:
Howard Coates (Inc) - R
Matt Kurit - D
The Difference Is As Profound
As It Is Obvious:
People People have everyday human concerns
about jobs, security, and the welfare of their kids
and grandkids. And they possess normal human
feelings such as patriotism and fairness.
Corporations Corporations, in contrast, have
no grandchildren, no morality, no patriotism.
With corporations in control of government,
government exists only to increase corporate
profits and rich peoples wealth at any cost
to Americas environment and to the lives and
welfare of its citizens.
Infrastructure To corporations, taxes
are anathema, even to benefit schools and
infrastructure, because they reduce profits. Its
that simple. America really needs infrastructure?
Well, dont expect me to pay for it. Go borrow
some more from China and pay it back later.
Regulations Cost Money Also, because
environmental and safety regulations cost
money, they are ignored and flagrantly broken by
the Plutocrats. Think of BPs monstrous and
avoidable spill, or Massey Energys 29 miners
negligently killed in April, 2010. [8]
An Onerous Burden In short, the laws and
government services which make our society
livable are merely an onerous burden to the
Plutocrats. Their objective is stated candidly in
the famous Grover Norquist quote: Our goal is to
shrink the government to the size where you can
drown it in a bathtub. A reckless, almost suicidal
goal, for weak governments invite anarchy.
[Hijackings Threat, continued from page 5]
[Continued on page 8, Hijackings Threat]
8
The Plutocrats Are Winning And how are
the Plutocrats doing in their dangerous quest?
Theyre winning, and their wins beget more
wins. Example: in 2001, a conservative majority
on the Supreme Court helped Bush gain the
Presidency. That enabled Bush to appoint Alito
and Roberts to the Court, which decided the 2010
Citizens United case (cited above) in favor of the
Plutocrats, which will allow unlimited funding
for future Republican election campaigns.
Democracy Lost The nightmare premoni-
tions of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln
have materialized before us in the hijacked Re-
publican party. No longer of, by and for the peo-
ple, its by and for General Dynamics, Goldman
Sachs, Monsanto, BP, News Corp (etc.). Please
pause and reflect on that: one of our two major
parties has been captured by Plutocrats half of
American democracy has already been lost.
Like Lincoln, we should all tremble for the safety
of our country.
D a n I s a a c s o n , E d i t o r
T h e E n l i g h t e n e d V o t e r
6 0 5 5 V e r d e T r a i l S o u t h , A p t . H 2 1 9
B o c a R a t o n , F L 3 3 4 3 3 - 4 4 2 3
5 6 1 - 4 7 0 - 7 2 5 8
Authorized and Paid for by Dan Isaacson, Editor and The Palm Beach County Democratic Party
Does Your Community Have A March
Municipal Election in 2014?
Vote By Mail!
To get your mail ballot:
By Phone: Right now, before you forget,call your
Florida Supervisor of Elections at 1-866-308-6739
and request an absentee ballot for all the elections
through 2016. It takes two minutes.
NOTE: If you wish your mail ballot to go to an
address other than your residence address,
you must submit a request in writing.
Your vote is important!
When you decide not to vote
you have a greater chance of
being governed by a person
you disagree with. That person
will be pushing you around for
the next four years.
by Geovani Martinez
Student, Atlantic High School
Delray Beach, FL
[To Be Continued In The Next Issue]
[Hijackings Threat, continued from page 7]
Dan Isaacson, Editor
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