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Let’s 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 McConnellWhere Are The Jobs?

Speaker BoehnerWhere Are The Jobs?

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[Continued on page 2, Authority]

Filling a PotholeWhat Difference Does It Make Who Wins A Municipal Council Seat? After all, there’s only one way to fill a pothole, right?

Wrong.

There’s a Republican way to fill a pothole and a Democratic way to fill a pothole.

The Republican way is to hire a private contractor who then hires the cheapest labor he can find—no health benefits, no retirement benefits, possibly illegals. The contractor makes a large profit and after the job, his employees are again out of work.

The Democratic way is to hire full time workers, with health and retirement benefits at a living wage. And after the job, the employees are still employed.

Don’t Stand In LineVOTE IN YOUR PAJAMAS

Request a Mail BallotYou 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

Where’s 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 can’t just move to a quiet vacant location and start a town with city services magically created out of pampas grass and sandy soil.

What’s in a community? — Counties and munic-ipalities are referred to as “substate”governments. They write a charter, which is like a local consti-tution, and decide what form of government they

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[Authority, continued from page 1] When You Don’t VoteWhen you don’t vote in Municipal and Primary Elections, by default you cast your vote against the person your philosophy would prefer. When you don’t vote, that vote is one less the opposition has to overcome, thus your “no-vote” is a vote for those you don’t 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 office—thus saving you the cost of postage. Call the phone number included with the return address on page 8. We’ll arrange for a pick up of your ballot.

What Is aCommitted 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 citizen’s fundamental right to be able to voice their opinion and their duty to take part in electing public officials. 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 don’t 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 AmendmentOriginally, 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 FloridaMany 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 COMMUNITY’S 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 Scott’s influence as far away as possible. As Tevya, in Fiddler on the Roof said, “God bless and keep the Czar . . . far away from us”!

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[Continued on page 4, Volunteers]

It’s Not Too Late ToRequest A Vote-By-Mail Ballot

561-656-6200

Check Your Voter StatusFor your peace of mind, it’s 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 don’t have a computer, phone your supervisor of elections office—they’ll 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 Florida’s Sunshine Law. All proceedings are matters of public record.

Vacancies — Board and committee vacancies are listed in the News for Neighborhoods, the City’s 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 AuthorityOfficial Website: www.dbha.org

Downtown Development AuthorityOfficial 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 don’t “sit home” in 2014!

Or rather do sit home and

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[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 Delray’s business, cultural, and professional community.General Employees Retirement Fund Committee

• Advises on management of General Employees Retirement Fund.

Green Implementation Advancement BoardWebsite: 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.

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Sleepwalking Toward PlutocracyMarshall C. Whitfield (1935-2012)

for Buzzflash At Truthout

Chapter 3The Hijacking’s 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 Lincoln’s 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, Hijacking’s Threat]

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[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 O’Boyle - 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 town’s 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.

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[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 people’s wealth — at any cost to America’s 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. It’s

that simple. “America really needs infrastructure? Well, don’t 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 BP’s monstrous — and avoidable — spill, or Massey Energy’s 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.

[Hijacking’s Threat, continued from page 5]

[Continued on page 8, Hijacking’s Threat]

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The Plutocrats Are Winning — And how are the Plutocrats doing in their dangerous quest? They’re 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,” it’s “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.”

Dan Isaacson, EditorThe Enlightened Voter

6055 Verde Trail South, Apt. H219Boca Raton, FL 33433-4423

561-470-7258

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]

[Hijacking’s Threat, continued from page 7]

Dan Isaacson, Editor

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