Money Spent in 3 of the 6 2006 Miami Dade County Commission Races (taken off Dept. of Elections Website):
Heyman
Total Collected $394,596.23
Discretionary funds spent: $466,140* ($166,140 carried over from previous year) Heyman spent the most of any other commissioner
Souto
Total Total Collected $366,450.00
Discretionary funds spent: $308,480*
Rolle
Total Collected $408,060.00
Discretionary funds spent: $292,600*
When you consider this is the money raised to get you a $6,000 a year job...you have to wonder what is really going on.
I think the job is desirable for one thing (I am not considering anyone is dishonest at this moment): so these people can satisfy their power lust – they need ego strokes. I suspect most commissioners get a thrill out of developers and lobbyists puffing up their egos. Although the lobbyist/developer crew appear to grovel at Commissioner’s feet, the Commissioners never realize that these same puppet masters laugh at them behind their backs and brag to people, like me, that they can walk into any Commission office unannounced (We normal people either can't get access EVER or must wait weeks for an appointment for most of them and then half the time, just their staff keeps the appointment).
*Commissioners get $300,000 a year each to dole out to non-profits such as PTA's, Community Associations, Seniors Groups, etc. That can buy a lot of favor (which translates into votes)!
6 comments:
Why not change your nick
to , Genius of Transition ?
Non-profits in our community should work to tap into the residual money in the commissioners' election campaign funds. The commissioners can readily donate that money to any 501c3 organization to do good work in the community. There should be a statute somewhere that spells out what the requirements are, but I know that other commissioners have donated big hunks - like $10,000 - for projects in the past.
Genius, why don't you also provide information on the total campaign expenditures of the challengers to the incumbents. The numbers show why there is a permanent incumbency at the M-D county commission.
This is NOT representative government. Period.
I'd rather try getting my point of view across to one strong mayor, as a citizen, than 13 county commissioners.
In fighting a battle against developers and their lobbyists across the whole county, you might be able to ignite a brush fire rebellion. Fighting 13 separate battles for district commissioners is impossible.
Campaign contributions from OUTSIDE each commissioner's district create a web of obligations more permanent than Mount Trashmore.
Dear Anonymous 2:
I am glad you asked about the challengers:
Heyman's challenger Jay Beskin raised $141,900 (that includes a $63,000 loan to his campaign). Souto's challenger Millie Herrera raised $19,848.37 and Rolle's challenger Phillip Brutus raised $74,880 (that includes a $16,000 loan to his campaign). Without the loan Phillip Brutus raised $58,880 to Rolle's $408,060. And Phillip worked hard to raise that money. Millie's $19,848.37 was no match for Souto's $366,450. Am I correct in saying Souto raised 18 times as much as Millie? (bad at math)
Dear Still Standing:
If i change to Genius of Transition I will be GOT. I would rather be G.O.D.
City of Miami. Watch this race. Appointed Interim Commissioner Haskins has raised almost $750,000. (Filing deadline 11/17). Her opponent, Marc Sarnoff, had raised $78,000 through Nov 3rd. Yet Sarnoff came in first in the general election by 600 votes. Runoff election Nov 21st. We will see Haskins spend massive amounts to defame Sarnoff with negative ads. All with lies but what they heck she wants to win. All Sarnoffs other opponents have all endorsed him over Haskins. Miami SunPost and Biscayne Blvd Times all endorsed Sarnoff. This time we hopes the poorly financed challenger wins. Nov 21st.
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