Bred in the North of Miami Dade County, Ron Book is the lobbyist of choice for most Dade County cities, and even Dade County itself.Do you think kids in North Miami High School were saying: "I want to be a lobbyist when I grow up."
He has at least 75 clients and lets say he makes a low average of $30,000 on each; he could be making $2,250,000 a year AT LEAST. Not bad.
We have ourselves a busy little bee here, (Ron was former State Senator Ron Silver's favorite White Fish delivery boy). He spends lots on lunches and chocolate, as well as on the whitefish - trying to entice lawmakers to see things his clients' way.
It is powerful people, like Book (and we all know the extraordinary power of chocolate), that make me believe we will see some crappy, watered-down property tax reform, if any at all. His reputation is on the line with this one. The Cities he represents are scrambling not to lose funds, nor do they want to tighten their belts. Book has to deliver.
According to an Orlando Sentinel Blog: The reports show Book was paid more than $1 million between January and March to woo lawmakers, by clients such as BellSouth (between $30,000 and $39,999), Florida Power & Light ($50,000) and hurricane-debris contractor AshBritt ($50,000).
Here is Book's list of clients that he is registered to lobby for at the Florida Legislature (and check out our Ron Book File in the index at right, look under 'RON' we have a couple of dozen):
ACC Capital Holdings
1100 Town & Country Rd Ste 400, Orange, CA
92868
Industry Code: 522291
Effective: 01/16/2007
American Institute for Public Safety
1200 Biscayne Blvd Ste 705, North Miami, FL
33181
Industry Code: 611692
Effective: 01/16/2007
Arise Foundation
4001 Edmund F. Benson Blvd, Miami, FL 33178
Industry Code: 624110
Effective: 01/16/2007
Ashbritt
408 S Andrews Ave Ste 103, Pompano Beach, FL
33069
Industry Code: 562111
Effective: 01/16/2007
Associated Industries Insurance Services, Inc
901 NW 51st St Ste 100, Boca Raton, FL 33431
Industry Code: 524145
Effective: 03/05/2007
Associated Industries of Florida
516 N Adams St, Tallahassee, FL 32302
Industry Code: 541820
Effective: 01/16/2007 -Withdrawn- 03/02/2007
AutoNation, Inc
450 E Las Olas Blvd 12th Floor, Ft Lauderdale,
FL 33301
Industry Code: 522220
Effective: 01/16/2007
Bail Agents Independent League of Florida
424 S Congress Ave, West Palm Beach, FL
Industry Code: 525990
Effective: 01/16/2007
BellSouth
150 S Monroe St Ste 400, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Industry Code: 517110
Effective: 01/16/2007
Best Buddies International
100 SE 2nd St Ste 2200, Miami, FL 33131
Industry Code: 624110
Effective: 01/16/2007
Biscayne Bay Pilots
2911 Port Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Industry Code: 485991
Broward County
115 S Andrews Ave, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33301
Industry Code: 921110
Effective: 01/16/2007
Children’s Home Society
1485 S Semoran Blvd Ste 1448, Winter Park, FL
32792
Industry Code: 624110
Effective: 01/16/2007
Children’s Services Council of Florida
1900 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Industry Code: 624110
Effective: 01/16/2007 -Withdrawn- 03/21/2007
City of Aventura
19200 W Country Club Dr, Aventura, FL 33180
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of Cooper City
9090 SW 50th Place, Cooper City, FL 33329-0910
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of Lauderdale Lakes
4300 NW 36 St, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of Miami
3500 Pan American Dr, Miami, FL 33130
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of Miramar
2300 Civic Center Place, Miramar, FL 33025
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of North Miami
776 NE 125th St, North Miami, FL 33161
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of North Miami Beach
17011 NE 19th Ave, North Miami Beach, FL
33162
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of Pinellas Park
5141 78th Ave, Pinellas Park, FL 33781
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach
18070 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of Sunrise
777 Sawgrass Corporate Pkwy, Sunrise, FL
33325
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of Tallahassee
300 S Adams St, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Industry Code: 921120
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of Tamarac
7525 NW 88 Ave, Tamarac, FL 33321
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
City of West Palm Beach
200 2nd St 5th Floor, West Palm Beach, FL
33401
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
Coral Springs Improvement District
10300 NW 11th Manor, Coral Springs, FL 33071
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007 (Hit read more to continue, we are only up to "C")
Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, Inc
3440 Hollywood Blvd Ste 100, Hollywood, FL
33021
Industry Code: 813211
Effective: 01/16/2007
Dolphins Stadium
2269 Dan Marino Blvd, Miami Gardens, FL
33056
Industry Code: 711219
Effective: 01/16/2007
Eagle Brands, Inc
3201 NW 72 Ave, Miami, FL 33122
Industry Code: 311919
Effective: 01/16/2007
Florida Apartment Association
1133 W Morse Blvd Ste 201, Winter Park, FL
32789
Industry Code: 531110
Effective: 01/16/2007
Florida Association of Counties
PO Box 549, Tallahassee, FL 32302
Industry Code: 813990
Effective: 03/05/2007
Florida Association of Forensic Professionals
14000 E Palomino Dr, Southwest Ranches, FL
33330
Industry Code: 813920
Effective: 01/16/2007
Florida Children’s Services Council, Inc
216 S Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Industry Code: 624110
Effective: 03/21/2007
Florida Power & Light Company
215 S Monroe St Ste 810, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Industry Code: 221122
Effective: 01/16/2007
Florida Regional Councils Association
2999 NE 191st St PH6, Aventura, FL 33180
Industry Code: 813990
Effective: 01/16/2007
Florida WIC Grocers Association
8425 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33122
Industry Code: 445110
Effective: 01/16/2007
General Tobacco
2980 NW 108 Ave, Miami, FL 33172
Industry Code: 312221
Effective: 01/16/2007
GL Homes of Florida Corporation
1600 Sawgrass Corporate Pkwy, Sunrise, FL
33323
Industry Code: 236115
Effective: 01/16/2007
Health Choice Network
9064 NW 13 Terrace, Miami, FL 33172
Industry Code: 621491
Effective: 01/16/2007
Indian River County
1840 25th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960-3365
Industry Code: 521190
Effective: 01/16/2007
Interior Design Associations Foundation
250 Royal Ct, Delray Beach, FL 33444
Industry Code: 813920
Effective: 01/16/2007
Miami Beach Community Health Center
710 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Industry Code: 621498
Effective: 01/16/2007
Miami Children’s Hospital
3196 SW 62nd Ave 3rd Floor, Miami, FL 33155
Industry Code: 622110
Effective: 01/16/2007
Miami Project/Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis
Lois Pope Life Center, 1095 NW 14th Terrace,
Miami, FL 33136
Industry Code: 541710
Effective: 01/16/2007
Miami-Dade County
111 NW 1st St Ste 1032, Miami, FL 33128
Industry Code: 921140
Effective: 01/16/2007
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
1450 NE 2 Ave, Miami, FL 33132
Industry Code: 611110
Effective: 01/16/2007
Mount Sinai Medical Center
4300 Alton Rd, Miami, FL 33140
Industry Code: 621493
Effective: 01/16/2007
NASDAQ-100 Open
150 Alhambra Plaza Ste 825, Coral Gables, FL
33134
Industry Code: 711320
Effective: 01/16/2007
Neptune Wholesale, Inc
768 E Dania Beach Blvd, Dania, FL 33004
Industry Code: 424990
Effective: 01/16/2007
New Horizons Community Mental Health Center,
Inc
1313 NW 36th St Ste 400, Miami, FL 33142
Industry Code: 621112
Effective: 01/16/2007
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
315 Court St, Clearwater, FL 33756
Industry Code: 921120
Effective: 01/16/2007
Preferred Medical Plan, Inc
4950 SW 8 St, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Industry Code: 524114
Effective: 01/16/2007
Public Health Trust-Jackson Memorial Hospital
1611 NW 12th Ave, Miami, FL 33136
Industry Code: 621493
Effective: 01/16/2007
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic Florida
6704 SW 80th St, Miami, FL 33143
Industry Code: 611710
Effective: 01/16/2007
South Broward Hospital District
1131 N 35th Ave, Hollywood, FL 33021
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
Spectrum Programs & Miami Behavioral Health
Center
11031 NE 6th Ave, Miami, FL 33161
Industry Code: 621112
Effective: 01/16/2007
St. Lucie County
St. Lucie County Government Ctr, 2300 Virginia
Ave, Ft Pierce, FL 34982
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
Sunshine Water Control District
10300 NW 11th Manor, Coral Springs, FL 33071
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
Teva Pharmaceuticals, USA
444 N Capitol St NW Ste 399, Rogers, AR 72758
Industry Code: 325412
Effective: 01/16/2007
Town of Cutler Bay
10720 Caribbean Blvd Ste 105, Cutler Bay, FL
33189
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
United Health Care
701 Pennsylvania Ave NW Ste 530, Washington,
DC 20004
Industry Code: 621491
Effective: 01/16/2007
University of Miami
Ashe Administration Bldg Rm 230, Coral Gables,
FL 33146
Industry Code: 611310
Effective: 01/16/2007
Vanguard Car Rental USA, Inc
6929 N Lakewood Ave Ste 100, Tulsa, OK 74117
Industry Code: 485999
Effective: 01/16/2007
Village of Bal Harbour
655 96th St, Bal Harbour, FL 33154
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
Village of Palmetto Bay
8950 SW 152nd St, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
Village of Pinecrest
12645 Pinecrest Pky, Pinecrest, FL 33156
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
Village of Royal Palm Beach
Royal Palm Beach Blvd, Royal Palm Beach, FL
33411
Industry Code: 921190
Effective: 01/16/2007
Vitas Healthcare Corporation
100 S Biscayne Blvd 15th Floor, Miami, FL
33132-2304
Industry Code: 621610
Effective: 01/16/2007
Wal-Mart
1505 Ft Clarke Blvd #13-202, Gainesville, FL
32606
Industry Code: 452990
Effective: 01/16/2007
West Flagler Kennel Club, Inc
401 NW 38th Ct, Miami, FL 33126
Industry Code: 711212
Effective: 01/16/2007
Westchester General Hospital
2500 SW 75 Ave, Miami, FL 33155
Industry Code: 621493
Effective: 01/16/2007
White Rock Quarries
101 Sansbury’s Way, West Palm Beach, FL 33411
Industry Code: 212312
Effective: 01/16/2007
14 comments:
Lobbyists are only required to register for clients with legislative matters... there are many clients of lobbyists like Ron Book who need someone to help them massage processes and do not turn up on registration lists.
Ron must be very successful or else all those organizations would not be paying him so much money. He is also a very nice guy as I have known him since he was a child. As I have said here before it is not the hard working lobby guys who I want to see hurt but the legislatures who gladly accept bribes to vote a certain way. They should all be arrested for accepting bribes. The people who vote for them and who they are supposed to represent are stupid for sending them back to office when they vote for money and not for the people. Mensa
yes he is successful -- that is why i think the property tax relief is dead in the water.
I MUST know who you are, not many people know about the funny whitefish delivery story...
Sorry no can do-- but feel free to email me
geniusofdespair@yahoo.com
Stories get around. I would prefer the chocolate bribe myself.
What about Ron's possible "recycling" of the New Times when it had a derogatory cover story about him a few years ago?
Ron is a master at the process and his clients sure know that. There is a reason he has lasted so long in the process and makes the money he does. Just list his successes next to his clients and more folks would understand.
Arrest the bribe takers, but not the bribe makers??
Anonymous above, I could care less if he likes puppies too, he (and other lobbyists)are a large part of the problem in government.
Looking over that list doesn't it seem like he should have at least a conflict or two representing those varied interests??
Wonder which ones he truly represents in those cases??
Probably himself!!
mikeysez
That's why Mr Ron Books can Afford a million dollar wedding for his daughter.that going to be held in Aventura
I see Ron Books advocating sex offenders living under a bridge in Miami Dade county. He justifies it because his daughter was a victim. Well my daughter was a victim at 10 years old Mr Books. I too for a couple of years had all the anger and hate and revenge you are poisened with. I got counseling for my daughter and I had some too. As a christain I met and prayed with the man who molested my daughter that God would heal him. No one comes into this world and wants to be a sex offender. Something happened. Keeping sex offenders under a bridge is inhumane Mr.Books. I prayed with the man who molested my daughter for healing. I dare you to do better.
Not all sex offenders are true sex offenders. There are young men and women on the list. Two kids start dating the girl 15 3/4 and he is
17. Two year past they have been sexual activity for 6 months now. Both parents know they are having sex. The girls parent get her on the patch. Time goes on the boy wants to break up with her. She goes home and tells her parents that he broke up with me and we have been having sex. Remember they started her on the patch because they were sexual activity. The police are now called and both are questioned. They both admit they have been having sex. The police keep asking did you want to have sex? Finally the girl breaks down and said there was one time when I did not feel like having ORAL sex but we did it anyway. The boy is now arrested for sexual battery and false imprisment becasue they had oral sex in his car and the door are locked. The boys lawyer tell him and his family that he will be found guilt and will have to spend 15 years in jail. The boy decides to take the plea but has to register as a sex offender. He must register every three months for at least 25 years. He must attend sex offender classes with men who are at least twice his age. He disike the class because they others scare him with thier stories. Some have been in jail twice for a sex act. He feels that he has nothing to live for and is depressed. He wil be losing his job because he is a sex offender and children go to the place where he works. He is mildly retarted and no one will hire him. The girl is a second degree black belt in marial arts and a black belt in weapons. If the one day she did not want to have sex with him she could have biiten it off. Or she could have broken him in half. She weighs 185 and the boy is only 100 pounds. Her my space account still proclaims her love for him. The Romeo and Juliet law does not apply her because that one time she did not feel like having sex. I wish the lobbyist would start to change the laws and help these young men and women, yes there are girls who are sex offenders because they were 18 and their biyfriend was not. There needs to be a law that will protect the person when they break up. Please help by contacting your state sentors and congressmen to work on changing the laws We nned to spend more monies on the true sexual predators then these young kids. Some police departments do not have enough funding to keep track of all sexual offenders and predators. So what happens is the the sexual predators move around and the police can not keep track of them because they have to also keep track of the lower offenders. Please help. Thank you.
Mr. Conflict of Interest himself, here is One Example:
Ron Book agrees to stop lobbying for pretrial measure
A top lobbyist for Broward County agreed to stop trying to obtain passage of a bill that would cost the county millions of dollars.
BY DAN CHRISTENSEN
BrowardBulldog.org
Flagged by Broward officials for a conflict of interest, county lobbyist Ron Book has agreed to stop pushing for a new state law that county officials say would seriously undermine Broward's pretrial intervention program and cost local taxpayers millions.
The new law is being sought by another of Book's clients, the Florida bail bond industry. It would restrict access to county-run pretrial release programs by establishing new, statewide eligibility requirements for defendants seeking to get out of jail, forcing the county to spend more in keeping inmates behind bars.
County support for the pretrial program has wavered over the years; nevertheless, critics say Book should not be involved in representing the bail bond industry on the issue. Broward County pays Book $53,000 a year plus $2,000 in expenses to lobby in Tallahassee.
At Tuesday's commission meeting, Commissioner Lois Wexler said that, if passed, the law would ``decimate'' local pretrial release programs and place huge financial burdens on counties across the state.
Wexler added that she wants her money's worth from the lobbyist that many consider to be the most influential in Florida.
Broward commissioners passed an ordinance in January 2009 restricting access to the program run by the Broward Sheriff's Office. The proposed change in state law would further tighten the bondsmen's noose on the pretrial program.
``I guess the bail bond companies didn't get richer or increase their bottom line enough by what we did a year and a half ago, so now they're going in for the kill,'' Wexler said in an interview.
``This bill makes money the determination of justice,'' said Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein.
Book declared a ``potential conflict'' in a March 8 letter to the county after a county official told him the county opposed the pretrial measure. He asked the county to waive its conflict rules to ``allow me to continue my representation of the bail industry.''
Those rules recognize the potential for conflict of interest in dual representation, but only when the Legislature is in session as it is now.
Broward has yet to rule on that request, but the matter may now be moot.
On Friday, Book agreed to honor the demand of another client, Miami-Dade County, which decided it did not want Book lobbying on the pretrial detention issue.
News flash after Mr.Ron Book million dallor wedding to his daughter, it is to my surprise that the lovely couples are getting a divorce less than a year later. WOW this is what we hard working tax payers money is use for.
@Anonymous When you can influence a city's bottom line like Mr. Book can, you're gonna get some perks. That's life. Become a commodity and maybe you wouldn't have to play the everyman role.
See this article on Ron Book as well:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=534282
Or these:
http://www.delicious.com/SOIssues/RonBook
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