I have been getting some interesting comments on my two recent posts on the challengers to County Commissioner Joe Martinez. For instance, in the Bernudez post I got:"This is our candidate, he is the one we are aligning ourselves with. He is the one we are going to take a chance on. I speak for a lot of other folks here in my area and our district."
The one thing you are forgetting “comment poster”: He will vote on issues that affect the entire County like the Airport, Water and Sewer, Comp Plan Changes and the Port of Miami. So we all care about who you are supporting and why. Good intentions are not enough for all of us. Granted we already have a few idiots on the dais making these complex decisions, do we need one more? Should we trade one idiot for another? This is not saying your candidate is an idiot but we would hope you put someone in that can handle the issues. If the issues are over the head of your candidate, the lobbyists will get control of him or her mighty quickly. So, pick someone we can all be proud of and talk to your candidate about the REAL issues he will be facing.
On my other post, about Herbello, a commenter gave good advice to all the candidates running against incumbents:
"These newcomers should do it the old-fashioned way, by foot, door to door." And, the commenter offers a big dose of reality of what the candidates are up against:
"Martinez has long been handing out groceries to poor and elderly voters in his district..."
Let me outline a scenario for you:
Good candidate John Boy gets in as the District 11 Commissioner. Soon he is approached by Big Deal Lobbyist. Big Deal says: “John Boy, we were rooting for you but we couldn’t give you any money...you understand. Let me take you to lunch to show there are no hard feelings.” The lobbyist takes John Boy to some obscenely expensive restaurant. While there, Adrienne Arscht, the Mayor, or Sergio Pino etc. will pass by the table and shoot the breeze with Big Deal. John Boy is impressed. After they leave Big Deal Lobbyist talks about whatever it is John Boy is interested in. Big Deal says: “A Miami Disney Land, what a great idea. I can help you make that a reality John Boy.” John Boy’s ego has been massaged and now he has an ally to help him fulfill his campaign promise. What could be better?
John Boy leaves with a full stomach, a pal who SAYS he is willing to help (but never does on this particular project). John Boy thinks that Big Deal has the connections to make Disney Miami a reality (he has seen his powerful friends). John Boy thinks...”I like that guy, lobbyists aren’t so bad.” The turn to the dark side has begun.
11 comments:
The commissioners all have an unlimited campaign account; it's called their district funds. They spend your tax dollars campaigning for 4 years, all legal and all not easily trackable. In addition they provide pork for their districts (through pressure on department heads) such as new roads, new parks, bus routes and field trips for the elderly. Do away with their slush funds and make these perks compete county-wide. Then maybe they will not have such an easy time buying votes. The mayor can put a stop to this departmental interference but it doesn't look like he has. Maybe George still kisses the commissioners and the mayor is clueless. Seijas gave $10,000 of her funds to the Dade County Farm Bureau Insurance Company (Miami New Times). Why?
ITS DISTRICT 11 NOT 12 LOL
Young candidate Bermudez has supporters - very good for him!
Not enuf...
11 or 12, what is the difference, they are both bad commissioners...i made a correction. Stop LOL and start getting serious...this race needs a lot of work.
I agree that door to door a,most always works. In my day (the dark ages) I almost always won for my candidate by going to every door starting as soon as one election was over. But it works!
Speak with Whilly Bermudez and be informed of his views and asperations for District 11 and Miami-dade county as a whole.
Saturday May 31st 1:30pm to 5:00pm at the corner of Coral Way & 107 Avenue.
You'll be glad you did.
TB
We need Whilly Bermudez on your good side of the Alphabetical Index.
W for WINNER W for Whilly
How can you not vote for a candidate that agrees with having TERM LIMITS?
This young proffessional knows very well he must put out or get moved out in 4 years.
Our current 13 are hanging by a thread.
The Mayor has a slush fund too. He hides it as grant proposal request. But it is there. He also has upped his calendar on the county website. If you compared it to last year he was out in the public 1 or 2 days a week, now he is really busy.
The word is that Bermudez is going to make Martinez work overtime. Run off?????
There won't be a runoff if the third guy drops out. I think your "Word" might be optimistic. Is he walking door to door with a meaningful message or one that is quirky at best.
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