I believe we have to vote for Gwen. Not one Greenberg Traurig Attorney gave to her campaign. That is a very good sign. Vile Natacha Seijas is supporting her opponent. He is actually too nice, I would say meek even. I think he will come under Natacha's thumb. The commissioners will dominate him. He doesn't know what he is in for. Gwen, on the other hand is as tough as nails, bitchy, she will be Natacha's worst nightmare. Tell your friends to vote for Gwen Margolis if she doesn't win her lawsuit on Tuesday. Her opponent might have property appraiser experience but this is as much about politics as it is about being a property appraiser. Send your friends this blog.Here are some of my comments to the Miami Herald on this subject:
Margolis raised $194,622 ($241,000 was 3 loans to her campaign from herself) for a total of $435,622. Garcia raised $27,550 ($10,000 loan to himself) for a total of $37,550. Miller West and Coral West Plaza gave to both Natacha's campaign and Garcia's. Aside from that, Garcia's contributions were NOT the usual suspects. More of the people on Natacha's campaign report gave to Shedd (who did not make the runoff). Margolis' report was top heavy with attorneys, many from the Bilzin Sumberg firm. I did not see as many developers as I would have expected, certainly not even close to what you find on a typical Miami Dade County Commissioner campaign report.
First, Miami Herald: Why are you censoring me? Every time I write Natacha's last name you will not let me print. You make good points Gitgoe and Miaryder (other people who made comments). I don't like the big bucks either. However, one of the BEST and most effective property appraisers in Florida is Lori Parrish, who was a county commissioner in Broward with no property appraiser experience. Perhaps being an appraiser previously is not the only qualification we should be looking at. We don't want someone who can be manipulated by the County Commission. Here is what the Herald had to say: "Mr. Garcia has a levelheadedness about him that instills confidence. In addition to running his family-owned real-estate firm, Mr. Garcia has served as a special magistrate of the county's Value Adjustment Board. His experience in property appraisal is steep. Ms. Margolis' years of service, however, plus her lengthy real-estate career and six years chairing the Value Adjustment Board, tip the scales in her favor."
I think Gwen has found an interesting loophole. Our Charter is being used by the County Commission against us. It is refreshing to see someone dishing it back to the Commission. I haven't had this much pleasure since David Dermer won his lawsuit against the commission on petitions. They thought they were pulling a fast one here and it has backfired on them. I WANT to see this lawsuit. To me it is not about the property appraiser, I really don't care about that, it is more about the power struggle and how our charter has been warped by a select few county commissioners. They cling to power and thought this elected position would be taking power from the Mayor. Let them have a dose of their own medicine. At least she can afford to fight them, like Norman Braman. We just get screwed with no recourse except petitions. Do you know that you don't have to get state petitions notarized but with county petitions you do? They have made the process impossible.
8 comments:
I wasn't going to bother to vote is this race, but I don't want to give Seijas anymore power. Her support sends chills up my spine.
Pedro Garcia does seem meek. I did like hearing him speak but I am as afraid for him as you are. They will put the puppet strings on him.
Did anyone see this???
Miami-Dade Commission tries to give attorney big, unadvertised raise
BY LARRY LEBOWITZ
llebowitz@MiamiHerald.com
Miami-Dade commissioners tried to ram through a $26,000 raise for their top lawyer late Thursday night with no public notice at the end of a 10-hour day.
Commission chairman Bruno Barreiro circulated a memo late Thursday evening urging colleagues to give County Attorney Robert Cuevas a 9 percent raise to $319,000 and provide medical and dental coverage for the 38-year county government veteran and his family.
The unadvertised move, which came at 7:30 p.m. after more than 190 other agenda items had been dispatched with and most of the public had cleared the chambers, clearly caught some of the eight remaining commissioners off guard.
''I believe his intelligence, extensive experience and unquestionable integrity has gained him the trust and confidence of each one of us,'' Barreiro said of Cuevas.
Cuevas, who is working without a contract, was already the state's highest paid county attorney, earning $290,721 annually under terms he negotiated with Barreiro in mid-2007.
Several commissioners -- including Audrey Edmonson and Natacha Seijas -- clearly were ready to vote for the raise late Thursday night.
They rejected calls from detractors to delay the move until a full complement of commissioners could be present to discuss such an important policy issue.
''When we leave, we know we're giving up our votes,'' Edmonson said of the five commissioners who had already left County Hall.
Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, however, put a quick end to the end run.
Gimenez asked Cuevas if the issue qualified for a procedural tactic that allows any commissioner to effectively pull an item if it hasn't been through the normal committee process or on a public agenda for at least four days.
Cuevas said it would -- giving Gimenez the power to temporarily kill his raise.
Barreiro said after the meeting that he tried to push the raise now because Cuevas is currently paying for healthcare coverage for himself and his family and the county's insurance enrollment period for the upcoming year is about to close.
The full commission could take up the attorney's raise again on Dec. 2.
Thanks for that article reader. These commissioners are just the worst. Audrey is as bad as Natacha but not as smart. She is the Clarence Thomas of the commission (she takes her cues from Natacha like Clarence takes his from Scalia). Again we must thank CARLOS GIMENEZ...
From the Dec. 13, 2006 Miami New Times:
On September 19, 2002, then-county commission Chairwoman Gwen Margolis was trying to wrap up a marathon budget hearing, but Seijas kept clucking about a shortfall for an elderly meals program.
Margolis asked Seijas to stop.
"You know, today is the day you might just leave here in a body bag," Seijas hissed. Then she repeated it. A visibly frightened Margolis gulped down medicine for high blood pressure.
Though prosecutors concluded Seijas did not mean to harm Margolis, and the commissioner later sent a letter of apology, Margolis recently donated $300 to the recall PAC.
I would like to thank you for all your help and support in the general election. I could not have gotten this far without you and our community. We ran a successful campaign however we are now faced with another hill to climb.
On Nov. 4, the citizens of Miami-Dade County voted on the first elected Property Appraiser seat. Gwen Margolis won that election by over 72,000 votes. The county now plans to hold a special run-off for the two highest vote getters in that race.
According to state law and county custom, the run-off election must occur prior to January 1, 2009 , and the run-off must be advertised no less then 30 days prior to that date. With the property appraiser race being the only one appearing on the ballot this will cost the citizens of Miami-Dade County over three million dollars.
The County Commission has scheduled the special election to take place on Dec. 16, 2008. Early voting will take place from Dec.1-14, 2008. Only four early voting locations will be open those being: North Dade Regional Library, South Dade Government Center, Stephen P. Clark Center, and West Dade Regional Library. It is imperative that we ensure that every democrat gets out and votes.
I now need every single person to help get out the vote. With the General Election behind us this will be an uphill battle that cannot be accomplished without you. We need to wage an absentee ballot campaign, and we need you to help with those requests. (Attached please find an absentee ballot request form, please make as many copies as possible to give to your membership) It is with the help of friends like you that we will be able to bring home a victory in December, and ensure that the tax payers’ dollars do not go to waste again.
Thank you,
Gwen Margolis
Regarding the attempted and very secret manner in which a raise for the county attorney was conducted, read the comments on line in the Herald, under this article, and you'll be amazed to learn that Cuevas, and other county officials, including Mayor Alvarez, double dip pensions and big salaries paid by the taxpayers. One person, who appears to be an insider, even quotes the amounts said officials get as pensions and their present salaries. Double dipping MUST be stopped as they leave no opportunity for other government employees to advance. It also happens within the school system.
I think in Cuevas' case, you are right. He should not be receiving a retirement benefit, he only left the County for 2 months in order to qualify for the pension. That was the deal worked out behind closed doors to keep Cuevas in his position. The powers that be at the County were not happy about the potential of losing Cuevas, after the loss of Ginsberg and Greenberg. Couple his pension with his salary, and Cuevas is making over 500K.. Ridiculous!!! This should be exposed to a greater degree!!!
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