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| The NOT MODERATES: Anitere Flores and Miguel Diaz de la Portilla |
It's not over. Two state senators -- Anitere Flores and Miguel Diaz de la Portilla -- not only voted to block Fair Districts in Florida, they also voted to waste of taxpayer money by violating a constitutional amendment approved by over 60% of Florida voters.
Gerrymandered districts reinforce the worst abuses of partisan politics. It is no surprise; now that Fair Districts are a fact -- and after numerous unsuccessful lawsuits -- both Diaz de la Portilla and Flores are trying to rebrand themselves as "moderates". At campaign events in the Florida Keys, Flores is not even mentioning that she is Republican.
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| Fundraising letter sent by Anitere Flores to Republicans. She is a self-described conservative, running in a moderate district. |
The money Miguel Diaz de la Portilla and Anitere Flores approved in the legislature to fight redistricting must not be forgotten by voters in state senate districts 37 and 39: (To find your district map, click here.)
The multi-year battle that culminated in a victory for Fair Districts in Florida is not over. A complete accounting of how much the Republican leadership spent has never been divulged. Diaz de la Portilla was one of the lead GOP legislators involved in blocking the implementation of the voters' will. Here is how that turned out: on July 28, 2015, the Florida senate filed a Stipulation and Consent Judgement that states: "The Florida Senate stipulates and agrees that the apportionment plan adopted by the Florida legislature on March 27, 2012 to establish Florida's Senate districts violates the provisions of the Florida Constitution." They admitted, "the Enacted plan and certain districts WERE drawn to favor political party and incumbents."
Miguel Diaz de la Portilla and Anitere Flores spent your money fighting Fair Districts. Voters can return their favor in November.
Two highly qualified challengers who deserve your vote: Jose Javier Rodriguez, a state representative who is running against Diaz de la Portilla, and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a long-time community advocate and non-profit executive running against Anitere Flores.
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| Jose Javier Rodriguez attended Brown Undergrad and Harvard Law School. He is currently a State Rep. |
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| Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, non-profit executive and long-time Miami-Dade community leader |
In the meantime, the GOP leader of the state senate who bears most responsibility for the costly fiasco, Don Gaetz, was recently denied the presidency of the University of West Florida. Read the letter from the president of the Florida League of Women Voters, Pamela S. Goodman, to the trustees of UWF, here:
September 14, 2016
Dear University of West Florida Board of Trustees,
It is with great concern that the League of Women Voters of Florida writes today as you consider a leader who will determine both the future and the reputation of one of Florida's best universities.
We are writing to question how former Senator Don Gaetz, who led a conspiracy to violate The Florida Constitution can even be considered for leadership in any of Florida's esteemed organizations?
Former Senator Don Gaetz, took an oath to uphold and enforce the Florida Constitution and then presided over the Senate Reapportionment Committee in 2011 and 2012 as it engaged in a devious conspiracy to violate the Fair Districts provisions of the Constitution that was passed by a 63% threshold and over 3.1 million citizens in 2010.
As Chairman of the committee responsible for drawing the Senate map, he publicly proclaimed that the legislature's process for redistricting was following the new constitutional provisions even as legislators and staff were conspiring with outside political operatives to not only violate the constitution but also to hide the scheme from the public. How can you possibly consider appointing as president of your university this man who thumbed his nose at the constitution and lied about it publicly? Is this the sort of role model you want for students, faculty, families and the community?
This is a man who, as a Senator and Chairman of the Senate Reapportionment Committee, took an oath to abide by the laws of The Florida Constitution. As Chair of this committee, maps were passed that were drawn without transparency and resulted in complete noncompliance to the law. Senator Gaetz then went on to lead the entire Senate as senate President 2013-2014 and maintained the body's position throughout multiple court cases. Finally, on July 28, 2015, the Florida senate filed a Stipulation and Consent Judgement that states:
"The Florida Senate stipulates and agrees that the apportionment plan adopted by the Florida legislature on March 27, 2012 to establish Florida's Senate districts violates the provisions of the Florida Constitution." They admitted, "the Enacted plan and certain districts WERE drawn to favor political party and incumbents."
They agreed the plan should NOT be enforced for the 2016 elections and agreed to redraw the map. They agreed no deference should be given to them.
Is it proper for the students of University of West Florida to be led by a president who took an oath to follow the Florida Constitution and then led a conspiracy to violate it? Is it fiduciary responsible to allow a man to oversee a university budget that purposefully spent over $10 million of taxpayer dollars in litigation costs and $1million in special session costs defending a process and maps that he presided over and was proven in court to be unconstitutional?
Is this the best that Florida can do? Is this the message that you want to send to the students, faculty and families and community of our great state?
We hope you will consider carefully the lesson that your selection will send to every citizen in the state of Florida. What happens in Tallahassee should not stay in Tallahassee, and we hope you will thoroughly re-acquaint yourself with the detailed public record of exactly what happened during his tenure of leadership of reapportionment and his Senate presidency during this carefully watched national story.
With appreciation,
Pamela S. Goodman
President
The League of Women Voters of Florida
540 Beverly Court
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Pamelasgoodman@gmail.com
561-843-1233
9 comments:
Why would we leave two Republicans in Democratic districts? Why, why, why? We need every Democrat we can get in State Government so something good can get done on the environment. The stupid unions endorsed them too. Fair weather allies.
I am sick and tired of progressives believing they can make deals with the devil. When they do, that makes it even MORE difficult to hold Democratic officials to account. @#$@#!@#!!
The teachers union, Florida Education Association and United Teachers of Dade, cut deals with Flores and Diaz de la Portilla. Joanne Mccall, Jeff Wright, and Karla Mats should be ashamed of themselves for cutting deals with the republican devlis. They should all resign in disgrace. Joanne especially, as she cut the deal with the Republicans with Jeff Wrights approval.
Afscme and SEIU and the Florida Justice Association should be ashamed as well. They too cut deals with these corrupt jokers instead of supporting the Democrats.
This is why Andrew Korge bailed on the race against Flores, because the entire Democratic establishment was supporting Flores. Even incoming democratic leader Oscar Braynon, who is rumored to be EXTREMELY AND UNUSUALLY CLOSE to Flores, was helping her. My friend worked for him and was shocked that the Democratic establishment did this.
This is why we need to go and support JJR, because the establishment and most unions bailed on him to support anti-union republicans. This is outrageous! We need to go help JJR! We must win some seats this cycle!
Oscar Braynon is having an affair with Flores. Everyone in our union knows this. He made us back Flores. He threatened to destroy the teachers union if we supported anyone against Anitere Flores.
We are sick of Braynon. He needs to stop thinking with the wrong head - its costing Democrats seats.
Mucarsel-Powell is having an affair with Chris Korge. He's raising money for her.
That is a disgusting and false thing to say about Murcarsel-Powell. She is a respectable woman, a good person, and will vote the right way in Tallahassee.
Anitere Flores, on the other hand, is a fraud who has been on all sides of almost every issue. Plus, based on what I am reading, it's Flores who actually has infidelity issues..
I think everyone is having an affair with Daphne Campbell. I don't doubt the helping part, i do doubt the affair part. Have you seen Oscar's wife and Debbie's husband?
It's the worst kept secret in tallahassee. Braynon and Flores - The Affair. Even their colleagues talk about it. Maybe they should make a tv show. That would be a better way to make money than working for for profit unaccredited colleges, which they both do.
I hear the murcasel-Powell team and the Shadow democratic donor groups are about to put this out there for all to see. They don't like Braynon for different reasons...
In truth, it's not a big deal. Have an affair. Who really cares!
Braynon is full of Big Sugar money.
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