Warren Redlich – Page 452

Ballot for Voters in West Boca

Absentee ballots have started arriving in mailboxes. Here are sample ballots for the August 14 election date. This includes both party races and non-partisan elections such as judges, Sheriff, Property Appraiser, and the Supervisor of Elections.
You can view a sample ballot for your specific address and party at: Palm Beach County Sample Ballot
Democratic Ballot (two parts)

Republican Ballot (two parts)

Mike Trout on the West Boca Question

Candidate for Congress Mike Trout responds to our West Boca Question
Question 2:
The office you seek covers West Boca Raton and other communities. What issues do you
see as particularly relevant for the residents of West Boca?
Mike Trout’s Response:
West Boca News has challenged me to identify some issues that might be of particular relevance to residents of West Boca.
West Boca, like many of the western areas of Palm Beach and Broward Counties, is comprised of lots of diversely organized communities, but I think it’s safe to say that the HOA (Homeowner Association) model is prevalent.
HOAs can be a good thing, when they’re good. But when they’re bad, they can be very, very bad, as many a homeowner can attest. For some examples of bad behavior by socalled ‘rogue HOA boards’ from around the country, let me just google that for you: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=rogue+hoa+board .
HOAs have grown their authority to the point that, with respect to the power they wield over a community, they more resemble a government agency than the simple informal associations that were formed to manage the day to day affairs of maintaining the commons, and organizing the occasional social event that was once thought to describe their role.
HOAs have the power to ‘tax’ their members, through their annual assessments (sometimes charged monthly, quarterly, or biannually), and recently the Florida legislature has endowed the HOA with the authority to even fine homeowners for violations of community bylaws and maintenance standards.
As Americans, we’re accustomed to expect accountability from government — one of the prime standards of good government is transparency. We expect our boards to handle the community’s affairs in the interest of the people. We expect, especially, that finances be managed in a fiduciary manner, and that boards not take liberties and detours from that general mission, at least not without consulting and apprising the community in timely and regular fashion.
While it may not seem at first glance a topic of concern for congress — the many complaints I have seen both locally and from other states where HOAs are prevalent has convinced me that this is more than just a local issue, and that homeowners are clamoring for some relief from these HOAs gone bad.
In one local West Boca HOA community the Board of Directors, without so much as consulting the community, took the unusual and costly action of filing a lawsuit against a fellow homeowner for publishing a website critical of the BOD, claiming that the homeowner engaged in libel. Frustrated homeowners were alarmed to learn recently that costs associated with the lawsuit may already be in excess of $50,000, a sum nearly equal to a full months assessment, with no end in sight. When asked in open board meetings for exact numbers associated with the lawsuit, the president states that ‘he doesn’t know’ how much has been spent.
As a first step to bringing relief to HOA homeowners, I have created a petition that will be forwarded to your state legislators demanding some changes in the way that HOAs should be responsible to their communities.
FIX Our HOAs :: MANDATE TRANSPARENCY IN OUR MOST LOCAL OF GOVERNMENTS
Homeowners in Florida HOAs (Homeowners Associations) continue to be frustrated with Boards of Directors who will not adhere and submit to the spirit of transparency in community affairs, especially as applies to timely and convenient access to HOA records.
Florida House Bill 319 and it’s Florida Senate counterpart do not go far enough to address issues of access to records and transparency of HOA Boards of Directors.
We the undersigned do hereby petition that the legislature, declare HOAs (Homeowner Associations) as “Public Agencies,” as defined in Florida’s Sunshine Laws (Open Records and Open Meetings), inasmuch as HOAs do function as quasi-governmental authorities, with the powers to tax (assess), and even the power to fine Homeowners.
Additionally, in an open HOA meeting, Board of Directors shall be obligated by law to orally answer questions of fact about HOA business as may be posed by Homeowners, to the best of their abilities, and not to obfuscate the truths that the members may be seeking.
We, the undersigned, frustrated residents of Florida HOA communities, do hereby petition you, our elected State representatives to revisit the current language of the aforementioned bills, and to address the critically important issues of HOA Boards of Directors transparency and truthfullness in the execution of their duties.
To let your local state representatives and senators know that you are ready for some legislative relief, please consider signing the petition at:
http://www.change.org/petitions/fix-our-hoas-mandate-transparency-in-our-most-local-of-governments

Republican Candidate Jamboree July 21

The county GOP is having a candidate meet and greet event on July 21 from noon to 4 pm at 16700 Jog Road in Delray Beach.
Cost is $20 per person. Kids under 8 are free. The event includes “great food, music, family entertainment, face painting and souvenirs.”. The food will include BBQ.
Read more at PBC GOP.
If anyone can advise us of Democrat events we would be happy to post them as well.

Steve Perman on the West Boca Question

State Representative Steve Perman is the first to answer our West Boca Question.
Question 2:
The office you seek covers West Boca Raton and other communities. What issues do you see as particularly relevant for the residents of West Boca?
Answer:
I have just had the pleasure of speaking before the West Boca Community Council this past Tuesday morning at their “Meet Your Candidates” event. As the incumbent State Representative, West Boca resident and small business owner in this community for the past 17 years, I have noticed the sluggish economy and our cost-of-living issues weighing heavily each of us, though the recent drop in gas prices has been a welcome relief. Though West Boca may be more “upscale” compared with communities in other parts of the State, we are all still simply doing our best to safely raise our kids and get them the best education, live well and maintain our home values. My focus as a legislator has been on job creation and economic stimulation, affordable and accessible health care, fresh water supply, agriculture, and protecting those who are least able to protect themselves, children and senior citizens. These priorities have been well-reflected in the bills I have sponsored, co-sponsored and especially those that have been passed and signed into law.
Rep. Steve Perman

Senate Candidates at Boca Tea Party

The Palm Beach County Tea Party and South Florida 912 had an event tonight with candidates for State Senate at the Boca Greens clubhouse. It was very well attended, perhaps 200 people.

The Senate candidates relevant to West Boca Raton are Republicans Geoffrey Sommers and Melanie Peterson. There is also a Democrat running but he is not expected at this Tea Party event. Also present is Mike Lameyer, whose district is east of the Turnpike but doesn’t include West Boca.
1st question:
Regarding Gov. Scott’s plan on Obamacare and Medicaid, what would you do?
Melanie Peterson: I will stand with Gov. Scott. This is the best decision for Florida.
Mike Lameyer: Agree with Gov. Taxpayers would have to come up with $1.2B.
Geoff Sommers: With Gov. Scott. This would expand Medicaid rolls a lot. Favors private markets for health insurance.
Q2: Increase pension contribution and reduce other pension benefits? What would you do?
Lameyer: Govt employees should pay for their own retirement. State pension system is broke. Use 401k retirement plans.
Sommers: Private accounts the only way. Government workers should not get more than private sector workers. FL should remain a right to work state.
Peterson: Last year $300M into state pension, a big chunk to fix the gap. Have to have a conversation with state workers. They have to sacrifice too. Current system punishes self employed and small business owners.
Q3: Privatization of FL prison system?
Sommers: Privatize whatever can be done better by private sector.
Peterson: Crime at an all time low. Supports Gov. 100%.
Lameyer: Privatize wherever possible. Send officers back out on patrol.
Q4: State tax credits to green energy companies?
Peterson: Don’t like singling out a single industry. We need tax relief for everyone.
Lameyer: Supports free market development of energy resources.
Sommers: Oppose crony capitalism. Quoted from Peterson’s website where she supported tax breaks for windmills. Sommers claimed it would benefit a friend of Peterson.
Peterson denied this was a government break, and claimed this was a good project for us.
Q5: Education
Lameyer: Supports voucher program. That’s what creates competition.
Sommers: Hold schools accountable. Support school choice and charter schools where necessary.
Peterson: Education system is broken. Charter schools are doing well because privately run. Criticized FCAT and suggested privatizing Dept of Education.
(Big audience response in favor of Peterson on this)
Q6: Expand casino gambling?
Lameyer: I don’t gamble. If a community wants gambling we have to respect that. But claims casinos increase crime, drug abuse and more. And that every casino job causes loss of 1.2 jobs.
Peterson: If constituents want it have to respect it. But would try to educate voters about the balance and associated crime.
Sommers: Same view as the others. Expand gambling in a moderate way through existing licenses.
Q7: E-verify?
Sommers: Thumbs up. We have to work with federal government on immigration issues.
Peterson: Opposed to mandate from state. Should not be a state level decision. Hurts FL businesses competitively with other states. Guest worker program with closed borders. Opposes state benefits to illegals.
(This was a great answer to an audience that was initially dubious but she won them over.)
Lameyer: Used e-verify in his company. Supports it emphatically. Pointed to food stamps for non-citizens.
(Audience loved his answer).
Q8: Eliminate corporate income tax and all targeted tax breaks. (Americans for Prosperity pledge) You?
Sommers: I have signed that pledge and support it.
Lameyer: Support it. Let’s get some of these foreign car plants in FL.
Peterson: Gov. Scott on right track. Supports Amendment 4.
Q9: Veto of $143M in local project spending. Was he right?
Peterson: Yes
Lameyer: Yes.
Sommers: Criticized Abruzzo for bragging about bacon.
Q10: Citizens Insurance
Sommers: Depopulate Citizens – bring competition back in.
Lameyer: Bad idea then. Worse now. Bring other insurers back in.
Peterson: Reduce size of Citizens. Spoke at a technical level, about population density vs risk mitigation, rate modeling, undercapitalized, and more. Seemed more knowledgeable but audience eyes glazed over a bit.