PostageGate Update
She did do it !
I just got off the phone, (again), with City Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson. She called to apologize to me for lying during our phone call this morning, and was about to come clean to the press.
She is guilty of the infraction of using the taxpayer's money to mail campaign literature after all. The allegation by fellow Commissioner Christine Teel is true, and Hutchinson, just minutes ago, sent out the following statement.
For Immediate Release Contact: Stephen Gaskill
Thursday, April 3, 2008
STATEMENT OF CINDI HUTCHINSON
There has been an allegation that an envelope with materials regarding my Mayoral campaign was sent from City Hall and then returned because of an addressing error. I am issuing this statement to set the record straight and apologize for this mistake-- I used a city envelope, label and about $4.00 in postage for my campaign needs. I am sorry that some may have the perception that I didn't live up to the standards that have characterized my eight years as a City Commissioner. Throughout my tenure as a City Commissioner I have prided myself on the trust that our residents and those working in the Commission office have felt towards me and I have always focused on providing positive leadership for our City. This momentary lapse of judgement underscores my commitment to work harder to retain the trust of our citizens. I am sorry, and this will not happen again.
I'm pretty mad and disappointed that Hutchinson lied to me this morning, particularly knowing that I was about to share it with you. I can say that I am not going to guage her entire political career on this one misjudgement, but what will ultimately be more important to Hutchinson is what the voters think.
I just got off the phone, (again), with City Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson. She called to apologize to me for lying during our phone call this morning, and was about to come clean to the press.
She is guilty of the infraction of using the taxpayer's money to mail campaign literature after all. The allegation by fellow Commissioner Christine Teel is true, and Hutchinson, just minutes ago, sent out the following statement.
For Immediate Release Contact: Stephen Gaskill
Thursday, April 3, 2008
STATEMENT OF CINDI HUTCHINSON
There has been an allegation that an envelope with materials regarding my Mayoral campaign was sent from City Hall and then returned because of an addressing error. I am issuing this statement to set the record straight and apologize for this mistake-- I used a city envelope, label and about $4.00 in postage for my campaign needs. I am sorry that some may have the perception that I didn't live up to the standards that have characterized my eight years as a City Commissioner. Throughout my tenure as a City Commissioner I have prided myself on the trust that our residents and those working in the Commission office have felt towards me and I have always focused on providing positive leadership for our City. This momentary lapse of judgement underscores my commitment to work harder to retain the trust of our citizens. I am sorry, and this will not happen again.
I'm pretty mad and disappointed that Hutchinson lied to me this morning, particularly knowing that I was about to share it with you. I can say that I am not going to guage her entire political career on this one misjudgement, but what will ultimately be more important to Hutchinson is what the voters think.
I feel that the Commissioner title to Cindi Hutchinson is a Career/Job/....a way to pay her bills, and when that is the case I believe the person is willing to do anything to keep the position. That can lead to dishonest statements and place herself before the Residents of Ft Lauderdale. Very sad to see this unfolding for some time in Miss Hutchinson's Case.
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I agree with you Raymond.
As the saying goes ~ "you made your bed, now you must lie in it."
Sad that Cindi would stoop so low, for I had much more respect in her as a person than this.
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Think about it voters~
Cindi used city property for her campaign use to run for our next Mayor. Do you really want to have Cindi as our next Mayor if she has already used city property for her purpose, than lieing about it? I certainly do not!!!!!!!
If it were not for Commissioner Teel more less blowing the whistle. Thank you Commissioner Teel!
Our city needs a "honest" Mayor (think Seiler)
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Trixie, you make great points
Lets remember Cindi is currently serving the residents of her District as Commissioner. The violations she committed took place as she was an elected official which trumps and I think fare worse then just being am agressive candidate. That is the real story. She should be recalled.
Cindi is like Elliot Spitzer its almost like she wanted to get caught.
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OOOPS! This will be just one more reason the general public never trusts or believes anyone in politics---sad, because this incident was so uncalled for ---
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Just something else we (taxpayers) are paying for! Thank God it was only one envelope that we know of. Really have to wonder how many more were sent out?
Maybe Cindi will think twice about running for Mayor now. Time will tell when the time comes.
Shame on you Cindi for spending my money on your campaign literature to be mailed!
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Hi Tim,
Like the blogs, it serves as a check and balance to the system and or lack thereof.
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I think the Florida Commission on Ethics should be notified. I am tired of this crap. We (Residents) are pushed a side when we have concerns about our neighborhoods and the leader's say they know best. I am tired of the different standards between Public Officials and Residents. When a Public Official is caught doing something wrong, that is over looked, but when Residents brings a concern to their leaders (Commissioner's) like the slow response to a residents Police calls about a suspicious person and Drug Dealers and Hookers in the Neighborhood and they listen, but almost nothing is done and nothing changes. Within weeks the problems are back and when a Commissioner lies when asked about this incident of using Public property is brushed aside and forgiven because Commissioner Hutchinson is our Queen. She has passed judgment on our lives for years. I say she has violated public trust and should resign. She is not my Queen. I am Mad has hell dealing with Hookers and Drug Dealers in the Neighborhood and I believe a BIG part of the problem I have in my Neighborhood is Because no support of my City Elected Officials and I am Not willing to give Queen Commissioner Hutchinson a free Pass.
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Hey Raymond, I understand how you feel for sure! #1 the Florida Commission of Ethics should be notified, but who is going to have the balls to do it & would it really matter?
However, I cannot blame the Police Department for slow response time on many calls ~ we have our wonderful "elected officals" to thank this for.
I live in a district that has hardly ever got support from our commissioner with our problems, only promises that something will be done. (yeah right) Still waiting for some of the promises to come true.
When did Cindi receive the Crown of a Queen? (she may think she is, but reality ~ she is not!)
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Hey Trixie, I would say I felt Hutchinson was Crowned around her second term,when she Placed the Neighborhood's below other's like working from the Top Down and not from the bottom up. Go to www.fortlauderdaleobserver.com a lot of Information about Commissioner Hutchinson. and yes Trixie, reporting this incident to the Ethics Commission would matter because too often the most important thing to Public Officials is getting ReElected and Admitted Hutchinson that she used our Public funded Office supplies to serve herself. The public should send a strong message that this is wrong. It reminds me of a King's or Queen's or President's like Hugo chavez or Micro Managers like GG that believe they can do anything and we will all step aside and agree. Some forget the Government is most to be Governed by the people for the people.
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(quote)Hutchinson's trouble began last week when she dropped 40 to 50 postcard invitations to her Thursday night fund-raiser in the mail. They were in a city envelope, with City Hall address label, and taxpayers paid the postage.(unquote)
Let's fiqure some math here ~ Cindi spent anywhere from $172.80-$216.00 of taxpayers money to mail her invitations out. This is darn right wrong! (got caught by one bad address) There is "faith"
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We have much bigger problems than $4.32 and a lie - not that it is okay - but shouldn't the entire commission have been more concerned with the lack of public safety, the unrest of the neighborhoods with their performance and the upcoming very tough budget year...yet ethics queen Teel - no need to do a good deed - can't find her way to resolve the police contract other than to say "no" with Rodstrom - is it just to hard to understand the art of compromise or is everything a "must win at all cost" - re-election time makes them all foolish and this year seems to have a bumper crop of fools. Hopefully this election will bring new vision and leadership - and not the same old one we have had!
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Let's have some new vision! Right, the same CITIZENS' who voted for "tax reform" when the economy is bust, and oh yeah they want more police officers and faster response to calls, all on property that will probably be valued at less, and the Commission will have their hands tied to do anything much with the budget due to "tax reform" but we can hope for some new vison and leadership-YEAH HOPEFULLY FROM SOME OF THE CITIZENS' who fail to understand government, get what they want (tax reform) and then bitch about services they think they should have but the City can't afford to give them.
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Hey Raymond Dettman and Trixie - you guys dating? You sure do talk alot!
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As is the case with many other politicans, Cindi's worst offense was not the postage, but the lie following the accusation. This is sad and very disappointing.
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Great new blog Tim - keep up the great work. Unfortunatly, Cindi's going to need more than a slick, communications director to get her out of this one!
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Everything in life requires some sort of rules, or there would be chaos. Cindi felt that those rules didn't apply to her, when she crossed that line. Oh yea, She got caught red handed and lied as well...
SHAME SHAME SHAME
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Hey all. I called The City today and asked for information about the incident involving Commissioner Hutchinson and the use of City Funds in mailing her Campaign material, and asked for a Copy of the Envelope that was received by the Commission Asst, and was informed that there was no copy made of the envelope. It sounds like our City Government is Ok with brushing this under the rug .Do you all feel that is Ok ???? Why are the other Elected Official's letting this go without a investigation.
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