So, Who Else Won Yesterday?
The General Election.
It happens every three years here in Fort Lauderdale. And as is usually the case, just a smidgen over 10% of us went to the voting booth and elected our fearless leaders for the next cycle.
lonely voting booth!
So we now know that the team of Seiler, Roberts, Rodstrom, Dubose, and Rogers will fill out that most important roster and decide how much to tax, what roads to fix, whether we need new Fire trucks, etc.
But the new City Commission were not the only winners yesterday. There were other winners, even though they weren't on any ballot.
......................................................................
Here's how I see it:
....... Fort Lauderdale's Voting Process -
It's a big winner for sure. The term limit law that finally and completely kicked in this year gave us a new City Commission that has four new members. That will guarantee the City new ideas, new energy, and a positive feeling that we can shed off the ugly baggage of the past.
....... Decorum,Decency,Manners -
It's been fun and entertaining at times to watch all the shenanigans and insanity on the Commission dais, but unproductive. This new group seems to get that. It's the people's business, and it should be done with respect. We should see a whole lot more this time around.
........ New King Makers -
We love to hate Judi Stern, the queen of brash politics, but there are new campaign consultants quietly surging onto the scene. Mark Ketcham is the most notable, having just won another election against an incumbent ( he led Bruce Robert's campaign to victory over incumbent Teel this time, and had a big win for Ken Keechl over incumbent Jim Scott last year). Also, former State Rep candidate Alain Jean won strong as campaign manager for Bobby Dubose.
New King Maker Ketcham ?
...... Fort Lauderdale Police -
If it wasn't Mayor Naugle calling them lazy, or City Manager Gretsas likening their Union boss to a feral cat, it was Teel blaming them for an out of control budget, (even if it was only a tiny fraction of the increase in City spending). Now, one of theirs (Roberts) will be sitting on the dais, and Mayor-Elect Seiler and Commissioner Rodstrom are expected to be Police friendly.
Mounted Division FLPD
...... Me!
I endorsed four out of the five City Commission winners on this blog over the last month ! Whew ...
I've been sweating it!
Tim Smith - Student Council Pres. 1969
Ketcham is a hack. He abandoned Coleman Prewitt, and had to call in Judy Stern and her sleazy tactics to eke out a win for Roberts. And everyone knows he didn't manage Keechl's win, he walked into a campaign plan that was already written; his job was to drive Keechl to events.
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....... Decorum,Decency,Manners –
With respect to decorum, decency, and manners, I disagree. Here in District One, I have never seen such nasty and often inaccurate campaign literature mailed by both sides.
I was amazed by both the quantify (which represents MONEY) and the negativity. In addition, here in District One, the members (Board Presidents only) of the Becker & Poliakoff toady organization, the Galt Community Association, used their Association’s mailing lists to send out Teel literature. That seems to have worked, for Teel carried the Galt three-to-one. Of course, it was a meaningless win, for now the Galt must deal with freshman City Commissioner Bruce Roberts.
Who can forget sham of what you called the “Ambush on the Galt, when Pio allowed Marty Glazer and Mike Katz to attempt to embarrass Attorney Garcia. Of course, it backfired, and Pio, Glazer, and Katz were revealed for the bitter, vengeful old men they are.
It was a bad day for the Galt.
Fort Lauderdale's Voting Process –
I agree that we can all thank God that term limits finally flushed the Naugledale public toilet. I know this was one of your issues when you were on the Commission. (NOTE: Please run again, Tim.) In that respect, Fort Lauderdale was a big winner.
However, the big loser was also Fort Lauderdale and the registered voters. Voter turnout was embarrassingly low in the February 10 and March 10 ‘elections.’ A new mayor to replace naughty Naugle was selected only a handful of the registered voters. Similarly, new commissioners were selected by meager percentages of registered voters. None of those elected can consider that they have a ‘mandate,’ or any expression of support from Fort Lauderdale’s registered voters.
It was a bad day for the electoral process.
........ Fort Lauderdale Electoral Reform –
Holding our local elections a few months after a Presidential election guarantees low voter turnout. In addition, we had the expense of two (2 – count them) elections. I have not seen the numbers, but this is a foolish waste of money in this, the Great Recession. Voter turnout for National elections is embarrassingly low, and our strange little February/March elections have so few voters that they raise the entire electoral process into doubt. We can only ask our new elected officials to end the February/March waste, and hold our elections with the National elections.
Make this a priority, Seiler and crew.
........ New King Makers –
Tim, Judi Stern is not worthy of mention in your blog. The other Judi-wannabes remind me of the HBO show about little people. On the other hand, this is South Florida, and who could expect more?
Yawn.
........ COMMISSION SEAT #1 MIRAMAR
There was one big winner on March 10; the citizens of Miramar. They went to the polls and defeated Fitzroy Salesman. Let us hope that Salesman avoids criminal conviction and gets himself into some sort of anger management program.
It was a good day for Miramar.
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ketcham, what a joke, oster and stern won it for bruce. wake up, alan jean and bobby had judy stern on speed dial for the last month. this is all rodstrom and stern
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Tim, your taste in clothes hasn't changed much since 1969, but at least you cut your hair!
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Congrats to Judy Stern and Mark Ketchum for running the SLEAZIEST campaigns. Rodstrom and Roberts are both sleazy and time will show who they really are. Rodstrom is just using the seat until she runs for Johns seat...only in Fort lauderdale can a flight attendant and a bartender(john and Charlotte) be the King and Queen of politics. And Roberts will run the city like a police state. SOOO many police and firefighter unions were working the pools for him, I wonder what he owes them....BIG pensions that will cost the city millions. Coleman Prewitt was the only good guy in the race, so far other than Seiler and Dubois, The 3R's(Roberts, Rodstrom, Rogers) are all there for the WRONG reasons~!
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I can tell you that Judi stern had nothing to do with the Roberts campaign. and I think Kethum did a great job and it sounds like a lot of sour grapes on here to me.
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I think I seen tim wearing that exact same shirt! And Ketchum rules!
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Tim- I agree to all the "winning"points you touched upon in this piece, and hold out hope for a much brighter city.
As for the photo of you in 1969,I can see you have aged oh so gracefully,with the exception of a few folicles! It was quite evident then that you were headed to be a leader,and thanks for not letting us down..
As for the attack on Ketcham from your responders,I think it's petty jealousy from folks that perhaps ought to find new careers.Let's not forget folks, that Ketcham was instrumental in getting Rodstrom elected to her first term. Let's give credit where credit's due,and quit being shallow!
Lastly, I think you,Tim ought to be a paid consultant,as you seem to have your finger on the pulse of the city more than anyone. I wish you had run for Mayor!
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Ketcham is getting credit he hasn't earned...he has a partner in the business as well - Leslie Backus and she is the one with experience and oversees the pieces that are done. While he worked on Keechl's campaign - he was not the manager so don't give him that credit...there were lots of people working on that and he was just a team members no matter what he might want you to think. He and Leslie won one and lost one...that rates as 50% no matter how you look at it...that doesn't make him a star...and based on the number of votes...damn lucky.
Campaign managers are paid hacks...nothing more - it certainly doesn't pledge their allegience.
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How sad to see the negative and unprofessional remarks on this article. I am embarrased to be associated with citizens in this wonderful city that express this type of opinion. Grow up. Give credit where credit is due, critize when appropriate, don't create a false truth. Obviously, the authors of these comments don't understand the importance of being a united city. Please move somewhere else and make this a better place to live. Thank you.
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