The Next Candidate, Please
The next candidate is .....
Earl Rynerson, who is running for Mayor.
The current Mayor, Jack Seiler, is running for re-election.
Here's Rynerson's responses to my questions -
Tim:
You asked why I was running for Mayor. Here are the reasons why I decided to run:
1. Out of control spending: Our Mayor has shown an inability to reduce spending or properly manage our budget, With the worst economy since the Great Depression, all City employees continue to receive pay raises, at our expense. Our budget is the biggest ever at $635 Million, almost double the size of our budget just 8 years ago!
2. Out of control pension costs: Our liability to the City Employee’s Pension plan now tops $1.1 Billion! Of that amount, over one fourth ($300 Million) is currently unfunded. We the taxpayers are now on the hook for that amount. Each year under Mayor Seiler’s leadership, the unfunded portion of our pensions has gotten worse.
3. Raiding our City’s savings account: When Mayor Seiler and our Commission took over, we had almost $80 million in our City’s savings account. Now we have only about $50 million. That’s because Mayor Seiler decided to raid the savings account each year to cover the shortfall in revenues caused by additional spending and pay raises to City employees.
4. No Vision for the City: After almost three years in office and our Mayor still cannot articulate a Vision for our City. His delay demonstrates a lack of leadership and has turned into an embarrassing (and expensive) fire drill that has done nothing to promote a future direction for our City. I’ve written a 20-chapter detailed Vision for Fort Lauderdale and it cost our City nothing.
5. Two-year delay in selecting a new City Manager: Finally, (after 2.5 years), we now have someone who is qualified to manage the day-to-day operations of the City: (City Manager Lee Feldman). But his arrival could have come two years earlier had the Mayor shown any initiative. Instead, Seiler dithered until just days before Gretsas’ departure, then hastily selected a Gretsas crony (Allyson Love) with zero managerial experience to manage our 2,600 person municipal operation for an additional 12 months.
Is this the kind of leadership our City deserves? He has demonstrated no passion to make our City better. I feel I can do better.
Earl Rynerson
Earl Rynerson, who is running for Mayor.
The current Mayor, Jack Seiler, is running for re-election.
Here's Rynerson's responses to my questions -
Tim:
You asked why I was running for Mayor. Here are the reasons why I decided to run:
1. Out of control spending: Our Mayor has shown an inability to reduce spending or properly manage our budget, With the worst economy since the Great Depression, all City employees continue to receive pay raises, at our expense. Our budget is the biggest ever at $635 Million, almost double the size of our budget just 8 years ago!
2. Out of control pension costs: Our liability to the City Employee’s Pension plan now tops $1.1 Billion! Of that amount, over one fourth ($300 Million) is currently unfunded. We the taxpayers are now on the hook for that amount. Each year under Mayor Seiler’s leadership, the unfunded portion of our pensions has gotten worse.
3. Raiding our City’s savings account: When Mayor Seiler and our Commission took over, we had almost $80 million in our City’s savings account. Now we have only about $50 million. That’s because Mayor Seiler decided to raid the savings account each year to cover the shortfall in revenues caused by additional spending and pay raises to City employees.
4. No Vision for the City: After almost three years in office and our Mayor still cannot articulate a Vision for our City. His delay demonstrates a lack of leadership and has turned into an embarrassing (and expensive) fire drill that has done nothing to promote a future direction for our City. I’ve written a 20-chapter detailed Vision for Fort Lauderdale and it cost our City nothing.
5. Two-year delay in selecting a new City Manager: Finally, (after 2.5 years), we now have someone who is qualified to manage the day-to-day operations of the City: (City Manager Lee Feldman). But his arrival could have come two years earlier had the Mayor shown any initiative. Instead, Seiler dithered until just days before Gretsas’ departure, then hastily selected a Gretsas crony (Allyson Love) with zero managerial experience to manage our 2,600 person municipal operation for an additional 12 months.
Is this the kind of leadership our City deserves? He has demonstrated no passion to make our City better. I feel I can do better.
Earl Rynerson
Nothing new from Mr. Rynerson. The same things he has said forever. Why doesn't he tell us what HE would do instead of attacking the Mayor? He very rarely attends Fort Lauderdale City Commission Meetings. Does he really know what goes on in our city? No thanks! I'll stick with Mayor Seiler.
Reply to this
Good Job Tim, Now that you have got Earl on the record, you've only got one political challenger left to get some answers from. Any word on when Jackie Scott might find the time to answer her critics and inform the voters as to why she is running?
Reply to this
FLL does not have a strong mayor form of government so any action, decisions and votes by FLL CC are from the 5 on the dais. A 3-2 vote can enact both good and bad for the city. So to see any positive and prudent change on the dais come March 14, we need at least 3 with common sense. The mayor would be one of those 3. If Earl is elected mayor and all other commissioners remain, there would likely be no change in voting action on the dais. Just something to consider when you vote January 31 and March 13.
Reply to this
a thousand words... no one around earl, no supporters, no hand shakes, no one cares. crimi probably has more supporters
Reply to this
Looks like photo is from Shippey move, not campaign event. When most of us are out and about, we don't have an entourage.
Reply to this
Earl makes some good points. I think we should look at the Police PAVE Program. Lots of money is being spent. I spoke with retired chief Bob Carter and he agrees. I know Rodstrom has always supported the program too.
Reply to this
David Hebert your sooo yesterday. Wait until I see you.
Reply to this
I am sure everyone posting here that follows city issues will vote for the mayor and commissioner candidate of their choice. That's what makes the US great - we each get that privilege, along with a civilly expressed opinion. Thank you Tim for the forum!
Reply to this
You don't really need to interview Rynerson to know what he's about; his website give you the information you need. He tried to come across as a fiscal conservative, but he wants the city to seize land for parks and revive railroads that are guaranteed to lose boatloads of money.
Reply to this