Infamous Political PersonEndorsing one of its own, the PBCHRC members and aficionados were at the Playhouse last night in support of their candidate, Lisa Maxwell. They must have filled half the Playhouse. It was all about supporting one of their own in solidarity. Politics over Principle.
This is the candidate who continues to say politically correct statements such as she "wants to bring this city together"--"it is too divisive" and not one single person believes her, not even her greatest supporters, the Gay, Lesbian community. This election is all about grabbing back the power for some and the others just want someone gay no matter who. You sound correct, we will love ya because we know that you will beat up on all those other commissioners who we have been told are "ruining our city with immigrants" and who have "caused all the blight"...you know, all those shhh "anarchists."
Maxwell again brought up the Utility. I guess she doesn't read my blog. We do have generation, Lisa. She doesn't know anything about FMPA. She also brought up contracts. She doesn't think that we should ever break one even when it is bad or would cost the city millions like the water contract with the County this Commission ended and saved the City $3.5 million. But she reminded us that she has lots of budget experience. Jumping on the high utility rate bandwagon, she said that we should not be using money from the Utility to operate our city. In an ideal world that might be true, but we have to pay for all these Union retirement funds that have collapsed Lake Worth. I don't want someone as Mayor who has tunnel vision and someone who would easily cost us money that we don't have. Fiscal responsibility is the key but even more than that, knowing the facts of the matters at hand is essential. Lisa does not.
I was interested in seeing Waterman on her feet and was she ever. She did an excellent job--was quick, spontaneous, on point and knew her stuff. When Ramiccio attacked her for glancing at notes, she said, "Don't hate me for being prepared." You just know that she won't put up with any screwing around on the Dais. She mentioned her 20 years of experience in urban redevelopment and major infrastructure projects that brought new investment to Palm Beach County. She can do the same for Lake Worth. When Maxwell mentioned we needed a Grant Writer, she told the crowd that she was one. She has so many degrees that it isn't funny. Smart people who work hard are qualities that have to impress. It did me.
Tom Ramiccio was fun to listen to--a real showman. He sort of reminded folks of Rodney Romano's antics. Romano did beat him in his last campaign. He was rude to Waterman when he suggested she was an "anarchist." What a silly and stupid thing to say. Unfortunately, Ramiccio stands for everything I do not. He wants to outsource the entire City of Lake Worth. It doesn't matter whether or not it is feasible or something that would costs us millions, he just wants to do it. Get rid of our Utility he says and sell it to FPL. He stated, after being challenged by Waterman, "It's not shortsighted to consider selling this outdated piece of equipment." Tom, don't you know that we have been upgrading our Utility and our new RO will be open next month. We have a $66 million Bond on our Utility for this. And Tom just wants to p**s it away by selling it probably getting pennies on the dollar, if we could sell it at all.
Ramiccio has collected a lot of money from Wayne Akers folks and has a few more fund raisers to go. And to Wayne Akers Ford, it's not going to help you. Your favorable rate that saves you approximately $10,000 a month is under scrutiny right now and the commission is looking to adjust it fairly. Other rate customers have been subsidizing Wayne Akers Ford and this will stop. Campaign money helps when you are trying to get elected.
Javier DelSol was never better as he was last night and made some excellent points. He has some supporters out there who believe along with him that "whitey" is a racist.
The format was awful. Everyone should have answered the same question. Lisa showed her mean streak. Tom is full of hot-air. Waterman was sharp and I was impressed. Javier doesn't like white people.
ReplyDeleteJohn Jordan
Ahhh, I too was quite impressed with Mrs. Waterman. And I see Lisa's reputation for her mean streak is not lost on others. That all inclusive, bring the people of the community together philosophy is all well and good if it's to do her bidding. And not as many people in the gay community support her as you may think. If you scratch just below the surface and many have, you would find that she has never conducted her private life in keeping with the progression of gay rights. Quite the contrary, she has used every law against gay rights to her full advantage. Not to mention that her "budgetary" experience which seems to be part of her main platform is far from impressive. Those that have worked with her intimately in such realms have thrown their hands in the air in exasperation as a result of her perpetual shortsightedness and arrogance and were forced to sever professional ties.
ReplyDeleteTom definitely presented himself well also. And I highly applaud Javier's efforts.
o.k. we get it. You're all enamored of Waterman, regardless of her recent personal financial disasters and her inability to verify any claims she's making about her wonderful job history.
ReplyDeleteDrautz, Mulvehill, Waterman.
As long as it's not "one of them" you're all good. And the city looks that way.
Waterman presents herself as a very smart, successful woman who now wants to serve our city. Reality is that she is in a financial mess and I think she wants to improve her resume by being mayor for a few months. What a fake. I also am hearing that she also wants to sell the utility but will not publicly put that on the record.
ReplyDeleteIn 2009, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts determined that there were 1,412,838 non-business bankruptcy filings in this country in that year. Assuming that each non-business bankruptcy filing means one person filed for bankruptcy, then one out of every 212 individuals in the country, including the number of children, filed for bankruptcy in 2009. A bankruptcy filing can include a husband and wife, and therefore the number of filings of 1,412,838, means that more than that number of individuals filed for bankruptcy that year.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know the circumstances of Ms. Waterman's. I am rather sure that a lot of people last night were interested in how she would answer that question. Also, when other candidates had similar problems in this City of recent years, no one went out against them, i.e., Clemens and one other.
So, I am sure if you called her, she would answer your concerns.
The post above makes me wonder if I attended the same debate. Lisa was subdued, Tom was shrill, javier hates white people and the government and Rachel came across much better than I had envisioned. Since she has not been here very long, it was apparent she was coached, and very effectively. Even though I don't support her, I think she "won" the debate.
ReplyDeleteHer "gotcha" moment was advocating putting a chicken farm in the park of commerce. I agree it was an awful format, poorly run. Podiums didn't match and Lisa's lighting made her look sinister. And what was with the microphones? Couldn't they have just left them all "on"?
No new news. Just about what we all thought but did finally hear from Rachel and what she thinks.
Ok, so now you are calling Waterman a liar. You guys take the cake. She answered the question last night. Not one person in her political camp has any desire to sell the Utility. So why spread a rumor to suit your politics? Nasty. Let's "attack" people on the facts, not rumors.
ReplyDeleteMaxwell doesn't want to bring this city together. No way, Jose. She would walk over a dying body and say "ugh, we need to clean up the trash."
ReplyDeleteShe reminded me of a young Lois Frankel. Sharp and someone who gets the job done.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame when someone can say Waterman won the debate but "I don't support her." I have to wonder why not. Who do you support then and why? Lisa is sinister looking without any lightening.
ReplyDeleteI don't support her because she is a newcomer to Lake Worth and pretty much an "unknown". She stated that she was unsure if she'd be running for the office in November. Why is that? She only wants to be Mayor for 4 months. Is she holding the seat for someone else? Who?
ReplyDeleteI was just impressed she was able to hold her own against Ramiccio. She wasn't a wilting flower.
She has the type of baggage with liens and foreclosures that, try as she may, Lynn can't paint as fiscal stability. This is the newcomer who doesn't want to pursue the office in November we should put in place to handle a strained $23 million budget?
Her experience cannot be verified easily... she is not forthcoming on the details.
My point was that she is a good debater. She came across as smart. I personally don't want to see chickens, male or female, running around Lake Worth. It'll make us look more like Guatemala than we do now.
Javier is a racist of the worst kind. No matter what you do, if you are white, you are the devil, right javier?
Tom is dirty and had the cahones to site his stint at the Chamber (that fired him and he sued and left in bad financial shape) and take credit for everything short of sunshine. While it would be fun to have him sit next to Mulvihill who started his downfall at the chamber, (sort of brings back fond memories of Mulvihill waving a "dolphin killer" sign before Rene got elected). Who's devisive?
So that leaves Lisa. No ethics challenges. She wrongly states we don't generate electricity (we do produce up to 10% of our needs, thank you Lynn) So we don't produce 90% of our electricity. She is successful and hasn't filed for foreclosure or have any liens. With our current commission makeup, that could be a negative. She is a LONG TIME RESIDENT and has served as a volunteer on city boards that have consequences in this city.
While I don't agree with everything she says or does, she has the same "tough" qualities that Lynn espouses in Stanton.
Hope that answers your questions.
Well, I doubt Lisa would take the comparison to Lois Frankel as much of a compliment. Behind the scenes let's just say she wasn't her biggest fan.
ReplyDeleteOh no, it was Waterman who is more like Lois Frankel. Frankel would be up on facts. Quick, bright and a go-getter who brings home the bacon. Those are traits that I do like in Lois.
ReplyDeletehahaha, that's funny, Ramiccio did not sue the chamber of commerce, someone has the facts WRONG, whoever took over after him did not bother to recruit new members or raise money at the different events they put on, that's why they are going bankrupt. And the fat lady who is sitting behind the desk now is just eating bonbons all day gettint fatter !
ReplyDeleteYou've got Foley's photo up there. I heard that he is working hard behind the scenes for Ramiccio. Have you heard anything about that? I am getting something in the mail from Tom almost every day. I am suspicious of anyone with that much money for this campaign. I wonder who Varela would support. Probably no nothing Maxwell like he did last year. Who knows about that one. The biggest observation of mine is that Lisa is actually smiling. She never smiles. I bet she never smiles ever anyway about anything. She is an angry woman. I missed the playhouse but I am sure I didn't miss much.
ReplyDeleteWhat questions were yours, Lynn? There were no questions submitted from Murry Hills online. Ron Exline delivered a number of hand written questions and they were all used.
ReplyDeleteFor those who didn't like the format, what would you change specifically? The NAPC has received very positive feedback on this debate format. So much so that the League of Women Voters and N.O.W. switched their debates over to this format after seeing it in action during LW's October debate. However, we are always looking for feedback that will make these better so give us your ideas.
As far as the mismatched podiums, the NAPC borrows these from organizations all over the city. Podiums are expensive and not worth purchasing for a once a year event. If someone would like to donate 4+ matching podiums, the NAPC has a place to store them and would graciously accept them from you.
The lighting and microphones are run by the LW Playhouse staff. I was told they kept shutting them off because candidates kept getting too close and causing feedback.
Finally, the questions were asked in the order which they were given to the moderator. Candidates drew straws for speaking positions. There was no way to know who was going to be asked what questions and the debate's format leaves it open enough to answer, rebut or respond to questions at will.
Sorry-
ReplyDeleteI do not live in Murry Hills. I submitted mine through ROLOH. Right now I don't even remember what they were. No problem.
I think I stated above how I would like it done. Everyone answers the same question and everyone has a chance to rebut. These questions were too long and by the time the moderator got to the end of one, you forgot the beginning...(only kidding). Also, I don't like questions trying to bait someone and those that insinuate that someone is what they are not.
Who decided on the questions? How many people in the NA?
Below are all the questions submitted by ROLOH and the dates/times they were submitted. All but two were asked. One was not asked because it was not relevant and the second was not asked because it wasn't a great question.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to all 34 of the questions that were asked on Wednesday:
http://lwnapc.org/downloads/20110613_DebateQuestions3.pdf
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6/2/2011 10:03:09 ROLOH
-If elected,will you support the completion of our beach and casino remodel and the completion of our RO water system?Yes or no. – Question #17
-Should our elected Commissioners or our City Manager review contracts concerning Lake Worth. – Not asked.
6/2/2011 17:43:29 ROLOH
-If elected ,how will you determine what is in the best interests of the citizens in the district that you represent? – This question is not relevant. The election is for a Mayor not a Commissioner to represent a district.
6/2/2011 17:44:48 ROLOH
-Are you for or against exiting the FMPA contract? – Question #14
6/2/2011 18:02:37 ROLOH
-Will you demand that city Commission meetings end no later than 10P.M.? – Question #21
Ryan, I did not ask any questions through ROLOH's web page. It was a link to your site that Robert sent to me. So, that is all that I can tell you. Thanks for sending all of this. The questions were comprehensive enough and then some.
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