Election of March 2005 Remember this mayoral election that occurred on 3-22-05? Mr. Romano had raised ten times the amount of his opponent and lost the election:
Romano: $54,555
and newcomer,
Marc Drautz with little money, $5,250.
The moral of the story? Well you get it. It isn't always the amount of money you collect although many believe that it takes three things to win: "The first is money, and the second is money and the third is money," a line from the book the Dark side of Camelot and attributed to Joseph L. Kane, a campaign operative of JFK's. In the case of the City of Lake Worth, it is $50,000 of taxpayer money to be used for campaigning for the general obligation 30 year bond to ensure its passage. The taxpayers' only voice will be at the ballot box, not an even playing field.
It is the amount of public disgust that motivates the voters to change the tide. It is the simple fact that some elected officials (too many) just don't listen to the people they serve and consider anything they might say in opposition as "uninformed," "emotional," or "just plain not in their best interests." In other words, they consider you stupid. They are only there to please their "friends." They have lost touch with the people and have no clue what the people are thinking because they are surrounded only by their inner sanctum that isolates them and leads them to believe that they are right. They call out the other side and say that they are "disingenuous," a nicer sounding way of saying "you are a liar" and all of the other things mentioned above. Arrogance usually will bring defeat or at least it should.
So, David slayed Goliath in 2005 for whatever reasons. It can be done again on August 26, 2014.
Marc Drautz
55.63%
Rodney Romano
44.37%
Who knows what will be the outcome until later tonight. It is just sad that so many that rent all are voting in favor of this bond, well knowns in LW like Andy, Mark, and Javier all are voting for the bond, yet all only rent and do not own any property in this city. This vote should be for only property owners only as they are the ones affected by higher taxes, renters are clueless since they do not pay taxes as they do not own property. And now they say Andy is running for county commissioner. All these renters!!!!
ReplyDeleteRenters do indeed pay taxes since landlords capture taxes in the rent. I've told my tenants, increased City of LW taxes or GO bond means higher rent for them. If you are referring to the folks who don't pay City of LW taxes and therefore won't pay for the bond, will that includes lots of property owners and renters so your proposal doesn't really work.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think the GO Bond is unfair tax scheme and I've voted no, to suggest restricting voting to property owners only almost seems like you are trolling.
There are more renters in this and rentals, the owners of the rentals can't vote here if they have their home address or voting address elsewhere which many do. So renters win, since renters want better roads and sidewalks, etc. With a city that is 70% rental, homeowners here never have a say in anything, that is why the city is in such despair. Renters win, homeowners need to start promoting and getting more home-ownership in this city if they ever want their votes to count.
ReplyDelete