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"Lake Worth politics is known for being testy and sometimes down-right nasty, with candidates hurling insults and spreading misinformation instead of debating issues. This year was no different due to Hartman's presence. Hartman is a self-described anarchist and there was a palpable fear among many residents that if he prevailed, much of the progress the city has made would grind to a halt."
~ Kevin D. Thompson
Palm Beach Post Reporter
I don't know where Mr. Thompson gets his information but issues were debated in the three forums that we had in Lake Worth and in a few separate neighborhood associations where they invited those running just in their district. They answered everything thrown at them. And they answered, truthfully I might add, at the door. The challengers ran independently, unlike the Trio, but the incumbents mislead the public and told you differently.
I ask to what progress does Mr. Thompson refer? The incumbents who were determined not to lose power and that free lunch, had $127,000 between them and ran as a Trio.They put out the despicable attack mailers, some using a PAC to do it. Ryan Hartman was the perfect target and they instilled fear in the electorate. Hartman explained his activism and being an environmentalist. Just the word "anarchist" and people believe that ISIS is on their doorstep.
Even Andy Amoroso made an untrue comment when he said the city had just a few people who are so negative and who don't want to see the city grow. "Negative" to these incumbents is when you challenge them on anything. There were 2,257 voters who voted against Andy Amoroso so that is more than "a few."
He also made a crack against his opponent, Frank McAlonan, that he didn't do a good job in stating his case. McAlonan went door to door stating his case but with the strong Republican Party presence and money that Maxwell brought to the table as well as PAC money in this election, the odds of anyone defeating any incumbent was close to impossible. The incumbents could afford professional campaign managers and campaign strategists and they used every trick in the book. At my precinct, you would have thought it was a national election with the Maxwell operatives and the Trio's poll workers.
So, this election came down to money, lies and power and the Trio's love of all three. This city will be more divided than ever now. I worry about my city. I worry about Amoroso's statement to the press that we [challengers] don't want to see the city grow. We know what they have in mind.
It was a David and Goliath Lake Worth election but this time, Goliath won.
I would have to respectfully disagree with you. The right people for our city have won and the people have spoken, which is what you always advocate for. Now let's move on and "Make [Lake Worth] Great Again."
ReplyDeleteElections do have consequences and the people of Lake Worth are going to get the city they voted for.Katie Mcgiveron
ReplyDeleteWe don't have a choice but to "move on." But we will be watching and reporting.
ReplyDeleteI believe Andy was right. There is a group that does not want this city to grow except in the manner they deem appropriate. The sole purpose of his group is to stop development that will make this city too expensive to live in. The lies about the beach and the heights issue did nothing to help our city. I was not given one solution from any of the new candidates. All I heard was "I will listen to the people". Well that told me that these folks were simply puppets for the group that put them up to run. I don't want Joanne Golden making the decisions for my city. The people are all of us and not just the folks that yell the loudest or brief you before each commission meeting. When I start hearing solutions from Maier or McVoy I will respect them. Instead they are nothing but puppets saying what a few want them to say. The majority spoke last night and they are the people. Do you think McVoy and Maier will listen to them? No way, they only listen to "their people" and the rest of us can go scratch.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way that minority commissioners can implement solutions. You don't seem to get that either.
ReplyDeleteWhen the present commission begins to treat the residents with respect, then I might cut them some slack. I don't expect that ever to happen.
Minority commissioners can suggest solutions which can than be open to discussion. If the majority rejects the proposals they can at least run on solutions that were given no chance. McVoy and Maier have yet to come up with anything except complaints. A minority commissioner has a duty to come up with ideas to solve problems.
ReplyDeleteName the complaints.
ReplyDeleteI can think of a few:
The Heights Charter Amendment and not honoring the vote
and kicking the homeless off of public property before a solution could even be discussed.
then we have the upzoning of the Gulfstream property that ties in with the heights Charter Amendment.
Ok, so I named a few--you're next.
Thank you for your article! Money won the election! Thanks for putting it so articulate.
ReplyDeleteYou named complaints but no solutions.
ReplyDeleteWe may not have won the election but at least we opened the eyes and ears of at least 32% of the people in Lake Worth if not more. We will still stand up for our rights as citizens of Lake Worth. We may not have had the MONEY to win this election but we had integrity and honesty on our side. We did not stoop as low as you people did. Hiding signs behind buildings at election sites, Lying to the residents (who will by the way figure out that you lied to them), calling people who are against them anarchists, deplorable, despicable, and liars. I now know what you people are really like and believe me I do not like what I see. Corruption reigns for now>
ReplyDeleteCome on Lynn, you know where Kevin Thompson gets his information. From Scott, Pam and Andy. He has not printed the truth since he got into their pay to play scheme. The Palm Beach Post has nothing in it anymore but scutt pieces and they don't even report the news right. The newspaper used to print the news in the area but now all they print are ads, ads, and more ads. The reporters, like Kevin, shouldn't even be paid a salary for what little they do report. I would still like to know what perks he got from these 3 and will continue to get. As for "Mark the Illiterate", he wouldn't know how to print the truth if it hit him in the face full force. You know he did not compose that piece he put on your blog, there were not enough grammatical errors in it. It had to have come from Pam or Scott.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I think most people don't have the time or the inclination to really be interested in what goes on at City Hall. Name recognition plays a big (huuge)part in any election. And like Blackjack, the dealer usually wins. I think Ryan did bring down our likelihood of getting anyone in office. It kinda looks like they're fully entrenched as an institution...and Lake Worth now belongs to Hudson Holdings and developers. It's just too much big money and outside influences to be able to fight. I was proud to see that at least Frank won a majority of the votes in my district. But this is just to big a machine to be able to have any influence at all. Per Commissioner Maxwell, aka "your neighbor Bill" the electorate's only role and activity in government is to be allowed to vote, nothing else. I don't know if there's anyplace left to go, unless you're very wealthy--
ReplyDeleteDont worry. Maxwell will be exposed before too long.
ReplyDeleteDavid had 5 smooth stones.
ReplyDeleteNot because he was a bad shot
but Goliath had 4 brothers. One
shot was all he needed and obviously
sent a message to the brothers. I
believe we still have 4 more smooth
stones...