 |
MargateNews.net boils a list of 13 January Special Election candidates down to six viable choices
• Union endorsements frowned upon
Sunday,
January 9, 2011
For voters short on time to review pertinent candidate informaton, MargateNews.net has reduced the list of 13 special election candidates down to six viable choices on the 11th, based on media reports, talking to candidates, voters and observations at City Hall.
_______________
John Hall – Hall thinks partnering with other cities on delivering services is a good idea, similar to how Margate Fire Rescue provides services to Coconut Creek. To date, Margate hasn’t been able to prove economies of scale (savings) by delivering fire services to Coconut Creek, at least not that the city has been able to produce in terms of viable data. Margate is a small city (roughly 9 square miles) that owns its firehouses and apparatus and might effectively serve Margate residents better and at less cost without delivering services to Coconut Creek or any other city – but we’ll never know without the data. Margate also employs its own police department. To source that out to other cities or go regional with BSO (Broward Sheriffs Office) would water down service to Margate residents and result in fewer controls with regards to hiring, management and disciplinary proceedings. Unions, however, would benefit by expanding services regionally, in that they would gain membership and, in turn, more clout in labor negotiations and city budgets. This could pose a detriment to Margate wallets. Additionally, Hall supports a fire union (IAFF Local 3080) that is currently at Impasse with Margate and holding every taxpayer in the city over a candle for more money and benefits during a time when ‘calls for service’ are down and residents have never been more strapped for cash. Though Hall touts ideas for business development and economic growth in the city, he is seen infrequently at city meetings to contribute such ideas . MargateNews.net suggests that voters avoid candidates, such as Hall, endorsed by unions.
Judy McKeone – Another candidate endorsed by a union - this one, the Fraternal Order of Police. What the FOP probably didn’t know when they endorsed McKeone is that her Palm Lakes condo attorney, Keith Poliakoff, who handsomely graced McKeone’s campaign account, threatened Margate city commissioners last year (hence Margate taxpayers) regarding a business deal gone sour that involved her Palm Lakes condominium complex and a swath of land laced with arsenic abutting Atlantic Boulevard and her complex. City commissioner, Pam Donovan, took exception to Poliakoff’s tone and, along with other commissioners on the dais, including Arthur Bross, said ‘no thanks’ and decided to wait and take the property via tax lien. The FOP wouldn’t know this, because they, similar to the fire union, don’t regularly send representatives to city meetings. Consequently, neither union is knowledgeably qualified to endorse a candidate outside union interests. MargateNews.net suggests that voters avoid candidates, such as McKeone, endorsed by unions. Though McKeone sits on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board, she rarely attends city commission meetings, which should be a requirement for anyone sitting on a city board.
Le Peerman - Peerman is on the MargateNews.net shortlist of viable candidates. She sits on the city’s Board of Adjustment and regularly attends city commission and community redevelopment meetings. Peerman, for years, has offered ideas to commissioners and worked hard at getting monthly bulk pickup in the city, improving quality of life for residents – a solid, tangible accomplishment. Peerman presents herself as rational, has no political aspirations aside from serving Margate residents, and said she’s in favor of lowering city commission salaries, which rank in the top 10 percent of municipal salaries nationwide. Peerman has told union representatives that endorsing her will not lead to preferred treatment in contract negotiations.
Brian Donahue – Donahue, a music teacher, is a well intentioned candidate, but his not attending city meetings regularly and then accusing commissioners of not listening to residents doesn’t hold water. Although commissioners at times can be contentious and critical, they’re largely fair and courteous in their treatment of residents speaking at meetings. Additionally, Donahue wants to trim city services in favor of city salaries, which a quick glimpse of the budget shows that everyone in the city already makes a fair wage, especially in a down economy. When asked why Donahue’s address doesn’t appear in his campaign filings, the City Clerk said he has some type of legal exemption allowing such and which is confidential.
Rich Popovic - Popovic is on the MargateNews.net list of viable candidates, despite his often unorthodox, crass demeanor at city meetings. Much of what Popovic has been saying in his campaign literature over the years (he’s run for commission four times) has come true, primarily that administrative salaries in Margate eventually would result in financial woes in the city, which is largely the case according to Margate City Manager, Frank Porcella, who admitted at a budget meeting two years ago that much of what Margate had accumulated during the boom years went to city salaries. Popovic is outspoken regarding city commissioners and state representatives – not lobbyists - speaking for Margate residents in Tallahassee – which is what representation is all about, he says. Popovic has been critical of former city commissioner, Arthur Bross, who he says has grown the fire department beyond city means and unfairly used taxpayer funded fire department personnel and apparatus in campaigning for office. Popovic is active in the community and the church, and has lived and raised a family in Margate for 26 years. Popovic regularly attends city meetings, asks questions and is often justifiably critical of new laws being introduced to residents. Additionally, he’s wary over no-bid contracts, which can be approved contrary to the interests of taxpayers.
Manny Torres – Strangely enough, Torres said he has no real interest in being on the city commission. He does think, however, that he can be of value in rebuilding Margate’s economy through his business contacts and his plans for economic development. Torres has violated campaign finance laws by not properly recording campaign contributions from his company, Torres and Torres, and does not attend city meetings regularly. Torres is by no means a viable candidate for city commissioner, but may be of value to the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency should commissioners decide in the future to restructure the MCRA to include citizens and business professionals at large.
Robert Perkis - Perkis appears on the MargateNews.net shortlist of viable candidates. The web designer regularly attends city meetings and offers up his ideas and insights to commissioners in a rational, comprehensive manner. Perkis says Margate needs an image makeover - one look at downtown Margate and the State Road 7 corridor is telling of that. Perkis doesn’t come across as a politician, but more so as a concerned resident living up to his civic duty. He also wants to look at the city sign code, which has been a thorn in the side of businesses and consumers citywide. Perkis is personable and a good listener. Perkis told MargateNews.net that getting businesses and residents to finance his campaign was never part of his plan and shouldn't reflect on his qualifications for office.
Anthony Lliteras – Lliteras, active in youth sports, agrees with Perkis that Margate has an image problem. Lliteras, like other candidates, wants to improve the city’s economy and bring business into Margate but, similar to other candidates, can’t speak specifically to how he would do it. Lliteras isn’t seen regularly at city meetings and although his concerns for economic development in the city are admirable, Lliteras may be largely unfamiliar with the way government works. Lliteras was one of two candidates who did not attend the Margate Association of Condominiums candidate meet, an organization that represents thousands of Margate condominium owners.
Phil Hylander – Hylander is on the MargateNews.net shortlist of viable candidates. Though by no means is seen regularly at city meetings, Hylander is viable because of his platform of numbers crunching and “making every penny count” in city government. He’s outspoken about taking suggestions from residents and offering small businesses financial incentives to set up shop in Margate. Hylander wants to review city sign laws and include business owner input in any proposed changes brought before commissioners.
Mario Imperatore - A retired FPL employee, Imperatore said he has the time to be a full time commissioner and realizes Margate’s biggest problem: the city’s tax base is inadequate. He’s very outspoken about the lack of progress in Margate’s Community Redevelopment Agency and disagrees with the agency’s loosely knit plan of property acquisition in recent years. Up until this election, Imperatore was rarely seen, if at all, at city meetings. Imperatore isn’t concerned about being politically correct, but has grown into being a convincing candidate over the period of his campaign. He appears on the MargateNews.net shortlist of viable candidates.
Pat Maher - Maher, having sat on the city’s Board of Adjustment, Planning and Zoning Board and Affordable Housing Board, could be construed as part of the problem when looking at Margate’s decline over the past decade – a decline in business, a decline in population and a decline in fiscal responsibility. What has increased? Poverty, part in parcel to attracting impoverished residents through grant programs perpetuated by the city’s Affordable Housing Board. Any candidate serving city boards so diligently over the years is likely too close to city employees to be objective in matters of payroll and contract negotiations. Maher was one of two candidates who did not attend the Margate Association of Condominiums candidate meet, an organization that represents thousands of Margate condominium owners.
Darryl Hanna – Hanna is another well intentioned candidate, but did not respond to either The Forum or MargateNews.net questionnaires. He’s a part time Margate Parks & Recreation employee, and despite his vigor for improving the lives of children and families through sports and his ministry, possesses few qualifications for office. Hanna comes across as a nice guy, but lacks a convincing platform for city commission.
Frank Messana – Messana is one of six on the MargateNews.net shortlist of viable candidates. He has political experience as a North Lauderdale City Commissioner (1999 -2002) and has taken exception to the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency’s policy of land acquisition that, he says, has amounted to little more than space for carnivals and a decrease in incremental tax revenues. Messana speaks with confidence, is rational and appears determined to serve Margate residents as commissioner.
MargateNews.net shortlist of viable candidates for the January 11, 2011 Special Election (in no particular order of preference).
Le Peerman
Rich Popovic
Robert Perkis
Frank Messana
Mario Imperatore
Phil Hylander
__________________________________________
Get MargateNews.net on your desktop, laptop or mobile Internet with customizable RSS (Real Simple Syndication) Feeds. Receive all the news, or just some of it, as soon as it’s published! Sign up now.
Access the wireless version of this website by visiting http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/wireless with your WAP (Wireless Access Protocol) Internet-enabled wireless device.
Copyright ©2011 MargateNews.net
| |
