Campaign update #22

TERM LIMITS WIN FROM COAST TO COAST ON NOV. 2

Citizens in West Palm Beach are not alone in their support of mayoral term limits. Across the nation, voters enacted new municipal term limits or reiterated or strengthened their existing ones. By my current count, there were about 30 local term limits measures on the ballot and all but one passed.

One of these was in Florida, as we saw Cape Canaveral voters impose 8-year term limits on their mayor and council members by a 70-30% margin. Also worth noting is New York City voters voted (for the third time!) to impose 8-year term limits on their mayor and city council. As noted in an earlier post on this blog, New York Mayor Bloomberg overturned the voter-approved term limits law in his city via nefarious means. His effort was soundly repudiated on Nov. 2.

Interestingly, this landslide for term limits isn't solely a function of the Republican (or, more accurately, anti-Democrat) wave of 2010. We saw a similar outcome when the Democrats were ascendant in 2008.

Campaign update #21

IT'S OFFICIAL: ANTI-TERM LIMIT PETITION DRIVE CLOSES DOWN

After collecting about 3,000 signatures, the anti-term limits petition drive that inspired the creation of this pro-term limits website and the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee has called it quits. Organizers say it is too late to get their amendment on the ballot in time and money is running short.

For the record, the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee recognizes the right of Mayor Lois Frankel's Committee for Continuing Progress to utilize the citizen initiative process to suggest changes to the city charter. In fact, on this site we deplored underhanded efforts to circumvent this valuable process.

We too would like to close up shop, but we are prevented by a significant loose end: the mayor refuses to concede that she is not running for mayor in 2012.

Clearly, somehow, West Palm Beach's 8-year mayoral term limits are still at risk. But how?

We don't know. The 8-year term limits law would have to be overturned before the qualifying date for the mayoral elections, in mid-January. The people wouldn't overturn it and the city commission wouldn't overturn it. Clearly, the mayor -- a lawyer -- believes at the last minute a court might. Will she sue the city? Stay tuned.

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WHERE DID THE ANTI-TERM LIMITS MONEY COME FROM?

The Palm Beach Post has done a good job of following this story from the beginning. Here's another discovery of theirs worth relating.

The Post took a look at the finances of the anti-term limits petition drive and found that of the $13,900 raised, $10,000 came from two sources: Fanjul sugar interests and the mysterious Evelyn V Foundation, an apparently fictional outfit using the address of the Akerman Senterfitt law firm on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach.

Other contributors included a few of the petition drive's committee and marina developer David Chase.

Here's the full list of anti-term limits contributors:

Agro-Industrial Management (Fanjul) -- $5,000
"Evelyne V Foundation" -- $5,000
William Watson -- $1,000
Clarence Anthony -- $500
Gordon and Donor Law -- $500
Burcon Investments -- $500
David and Cheryl Chase -- $1,000
Peter Camacho -- $200
Katherine Waldron -- $200

Campaign update #20

FORMER WPB MAYOR: KEEP 8-YEAR TERM LIMIT

"I think the voters would be nuts to change the charter in West Palm Beach to increase the term for mayor, any mayor, not just Frankel. It is not and should not be about Frankel, but having been part of the long and difficult process to change the form of government in West Palm Beach to one more accountable to the voters, we studied a great many forms of government and looked at a great many other comparable cities. Given the power and responsibilities of a strong mayor form of government, which can be utilized in a very responsible way and is much accountable to the voters than a commission/manager form of government, two terms (eight years) is enough time to move a city forward (or backwards) and the position should NOT be one to allow someone a job for life."

-- Former West Palm Beach Mayor Nancy Graham in an email to the Palm Beach Post.

Campaign update #19

BACK FROM THE SWAMP: "CHARTER REVIEW"

At the Sept. 15 mayor-commission workshop, Commissioner Bill Moss announced his support for a charter review commission to look over the charter and offer changes for a public vote in time for the March election.

A quick history lesson for context: Earlier this year when Mayor Lois Frankel decided she wished to upend West Palm Beach's voter-approved 8-year term limit on the mayor, her first move was to call for a charter review commission to suggest changes to the charter, including -- just maybe -- ditching the term limit. She stacked the commission with political allies and cronies and awaited their independent report. Everyone, including most notably the Palm Beach Post, saw through this and due to public outcry, the mayor pulled the plug on the commission before its first meeting on term limits.

It looked like there was still time, so she decided to put her anti-term limits proposal on the ballot the same way her constituents would have to do it, via the laborious process of collecting signatures to show a minimum threshhold of public support.

When she didn't find enough support she went to the commission and asked them to put it on the ballot anyway. The voting public -- known in the mayor's office as 'inarticulate' 'idiotic' and 'extremists' -- erupted and the commission declined the mayor's request on Aug. 9. It is now too late to do so.

So, the mayor's hench-persons went back to work collecting signatures, but it is summertime and very hot and, well, they still apparently haven't been able to get the signatures. Maybe they eventually will.

Now we hear of Bill Moss' idea to have a quickie charter review in time for the March ballot. We don't see how this can be used to secure a third term for the mayor, but color us suspicious.

For one thing, Moss is a reliable Frankel ally on the commission. But also he is a board member of the Florida League of Cities, a sort-of trade union for municipalities created to protect their institutional interests as distinct from -- and generally in opposition to -- those of the public. Naturally, the League hates term limits.

Often when politicians put popular term limits on the chopping block they try to attach some gimmick that gives some powerful interest an incentive in supporting the proposal. In New York, for instance, Mayor Bloomberg also proposed lifting the council members term limits when he lifted his own, therefore eliciting their support.

This common trick may be used here. One of the specific ideas Moss offers to add some sugar to the anti-term limits medicine, according to the Palm Beach Post, is:

"Giving commissioners longer terms. Currently, commissioners serve two years term. Both Douglas and Moss advocate three or four year terms for commissioners so they don’t have to constantly focus on elections."

This may or may not be a good idea. In fact, a review of the charter by a charter review commission itself probably is a good idea. However, being proposed as a rush job in the center of a contentious debate over the mayor's term limit, we suspect its inclusion may be more geared toward getting a commission vote on the mayor's term limit than public spiritedness.

Let's keep our eyes open.

Campaign update #18

NEW POLLS SHOW MAYOR IS SPITTING INTO THE WIND

According to a new national poll, 78 percent of Americans -- including 74 percent of Mayor Frankel's party -- support term limits on the U.S. Congress. The people's enthusiasm for rotation in office appears undimmed.

Of course, one might object that this does not say anything directly about mayoral term limits in West Palm Beach. But another new poll definitely does.

Recall that in New York City, a headstrong mayor who wanted a third term in spite of voter-approved 8-year term limits ignored the results of two popular referenda and had the New York City commission change the law to permit three terms. The uproar nearly cost Mayor Michael Bloomberg the next election, in spite of his incumbency and his billions. His approval ratings, once high, have never recovered.

Now, a new New York City poll shows 73 percent of New Yorkers plan on voting in November to reestablish (for the third time!) 8-year term limits.

Even Mayor Bloomberg seems to be showing remorse. While largely quiet about the issue, when pressed he did tell CBS News that changing the law to benefit a public official is wrong.

"No matter where you come out on it, you should decide what is best for the city, not what is best for any particular official," Bloomberg said.

Campaign Update #17

LESSONS FROM NYC: THREE TERMS -- OR FIVE?

In her quest to overturn West Palm Beach's voter-approved eight-year term limit, Mayor Lois Frankel has been using a page from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's playbook.

The NYC case is particularly egregious, since the voters had affirmed their support for eight-year term limits twice (in 1993 and 1996) before Mayor Bloomberg tossed them over. After internal polling showed voters would yet again affirm term limits again in 2008, Mayor Bloomberg -- who desperately wanted to serve a third term -- decided to simply ignore the earlier referenda and lengthened term limits for both the mayor and council members from 8 to 12 years via a simple council vote. Sound familiar?

In any case, the furor over Mayor Bloomberg's coup was so great that New York City is going to put a referendum on the ballot in November this year to revert to two-term, eight-year term limits.

But here's the rub: the new eight-year term limits would go into effect upon the public vote, which means that council members will be permitted to run for two more terms. In other words, future New York City Councils will be limited to two terms or eight years, per the public's clearly expressed wishes. However, the current council members -- many of which are in their third term due to Bloomberg's coup -- will be limited to five terms or 20 years in office!

Is the mayor of West Palm Beach plotting something similar? Perhaps not, but we want to be sure. Here's the language of the amendment to the city charter being circulated via petition:

"Sec. 2.02. -- Term and Compensation. The term of the office of the mayor shall be four (4) years. No individual shall be elected to office of the mayor for more than three (3) consecutive full terms."

There is no stated effective date, so it is safe to assume the effective date would be on the day voters approve it, assuming they would.

What do you think? Does this language give the mayor the ability to run for one additional term, or three?

PETITIONERS NOT CALLING FOR SPECIAL ELECTION

Speaking of the petition language, I would point out that the petitions being collected call for the city clerk of West Palm Beach to "place on the ballot the following proposed amendment to the West Palm Beach City Charter on the ballot in the general election."

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: "TERM LIMIT MODIFICATION? NO THANKS"

Back in March when the mayor was still counting on a stacked charter review commission to deliver a anti-term limits referendum for her, Melissa Nash Andrews had an excellent letter to the editor printed in the Palm Beach Post. It is worth quoting in full:

"Term limits continue to be debated, even after overwhelming public support to limit the terms of Palm Beach County Commissioners. Term limits have been placed on 15 state legislatures, eight of the 10 largest cities in America have adopted term limits for their city councils and/or mayor, and 37 states place term limits on their constitutional officers.

"Term limits force out career politicians more concerned with their own gain than the interests of the people. I want to keep the pressure on the movement to preserve West Palm Beach term limits for mayor.

"Charter review? Sure. Term-limit modification? No thanks."

Campaign update #16

ON HEIGHT LIMITS AND TERM LIMITS

On Tuesday, West Palm Beach citizens voted against a mayor-sponsored proposal to ditch the voter-approved five-story height limit.

Soon, if sufficient signatures are collected, West Palm Beach citizens may be asked to vote on a mayor-sponsored proposal to ditch the voter-approved eight-year term limit.

Dare we suggest there is a connection between these votes? And that the result at the ballot box would be similar?

There certainly is a connection. Both are attempts of the Mayor Lois Frankel to carve out special exceptions from voter-approved laws to accommodate personal projects of her own.

The vote on the height limit was limited to a single property -- the old city hall -- which the mayor is trying to sell. Similarly, the proposal to ditch the eight-year term limit is a carve-out for her to run for mayor again. In fact, rather than have it appear on the March ballot, the mayor has suggested through proxies that she may sue the city to force a special election earlier so she could (if the anti-term limits proposal wins) run for a third term in March.

The public's desire for a lower skyline is not the only reason for Tuesday's vote. Part of the reason is a growing mistrust of politicians trying to bend the rules in order to serve themselves. That the rules are popular ones orginally imposed at the ballot box only makes this showdown between the people and the politicians more stark.

Since the ultimate decision will be made via petitions and the ballot box, the people's victory is certain. The question is, how much time, effort and resources will be wasted by the city and her citizens to reach this inevitable end?

PALM BEACH POST: MORE EVIDENCE TO GIVE UP PUSH FOR THIRD TERM

The Palm Beach Post beat me into print with an editorial making the connection between the height limit vote and the mayor's plans for municipal monarchy. As they have from the start, the editors (Joel Engelhardt, here) offer additional insight and background on Frankel's capers:

"Voters may have doubted that a hotel would be built there without hefty city subsidies, a trade-off jeopardizing the mayor's profit story line. They may believe that spreading low-rise development would ensure that downtown's vacant sites fill in, creating more than a downtown of waterfront high-rises and a hollow core. Mostly, though, they are saying that they don't trust the mayor ... That should be a decisive factor in deciding whether to continue a divisive and self-serving fight over term limits."

Campaign update #15

PUBLIC CONTINUES TO SPEAK OUT FOR 8-YEAR TERM LIMIT

In her quest to ditch West Palm Beach's 8-year term limit and run again, Mayor Lois Frankel has two strikes against her: First, public opposition blocked her effort to stack the Charter Review board and also her effort to have the city commission put her anti-term limits effort on the ballot even though her petition drive failed to collect the requisite signatures. She has one last chance, to finish collecting the signatures and sue the city to force a $100,000 special election before the regularly scheduled March mayoral election.

It is toward this end that she is trying to marginalize the broad public support for the 8-year limit by calling her opponents rude names ("idiotic," "inarticulate," "extreme," etc.) based on the public comments at the Aug. 9 city commission meeting. However, there's a problem. The meeting was attended by many people who are eyewitnesses to the fact that most speakers were calm and civil.

In this undated photo, rude and inarticulate idiots line up to vote.

John Igoe, a board member of the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee, had an excellent letter in Sunday's Palm Beach Post that is worth quoting in full:

"I was among several residents who spoke out in favor of keeping term limits in West Palm Beach. As an educated liberal independent, I was offended by Mayor Lois Frankel's characterization of us as 'inarticulate right-wing tea party members.'

"I voted for Mayor Frankel and publicly stated that she has done a lot of good things for the city. But the committee pushing to get a proposal to repeal voter-adopted term limits on the ballot on behalf of the mayor has fallen far short, and now raises the specter of a $100,000 special election. The committee plans to continue to collect signatures and to orchestrate the special election.

"Since the committee failed to obtain sufficient signatures by Friday, meaning that the proposal to repeal term limits won't be on the ballot for the general election, it should concede defeat and wait until the next general election. Forcing a special election at taxpayer expense would be wrong. The mayor's attempts to circumvent the process for advancing a public referendum make the case for maintaining term limits even stronger."

PALM BEACH POST: MAYOR 'MISCHARACTERIZING' TERM LIMITS SUPPORTERS

The Palm Beach Post also testified to this fact in an editorial last week:

"The woman who won't take no for an answer is mischaracterizing her opposition. There's a wide range of opposition to a third term for this mayor and an unnecessary expansion of mayoral power. Her petition drive is showing little traction. It has not gathered even half of the 5,800 signatures needed to put a term-limit extension on the ballot. Blaming 'some extreme right-wing group' is the mayor's attempt to ignore reality."

The Post goes further:

"Mayor Frankel has become more divisive the longer she has been in office. No matter how much she may love the job and the power that goes with it, she is placing her own interest above the city's interest. That must stop. Mayor Frankel needs to give other candidates a chance to launch their campaigns. She needs to help the city avoid yet another legal battle over an election. She needs to acknowledge political reality."

For the full story, go here.

Campaign update #14

FRANKEL: TERM LIMIT SUPPORTERS 'IDIOTIC'

Since the Aug. 9 West Palm Beach City Commission meeting, the mayor and her supporters have been making a stir with the charge that the citizens who turned up to comment were 'idiotic' and rude.

This is a humorous case of the pot calling the kettle black, of course, but more importantly it is also not true. Some of the citizens showed up and let loose, no doubt. But most, of course, were respectful. All of the speakers connected to the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee -- which included Rick Shepherd, Philip Blumel, John Igoe, Jon Fogt and Melissa Nash-Andrews -- were quite polite and professional.

Hence the mayor's attempt to discredit the genuine citizen -- or, in her words, 'idiotic' -- movement to preserve our local term limit should be seen as mere spin.

Also, the mayor purposely shot down a suggestion by Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell to bring the term limits issue forward in the agenda. The mayor purposely made the citizens wait for hours to have their say, which heightened the level of frustration.

The frustration is justified. As Keep WPB Term Limits Chair Rick Shepherd commented later, "If a corporate chairman tried to pull this kind of power play with the board of directors, you can bet there would be plenty of rightfully outraged shareholders who'd voice their displeasure. This is no different ... Having the right to voice your objections is a fundamental tenet of democracy."

However, hidden in the mayor's spin is a valid point: That the mayor calls her constituents 'idiots' is not a license for anyone else to do so. We are right and should always be confident and professional in making our case.

The issue, after all, is not about the mayor. It is about good government, equal treatment under the law and term limits. We discredit ourselves if we get sucked into a name-calling match with the name-caller-in-chief.

THANKS TO LETTER TO THE EDITOR WRITERS

Several letters appeared in the Palm Beach Post over the past few days, including letters by C. Ruhlman, Richard Tilford, and Alex Shillers standing up for fair play and West Palm Beach's eight-year mayoral term limit.

Supporters report many other letters were sent, but these were apparently chosen as representative. Thanks everyone, whether your letters were printed or not.

Campaign update #13

MAYOR SENDS UP 'SPECIAL ELECTION' TRIAL BALLOON

One day after losing her battle to put an anti-term limits referendum on the ballot in November without successfully collecting the signatures, the Palm Beach Post reports that the mayor has bounced back with another strategy to finagle a third term.

Of course, the current 8-year term limit law permits her to run for a third term after sitting out a term, but this is insufficient. After all, if she sits out a term she will not be able to run again in a low-turnout election with all the powers of an incumbent strong mayor.

But she apparently feels she needs to have her position to keep it. This is likely true, and a prime reason for having an 8-year consecutive term limit.

So now she is arguing that if her petition drive is successful this summer -- it is reported she has collected 2,000 of the 5,800 signatures she needs -- that the issue must be put to a special election before the regular March mayoral election.

Both the practicality and legality of this are in dispute. Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher is skeptical she could put together a special election between November and March. Plus the cost to the city of a special election -- excluding the cost to the citizens and the mayor in an election battle over term limits -- is estimated at $100,000.

State statutes say the ballot question can be placed at either the next general election or at a special election, according to the Palm Beach Post.

If the signatures aren't collected in time, the question is moot. And so far, the drive has faltered. But the next big battle in the mayor's quest to toss over our popular term limits law may center around these points. Stay tuned.

POLITICIANS DON'T WIN ANTI-TERM LIMITS REFERENDA

This committee has been arguing that an anti-term limits referenda should only appear on the ballot if the required signatures are collected. Then the question should appear on the March, or subsequent ballot, as law and practicality require. We highly respect the citizen initiative process and want it to operate the same way for the mayor as it would for the citizens.

However, if indeed it comes to a vote, we are not worried about the outcome. As noted in this blog, 2009 polling show that in Southeast Florida 76% of the people oppose weakening term limits from eight to 12 years. Plus, in 2002, 70% of voters approved 8-year term limits for Palm Beach County Commissioners. West Palm Beach's 8-year term limit itself was approved by voters and there has never been any evidence of citizen dissatisfaction.

There is also evidence from other municipalities that people will not vote to weaken their 8-year term limits. In fact, looking at municipal elections in 2008, we could not find a single case where citizens at a ballot box chose to weaken 8-year term limits. While there is no comprehensive list of such elections, searching media reports in November 2008 suggest a 100% victory of the people over the self-interested politicians challenging 8-year term limits.

For example, in North Miami in 2008, mayoral term limits were on the chopping block and the people voted 67% to 33% to retain them as is. In Daytona Beach, the bid to overturn 8-year term limits was shot down by voters 64% to 36%. There are more examples around the country and they'll be many more in 2010.

We are not worried about losing at the ballot box. We are concerned with the enormous expense in terms of sweat and treasure that comes with an election, when the result is not really in question. We are concerned with rules being bent and all pointless expense incurred for the (long shot) benefit of a single powerful politician.

That a mayor has the power to threaten this is, at core, the main argument for term limits. The people will win again. The questions are, will the rules by fair and how much will it cost us?

CHANNEL 25 INTERVIEWS RICK SHEPHERD BEFORE AUG. 9 MEETING

Local TV Channel 25 WPBF ran a segment just as the contentious Aug. 9 city commission meeting was getting started. Rick Shepherd, chair of the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee, once again represented the people well in making the case 8-year term limits and against the bending the rules for the benefit of a single politician.

Campaign update #12

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED...

Its was long, boring, and even anticlimactic but it was worth it. The commission listened to its constituents at last night's meeting and did not take up the measure to ditch West Palm Beach's 8-year term limit. The issue will not appear on the ballot in November.

About 55 term limits supporters showed up ready to do battle -- and some did anyway -- even when it became clear the measure was doomed to die for lack of a motion and there is no time for the commission take it up future meetings and still make the Aug. 20 deadline for the November ballot. Thank you, everyone!

Wasn't it just two weeks ago when the issue came up and the local press, counting votes, reported a 4-1 likely vote in favor of putting the anti-term limits measure on the ballot even though the petition drive has failed to collect the requisite signatures? As of last night, we believe the vote would have been 1-4.

The petition drive continues to collect signatures and may put the idea on the ballot yet, however it too has missed its chance for November. If it eventually succeeds, the question would appear on the ballot in March. This would be too late for the current mayor to run for a third term, illegal under current law. The Mayor Frankel can, however, sit out a term and run again without all the inflated powers of an incumbent strong mayor.

The system worked last night. The people spoke, the commission listened and the rules were not bent as a gift to the most powerful politician in the city.

... FOR NOW

The threat of a special election -- which would cost the city about $100,000 -- still looms, but is unlikely. If the signatures are collected, the anti-term limits measure would appear on the regularly scheduled March ballot unless 1) the commission, in a separate vote, called a special election or 2) the mayor sued the city and judge forced one. Both are unlikely, but we must ever be vigilant.

There were other machinations discussed by city activists last night by which the 8-year term limit could still be circumvented. We will look into them and post our findings here.

Stay tuned. We won this battle, but there may be more ahead. Thank you!

Campaign update #11

TODAY IS THE DAY: AUG. 9 CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Today is the day that reportedly will decide whether or not the commission will cave in and put a anti-term limits measure on the ballot even though the petition drive to do so has failed to collect the requisite signatures. A good turnout by the public today could end the political shenanigans that have threatened both WPB's popular 8-year term limit and the integrity of the citizen initiative process.

Let's show up just before 4 p.m. today at City Center, 401 Clematis Street, and tell the commissioners the rules should not be bent in favor of a single politician. If the mayor can collect the signatures, she can have her vote. If not, not. The commission would never waive the signature requirement if the petition drive's aim was to place a pro-term limits measure on the ballot!

Bumper sticker-sized signs will be distributed that say "Keep 8-year term limits, vote NO!"

Let's be polite and firm but avoid personal attacks. This is not about Mayor Frankel, but about our form of government and rules that protect the citizenry, foster competitive elections, ensure rotation in office, encourage greater public participation and improve the incentives faced by our officials. We should respect the fact that many like and many dislike the current mayor, but all of us feel she and all future mayors should abide by the rules.

For more background on WPB term limits, go here.

After-party at O'Shea's Irish Pub, 531 Clematis Street. See you there!

PALM BEACH POST PULLS NO PUNCHES

In Monday's editorial, Joel Engelhardt wrote a tough editorial on behalf of the editorial board under the headline "Mayor Frankel deserves no favors" and this complementary pull-out quote, "Elections change wouldn't benefit West Palm Beach, it would benefit her."

In it, they bring up one key element that term limits address: corruption. We've dealt with this in a general way in these posts and media appearances. but the Post really lays it on the table today:

"Short of extortion, what can a term-limited mayor offer? Any commissioner voting to put this on the ballot would need to address this issue head-on and be prepared to back his or her words in front of a grand jury."

Wow.

The fact is that term-limited mayors -- and other politicians -- have less to offer, less power to reward and punish. Here in corruption county in a city with a strong mayor form of government, we need genuine -- that is, eight-year -- term limits and cannot allow a powerful politician to circumvent the rules to further her career. The Post hit the target with this one.

Campaign update #10

MONDAY, AUG. 9, IS D-DAY FOR WPB TERM LIMITS! BE THERE!

At the 4 p.m. city commission meeting at City Center, 401 Clematis Street, the commission is reported to be making the final decision whether to put the anti-term limits proposal on the ballot even though the referendum committee failed to collect the requisite signatures.

Please come to the meeting a little early to sign a comment card if you wish to speak. Bring your friends and neighbors.

Let the commissioners know support the current 8-year term limit and do not approve of skipping the initiative process for the sake of single politician. The commission would never do this for a pro-term limits measure!


SHERRY LEE SENDS E-REMINDER ABOUT AUG. 9

County commission candidate Sherry Lee, District 2, lives in West Palm Beach and includes in her Saturday, Aug. 7, e-blast about her campaign a reminder about the Aug. 9 West Palm Beach City Commission meeting and 'hearing on term limits for mayor.' For information about Sherry, see: http://sherrylee4pbc.com/

Campaign update #9

GREAT NEWS! JERI MUOIO SWITCHES HER VOTE

George Bennett's Post on Politics column hit the web on Friday afternoon and the phones started ringing and emails started flying. Jeri Muoio, reportedly a YES vote in the mayor's quest to put an anti-term limits measure on the ballot without the requisite citizen signatures, had committed to voting NO.

She also came out against having a costly special election on the subject, even if the signature effort does manage to come up with the ballot language and 5,800 valid signatures by the drop-dead deadline of Aug. 20.

"City commissioners voting on this initiative does not seem ethical and the whole process seems rushed," Muoio told the Post.

The news arrived to the Keep WPB Term Limits Committee as the group's organizers were meeting at O'Sheas pub on Clematis Street. Pint glasses were raised for Jeri Muoio, Kimberly Mitchell, Molly Douglas as well as the many volunteers, letter writers, sign wavers, editorialists, phone callers who assisted in educating the commission on the issue of term limits and labored to preserve the integrity of the city's citizen initiative process.

SO WHAT ABOUT AUG. 9?

So, what does this mean? Is it all over? Will the citizen initiative process operate under the same rules for the mayor as it does for the rest of us? Do we still have to show up at the Aug. 9 city commission meeting?

The answer to these questions is, we don't know. We are recommending that everyone show up anyway, perhaps to thank the commissioners rather than harrangue them and also to show support for our 8-year mayoral term limit. In any case, so many networks were activated in this effort that we could hardly inform everyone not to come if we wanted to! It is amazing the breadth of public support on this issue.

Plus, there may still be dangers out there we don't know about. We are not political operatives, and we don't know what other arrows may be in the mayor's quiver.

So, see you at 4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 9, 4 p.m. at City Center, 401 Clematis Street! Until then, be sure to check this blog for updates.

SPECIAL ELECTION IS NOT A THREAT

There has been some confusion about the possibility of a special election being 'forced' by a success signature effort. Please do not be misled: the petition drive cannot force a special election. If the signatures are collected and validated by Aug. 20, the issue would appear on the November ballot. If the signatures are turned in after the deadline, the issue would appear on the March ballot.

A special election would only be called if the city commission itself chose to call one via a vote. The only other way would be if the mayor sued the city and convinced a judge (on what basis, I could hardly guess) to force one.

We don't believe the mayor or commission would do this to the city for the benefit of a single politician. But, of course, just in case we are wrong the committee will remain organized until we are sure our 8-year term limit is safe from political shenanigans.

RICK SHEPHERD IN THE POST, ON CHANNEL 5

The Keep WPB Term Limits Committee got some additional exposure on the Palm Beach Post's online letters page Saturday, under the headline 'Taxpayers, aka voters, won't reward Frankel.' They ran a strong letter by Rick Shepherd, chair of the Keep WPB Term Limits Committee, which ends up by inviting West Palm Beach residents to attend the Aug. 9 city commission meeting to have their veiws heard.

Following up with letter writers, we have confirmed that many of you have sent them to the Palm Beach Post. Thank you!

Rick also appeared on in a segment on WPTV Channel 5 during the dinner hour on Friday. It too mentioned Monday's city commission meeting.

MORE REMINDERS MAILED

Before the Jeri news (see above) broke, we mailed an additional 80 Aug. 9 reminder post cards to our growing West Palm Beach prospect list. They should be hitting people's mailboxes today. The reminders tell a short version of the WPB term limits story and include a link to this website.

Campaign update #8

JIM EXLINE BREAKS NEW GROUND IN OPPOSITION TO TERM LIMITS

We've noted on this blog that Mary McCarty, Warren Newell and former WPB City Commissioner Jeff Koons were active opponents of term limits before their convictions for corruption. But another former WPB City Commissioner has broken new ground: he has taken to the street to oppose term limits after his prison sentence for corruption!

Jim Exline, who spent 10 months in prison for corruption, is back on the street collecting signatures to overturn WPB's 8-year term limit. "I believe (Frankel) has been a good mayor," Exline told Jose Lambiet's Page 2 Live. "No one works harder. I’ve never seen a mayor who’s this dedicated."

Exline misses the point. This isn't about Mayor Frankel or the March election, it is about a system that best serves the city over time. It is about rotation in office, competitive elections, dampening official arrogance, citizen participation in the process -- and discouraging corruption!

(Thanks to the Palm Beach Post for the photo.)

DAVID SMITH ON TERM LIMITS

Former WPB City Commissioner David Smith and another author of West Palm Beach's charter, Bob Morrow, look back at their handiwork of 19 years ago and largely like what they see. The strong mayor form of government, complemented by an 8-year term limit, is better than the old commission-city manager form with an unelected mayor. The voters approved the new structure back in 1991. There has been no move by citizens to change it and a recent politician-led petition drive to do so is failing.

Along with the benefits of the strong mayor system, the danger was always that so much power is concentrated in the mayor. That's why they included the 8-year term limit. "A third term would give you that much more power," Morrow told the Palm Beach Post in July. "Then you become like a king."

Smith agreed and added that he still is concerned about mayoral power under the system. "I didn't think the commission would absolutely fall in line behind the mayor, who would bully them around. You need a strong commission and a strong mayor, and I'm not so sure the commission has been that strong over the years."

We'll find out if they are strong enough on Monday, Aug. 9, at 4 pm when the city commission meets to decide whether to cave in to the mayor and place her anti-term limits on the ballot even after it failed to collect sufficient signatures.

RICK ON THE ROAD

Rick Shepherd, chair of the Keep WPB Term Limits Committee, appeared on WBZT AM 1230's "That's My Point" program with Mark Boykin on Thursday. He is scheduled to appear in a segment on WPTV Channel 5 today. A short recap of the West Palm Beach saga -- with a picture of Rick Shepherd in action -- appears on the national No Uncertain Terms blog.

What we are not seeing is letters to the editor of the local daily, the Palm Beach Post. Please email a letter this morning -- right now! -- if you want to see it appear before Monday's critical West Palm Beach City Commission meeting. Letters can be sent to letters@pbpost.com.

BLUMEL UPDATES CENTRAL COUNTY GOP CLUB

On Thursday, Philip Blumel updated the West Palm Beach situation at the August meeting of the Central Palm Beach County Republican Club. Many of the members, veterans of the successful 2002 petition campaign to limit the terms of Palm Beach County commissioners to eight years in office, scoffed at the failure of the mayor's petition drive to collect 5,800 valid signatures when the earlier effort collected 65,000 signatures. "The people have spoken on this by not signing the petitions," said one of the 40-or-so attendees afterward. A couple of the WPB members reported they plan to attend the Aug. 9 city commission meeting.

BUMPER STICKERS MAILED

Better late than never. Sorry for the wait. Hopefully they'll be out of date as of Monday, but please drive around with them over the weekend. They are high quality stickers and will easily peel off your vehicle after the vote.

Campaign update #7

TERM LIMITS VS. PARTISAN POLITICS

Are term limits a Republican or Democratic thing? Neither!

Recent (2009) polling in Florida suggest that large majorities of Republicans (80%), Democrats (76%) and Independents (80%) all oppose the weakening of 8-year term limits. And, just as naturally, most incumbent politicians -- of all parties! -- are for weakening or abolishing term limits. The real divide over term limits is not between Democrats and Republicans, but between power and people.

Consider this: It was reported in the Palm Beach Post that the some specific leaders in the local Democratic Party, including Chairman Mark Alan Siegel, sent out emails urging their rank and file to sign the petition to weaken West Palm Beach term limits. This was certainly not done to advance the interests or beliefs of Democrats in West Palm Beach, the vast majority of which support term limits, nor for the two Democratic commissioners that are seeking the office of mayor, Molly Douglas and Jeri Muoio. No, it was done to benefit the current incumbent, also a Democrat.

Once again, we see the divide -- within one party -- between the people and challengers versus the incumbency. People versus power. We've seen it before in the GOP too. Back in 2002, the successful citizen initiative to limit the terms of Palm Beach County Commissioners was actively opposed by the chair of county Republican Party, sitting Commisssioner Mary McCarty, even while the rank and file Republicans supported the measure! People versus power, once again.

Hence, this campaign to defend West Palm Beach 8-year term limits has both Democrats and Republicans on its informal board and there is no consensus among us on who should, or should not be, the mayor of West Palm Beach. What unites us is our belief that term limits provide an important brake on power, particularly in a strong mayor form of government. We recognize the legal right of the mayor to run again after sitting out a term. We want to see this rule applied fairly to mayors of both parties and to prevent self-interested politicians of any party from bending the rules in their favor.

THE KEEP WPB TERM LIMITS ROAD SHOW CONTINUES...

Speaking of parties, Keep WPB Term Limits Chair Rick Shepherd received a enthusiastic ovation Wednesday night when he spoke to the county's Republican Executive Committee meeting about defending the city's voter-approved 8-year term limit. The meeting was held at the county commission chambers in downtown West Palm Beach and attracted over well over 200 people including many sitting public officials and candidates. Our committee has not been asked to present at a local Democratic club yet, but we are eager to accept such an invitation.

TERM LIMITS BUTTONS CIRCULATING

John Cohen, a potential candidate for the West Palm Beach City Commission, has stamped some attractive lapel buttons emblazoned with a big green check mark and the legend: "WPB Term Limits." For more info, contact John. Interestingly, John is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. Originally from Great Britain where he held elective office, he has not yet chosen a U.S. party, although he has been attending local meetings of both. He is a rare genuine nonpartisan to be running in the nominally nonpartisan city elections.

PRESS NOTE

Our presentation to the South Florida 9-12 Project on Tuesday was noted in their website recap of the event.

Campaign update #6

KEEP WPB TERM LIMITS MESSAGE HITS THE ROAD:
"ONE LAW FOR ME, ANOTHER FOR THEE "

Last night Philip Blumel spoke to over 100 people at the monthly meeting of the South Florida 912 Project group. Attendees included 912-member and county commissioner Jesse Santamaria and other public officials and candidates for public office.

Blumel told the group that the effort to put 8-year term limits on the Palm Beach County Commission in 2002 had to collect 65,000 signatures and the county commission did not offer to put that question on the ballot without collecting every last required signature. But in that case, the citizens did collect them all -- a reasonable requirement which demonstrates there is sufficient public support to put the idea on the ballot -- and hence the vote was held. It won by 70%.

In West Palm Beach, on the other hand, the petition drive for the anti-term limits measure is faltering even though the signature hurdle is only 5,800 valid signatures (in reality, about 7,500 gross signatures). No matter, the mayor has asked the city commission on Aug. 9 to waive the requirement.

An expressive group, the 912-ers offered applause and whistles for the effort to defend the 8-year term limit in West Palm Beach and jeers and hisses for the effort to put the question on the ballot without the signatures. Afterward, several West Palm Beach citizens approached and asked how they could help.

Rick Shepherd and other members of the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee will be presenting at civic groups tonight and Thursday evening as well. If you'd like one of us to appear before your group before Aug. 9, please let us know.

PRESERVING THE AUG. 9 VOTE IN THE PUBLIC MEMORY

Voters memories are often short, so we decided that after this campaign is over, regardless of its outcome, the roll call votes to place the anti-term limits measure on the ballot without the required signatures will remain on this blog through the next election cycle(s). We will erase the outdated material and leave only a brief description of the issue, a list of their comissioners and their votes. It might be helpful during the next election or two to have this information readily available for forwarding or linking.

It is relevant, after all, if any commissioners with future mayoral ambitions voted to benefit that office at the expense of the people.

"KEEP OUR 8-YEAR TERM LIMITS" BUMPER STICKERS AVAILABLE

These are high-quality vinyl and easy to remove from your vehicle after the campaign. PLEASE put one on your car and get friends and family to do so. Send a request for stickers to Philip Blumel at pblumel@bellsouth.net. Remember to provide your mailing address.
We have been slow in getting these out. Don't worry, if you requested some they are on their way. We haven't forgotten you.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Given the feedback we are getting, we are perplexed by the lack of letters to the editor on the subject. Please send a letter to the editor of the Palm Beach Post at letters@pbpost.com sharing how you feel about the mayor's attempt to use her power as a strong mayor to game the system and get around her 8-year term limit. For additional background on the issue, see: http://pblumel.blogspot.com/2010/07/west-palm-beach-mayor-clings-to-power.html

Campaign update #5

SUPPORT FOR TERM LIMITS EVERYWHERE!

We are being deluged with support for the committee's effort to defend West Palm Beach's voter-approved 8-year term limit via email and phone calls from West Palm Beach citizens, people who work or own businesses in West Palm Beach, former West Palm Beach mayors and commissioners, candidates and potential candidates, you name it.

The ever-observant Palm Beach Post even ran across this banner near Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard. For the full story, go here. Keep the pressure on!


TERM LIMITS OPPONENT JEFF KOONS INDICTED FOR CORRUPTION

The two most vocal Palm Beach county commissioners in opposition to county commission term limits -- a citizen referendum passed by the voters by 70% in 2002 -- were Warren Newell and Mary McCarty. Both are today in prison for corruption. (Tony Mazilotti is in prison too, but he was silent on term limits during the referendum campaign.)

Well, now it looks like another commissioner might be joining the club, former West Palm Beach city commissioner Jeff Koons. See the story of his arrest this morning on corruption charges in today's Palm Beach Post: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/investigators-cite-threatening-voice-mail-in-pursuit-to-838054.html

Interestingly, a few years ago there was a buzz among observers of county government that Koons was exploring challenging the enormously popular 8-year commission term limit so he could remain in office for additional terms. He ignored calls from former Palm Beach Shores Vice Mayor Bill Hayes, the chair of the Palm Beach County Term Limits Committee, to sit down and discuss his plans. Eventually, his trial balloon was shot down and the issue quietly disappeared.

AUG. 9 REMINDER POSTCARDS MAILED

The Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee has compiled a list of supporters and prospective supporters in West Palm Beach and yesterday mailed 200 of them a postcard update on the important Aug. 9 commission meeting. As explained in the postcard, "In 1991, West Palm Beach voters approved a two-term, 8-year term limit on the mayor. Today, however, there is a move afoot by the Mayor Lois Frankel to gut the term limit so she can run again. First, she launched a petition campaign to do so, but citizens weren’t signing the petitions. So now she is asking the WPB City Commission on Aug. 9 to put the anti-term limits measure on the ballot in November anyway…Let the commissioners know you support the city’s 8-year term limit and do not approve of short-circuiting the citizen amendment process."

2009 POLLING SHOWS MASSIVE LOCAL OPPOSITION TO WEAKENING 8-YEAR TERM LIMITS

A Quinnipiac University poll dated April 15, 2009, shows that in Southeast Florida, 76% of respondents opposed extending state legislative term limits from eight to 12 years. According to the executive summary, "Opposition is strong among all political groups and throughout the state."

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL COMMISSIONERS PRIOR TO AUG. 9

The proposal to weaken West Palm Beach's 8-year term limit needs 3 out of 5 commission votes to get on the ballot in November without citizen signatures. As of now, here's how we see the votes:

Molly Douglas NO
Kimberly Mitchell NO
Isaac Robinson UNDECIDED (Changed from UNKNOWN)
Jeri Muoio UNDECIDED
Bill Moss YES

If one of the commissioners doesn't show up and the vote is tied, the mayor herself would cast the deciding vote!

Please call and/or email the commissioners before Aug. 9 and either thank them, where appropriate, or encourage them to do the right thing on Aug. 9. For contact info, see: http://www.wpb.org/commission/maycom.php

"DON'T THE VOTERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE?"

In a clever case of political projection, supporters of the anti-term limits proposal ask, "why don't you want the issue on the ballot? Don't the voters have the right to decide?"

Of course, the voters do have the right to decide on changes made to the city charter. Indeed we approved the 8-year term limit on the mayor as part of this process. Voters also retain the right to revisit the issue. And, in fact, a politician-led citizens committee was formed to use the citizen initiative process to put the issue back on the ballot. But signature gatherers found there isn't enough support. That is why the commission is being asked to circumvent the normal process and put the question on the ballot anyway. That's right, without the signatures!

As the polling data above and the failing petition drive shows, there is no public clamor to put this question back on the ballot. If it is done by the commission, it will be not be done as a service of the people, but due solely due to pressure from the mayor.

If it is the people one worries about, then one would respect their wishes as expressed by them at the polls and via the current citizen initiative process. The move to put this question on the ballot via commission is an effort to circumvent the people for the benefit of a single politician.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

One weak link in our campaign so far has been letters to the editor. To our knowledge, none have appeared for over a month during the mayor's first attack on the voter-approved 8-year term limits law. You can send letters via email to letters@pbpost.com, letting the city know how you feel about the mayor's attempt to use her power as a strong mayor to game the system and get around her 8-year term limit. For additional background and talking points on the issue, use our daily updates or see http://pblumel.blogspot.com/2010/07/west-palm-beach-mayor-clings-to-power.html

Campaign update #4

SCHULTZ: "WHAT WON'T SHE DO TO FINAGLE A THIRD TERM?"
Randy Schultz at the Palm Beach Post asks this question in his latest editorial on the 'plots of Mayor Lois.' He points out that she stymied a 2006 petition drive in spite of the fact it had successfully gathered enough signatures. Now that she is running a petition drive, she wants her question on the ballot even though her committee has not successfully gathered enough signatures. It is a valuable recent history lesson.

See: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/columnists/schultz-the-plots-of-mayor-lois-what-wont-832945.html

In its West Palm Beat blog, the Post also mentioned the new weblog of the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee.

See: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/westpalmbeat/2010/07/keep-term-limits-pac-creates-web-site/

D-DAY FOR WEST PALM BEACH TERM LIMITS, AUG. 9!
Unless the petition drive somehow revives, the fate of the mayor's anti-term limits proposal hinges on a vote scheduled for the Aug. 9 city commission meeting. The mayor is asking the commission to put her question on the ballot even though West Palm Beach citizens are not signing the petitions to do so. Please attend and let the commissioners know you support the current 8-year term limit and do not approve of short circuiting the citizen initiative process.

HELP PROMOTE THE AUG. 9 EVENT
Please send a message to your friends, family and associates in West Palm Beach. Here’s a sample message you could cut and paste:

(snip)

A MESSAGE FROM THE 'KEEP WEST PALM BEACH TERM LIMITS COMMITTEE' -- PLEASE FORWARD!

If you would like to help protect West Palm Beach's existing 8-year term limit law and prevent the mayor from running for a third term, the best thing you can do is to attend the city commission meeting at 4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 9, at City Center, 401 Clematis Street. At this meeting the decision will be made whether or not to put the anti-term limits question on the ballot for November, since the politician-led 'citizen' intiative to do this has failed. You can speak to the commission during the comments period, or just stand with us holding a "Keep our 8-year term limits" bumper sticker (these will be provided). Bring friends!

For background and more information, see:
http://www.wpbtermlimits.blogspot.com/
and
http://pblumel.blogspot.com/2010/07/west-palm-beach-mayor-clings-to-power.htmlhttp://pblumel.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

Philip Blumel (561) 254-8458

Pd. Pol. Adv. from the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee -- Rick Shepherd, chair; Jon Fogt, treasurer

(snip)

THE COMMISSION SCORECARD

The proposal to weaken West Palm Beach's 8-year term limit needs 3 out of 5 commission votes to get on the ballot in November without citizen signatures. As of know, here's how we see the votes:

Molly Douglas NO
Kimberly Mitchell NO
Isaac Robinson UNKNOWN
Jeri Muoio UNDECIDED
Bill Moss YES

Please call and/or email the commissioners before Aug. 9 and either thank them, where appropriate, or encourage them to do the right thing on Aug. 9. For contact info, see: http://www.wpb.org/commission/maycom.php

"KEEP OUR 8-YEAR TERM LIMITS" BUMPER STICKERS AVAILABLE
Requests are coming in for the high-quality vinyl stickers. Don't worry, these will be easy to remove from your vehicle after the campaign. PLEASE put one on your car and get friends and family to do so. Let's see them moving around downtown. Send a request for stickers to Philip Blumel at pblumel@bellsouth.net. Remember to provide your mailing address.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
One weak link in our campaign so far has been letters to the editor. To our knowledge, none have appeared for over a month during the mayor's first attack on the voter-approved 8-year term limits law. You can send letters via email to letters@pbpost.com, letting the city know how you feel about the mayor's attempt to use her power as a strong mayor to game the system and get around her 8-year term limit. For additional background and talking points on the issue, use our daily updates or see http://pblumel.blogspot.com/2010/07/west-palm-beach-mayor-clings-to-power.html

Campaign update #3

TV, RADIO COVERS "KEEP WPB TERM LIMITS COMMITTEE"
Yesterday, we attached a link to the Post's breaking story announcing the new people's PAC. Later in the day, WJNO ran short spots every hour with the announcement. See http://www.wjno.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=120981&article=7418186.
WPBF TV Channel 25 ran a full segment with Committee Chair Rick Shepherd in his downtown WPB condo. It even urges citizens to attend the Aug. 9 city commission meeting to make their voice heard. Check it out: http://www.wpbf.com/politics/24451384/detail.html
Our presence at Friday's charter review board meeting at City Hall was even noted by the Palm Beach Post : http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/westpalmbeat/2010/07/charter-committee-pens-a-few-ordinances/#more-1534


INQUIRIES COMING IN: HOW CAN I HELP?
We are getting inquiries from many West Palm Beach citizens about how they can help protect West Palm Beach's term limit. The best thing you can do right now is to attend the city commission meeting at 4 p.m., Aug. 9, at City Center, 401 Clematis Street. At this meeting the decision will be made whether or not to put the anti-term limits question on the ballot for November, since the politician-led 'citizen' intiative to do this has failed. You can speak to the commission during the comments period, or just stand with us holding a "Keep our 8-year term limits" bumper sticker (these will be provided). Brings friends!
Sadly, we have been told by some interested citizens, particularly business and property owners, that they are afraid to openly participate in our effort because they wonder what will happen to them if the mayor wins her fight for a third term. The power of a mayor -- particularly in a strong mayor form of government -- to hand out favors and punishments is tremendous. This is the top reason why we have 8-year term limits. But don't worry, the people support the 8-year term limit and they will win.

THE COMMISSION SCORECARD -- WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS!
The Palm Beach Post reported the other day that the informal vote count on the commission was 4-1 in favor of putting Mayor Frankel's anti-term limit measure on the ballot in November without citizen signatures. We have spoken to two commissioners now who now say they will vote against that idea on Aug. 9. So now the vote is only 3-2. Friends, that means we only have to convince one more commissioner to vote NO on Aug. 9. Please call or email West Palm Beach city commissioners and ask them how they plan to vote and urge them to vote no. Let us know what response you get!
Here's a link to their email addresses and telephone numbers: http://www.wpb.org/commission/maycom.php.

"KEEP OUR 8-YEAR TERM LIMITS" BUMPER STICKERS AVAILABLE
These are high-quality vinyl and easy to remove from your vehicle after the campaign. Please put one on your car and get friends and family to do so. Send a request for stickers to Philip Blumel at pblumel@bellsouth.net. Remember to provide your mailing address.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Several of you have reported sending letters to the editor of the Palm Beach Post in favor of WPB's 8-year term limit. Keep 'em coming! You can send them to letters@pbpost.com, letting the city know how you feel about the mayor's attempt to use her power as a strong mayor to game the system and get around her 8-year term limit. For additional background and talking points on the issue, use our daily updates or see http://pblumel.blogspot.com/2010/07/west-palm-beach-mayor-clings-to-power.html

Paid pol. adv. paid for by the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee -- Richard Shepherd, chair; Jon Fogt, treasurer

Campaign update #2

PRO-TERM LIMIT PAC FORMED IN WEST PALM BEACH
OK, we're official. We can now raise money and campaign against the charter change to gut West Palm Beach's 8-year term limit. Here's an article on the new group from page 3B in today's Palm Beach Post:
http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/opinionzone/2010/07/28/lois-frankel-mayor-for-life/
Please make contributions payable to the "Keep WPB Term Limits Committee," 216 31st Street., WPB, FL 33407. Momey raised will be used for mailings, campaign materials, yard signs, etc.

FRANKEL MISINFORMATION ALERT!
Mayor Frankel is asking the commission to put her anti-term limit amendment on the ballot instead of making her continue to collect signatures to do so. On what basis? Wel, she says she wants to save the city from a possible $100k expense of a special election.
Don't be fooled by this. If the petition campaign collects 5,800 valid signatures by the Aug. 6 deadline, the term limits question will appear on the November ballot. But if they turn them in later, the question would appear on the regular March ballot. No special elections, here, folks -- unless Frankel sues the city to demand one. That is her veiled threat and the citizens should not shrink before it.

NOVEMBER WILL BE LONG, COSTLY BALLOT
At the West Palm Beach Charter Review Board today, City Attorney Claudia McKenna led the board in reviewing three charter amendments that will likely appear on the ballot in November. None directly affected the term limits debate.
However, board member Dean Turney did make a couple of points worth mentioning. Turney recommended that the city commission withhold two of the charter amendments because the ballot in November in expected to be particularly long. Also, he noted (using the Supervisor of Elections office as a source) that the city is charged *more* for placing an item on the ballot in November versus the regularly scheduled mayoral election in March.
Please note that both of these points are additional reasons why the commission should NOT short-circuit the referendum process and place the term limits question on the November ballot. If the requisite number of signatures are collected, so be it. But there is no argument for the commission to place the question without them.

SAVE THE DATE -- AUG. 9!
The mayor's petition drive to ditch WPB's eight-year term limit is failing and so the mayor is now pushing to have the question placed on the ballot by the city commission. It appears the commission is prepared to do this, but there are a coupld of wavering members. Citizens need to attend the Aug. 9 city commission meeting and let the commission know how they feel. If you live or work in West Palm Beach, please attend and bring friends. In the meantime, please clue in your commissioners via phone calls or email. Here's a link to their email addresses and telephone numbers: http://www.wpb.org/commission/maycom.php.

"KEEP OUR 8-YEAR TERM LIMITS" BUMPER STICKERS AVAILABLE
These are high-quality vinyl and easy to remove from your vehicle after the campaign. PLEASE put one on your car and get friends and family to do so. Send a request for stickers to Philip Blumel at pblumel@bellsouth.net. Remember to provide your mailing address.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Please send a letter to the editor of the Palm Beach Post at letters@pbpost.com sharing how you feel about the mayor's attempt to use her power as a strong mayor to game the system and get around her 8-year term limit. For additional background on the issue, see: http://pblumel.blogspot.com/2010/07/west-palm-beach-mayor-clings-to-power.html

Paid pol. adv. paid for by the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee -- Richard Shepherd

Campaign update #1

PALM BEACH POST: "NO REASON TO TRUST FRANKEL"
This is the lead editorial in the PB Post today
http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/opinionzone/2010/07/28/lois-frankel-mayor-for-life/

KEEP WPB TERM LIMITS COMMITTEE FORMED
A non-partisan political committee -- the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee -- has been established and registered with the city. Its sole purpose is to defend West Palm Beach's two-term, 8-year term limit on the mayor. The chair and treasurer are, respectively, Richard Shepherd and Jon Fogt. A bank account has been established to raise money for the campaign. A press release is being prepared for immediate release.

SAVE THE DATE -- AUG. 9!
The mayor's petition drive to ditch WPB's eight-year term limit is failing and so the mayor is now pushing to have the question placed on the ballot by the city commission. It appears the commission is prepared to do this, but there are a coupld of wavering members. Citizens need to attend the Aug. 9 city commission meeting and let the commission know how they feel. If you live or work in West Palm Beach, please attend and bring friends. In the meantime, please let your commissioners know how you feel. Here's a link to their email addresses and telephone numbers: http://www.wpb.org/commission/maycom.php.

"KEEP OUR 8-YEAR TERM LIMITS" BUMPER STICKERS AVAILABLE
These are high-quality vinyl and easy to remove from your vehicle after the campaign. PLEASE put one on your car and get friends and family to do so. Send a request for stickers to Philip Blumel at pblumel@bellsouth.net. Remember to provide your mailing address.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Please send a letter to the editor of the Palm Beach Post at letters@pbpost.com sharing how you feel about the mayor's attempt to use her power as a strong mayor to game the system and get around her 8-year term limit. For additional background on the issue, see: http://pblumel.blogspot.com/2010/07/west-palm-beach-mayor-clings-to-power.html

Paid pol. adv. paid for by the Keep West Palm Beach Term Limits Committee -- Richard Shepherd, chair; Jon Fogt, treasurer.