Saturday, July 31, 2010

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

Friday, July 30, 2010

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

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

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.