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 We will erase the outdated material and leave only a brief description of the issue, a list of their comissioners and their votes.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
