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