In the Fort Lauderdale Mayor’s race, what are the differences between Jack Seiler and Earl Rynerson?
In the Fort Lauderdale Mayor’s race, what are the differences between
Jack Seiler and Earl Rynerson?
To those of you who may not be sure about the differences between the current Mayor (Jack Seiler) and myself (Earl Rynerson), I thought I would give some examples of our differences:
Our backgrounds:
- I served our country for 20 years in the military, volunteering for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I retired in 1997 as a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force. I have over 30 years business experience and have been a small business owner for over 10 years here in Fort Lauderdale.
- Jack is an attorney and a career politician, going from one Florida location to another, wherever there is a political race he can win. He bought a home in Fort Lauderdale only AFTER he was elected Mayor here three years ago.
Our focus:
- My focus is Fort Lauderdale. I live here, own a home here and have a business here. I chose to move here in 1999 because I am passionate about this city. It has waterways, weather, beaches, diversity and vibrancy that other cities can only dream about.
- Jack is focused on Jack. Jack is not interested in developing new initiatives here; he sees Fort Lauderdale as a stepping stone to higher political office. His supporters are primarily statewide lobbyists, fellow attorneys and special interest groups that can help get him into other more powerful state political positions.
Our perspectives on spending:
- As a small business owner, I am always looking for ways to do more with less. I have had to tighten my belt with my business; I feel it’s time our City did the same.
- As an attorney and politician, Jack has no problem in spending other people’s money. He’s been very good doing that for the last 3 years, taking over $20 Million of YOUR money out of our City’s savings account to pay for continued pay raises and bonuses to already overpaid city staff.
Our Future Vision for the City:
- I have written a 20-chapter “Vision for Fort Lauderdale”, that provides ideas and sets future directions for our City. It didn’t cost you a dime.
- After three years, Jack still cannot articulate a Vision for Fort Lauderdale. He wants others to do it, and wants to give them your tax dollars for another useless document.
Our Views on Budgetary reform:
- I believe we cannot continue to take money from taxpayers to keep feeding a bloated budget that is almost twice the size of what it was 8 years ago. Our own Budget Advisory Board has warned that our current budget is “Not Sustainable”. We MUST have budgetary reform.
- Jack has done nothing to control spending. The budget has increased more than $35 Million dollars under Jack. The number of City employees receiving over $150,000 in annual compensation has almost doubled during Jack’s tenure, from 163 people to 297.
Our views on pension reform:
- I believe that we need to exercise true pension reform, now. Our City’s pension liability is now more than $1.1 Billion dollars! Of that amount, more than $350 Million dollars is unfunded, meaning we the taxpayers are responsible for that cost.
- Jack has demonstrated that he doesn’t care about the out-of -control pension costs. He hasn’t addressed it. His continued pay increases and bonuses to staff have made the pension problem much worse, just in the three years he’s been Mayor. Perhaps Jack doesn’t care about pension costs because he doesn’t plan on being here when the “pension time bomb” explodes….
These are just a few of the differences between Jack Seiler and myself. I hope you will remember these issues when you vote by absentee ballot, or when you vote on January 31.
Thank you!
Earl Rynerson
Candidate For Mayor of Fort Lauderdale
Political advertisement paid for and approved by Earl Rynerson, non-partisan candidate for Mayor of Fort Lauderdale.
Reader Comments
Earl – although some of us have already decided how we will vote in three weeks, others may be undecided. They are invited to come and see firsthand, in person, the differences between candidates tomorrow night Monday January 9 7:00pm at Imperial Point Hospital Auditorium. The forum is for mayor and district one candidates with a Q&A. Alan Silva from the Budget Advisory Board (and formerly the city manager) is one of the moderators. A quick drive up Federal Highway, free well lit secure parking and a chance to evaluate the candidates.
Yes, Earl you must come up to Imperial Point tomorrow night. It is time for everyone to see and find out everything about the candidates. Time for the candidates to answer the tough questions from the residents and hear more than the candidates own spin.
I may disagree with you about some items but I do agree about the City’s waste. A big waste for me is I think we have way too many police officers. For example, when during a “normal” daytime traffic stop envolving a woman alone or with some kids in car does not need to have 12 or mor officers there. And some come up there at breakneck speeds too. I bet if you fired 80 percent of the police force, at average of over $100,000 yearly, look at all the money the is saved.
Mayor Seiler continues to spend MY money with little regard to the future of Ft. Lauderdale. Spending MY money makes him look good among many who receive the compensation, but as a stakeholder, I loose. Increasing the City budget by more than $35 Million dollars under Mayor Seilers’ reign is unconscionable in economic times such as we are now facing. He is bankrupting the city for future generations. It is time for someone to manage the City like a business.
I’m voting for Earl Rynerson. I can trust him to properly manage my tax dollars.
Earl, I just read on Tim Smith’s website that you and Gabe Crimi did not attend the debate last night in Imperial Point, but the Mayor did. What were you doing last night instead? How can you face these people who are going door to door for you after being a no show last night. And if being a no show is part of the formula to get elected, that is even worse. If you don’t have the guts to even show up to the first debate who are you kidding, who is going to vote for you?
Charlie-
As I’ve mentioned to many people over the last several weeks, I learned from 3 years ago that most of these forums force attendees to answer canned questions from the audience. They do not allow open dialog between candidates, or let candidates discuss in detail the various problems we have and how to address those problems.
I would enjoy going after Jack and pointing out where he is deliberately misleading the voters, but I was not allowed to do that 3 years ago. And the rules have not changed this time either. So I feel my time can be better spent doing neighborhood canvassing and meeting the voters directly. I just hope the attendees are smart enough to know when they are hearing political B.S. from a career politician.
Earl
Thanks for the Answer to the question from Charles, especially
“these forums force attendees to answer canned questions from the audience”
Is the auidence not the voters and are you saying the voters dont have the right to ask questions.
It is obvious that you only want to discuss the topics you want to discuss and the voters and their questions be damnned.
It may be a leap but how you can honestly say that as Mayor if the residents dont agree with a position you are taking you would just ignore them and only deal with those that agree with you. That does not seem like democracy to me.
Bernard-
I do see your point. My issues are not with the audience members per se, it’s with the organizers of the Forums that set up how the Forum is to be conducted. Strict rules are established that limit candidates to answering (in a limited amount of time) a specific set of questions that the organizers ask.
It does not give a candidate the opportunity to delve deep into an issue, or to give the audience a look at what the candidate’s main concerns are and what his/her solutions are, or to challenge misleading statements made by another candidate. There is no open dialog.
These forums favor-slick talking politicians like Jack Seiler. Seiler ends up speaking volumes about things that sound good, but have no meaning. The audience is left with a vague favorable sense of him, but can’t say exactly what specific things he said.
To see what I am saying, go to this clip from “The best little whorehouse in Texas”. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJG75FJkjr8 ) It shows what happens when a slick talking politician (like Jack Seiler), is allowed to speak without anyone following up or challenging him. Watch this and you’ll see what I mean.
Earl