The Fort Lauderdale Mayor’s race, an exit poll and my analysis.
Posted Under: Important Issues for Fort Lauderdale
The Fort Lauderdale Mayor’s race, an exit poll and my analysis.
First, to those of you who supported my Mayoral candidacy with your time, money and effort, I say, “Thank you”! I’ve spent the last few days trying to personally reach each of you who helped us and to let you know how much I appreciate your efforts. And to those of you who voted for me, I am sorry that the results were not what we had hoped for.
We knew going in to this that (with our limited resources) it would be difficult to unseat an incumbent, especially one who is a career politician and has many contacts with deep pockets. We had hoped that our message of reigning in the out-of-control budget would make sense to those concerned about our City’s financial future. Although we did not ultimately succeed, at least we gave the voters an alternative to the status quo and I am happy that I was able to do that.
An interesting aspect after the election was an informal exit poll done outside of a few voting precincts. To those voters who voted for Jack Seiler, a question was asked: “What caused you to vote for Jack?” In almost every instance, the reply was one of three: “I know the family”, or “He’s the current Mayor”, or “I recognize the name”. A follow-on question was posed: “What has the Mayor specifically accomplished in his first three years?” No-one who was asked that question could come up with anything specific!
A final question was then posed: “If you had known that he had increased spending by more than $35 Million and had raided the City’s savings account by more than $25 Million, would you have reconsidered your vote?” The majority said they would have reconsidered.
So it appears that I did not do a good enough job of getting the word out, and I will take the blame for that. And now our City is heading for a major financial calamity unless one of two things happens: 1: Our City’s budget and spending are cut or, 2: Taxes and fees are raised.
I predict that this fall, Jack Seiler will push to have the millage rate (your property taxes) increased. He is already trying to get taxpayers to believe that their millage rate is too low (it’s actually too high).
My hope is that the majority of the Commission will recognize that cuts in the budget need to be made, rather than taxes increased. I also hope that the employee unions “get ahead of this issue” and voluntarily work to tighten their belts and lighten the burden on Fort Lauderdale residents and taxpayers. I am not optimistic that either will happen.
So I will continue to express my opinion on this web site and encourage others to do the same. We need to continue the pressure on our elected officials by sending them emails, calling them and having others do the same.
Over time, if we continue to exert our influence, I am confident that we will eventually prevail.
Earl Rynerson
Reader Comments
Thanks for running Earl.
Well, Earl, I’m saddened too by the outcome of the Mayor’s race. However, I’m not surprised. Like I said, most people don’t even know they’re standing on their own two feet let alone know what’s going on in their community. Ignorance is all we have going in this country anymore as I am convinced by the blogs I read, what I hear in the news and the way people vote, the questions they ask and the things they are mostly concerned about.
Jack doesn’t care if you believe him or not, he’s just going to do what he wants. My mileage was already raised plenty but because I’ve been in my home for so many years, it isn’t affecting me. This is only setting the stage for “newcomers” or people who simply want to move to another house whether it be the same neighborhood or a different one. These people are going to be clobbered and unless they are downright wealthy, they will be scared away from buying in Ft. Laud. I wonder if Jack’s house will have it’s mileage rate skyrocket like all the others?
You fought the good fight, made some mistakes, and lived to blog another day.
Seriously, you’re right about the fact that people did not vote on policy, but on friendship. Mayor Seiler is a very likable guy with lots of friends; heck, they’re all likable, but other than civility on the dias and more parades I’ve seen very little out of this Commission that is more than just maintaining the status quo. All the big changes were in play before this current Commission came to power. My biggest hopes now rest in the new City Manager. A great choice, ultimately, but why the months of a vacuum in City Hall? Rhetorical question, of course.
Thank You Earl for being engaged I believe for a Healthy Local Government Their needs Residents willing to speak out when they do not agree with a issue or direction of the Government so keep it up!!!
thank you, Earl, for the clear way in which you informed and educated us on the imortant issues. I supported you with mhy vote and am happy to do so. Your work is not over, we need your voice to hold Seiler’s feet to the fire so don’t stop your fight, many of us are informed because of you and firmly behind you
Earl, thanks for your efforts and hard work in educating us and opening our eyes to many important issues facing the future of the City of Fort Lauderdale. Issues I would have not known about if it wasn’t for your website. I did support you with my vote.
Continuing doing what you are doing with your website. Its important to let the public see the other side of the coin.
In the long run you will win out. Time will tell.
Earl,
Local governments will reflect the dominant interests absent a vibrant press and self-sustaining political organizations.
Cut and paste onto your browser. It’s a take on Citizen’s Ins. and no different than the take on our property taxes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NpDJdOpZOU
You had my vote, sorry you didn’t win. But I think you got shafted by the way the election was held on a republican primary, in majority democratic town. Still no excuse no to vote. I am disabled and I did! So no one should complain if they didn’t even vote.
Absolutely, Will. I voted. However, I feel this is mostly a Republican state and I feel that the majority of the people in Ft. Laud. are republican’s too. They have an antiquated way of thinking. And…it is getting worse just from listening to the debates within the republican party. It is way worse than when Bush (who I cannot stand) was running. The two parties are drifting further apart than ever before. It is truly scary.