Watchdog Report Vol.12 No.27 November 6, 2011 Est.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot!

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage.

>>> RED ALERT: I NEED FINANCIAL HELP IF THIS IS TOO CONTNUE:  If you think it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider becoming a supporter or sponsor. For there is no trust fund, and I do have to live and I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line in the media. A convenient form is at the bottom of this week’s Watchdog Report with all the instructions on how to support this newsletter and news service that has celebrated its 12th Anniversary May 5, 2011.

>>> I was again on WPBT Channel 2 hosted by Helen Ferre on Friday and Sunday and to see the show go to www.wpbt.org/issues

Here is the promo for the show: Lincoln Diaz-Balart on Gambling

In the ongoing discussion regarding casino gambling, we invited former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart who is representing one of the companies hoping to get a gambling license in Miami-Dade County, Genting. Guests: Lincoln Diaz-Balart, The Genting Group. >>> Local Elections and Reforms: The Miami-Dade County Commission met on Thursday to discuss the reforms voters will see on the ballot in January, which would affect the commissioners themselves.  We discuss these reforms and the results of this week’s local elections. Guests: Tim Elfrink, Miami New Times, Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University, Patricia Mazzei, The Miami Herald, Daniel Ricker, Watchdog Report

>>> I was also on Joseph Cooper’s show Topical Currents on WLRN/NPR 91.3 FM on Nov. 2 with Dan Christensen of The Broward Bulldog www.browardbulldog.org on Wednesday discussing the elections, resort gambling and what is going on with the new IG, John Scott in Broward. To hear the show go to http://www.wlrn.org/radio/programs/topical-currents/archive/

>>> CORRECTION: I misspelled the name for Jackson Health System last week.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> White House press release: The Employment Situation in October

Today’s employment report provides further evidence that the economy is continuing to recover from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, but the pace of improvement is not fast enough.  Private sector payrolls increased by 104,000 and overall payroll employment rose by 80,000 in October. The unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage point to 9.0 percent, a level that remains unacceptably high. Despite adverse shocks that have created headwinds for economic growth, the economy has added private sector jobs for 20 straight months, for a total of 2.8 million jobs over that period.

We need faster economic growth to put more Americans back to work. Today’s report provides further evidence for why it is so important that Congress pass the President’s American Jobs Act to put more money in the paychecks of working and middle class families; to make it easier for small businesses to hire workers; to keep teachers in the classroom; to put construction crews to work rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure; and other measures that will help the economy grow while not adding to the deficit over ten years.  The report underscores that one area that remains notably weak is the construction sector.  That’s why it is disappointing that the Senate was not able to proceed to the infrastructure part of the American Jobs Act.

Sectors with employment increases included professional and business services (+32,000), leisure and hospitality (+22,000), retail trade (+17,800), health care and social assistance (+16,300), and manufacturing (+5,000).  Sectors with employment declines included government (-24,000) and construction (-20,000).  State and local governments lost 22,000 jobs and have shed more than 430,000 jobs since February 2010. The monthly employment and unemployment numbers are volatile and employment estimates are subject to substantial revision.  There is no better example than August’s jobs figure, which was initially reported at zero and in the latest revision increased to 104,000.  This illustrates why the Administration always stresses it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report.

>>> Press release: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,  blasted the Chinese regime’s “abysmal human rights record,” including its policy of forced abortion, during the first ever Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the annual report from the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.   For Ros-Lehtinen’s full opening statement from yesterday’s hearing, please click here. The Committee received testimony from several experts on China’s ongoing human rights abuses, including forced abortion and the selective abortion of female fetuses, also known as “gendercide.”

“This hearing shed further light on the many injustices the people of China still face at the hands of an oppressive communist regime,” Ros-Lehtinen said..  “Responsible nations must demand that China end its brutal human rights abuses, including the unspeakable forced abortion policy, and we must support those in China standing up for their rights and for democracy..” One witness noted Ros-Lehtinen’s pressuring of Chinese leader Hu Jintau to halt the regime’s human rights abuses.  Tiananmen Square organizer and survivor Chai Ling said to Chairman Ros-Lehtinen:  “You brought up China’s brutal practices with Hu Jintao during his visit in a challenge to him to end it. Thank you for your courage and clarity.” John Kamm of The Dui Hua Foundation praised Chairman Ros-Lehtinen for holding the hearing.  “I commend the Chairman on holding this first-of-its-kind hearing on the annual report of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China,” Kamm said.

Ros-Lehtinen used the question-and-answer period to put China’s brutal forced abortion policy in the spotlight.  “The [Commission] reports that in October 2010, local family planning officials in Southern China kidnapped a woman who was eight months pregnant with her second child and detained her for 40 hours.  They forcibly injected her with a substance that caused the fetus to be aborted.  During this time the woman’s husband was not permitted to see her.  How widespread are such coercive practices?” Ros-Lehtinen asked. Ros-Lehtinen continued: “Population statistics indicate a growing gender imbalance in China, with a lack of female children and young women of marriageable age due to the coercive ‘one-child’ policy and Confucian preference for male children.  Many have termed the selective abortion of female fetuses as ‘gendercide.’” For more information on the hearing, including testimony, please click here.

>>> Press release: Two fugitive sisters on federal Most Wanted list get 14-years for $9.1 million in Medicare fraud scheme

Two sisters who owned a fraudulent Detroit-area medical clinic and who are former “Most Wanted” health care fraud fugitives were each sentenced in Miami yesterday to 14 years in prison for their leading roles in a $9.1 million Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Caridad Guilarte, 54, and Clara Guilarte, 57, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga in the Southern District of Florida.   The Guilartes were also sentenced to three years of supervised release and were ordered to pay approximately $6 million in restitution, jointly with co-defendants. The Guilartes pleaded guilty on Aug. 24, 2011, to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  The sisters were charged in an indictment unsealed in June 2009 in the Eastern District of Michigan.   After fleeing the United States to Panama and then Venezuela to avoid arrest, they were placed on the HHS-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Most Wanted Fugitives list.   They were arrested on March 13, 2011, by law enforcement authorities in Colombia and were returned to the United States on March 14, 2011.  The Guilartes consented to have their cases transferred to the Southern District of Florida for plea and sentencing.  As part of her plea, Caridad Guilarte agreed to forfeit approximately $465,000, which was seized by the FBI as part of its investigation.

According to court documents, the Guilartes opened Dearborn Medical Rehabilitation Center (DMRC) in November 2005 solely for the purpose of defrauding Medicare.  DMRC purported to be an infusion clinic that administered infusions of exotic and expensive medications to patients suffering serious illnesses, such as HIV and Hepatitis-C.  Between November 2005 and March 2007, DMRC submitted more than $9 million in claims to Medicare for infusion treatments and related services. The Guilartes admitted that they purchased only a small fraction of the medications billed to Medicare.  The Medicare beneficiaries who visited DMRC did not need infusion treatments, but instead came to DMRC because they were bribed to do so with the payment of cash kickbacks.  The Guilartes recruited a number of individuals to assist them in defrauding Medicare, including beneficiary recruiters, who paid cash kickbacks, and a doctor, to give the clinic an appearance of legitimacy.

Medicare paid in excess of $6 million to DMRC.  The Guilartes laundered the proceeds of the fraud through various co-conspirators and a series of shell corporations, which had no legitimate business function.  More than 10 individuals have pleaded guilty to health care fraud and/or money laundering in connection with the DMRC scheme. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Wifredo Ferrer; Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara L. McQuade; Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office Andrew G. Arena; and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the HHS-OIG’s Chicago Regional Office.  The cases were prosecuted by Acting Assistant Chief Benjamin D. Singer of the Fraud Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Philip A. Ross, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Thomas W. Biemers.  The cases were investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG, and were brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. >>> Since their inception in March 2007, Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in nine locations have charged more than 1,140 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $2.9 billion.  In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.         To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.

>>> Press release: IBOPE Zogby Poll: 51% of Adults Oppose Compensating Students For NCAA Sports Participation 53% Believe Schools Should Have Right To Change Conferences

A small majority of U.S. adults oppose the idea of paying student athlete’s up to $5,000 annually for their participation in NCAA sports and support the right of universities to change the conferences in which they compete. These results are from an Oct 28-Oct 31 IBOPE Zogby interactive poll. Do you support or oppose the idea of paying student athlete’s up to $5,000 annually for their participation in NCAA sports?

Response	%
Support	29%
Oppose	51%
Not sure	20%

Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website:
http://www.ibopezogby.com/news/2011/11/03/ibope-zogby-poll-51-adults-oppose-compensating-students-ncaa-sports-participation/

>>> MIA FAA controller Welsh’s quick thinking avoided major tragedy

Investigative reporter Stephen Stock with www.cbsmiami.com Thursday night did an investigative story on an incident at MIA that involved two jets almost landing on each other if it were not for the cool and quick thinking of FAA air traffic controller Molly Welsh. She said she was just doing her job but the Watchdog Report gives her a Tip of the Hat for what could have been a terrible aviation tragedy. And thankfully, the nation has not had a plane crash for a number of years.

>>> Advocates for the weak, Sister Jeanne, Landon, Tate, and Esserman tapped for prestigious awards

The Chapman Partnership at there 10^th Anniversary Gala Oct. 22 gave Sister Jeanne O’ Laughlin the Alvah H. Chapman Jr., Humanitarian Award and this is just a long list of honors for the high profile Nun. O’ Laughlin is the Chancellor of Barry University, has chaired a Miami-Dade Mayoral Task Force on whether MIA should be under a governing authority in 1999-2000. She also was a factor in the negotiations of the young Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez who was picked up in the water after crossing the straits from Cuba on a raft with his mother who perished on the trip on Nov. 1999. Ron Book, the chair of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust said the gala was one “of the most moving events” he has ever attended. “It was really spectacularly special,” said Book at the homeless trust board meeting Oct. 28 and she chaired a committee in the early days of the Community Partnership for Homeless (now named The Chapman Partnership) and she was a driving force in getting homeless people back to their religious roots with themselves. The Watchdog Report gives the Nun a Tip of the Hat for your 30 years of dedication trying to make South Florida a better place for our residents after your early years in Detroit.

>>> Businessman & philanthropist Landon to get Lifetime Achievement Award, Tate & Esserman also honored

Further, Chapman Partnership representatives wrote that R. Kirk Landon is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Miami Chapter, 2011 National Philanthropy Day Awards being held on November 15 at Jungle Island. And Stanley G. Tate will also be honored receiving the James W. McLamore Outstanding Volunteer Award, and Ron Esserman is being honored with the Outstanding Philanthropist Award. The Watchdog Report gives them all a Tip of the Hat for all they have contributed to South Florida over the decades.

>>> Miami New Times investigative reporter Elfrink moving on up to managing editor of weekly

Reporter Tim Elfrink is moving on up the journalist food chain and he is the new managing editor for the Miami New Times after his predecessor; Jorge Casuso said sayonara to Miami and went back to California. Elfrink did a extensive profile story over a year ago on now U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R- Fla. (Net worth $8,371) and it was one of the great journalistic pieces at the time because voters and the media were just really getting to know him even though he had been Speaker of the Florida House from 2006-2008.  The Watchdog Report gives Elfrink a Tip of the Hat and good luck in this new role.

>>> National profile of the publisher in The Tribune papers Jan. 2003 & UNCCH 2004 media study that cites Watchdog Report having 100,000 readers weekly

To read a national story run in the Tribune papers on my life and how this all began done by Orlando Sentinel featured reporter Maya Bell go to: To read the section’s large front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>  And to read a University of North Carolina Chapel Hill study on the media in the Southeast United States that mentions the Watchdog Report with 100,000 readers weekly, done back in 2004 and to read the Southern Media Study go to: Daniel Ricker of the Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than … – – Cached.

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a  multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade.

FLORIDA

>>> Twin bills filed by Sen. Diaz de la Portilla & Rep. Fresen put CRAs under the gun, give county more control, calls for forensic audits every five-years

State Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami (Net worth $468,000) on Nov.4 has filed a bill in the Senate and the legislation reigning in Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRA) in Florida counties is identical to what was filed days earlier by state Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami (Net worth $330,000). In the case of Miami-Dade County, there are 11 different CRAs but the county commission controls only one. Over the years, the other CRAs around the county would pass the organizations yearly budgets later and after the fact. The county commission would approve the financial documents. This local independence of CRAs in Miami, Miami Beach and Homestead for example has been a sticking point with some county commissioners and has resulted in extensive discussion in the body’s chambers including a CRA Workshop. The Senator’s bill’s big change is it does not require the approval of the municipalities to dissolve a CRA and will require a forensic audit every five years if the legislation passes.

In Miami, the different CRAs boards are made up of the local commissioners, there has been a perception that the money coming designated to reduce blight, and slum in the geographic areas is not always the case and some people suggest, these entities tend to become a cash grab bag that local officials can dip into for their favorite projects. The issue of administrative costs have also popped up over the years and ranges to the Miami CRA director making around $200,000 when benefits are included to Miami Beach where city Manager Jorge Gonzalez runs the CRA administration as part of his duties and has kept the administrative costs low.

>>> Here is the bill’s summary: Sponsor(s) by Diaz de la Portilla Summary

General Community Redevelopment Agencies; Providing reporting requirements for certain community redevelopment agencies; providing for the termination of community redevelopment agencies by the board of county commissioners of certain counties; providing public hearing and notice and termination plan requirements; providing that consent from certain entities is not required for such termination; providing additional redevelopment plan requirements for certain counties; providing requirements for the expenditure of moneys from redevelopment trust funds in certain counties; exempting payment of debt service in such counties from certain approval; providing requirements for the appropriation of certain trust fund moneys in such counties; requiring a forensic audit of agencies in such counties at least every 5 years for certain purposes, etc. EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2012 Committees of Reference Committee references not assigned. http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/547

>>> FLORIDA TAXWATCH IDENTIFIES MILLIONS IN POTENTIAL HEALTHCARE  SAVINGS FOR FLORIDA TAXPAYERS

Press release: Florida has the potential to save millions in healthcare costs annually while maintaining high-quality healthcare delivery by removing administrative and legislative barriers for Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) and Physicians Assistants (PAs), a new Florida TaxWatch study finds. Senator Mike Bennett (R-Manatee), a champion for ARNP prescribing in the Florida Senate, said of the report, “Florida TaxWatch says that ARNP prescribing will save Floridians approximately $339 million a year.  I don’t think the Legislature can ignore savings like that.  The doctors and the nurses need to come to agreement on this important issue and focus on the best and most cost-effective way to treat patients.” “Florida ARNPs and PAs are capable of taking on a significant amount of primary care functions for Floridians, without needing to work directly under a physician,” said Dominic M. Calabro, Florida TaxWatch President and CEO. “Across the country, medical clinics in which ARNPs provide the majority of care have reported substantial cost savings in healthcare delivery.”

The two main recommendations in the TaxWatch report are allowing ARNPs and PAs to prescribe controlled substances either collaboratively with a physician or independently, and bill Medicaid and insurance providers directly, allowing for a lower overall reimbursement rate for primary care services. “Florida has the opportunity to significantly reduce healthcare costs for taxpayers,” Calabro said. “This report reveals that up to $46 million in savings for Medicaid and state-sponsored health insurance could be realized through these changes. We can no longer afford to under-utilizethese medical professionals, who are fully capable of providing quality primary care services to Floridians at a lower cost than physicians must charge.”

Brian Keeley, CEO, Baptist Health South Florida, commented on the report, “Miami-Dade County and the state as a whole suffer a severe shortage of access to primary care physicians, especially for Medicaid patients.  The time has come for intelligent and fundamental change in the primary care delivery model.” TaxWatch’s report validates Brian Keeley’s long-time advocacy for ARNP prescribing.  “ARNPs as physician extenders are cost effective, efficient and provide safe, quality health care, particularly inunderserved areas.  We live in a world where patients routinely seekingprimary care come in the emergency room.  ER treatment averages four to ten times the cost of primary, non-emergent care.  The state of Florida should join the other 48 states that currently allow ARNP prescribing whichTaxWatch’s report demonstrates will save money and efficiencies through the entire health care system.”  For the full report, click here.

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott makes four reappointments and taps one new appointment to the Statewide Drug Policy Advisory Council.

Mark P. Fontaine, 61, of Tallahassee, is the executive director of the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association.  He is reappointed for a term beginning November 4, 2011, and ending September 6, 2015.

Nancy Hamilton, 62, of Tarpon Springs, is the chief executive officer of Operation PAR Inc.  She is reappointed for a term beginning November 4, 2011, and ending September 6, 2013.

Bobby Roberts, 55, of Tallahassee, is a media technician at Florida State University.  He is reappointed for a term beginning November 4, 2011, and ending September 6, 2013.

Kimberly K. Spence, 35, of Panama City, is the chief executive officer of Keeton Corrections Inc.  She is reappointed for a term beginning November 4, 2011, and ending September 6, 2015.

Dr. Lora L. Brown, 46, of St. Petersburg, is a pain management specialist at Coastal Orthopedic and Sports Medicine.  She succeeds Kevin B. Lewis and is appointed for a term beginning November 4, 2011, and ending September 6, 2015. Editor’s note: I question the appointments of Roberts and Spence, since one is a media technician and the other is CEO of a corrections company for this type of board.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Commissioners Suarez and Heyman starting to bore into GSA, county overall has 33,000 budget codes, 2,000 pay scales

A Sunshine meeting between Commissioners Sally Heyman (Net worth $425,000) and Xavier Suarez (Net worth $328,500) Wednesday afternoon was an eye opening look at how the county was reorganized and what Miami-Dade has as assets. Suarez is to chair a task force yet established, but proposed by Commission Chair Joe Martinez (Net worth $238,000) to review the Mayor Carlos Gimenez (Net worth $923,000) recent reorganization that reduced departments from 43 to 25 and merged a number of services together. Suarez said the mission of the task force that includes private sector people is to “sink our teeth into the organization” and try to get a handle of what the county does and does not own. Suarez said one of his staff members looked at “the inventory of county properties, the ones owned and not leased” and the print out “was 360 pages,” said the recently elected District 7 commissioner. Heyman has been studying this issue ever since the possible sale of Jackson Memorial Hospital to a Boston hospital chain last winter and leaders found out “that Miami-Dade does not know what it has, depending on who you ask.” She said, “When the Jackson thing came up, do we own the land or just the building,” since it sits on City of Miami property. Heyman, an attorney said, “how can you put a price tag on something when you don’t know what you have?” And she said when it came to the county doing its own work. She noted when a wall in her office had to be painted it “internally cost $800.00” to do the job. And Suarez believed in some cases, “some internal accounting is not necessary,” when it comes to such minor activities.

Heyman said when it came to the General Services Administration (GSA) that she had been looking into this department for a while, with a $250 million budget and 800 employees. She said when it came to property owned, we “need to know the properties status” and suggested this activity “should be under the county attorney’s office.”  She also thinks there is “$9 to $10 million in found money” like Jackson Health System has found out using a state UAP program that gives a two percent cash back on contracts that already has generated over $400,000.

And Suarez noted when it came to county class codes. There “are 33,000 budgetary codes” and when it comes to pay scales for the 27,000 employees in Miami-Dade. He said, “There are 2,000 pay scales” for these employees and if we got it “down to 120 codes,” which is a much more manageable size. It would allow the public and press access to this information. Suarez also suggested that maybe ten departments could be the magic organization number and said it worked for the Ten Commandments.

Suarez

Heyman

Martinez

Whom were the citizen advisors attending the meeting?

Suarez has asked Seth Gordan, Robert J. Rodriguez and Paul Alcazar to assist in this county departmental review. He also said when one of these men looked at the city of Miami last year. He recommended that 500 to 600 people could be let go without effecting service, said the former Miami mayor.

Gimenez

>>> GMCVB press release: RECORD DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REMAINS STRONG IN SEPTEMBER 2011 RESULTING IN DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASES IN GREATER MIAMI’S TOURIST-RELATED TAX COLLECTIONS

September 2011 2% Food and Beverage tax collections from hotels in Miami-Dade (excluding Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, and Surfside) generated $379,959 compared to $313,368 in 2010, an increase of +21.3%. The September  Convention Development Tax (CDT) collections for Greater Miami and the Beaches of $3,139,913 compared to $2,665,093 for the same period last year represents a +17.8% increase.  The Miami-Dade Resort tax collections (excluding Miami Beach, Bal Harbour and Surfside) for September 2011 totaled $1,081,928 compared to $959,241 in 2010 for an increase of +12.8%.

2% FOOD and BEVERAGE TAX COLLECTIONS
September 2011	September 2010	% Change
$379,959	$313,368	+21.3%
CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT TAX COLLECTIONS
September 2011	September 2010	% Change
$3,139,913	$2,665,093	+17.8%
RESORT TAX COLLECTIONS
September 2011	September 2010	% Change
$1,081,928	$959,241	+12.8%

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Board member Holloway in the spotlight, tapped by Gov. Crist in 2007, elected in 2008, had $433,000 net worth through Dec. 2010

School Board Member Wilbert “Tee” Holloway is in the spotlight this week and he was a former state legislature representing House District 103 before being appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist in Nov. 2007 to the school board District 1 seat after his predecessor, Dr. Robert Ingram passed suddenly. Holloway is an Area Director doing community outreach for AT&T and the Miami Gardens resident has done a good job during his time on the nine-member school board. He is up for reelection in 2012.

Holloway’s bio: http://district1.dadeschools.net/Cbiography.asp

What do we know about his finances?

Holloway through Dec. 2010 had a net worth of $433,728 and he lists $50,000 in household goods. His home is valued at $400,000, a second property in Broward is worth $130,000, there is $42,643 in savings, and a retirement fund has $400,000 in it. His liabilities are $392,000 and $114,617 with Bank of America and a third loan is owed $47,000. And his listed income for the year was $108,000 from the communications company, the school district kicked in $38,500 and a rental property generated $10,000 in rent.

What about Board Member Regalado?

The Watchdog Report in a phone conversation Friday asked Raquel Regalado (Net worth $108,450) about her trip to Taiwan a few months ago with her father Mayor Tomas Regalado (Net worth $7,500) and written about in past Watchdog Reports. She said the trip was paid for by a Taiwanese government economic development agency and since she and her father were on Sister City business. She was told by an ethics agency they would not have to disclose the cost of the trip and any details, but I suggested she at least report it in a disclosure form. For with the Genting Group Miami Resorts activity over the last few months, there have been all sorts of conspiracy theories floating around the community and if they did not have a secret meeting with the Malaysian gambling group’s leadership that needs to be dispelled. She also said she was not a big proponent of the destination-gambling project, versus school board member Carlos Curbelo (Net worth $226,000) who has signed on as a lobbyist with Genting. And she said it has surprised her how often District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho was meeting with company representatives that could include selling the land holdings the board has adjacent to the Performing Arts Center if approved by school board members.

Regalado

Curbelo

Carvalho

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> PHT closes year with $95.1 million hit; President Migoya goes on PR blitz, necessary when giving $550 million in charity care

With the PHT reporting a $95.1 million loss for 2011 ending on Sept 30 this week, it is time to see with the new budget year if CEO Carlos Migoya and his new team can be the Miracle Workers, the public hospital needs to increase patient census, keep-up with needed capital upgrades in the hundreds of millions, and craft a sustaining strategy for survival that has Jackson with 16-days of cash on hand (about $4.3 million is spent a day) when 180 days is the norm at most hospitals. Migoya, in the president capacity since May has been trying to stop the fiscal hemorrhaging that gave the health trust a $244.6 million loss in 2009 and back in 2004 it was a $84 million loss and had adjustments and financial corrections that went back to the late 1980s. Further, because the health trust is reporting giving $550 million in charity care this past year. The public money Jackson receives of around $327.9 million that includes a countywide half-cent-sales tax causes this gap since 2000, when Jackson first experienced a loss since the sales tax was in place.

Migoya is also searching for patients with Medicare and Medicaid coverage and at community forums; he is making his case why patients should come to Jackson Health System for their medical care. He told the Miami-Dade Community Relations Board (CRB) late last month held in the commission chambers that making the hospital more patient friendly is a primary goal. He notes patient satisfaction has jumped to 70 percent, from a much lower number when it came to patients recommending Jackson to their friends. He also told attendees at the November 2, Greater Miami Chamber Monthly Luncheon where he was the featured speaker that only single rooms will be at the main hospital in the beginning months of the coming year and that is consistent with what other hospitals have done for years.

Anything unusual happen at the CRB meeting last month?

The former banker and Miami city manager is also finding some of these public speaking events can take an unusual tact, like the CRA question and answer period following other written questions being asked to him. Two of the speakers, a woman and a man, not only asked a series of rambling questions on a variety of statements, but also when the microphone was turned off by the CRB chair Rev. Dr. Walter Richardson. Both people persisted speaking and the man was escorted quietly from the podium by two Sergeant-of-Arms, even though the chair because of time restraints with Migoya. He had asked speakers to speak for only a minute but that time barrier broke early on with the two speakers.

>>> County Commission passes PHT/UM agreement with no discussion, Moss says board falsely accused of “meddling”

Miami-Dade Commissioner Dennis Moss (Net worth $342,000) wanted to set the record straight when the body on Thursday at their monthly commission meeting passed a PHT agreement with the University of Miami. He carped when it came to the commission. “We always get accused of meddling,” and the passing of the agreement, “that is better” than in the past, with no discussion, shows that is not the case, the long serving commissioner said.

>>> UAP program gets extended, two percent cash back when utilized for contracts

The Financial Recovery Board Monday approved extending the User Access Pilot Program (UAP) that applies to contracts and results in a two percent cut coming back to the health trust. County Commissioner Sally Heyman when she was on the old PHT board pushed utilizing this state legislation, got FRB Chair Marcos Lapciuc on board and over time the program is expected to bring millions of dollars back to the health system. Heyman mentioned this program at a Sunshine meeting with Commissioner Xavier Suarez on Wednesday where she suggested when it came to procurement. The county should consider consolidating more of the activity since not only does Jackson have its own department doing contracts, so does MIA and Transit.

>>> FRB keeps close eye on JHS $750 million pension fund

The $750 million Jackson Health System pension fund is getting a new investment advisors after the return on this money over a number of quarters was below the expected performance and the FRB approved the new firm on Monday. The plan does not get the publicity that other areas of the PHT does but given the size of the investment. The FRB is keeping a close eye on its financial performance. >>> Pension Plan Committee Darryl K. Sharpton, Chairman Joaquin del Cueto: Please be advised that a Pension Plan Committee meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 16, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the West Wing Board Room.

>>> Two new county IG reports on JHS?

Jackson Health System’s 90-Day Status Report on Its Implementation of the Recommendations Contained in the OIG’s Final Report re: Audit of the Management Services Agreement Between the Public Health Trust of Miami- Dade County and the Foundation Health Services, Inc., and Audit Closeout, IG09-98.2, October 27, 2011.

>> Final Report Re: Review of CT Mechanical Company Obtaining Bid Waivers and Emergency Awards at Jackson Memorial Hospital, IG10-63, October 14, 2011.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Hail Commissioner Sarnoff, gets 52.7% of the vote, but must redefine his political persona if higher office is desired

Hail Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff (Net worth $2.08 million) as he fends off four challengers garnering 52.7 percent of the low turnout race that had him getting 2,873 votes of the around 45,000 voters in District 2, that runs along the bay from Coconut Grove to the Upper Eastside. The five-year commissioner sought his final four-year term but was surprised to draw so many challengers given his ultimately $417,000 campaign war chest that should have blunted any insurgent candidates decision to jump into the political fray. But Williams Armbrister, Kate Callahan, Donna Milo and Michelle Niemeyer felt passionately otherwise and at debates the group hammered the incumbent on his past commission votes, ethics and his “arrogance,” since taking office back in 2006 in a special election where he beat Commissioner Linda Haskins by a two to one vote. Sarnoff, a maritime attorney during the first year was more humble but once he got his full term, many people have said he changed significantly since starting out as a community activist fighting to stop a Home Depot in the Grove that ultimately was built. His election to the commission followed a dry run for office when he ran for the Coconut Grove Village Council around 2005, which he ultimately chaired after getting the most votes, and gave him a platform on the city’s cable station since back then when the meetings were televised, but no longer is on air since late 2009.

During early voting his campaign funding edge allowed supporters to ferry voters to city hall where there was an early voting site on a regular basis and his campaign ground game also got a boost when he garnered 1,279 absentee ballots. And a Get Out the Vote Campaign done by the Miami DDA also may have assisted in the victory, since many believe the new downtown and Brickell condominiums voters were more aware of Sarnoff then the other candidates who could not campaign in the buildings, could only do mailings, since the buildings security would stop most of this campaign activity. (However, a complaint has been filed with the state on this matter of using the DDA for this activity). He also was an early President Barack Obama supporter, yet voters got a flier claiming he was “A True Fiscal Conservative,” and had photos with Republicans U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen making it seem like they were supporting him when in fact the federal legislators did not endorse anyone in a local municipal race. (Though he is said to have a good relationship with Ros-Lehtinen who also represents the Grove).

Further, while Sarnoff got The Miami Herald  Editorial Board endorsement it included a backhanded slap at the man for displaying his arrogance during the interview of the candidates. And the Board reminded him voters can also remove an elected official exhibiting such self-absorbment. The man who I called an “enigma” has loyal supporters who are almost like a cult but others in the district see him as the devil who cannot be trusted and is a control freak. Sarnoff, who may have higher political aspirations, is at a fork in the road when it comes to his political career given his personality and the contradictions of his life including the revelation that he is not the grandson of David Sarnoff, the founder of NBC and made RCA a powerhouse in the late 1930’s. One retired women called this inaccuracy (That was not needed for him to win in District 2 versus if he was running for office in Princeton N.J., where the grandfather’s name is scattered throughout the community) lineage embellishment as a “fundamental defect in someone’s soul,” she said at a UM event where I was the speaker years ago. And he has to learn to be more humble, less domineering over residents, that seems to suggest he is the smartest person in the room. If he hopes to have any higher political aspirations in the future, that should include a reduced staff entourage when he goes to public events. For he is one of about 300 elected people in office around the county if you factor in the county’s Community Council members. And while District 2 is important and represents about 77 percent of the city’s property tax value, he should remember that elected office in any capacity is a privilege and not a right.

>>> Chair Gort cruises to victory

Miami Commission Chair Willy Gort dispatched his challenger for the District 1 seat after the veteran commissioner got 68.2 percent of the vote. Gort elected in 2009 after leaving the body in 2001 when he ran for mayor and lost in the ten member candidate pack that had former Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz taking the city’s helm.

>>> Homeless Trust grant accepted by Miami for more housing of homeless on city downtown streets

The City of Miami recently accepted a $447,000 grant from the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust because the demand for homeless services with the down economy is rising and currently facilities for these people in need are packed and around two dozen families are in reduced rate hotels and get Publix supermarket food vouchers.

CITY OF HIALEAH

>>> Mayor Hernandez and former Mayor Martinez will duke it out, how low will they go to win in runoff?

In a bruising and ugly mayoral race that has former Mayor Raul Martinez facing off against short term Mayor Carlos Hernandez who came in first in the four way race that had former state Sen. Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah in the hunt as well but falling short when the votes were counted. Hernandez came in with 39.5 percent of the vote and Martinez garnered 34.47 percent of the electorate voting. The two men on Nov. 15 face off again in a runoff race and absentee ballots continue to drive candidates to victory. Martinez was expected to do better than he did and some political observers note that while he is a Democrat, in a Republican stronghold. It was not until he ran against U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Miami in 2008 and campaigned for President Barack Obama that he was seen as being so politically connected with the political party and Republican’s arch enemy House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco and this may have come back to haunt him in this polarized race. And given the past negative tone of the campaigns, this two-week sprint before the election is expected to be viscous and brutal and voters in the City of Progress will get quite a campaign show in the days ahead.

CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS

>>> Water OK says city when yearly chlorine treatment process starts Nov. 7

Press release: Beginning November 7 and through November 20, 2011, a temporary free chlorine treatment process will be used at North Miami Beach’s water treatment facility. Specifically, free chlorine will provide a somewhat stronger disinfection and bleaching process than the combined chlorine treatment that is normally used. This event coincides with similar activities implemented by the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department at its regional water treatment facilities. During this period, consumers may experience an unusual chlorine taste or odor in the tap water. However, this temporary condition will not cause adverse health effects. This particular chlorine treatment process is a Best Management Practice method that takes place annually in the North Miami Beach water service area. It provides additional protection against pathogenic bacteria. >>> We sincerely regret any inconvenience our customers may experience during this period. Keep in mind that this task is part of our ongoing efforts to improve the services we provide as well as produce a safe, palatable water supply for all our customers. The City of North Miami Beach Public Services Department provides quality drinking water to customers living in North Miami Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Golden Beach, Miami Gardens, and parts of North Miami, Aventura, Opa Locka, Haulover Beach and northern Unincorporated Miami-Dade County. For additional information, please call the water quality manager at (305) 652-6460.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Hail Mayor Bower & Commissioner Weithorn after defeating insurgent challengers outright

Hail Mayor Matti Herrera Bower after she bests three challengers Tuesday garnering 59.4 percent of the voters in her final two-year term as the top elected leader on the Beach. Bower had been verbally hammered by her challengers that included two younger Ivy League graduates Dave Crystal and Steve Berke who pulled out all political stops including one of them posting her social security number on his campaign webpage. Bower got the nod from 4,103 voters and Berke came in second. However, Berke and Crystal may not be done with their political aspirations and they are expected to try again in 2013 when Bower is termed out.

>>> Commissioner Deede Weithorn was also victorious in her desire for a second four-year term when she bested her opponent getting 64.8 percent, or 4,278 of the voting electorate in a low turnout race.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Is former Mayor Slesnick a dark horse candidate when it comes to 2013 mayoral race? Does not rule out future political options

While the Coral Gables commission this Tuesday will be deciding what to do regarding the management and past due rent from Seaway Corp for the Historic Biltmore Hotel. Mayor James Cason needs to keep his eye on past Mayor Donald Slesnick, II who left his options open when the Watchdog Report recently asked if he would run for the office again in 2013, when Cason a former U.S. Diplomat stationed in Havana is up for reelection. Slesnick told me this before doing a www.CBSmiami.com interview on News & Views hosted by Elliot Rodriguez on how the community is helping returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. The past mayor told me when I asked if he planned to run again that essentially he was leaving his options open. I first thought about whether Slesnick’s political career was over at a luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel where the Miami-Dade County Beacon Council was holding its yearly leadership installation event a few weeks ago and Slesnick worked the room and mingled with community leaders almost in campaign mode.

The retired U.S. Army officer and Vietnam veteran lost last April in a three-way  race, and while all the candidates were Anglo. Cason, a former U.S. Ambassador speaks perfect Spanish and garnered the top spot beating Slesnick and Tom Korge in the winner take all race. Further, Slesnick since the race has kept in touch with the media and has asked why we were not seeking his input in stories on issues facing the city and this plainly shows he is not enjoying the new free time.  Since he no longer goes to the mayor’s office everyday as he did over the past decade. Cason is retired from the federal government and Slesnick is a labor law attorney. (I could not find a public photo of Slesnick to use.)

Cason

CITY OF SWEETWATER

>>> Gov. Scott taps Ned C. Lautenbach and the reappointments of Jay N. Trumbull and Manuel “Manny” Maroño to the Florida Transportation Commission.

Lautenbach, 67, of Naples, is a retired partner with Clayton, Dubilier and Rice Inc. Previously, he worked for IBM for 30 years and was the senior vice president of sales and service. Lautenbach has been a member of the board of directors for Fidelity Investments since 2006, the board of directors for the Eaton Corporation since 1997 and the Council of Foreign Affairs since 1994. He has also been a member of the board of directors for the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts since 1999. Lautenbach received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University. He succeeds Joseph M. Mazurkiewicz and is appointed for a term beginning October 28, 2011, and ending September 30, 2014.

Trumbull, 50, of Panama City, has been president and owner of Emerald Coast Culligan Water since 1985. He served on the Bay County Planning Commission from 2006 to 2008 and as a member of the Panama City Housing Authority from 2008 to 2010. Trumbull is a member of the board of directors of Bay Bank and Trust Company. Trumbull received his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. He is reappointed for a term beginning October 28, 2011, and ending September 30, 2014.

Maroño, 39, has been the mayor of the City of Sweetwater since 2003. He has been president of Southeast Towing since 2009 and was previously chief operating officer with Westbrook Motors Towing from 2002 to 2009. Maroño is the second vice president of the Florida League of Cities and a past president of the Miami-Dade League of Cities. He is reappointed for a term beginning October 28, 2011, and ending September 30, 2014.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> IG Scott taking sworn testimony, has 11 employees, $2 million budget to ferret out waste, fraud and abuse

John Scott the new Broward Inspector General told Dan Christensen of The Broward Bulldog www.browardbulldog.org last week that he has a $2 million yearly budget, has 11 employees and is taking sworn testimony in a number of cases. To hear Christensen’s comments on WLRN/NPR 91.3 FM on the subject go to http://www.wlrn.org/radio/programs/topical-currents/archive/ . Scott a former federal public corruption prosecutor had more recently worked for the Miami-Dade County Inspector General Chris Mazzella and Scott was selected after a national search was done that resulted in a large number of applicants applying for the position but Scott got the nod. He received his undergraduate and law school degrees from Georgetown University and he started this new post in July. The Watchdog Report wishes Scott the best of luck and good hunting when it comes to ferreting out waste, fraud and abuse in the state’s second largest county. To report fraud or if you need other information about the IG got to: http://www.broward.org/InspectorGeneral/Pages/Default.aspx

Scott

>>> Gov. Scott taps Pamela L. Stephany to the District Board of Trustees, Broward College.

Stephany, 55, of Fort Lauderdale, is a retired banker and global financial services advisor. Previously, she was deputy head of marketing for Credit Suisse Private Advisors from 2004 to 2005 and senior vice president and deputy manager for Bank Julius Baer from 1996 to 2003. From 1995 to 1996, Stephany was director of Latin American markets for Dow Jones Telerate and was vice president and senior manager of the Bank of Boston Corporation from 1983 to 1994. She served on the board of directors of the Florida Prepaid College Plans from 2008 to 2010. Stephany received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University.

She succeeds Paul Tanner and is appointed for a term beginning November 3, 2011, and ending May 31, 2015. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

>>> Thank you for using the Broward County Commission Agenda E-mail Notification System. A new Broward County Commission Agenda is available. Point your browser to http://www.broward.org/commission/welcome.htm to view the new agenda.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Former Secret Service agent pleads guilty of impersonating federal special agent

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Vance Luce, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, Miami Field Office, announced that defendant Sandra Elder, a/k/a “Sandra Sierra,” a/k/a “Sandra Muzeros,” pled guilty today to one count of impersonating a Special Agent of the United States Secret Service, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912. Sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2012 before U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra in West Palm Beach.  At sentencing, Elder faces a maximum statutory term of up to three years’ imprisonment.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Elder served as an adjunct professor at a local university in Broward County.  Elder fraudulently told students, faculty and high-level administrators at the university that she was an active Special Agent of the United States Secret Service who was close to retiring after many years of service as a federal agent.  Elder also submitted fraudulent documentation to the university reflecting that she was serving as a current Supervisory Special Agent of the United States Secret Service.  In fact, however, Elder has not been a United States Secret Service agent for approximately ten years, since 2001. >>> Mr. Ferrer thanked the U.S. Secret Service for their work on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Katz. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

ORANGE COUNTY

>>> CFO Atwater makes Seven Insurance Fraud Arrests in Orlando and Miami

Press release: Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater (Net worth$1.63 million) announced today the arrests of five insurance fraud suspects for their involvement in a staged accident scheme in Orlando. Lufaite Olizia, 40, and Tracey McFarlane, 40, were charged with insurance fraud, patient brokering and intentionally staging a motor vehicle crash.  Pierre Antoine Joseph, 41, Madeline Emile, 28, and Yolando Denise Roberts, 39, were also arrested for participating in the staged accident as passengers and subsequently filing fraudulent medical claims.  Additionally, two suspects, Edersy Suarez, 38, and Marialejandra Beltran, 28, were arrested in Miami today for demanding claim payments on behalf of a local clinic without the proper insurance adjuster license.  “This is the type of scheme that is costing honest Floridians millions of dollars through skyrocketing auto insurance premiums,” said CFO Atwater. “During these challenging economic times, Florida families cannot afford to spend one more dime on increased insurance costs. It is my mission to stamp out auto insurance fraud and to ensure these cheats who are making money off the backs of Florida drivers serve real time.”

These arrests coincide with a series of Personal Injury Protection roundtables held yesterday in Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, where CFO Atwater was joined by Governor Rick Scott (Net worth $103 million) and local insurance consumers to discuss issues surrounding this statewide epidemic. This valuable feedback will help leaders in Tallahassee take bold action during the 2012 legislative session. An investigation by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud revealed that Olizia and McFarlane solicited participants to intentionally stage a motor vehicle accident, which occurred in Orlando on July 10, 2010. Prior to the staged accident, Olizia and McFarlane met up at a convenience store where they planned the crash. During the meeting Olizia promised to pay Joseph, Emile, and Roberts $1,000 each to file fraudulent medical claims with clinics of his choosing.  The passengers were advised to seek treatment for their alleged injuries at Silver Hills Health & Rehab and Injury Care Inc. in Orlando.  As a result of this one staged accident, fraudulent insurance claims were submitted to GEICO, Allstate, Progressive and State Farm Insurance Companies.

Additional arrests are expected. If convicted, the suspects face up to 12 years in prison.

Suarez and Beltran were arrested today in Miami for acting as public insurance adjusters without licenses and offenses against intellectual property by demanding payment for personal injury protection (PIP) claims on behalf of multiple accident clinics.   Suarez and Beltran were booked into Miami-Dade County Jail and are awaiting bond.  If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in prison. Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott, appointed by CFO Atwater, has convened a working group of interested parties to gather and develop ideas to address the fraud and other potential alternatives to Florida’s current no-fault system. The working group’s report will be completed and delivered to state policymakers in the coming weeks. >>> Anyone with information regarding suspected insurance fraud is asked to call 1-800-378-0445. Individuals who provide tips can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $25,000 for information that directly leads to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme.  The Department of Financial Services to date has awarded almost $250,000 to approximately 40 citizens as part of its Anti-Fraud Reward Program.

DUVAL COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott taps Michael A. Ossi to the Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council.

Ossi, 51, of Jacksonville, is president and founding partner of Ossi, Najem and Rosario P.A. His clients have included John Travolta, the New York Yankees and the William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Agency. Ossi received a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Florida and a law degree from Stetson College of Law. He succeeds Kathryn C. Waters and is appointed for a term beginning November 3, 2011, and ending August 20, 2014.

MADISON COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott back in the race, suspends Hill and Woods for voter fraud in 2010 school board election

There he goes again, Gov. Rick Scott suspends Madison County School Board member Abra Hill Johnson, who represented District 1 and Jada Woods the county’s supervisor of elections after they were charged with voter fraud in a 2010 election.  The governor had a lull the last few months suspending elected officials from office but with these two he is keeping pace with past governors Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist. Both past governors did a brisk business when it cam to suspending public officials and had Crist saying this “Culture of Corruption” around the state must be stamped out, but wayward officials continue to push the envelope of what is legal and illegal. >>> Press release: Gov. Scott Executive Order 11-215, suspending Abra Hill Johnson, a Madison County School Board member, and Executive Order 11-216, suspending Jada Woods Williams, the Madison County Supervisor of Elections.

MARION COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott taps Lisa D. Herndon of Ocala to the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court.

Herndon, 46, has been an assistant state attorney with the State Attorney’s Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit since 1997 and with the Tenth Judicial Circuit from 1990 to 1997. In addition, she briefly practiced with Daniel Hightower P.A. in 2003 and with Teresa Nightingale P.A. in 1996. Herndon received a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and a law degree from the Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law. “Throughout Lisa’s career, she has dealt with a wide variety of legal issues and made difficult decisions based on the rule of law,” Governor Scott said. “With a focus on common sense and hard work, she has demonstrated the demeanor and fairness appropriate for the bench.” Herndon will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge T. Michael Johnson.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Sheriff Peryam saying sayonara in 2012 to office, Col. Ramsey throws his hat in the ring

Sheriff Bob Peryam (Net worth $240,000) is saying sayonara to elected office in 2012 after he announced he would not run again and his number two in the police force Col. Rick Ramsey has said he will run to replace the Monroe County Sheriff who gets paid $141,000. Peryam says he wants to spend more time with his family and elderly mother, but the announcement caught others by surprise. The sheriff says he wants to go out on top with crime down in the nation’s southern most county that caters to tourists and has a tourist tag line of being The Conch Republic. Sheriff to give up job

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. What: Miami-Dade County Commission for Women 40th Anniversary Reception When: Thursday, November 17, 2011, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Coral Gables Country Club, 997 North Greenway Drive, Coral Gables, FL

Cost: $25; cash bar, free parking – Speaker:  Kim Stone, Executive Vice President of The Miami Heat and General Manager of the American Airlines Arena -RSVP: Laura Morilla at 305-375-4967 or at Morilla@miamidade.gov The 2011 Connections Directory of women’s organizations will be distributed for free at this event.

>>> The Good Government Initiative and The Launch Pad at the University of Miami Invite you to a Community Conversation breakfast moderated by Katy Sorenson and featuring panelists:

Mayor Shirley Gibson, City of Miami Gardens; Peter Schnebly, General Manager of  Schnebly Winery & Brewery; Michael Spring, Director, Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs; Alexandra Villoch, Co-chair, One Community, One Goal – Friday, November 18^th, BankUnited Center at UM, 1245 Dauer Drive, Hurricane 100 Room Breakfast 8 – 8:30 a.m. Panel Discussion 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Co-Hosts: Susan Amat, Executive Director, The Launch Pad and Katy Sorenson, President & CEO, The Good Government Initiative. Ticket prices: UM Students FREE (but must register!) $15 General Admission, $30 Contributing Admission, $300 Table of 10. Checks should be made payable to: Miami Foundation, Credit card payments can be made via PayPal (no account necessary to use PayPal) *Space is limited. Registration will close on Monday, November 14th. info@goodgov.net for further information.

EDITORIALS

>>> Punishment for absentee ballot fraud and manipulation must be beefed up, determines low turnout elections

What do you say when you hold a municipal election and tops, only 20 percent of the voters turnout or it is even less. This lack of voter turnout Tuesday is a sad commentary on the state of civic responsibility here in Miami-Dade County and deserted early voting sites before the election seems to be the norm. It was only the absentee ballots that put a dent in the electorate’s turnout in the races in Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach and Homestead, but these ballots can easily be manipulated and as two officials in Madison County have found out. Voter fraud depending on how it is done can result in a felony charge and these two women, one a school board member and the other the election supervisor, now face the music, but these people getting busted is the exception rather than the rule.

With such low turnout at the polls there was never a better time to ask the Florida Legislature to put some punishment teeth into the manipulation of absentee ballots for as there use has skyrocketed. The legal enforcement process in place now is useless unless it involves a dead man voting like Miami’s Mr. Yip who had passed years earlier but voted in a 1997 mayoral race. An election that was later voided because of widespread voter fraud.  Further, a number of people the Watchdog Report talked to say why should they vote, since the candidates “are all corrupt” and just trying to figure some way to make money for themselves is all they care about.

Over the past 12-years, I have tried to blunt some of this political cynicism with the electorate while also trying to save hundreds of millions in public dollars given the size of our public institutions here where easily 10 percent of public dollars goes to waste, fraud and abuse. However, the pubic trend continues to be a disillusionment of their government, here locally or throughout America and this voter turnout pattern is just a manifestation of this discontent with how things are going. The Watchdog Report wishes I had a magic wand that would make voters more informed and motivated to participate in free elections. For local elections are what impact peoples lives on a day-to-day basis and holding these officials accountable only comes every four years in the most cases. And giving any local elected leader a free pass at the ballot box is not a good thing. For it only breed’s political arrogance in our local city representatives and that certainly is not a good thing.

LETTERS

>>> State Sen. Margolis note to her friends on recent hip surgery that she is doing well

I am very grateful for those who have contacted my office on an update on the current status of my health. As some of you may know, on Monday, October 24, 2011, I underwent a successful hip replacement surgery and I am currently recovering quite well. I look forward to returning to Tallahassee for the December committee meetings and for the Legislative Session, which begins on January 10th 2012. As always, my staff is covering all legislative issues, and if you have any suggestions or inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Senator Gwen Margolis

>>> I no longer live in Miami-Dade, so you can take me off the list.  I totally appreciate all that you do for the community and I always enjoyed reading your reports.  I learned so much beyond that which I thought I knew. Keep up the good work.  You are a treasure.  I now live in Tampa.

M. S.

>>> Thank you so much!  Please add my name to your mailing database – incredible! Have a great weekend.

TF

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The Watchdog Report covers a few of the meetings attended weekly. It remains my belief that an informed public will make better decisions. Therefore, I go to meetings, make the presence of an informed citizen known, and bring the information to you.   The Watchdog Report is in the fourth year of publication and it has been an honor to be able to send this information to you. It is sent to readers in Miami-Dade, Florida, the U.S. and the world. The Watchdog Report is sent to thousands free and while readers have been prodded to subscribe the results have been mixed. Over 550 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

I welcome letters via e-mail, fax, or snail mail. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and must refer to material published in the Watchdog Report.  Please see address and contact information. Please send any additions and corrections by e-mail, fax or snail mail. All corrections will be published in the next Watchdog Report. If you or your organization would like to publish the contents of this newsletter, please contact me. Please send your request to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2011, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me.  The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact.  If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

>>> Here is what past newspapers have written about the Watchdog Report publisher including a survey and regional study done by the U. North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the media in the southeast United States.

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times –The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

From the spring of 2003:  U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill:  Southeast U.S. Media Report lists Watchdog Report publisher as leading Florida commentator >>> Selected excerpts from the report on Florida’s media sources

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> Readers who would like to read the complete University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Southeast United States Media Report go to view the complete report or download all the data used in this study. >>> Watchdog Report Editor’s note to the NCU/CH study: The subscriber number referenced is incorrect and applies to readership.

General subscriber’s names will not be published in the Report. To subscribe to the Watchdog Report please use the form below as a subscription invoice.

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Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

Corporate Sponsors $1,000 (All levels above will be listed in the report with web-site link if desired)

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250

Individual Supporter $150

Student Supporter $ 75

Any amount $

Name & Address

Please make checks payable to: Daniel A. Ricker

Send to: 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

Fax 305-668-4784 -To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net