Watchdog Report Vol.13 No.14 August 12, 2012 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. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher is scheduled to be on WLRN/NPR 91.3 FM on Aug. 16 with Joseph Cooper on Topical Currents from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. and on Friday Aug. 17. >> I will be on The Florida Roundup panel hosted by Phil Latzman from noon to 1:00 p.m. on www.wlrn.org 91.3 FM and readers should listen in if you get a chance.

>>> Correction to the Watchdog Report that went out by email Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. >>> Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter does not own a home in Kentucky, but has a loan from a lender there. In addition, state Rep. Gustavo “Gus” Barreiro was critical of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, not the Department of Children and Family as was reported. The WDR apologies for the errors. In this WDR version, the errors are corrected.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Gov. Romney taps U.S. Rep. Ryan; will the choice be the campaign juice Romney hopes for?

The dye is cast as Mitt Romney the GOP presidential champion taps Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate ending endless speculation whom the final choice would be. Ryan, the architect of the Ryan Budget plan put forth in the Republican controlled U.S. House last year that would cut back social services and start to cut back the nation’s $15.6 trillion debt got the nod and he is energizing the conservative party base that are the congressman’s supporters. Romney making the announcement in Norfolk Virginia, a town dominated by the navel base on Saturday morning www.miamiherald.com said that Ryan was the choice and while the GOP base seems excited about the pick. Other hard core Republicans wonder if he is too rough in some regards and there is extensive past rhetoric that sometimes puts him on the party’s fringe but others say that is what is attractive about the choice.

Ryan a former congressional staffer before being elected to the house in 1998, is known as a policy wonk but also has an extensive voting record.  And the archery hunter and fitness maven will make an excellent foil to vice President Joe Biden during the upcoming debates. Further, Romney was energized himself at the event, spoke from the gut, and was seen during the announcement to be much more relaxed and joked after calling Ryan the next president of the United States a “mistake,” he sometimes makes but that was not the case in Ryan. And the rebound mimicked the same gaffe President Barack Obama also made when he introduced now Vice President Joe Biden back in 2008.

What about coming to Miami on Monday?

Romney is expected to come to Miami for a rally at El Palacios de los Jugos restaurant. (Monday, 5 p.m., 7085 Coral Way, Miami and for more information on Ryan go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ryan

>>> Press release: New Penalties against Syrian Company Not Enough to Pressure Either Iran or Syria, Ros-Lehtinen Says Calls for President to sign new, bipartisan Iran and Syria human rights sanctions into law

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement today on the announcement that the Administration will impose U.S. sanctions on Sytrol, a Syrian state-run oil company, for selling 3,300 metric tons of gasoline to Iran: “The revelation that Sytrol sold literally tons of gasoline to Iran is a reminder about the dangerous and ongoing relationship between these two pariah states and that sanctions against the Iranian regime, if fully implemented and enforced, can also hurt its Syrian partner.  Earlier this month, the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed a new, tougher Iran sanctions law to implement crippling pressure against the regime in Tehran and hold gross human rights violators in Syria accountable.  The President must sign it and implement it immediately.

“While I am pleased that the Administration took this step to punish a Syrian company selling gas to Iran, there remain a vast number of entities getting a free pass for their ongoing business dealings with Tehran.  We can and must do better.  Time is of the essence.  The longer that we wait, the more room South Korea, China and other Iranian crude oil importers will have to either continue enabling the Iranian regime or to backslide on previous commitments to substantially decrease crude oil imports, and even repatriate hard currency to Tehran.  We need to stop making exceptions and impose the strongest pressure against Iran that we can.” NOTE:  H.R. 1905, the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, was passed overwhelmingly by the House and the Senate on August 1.  It was presented to the President for his signature on August 3.

>>> Press release: The Affordable Care Act: Making Us a Healthier Nation

One of the most important things I’ve worked on in my legislative career has been expanding affordable, quality health care to all Americans. It’s been two years since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law.  Since then, the law has provided health insurance to millions more Americans, lowered health care costs, while also creating jobs, strengthening the middle class, and reducing the deficit. Another benefit of the law has put cash rebates into the hands of millions of Americans. The law now requires insurers spend at least 80 percent of your insurance premiums on direct health care services, rather than advertising and overhead.  This is known as the 80/20 rule.

If an insurer falls short of spending 80 percent on health care services, they must rebate you the difference. That’s why more than $123 million in rebates from insurance companies have been sent to 1.2 million Floridians. These rebate checks mean a lot to South Florida families, and the 80/20 rule is a great example of how the Affordable Care Act provides an insurance watchdog for you, the consumer, an advocate for improved care and reduced insurance costs. August also marks a particular victory for women’s health care.  Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, some 47 million women will now be able to get preventative services that they couldn’t before this rule went into effect. Any new insurance policies sold to individuals or employers must cover contraception without a co-pay as part of a larger package of mandatory co-pay-free women’s preventive care benefits. Insurance plans that have already been purchased will have to start offering no-co-pay contraception when they renew.

Some of the new preventative services now available with no co-pay include annual wellness visits, FDA-approved contraceptives, domestic violence screenings and counseling, breastfeeding support,  HPV DNA testing for women 30 or older, HIV and sexually transmitted infections screenings, and gestational diabetes screenings that help protect pregnant women from one of the most serious pregnancy-related diseases. Too often, women put their families’ health care before their own, especially when it comes to preventative care.  Thanks to this new benefit in the Affordable Care Act, women can get the regular checkups and screenings that are so important to staying healthy without having to worry about how much it will affect the family budget.

Insurance rebate checks, no co-pay annual wellness visits, and the phase out of the prescription drug donut hole for seniors on Medicare are just a few of the many tangible benefits you will see from the Affordable Care Act as we work to fully implement all phases of the law over the next few years. Most importantly, though, the Affordable Care Act will provide greater access to affordable health care for millions of uninsured Americans, making us a healthier and more prosperous nation. I am proud to be an advocate for the people of South Florida, and my office is open to you. You can reach us in Pembroke Pines at 954-437-3936, in Aventura at 305-936-5724 and in Washington, DC at 202-225-7931.  I’m also available online at http://wassermanschultz.house.gov, where you can sign up for my electronic newsletter, and on Facebook, where you can stay up-to-date on what I’m doing for South Florida.

>>> Four Charged in Precious Metals Investment Scheme

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jeffrey C. Mazanec, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Henry Gutierrez, Postal Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Linda B. Charity, Interim Commissioner, State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Arthur John Schlecht, 53, of Boone, North Carolina and formerly of Miami-Dade County, Frederick Bart Gomer, 66, of Sunrise, Ricardo Jorge Padron, 52, of Miami, and Carlos Rodriguez, 35, of Miami, with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349.  In addition, Schlecht was charged with wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.  Schlecht was arrested earlier today by FBI agents in Boone, North Carolina, and made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Schlecht was ordered to appear in Miami federal court on August 15, 2012 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick White.  The remaining defendants are expected to surrender in court next week.

According to the allegations in the indictment, the defendants engaged in a long-term conspiracy to commit fraud through their operation of three corporations, Global Bullion Trading Group, Inc., WJS Funding, Inc., d/b/a Capital Asset Management, and Certified, Inc., d/b/a Certified Clearing. These businesses claimed to be investment brokerage firms offering investors the opportunity to invest in gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion, which would be stored for the investors in depository vaults.  The indictment alleges that, instead of purchasing physical bullion as promised, the defendants merely established investment accounts for Capital Asset Management and Certified, Inc. with a broker/dealer in London and used this account to purchase derivative contract investments in precious metals, but never actually purchased any physical metal for the investors.

To perpetuate the scheme and conceal the fraud from the investors, the defendants allegedly engaged in a variety of tactics, including attempts to hide Arthur Schlecht’s ownership and control of Global Bullion Trading Group, Inc. and Capital Asset Management, so that investors would not discover Schlecht’s negative regulatory and disciplinary history with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and National Futures Association. According to the charges, instead of using the investors’ monies to buy the purported precious metals, the defendants used the funds for their personal benefit.  In this way, certain defendants allegedly diverted millions of dollars of investors’ funds to Arthur Schlecht, his family, and third parties to pay for, among other things, maid services, personal tax obligations, salary, social security contributions, home and vacation home construction, landscaping, remodeling, interior furnishings, automobile purchases, restaurant dining, personal travel expenses, clothing, and jewelry.

Thereafter, in order to continue to operate and conceal the companies’ insolvency, the defendants engaged in a Ponzi-scheme, through which they used new investors’ money to pay-off previous investors and to cover operating expenses.  Eventually, as the Ponzi-scheme collapsed, Global Bullion Trading Group, Inc., Capital Asset Management, and Certified, Inc. filed bankruptcy petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation.  In addition, Mr. Ferrer thanked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and National Futures Association for their assistance in this case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter B. Outerbridge. An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 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.

>>> 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 and was Best Citizen in the 2003 Best of Miami of The Miami New Times, profiled twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel ran a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003, and UNC Chapel Hill named 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 91.3 FM since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on  Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views on www.CBS4.com and The Florida Roundup on www.wlrn.org

FLORIDA

>>> Down to the election wire, gloves come off in state legislative races; a couple are brutal as charges fly in attack campaign ads

Rain, heat, winds and lightening was the environmental backdrop all week for the campaign volunteers for the respective state legislative and judicial candidates as they manned the campaign booths at early voting sites throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties trying to give their candidates a leg up in their campaigns. The candidates and poll workers were like moths to a flame when it came to voters going into the polling sites and it was clear, if it was the actual candidate. Voters were impressed. The Watchdog Report spent the week going to multiple polling sites around South Florida and at some, you could almost feel the energy of some of the political campaigns and the lack of it with some others. In Miami-Dade County, the West Dade Regional Library on Coral Way was a magnet for voters from the surrounding area and actual candidates were at the polling site and given the large number of campaign supporters. Logistics were an issue with trucks and cars periodically bringing food, water and bananas and pizzas as periodic flash deluges of rain dropped on those in the parking lot, while others were huddled in their campaign tents waiting for the storms to blow over.

What about candidates’ supporters?

When a actual candidate could not be there, many times it was their wife or husband, and children that got the duty and that had GOP state Rep. Carlos Lopez Cantera’s wife and five year old daughter handing out campaign cards at the Coral Gables Library Saturday in his race against incumbent Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia, Jr. who had his own daughter speak for him recently before a county mayoral debate between Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Commission Chair Joe Martinez. That race is partially being fought on the airwaves and portrays Lopez- Cantera as someone that will be customer service oriented, and Garcia fires back with the line, “Experience and Knowledge.”

What about the Reps. Rivas Logan and Diaz race for House seat 116?

The Watchdog Report over the course of the week talked to both Republican state Reps. Ana Rivas Logan and Jose Felix Diaz about the race and both said it was ugly and includes Diaz sending out over a dozen attack mailers against Rivas Logan. And includes trying to marginalize Rivas Logan’s local roots by referencing her birth in Nicaragua, even though she is a Cuban American. And both were freshman state representatives the last two years but found themselves in the same district after the redistricting done by the Florida legislature earlier in the year and when they pass each other, the seething hostility between the candidates is almost palatable, even in the rain.

Another contentious race is for state House Seat 112

Former state Rep. Gustavo Barreiro, R- Miami and former state Rep. and Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami are locked into a protracted duel with each other before facing their Democratic Party challenger who must win their own primary before heading to the November general election, and all the races are getting nasty. Both seasoned politicians have baggage from the past and they are looking for any opening to get a dig in from Diaz de la Portilla’s contentious divorcé and a over $300,000 election violation fine back in 2003.  To Barreiro being fired from a state agency after adult material was found on the state issued computer, though he says he was set up because he was critical of how the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice was run.

>>> Candidate Weithorn takes hit for Beach vender contributions; Commissioner Weithorn says linkage to any votes inaccurate

Another hotly contested race is for state House seat 113, that covers Miami Beach and has a pack of Democratic Party challengers, but Mark Weithorn is the establishment candidate with a host of endorsements including his wife Deede Weithorn a Miami Beach Commissioner. He is facing off against fellow Democrats David Richardson, Adam Kravitz and Waldo Faura and Weithorn is being blasted by his opponents for past financial problems with a business and on Saturday. He got some ink http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/10/2945534/miami-beach-vendors-donate-to.html because some of the Beach’s vendors had contributed to his campaign and his wife had voted on the vendors’ contracts. In the article, she says there was no quid pro quo but to an outsider reading the story, it is in the grey area when it comes to good judgment in taking the contributions.

What about the state attorney race between incumbent Fernandez-Rundle and Vereen?

The Katherine Fernandez-Rundle campaign has been verbally firing back against Rod Vereen who is challenging the long serving incumbent in the closed Democratic Primary race, and her campaign is focusing on some of his past business problems. She also points out there are 1,200 employees in the office, handles 250,000 cases a year and it is the nation’s fourth largest such state prosecutors office and she says is not ready for a neophyte state attorney. Vereen fires back that she has been there for 19 years and it is time for change and the office going in a new direction. The primary race is closed to only Democratic voters because of two write in candidates and Vereen is getting the backing of a slug of African American leaders who feel Blacks are being targeted unfairly by the office. However, Fernandez Rundle says that is not the case and of course after such a time in office. There are people that hate her and some of her positions and she notes the office makes people happy or unhappy everyday and it is the nature of the office.

>>> Press release: Three months before 2012 general election, Florida still cannot access DHS citizenship database to identify and remove non-citizens from the voting rolls

Nearly a month has passed since the U.S. Department of Homeland Security agreed to grant Florida access to the federal citizenship database (also known as the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database, or SAVE).  Florida still cannot access the SAVE system to identify and remove non-citizens from the voting rolls, and we are now less than three months away from the 2012 general election. Given the Department of Homeland Security’s failure to execute an agreement over the last month, after agreeing to provide Florida access to SAVE, attorneys representing the State of Florida and its citizens are now preparing all appropriate legal options to ensure that an agreement is executed in a timely manner and prevent the irreparable harm that will result if non-citizens are not removed from the voting rolls.

Today, in response to requests from several media outlets and other interested parties, and in compliance with Florida’s open records law, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner is releasing an obsolete list of potential non-citizens registered as voters that was generated months ago.  Governor Scott supports the decision to release the list.  However, as the Department of State has said, the list is a preliminary and unverified former working document that is being provided upon request. The data has not been verified or vetted for credibility or reliability by the Florida Department of State. This information is now outdated, should be considered obsolete, and will not be used as the basis for any action by the Florida Department of State.  Accordingly, removing non-citizens from the voting rolls requires additional analysis and specific procedures governed by state law to accurately determine voter eligibility.  Given the sensitivity of this information and citizens’ right to privacy, as well as the proximity to a major primary election next week, anyone who obtains these public records must handle them with the utmost caution.  Some have rightly raised concerns about the irresponsible use of these names and other accompanying personal information for political and other purposes.  The Governor shares these concerns and further cautions all recipients of this list to act responsibly.

>>> Press release: CIVILITY IN 2012  ELECTIONS IS BETTER FOR EVERYONE A POSITION PAPER ISSUED BY THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD, DR. WALTER T. RICHARDSON, CRB CHAIR, AUGUST 9, 2012

While the 2012 elections are being hotly contested in communities throughout Miami-Dade County, some are tempted to exploit racial, ethnic, religious or gender divisions.  These sorts of unethical campaign practices are destructive to the present and future of good community relations in our county.

Spirited debate about pressing community issues and the experiences and qualifications of individual candidates are important and necessary aspects of any campaign for elected office.  But, the election of our government and court leaders should not devolve into overheated power struggles between the various population groups in Miami-Dade County.  The destruction of campaign property, personal attacks, innuendos, and statements that pander to racial, ethnic, religious and/or gender biases are not effective strategies for creating a better community.  Any short term gains perceived to result from these negative practices are overshadowed by the more lasting resentment and mistrust left behind.  When the election is over, our community must deal with the results.

The members of the Miami-Dade County Community Relations Board (CRB) appeal to all of the candidates and their supporters to work toward the betterment of our community by ensuring that their conduct upholds standards of civility and ethics. We encourage all of the candidates and the community-at-large to help foster an atmosphere of mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect.  Many in our community are working hard to build greater confidence in our public and private institutions and to improve relations between and among the diverse residents and their elected officials.  Behavior which demonstrates respect for others is an important public virtue.  Sacrificing one’s own self-interests out of respect for others is challenging, yet necessary and ultimately rewarding.  Our constituents deserve nothing less. Living in Miami-Dade County has many benefits as well as many challenges.  Enlightened leadership will help our community thrive.  The 2012 election is an opportunity to focus on a brighter future.

>>> Children’s Movement of Florida  Voices of Florida – We all have a story, a story that defines us. It is our collective story, our challenges and our triumphs that inspire a movement. Floridians from all walks of life have joined together with an understanding that the future of our state rests on the well-being of our children.

Visit The Children’s Movement website to read their stories and share your own. >>> I find it unacceptable, as all of us should, that at least a half-million children in Florida – all citizens — have no health insurance. How could this be in our beloved country that seeks to be a beacon to the world? Health insurance for all children is one of the five major planks of The Children’s Movement. With the support of Florida Covering Kids and Families, The Children’s Movement is working with dozens of local partners to help build a meaningful signing-up initiative in more than a dozen Florida communities. Already we have: Completed 18 KidCare trainings around the state. Signed up, trained and deployed more than a hundred volunteers. Begun to build a growing collaboration between local school districts and KidCare outreach coalitions. It’s a good start, but only the start. If you’d like to become a volunteer, just click here. Another way to help is to make a contribution – of any size – to help support this work. It is easy. Just click here. A real movement isn’t possible without your helping in some meaningful way. Dave Lawrence, Chair The Children’s Movement

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

>>> Judge Labarga tapped by Gov. Crist, ranking UF jurist in state, had $718,729 net worth through 2011

Jorge Labarga, the Florida Supreme Court Justice is in the spotlight this week, Gov. Charlie Crist tapped him to the Florida High Court in Jan. 2009, and he has served with distinction since then. The Cuban American is a University of Florida undergraduate and law school graduate and he rose through the jurists ranks to reach this top judicial spot.

What do we know about his income?

Labarga through Dec. 31, 2011 had a net worth of $718,729 and he lists $135,000 in household goods. There is $85,000 in an IRA, a home is valued at $350,000 and he has $92,147 in liabilities. His income for the year was $152,160 as a judge, his wife’s income kicked in around $23,000, his total listed assets are $810,877, and all the listed gifts over $100.00 are benign in nature.

>>> Court’s webpage: Jorge Labarga was born in Cuba in 1952. He is married to Zulma R. Labarga, and they have two daughters. He arrived in the United States at the age of 11 where he initially lived with his family in Pahokee, Florida. He graduated from Forest Hill High School in West Palm Beach in 1972 and received his B.A. (1976) and J.D. (1979) from the University of Florida. Justice Labarga began his legal career in 1979 as an Assistant Public Defender with the Public Defender’s Office in West Palm Beach, assigned to the appellate, misdemeanor and felony trial divisions. In 1982 he joined the State Attorney’s Office in West Palm Beach, where he tried cases ranging from theft to homicide. In 1987 he joined the firm of Cone, Wagner, Nugent, Roth, Romano & Ericksen, P.A., and specialized in personal injury trial work. In 1992 Justice Labarga participated in founding the law firm of Roth, Duncan & Labarga, P.A., in West Palm Beach, where he continued to specialize in personal injury litigation and criminal defense.

Governor Lawton Chiles appointed Justice Labarga to the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, in and for Palm Beach County, in 1996. In that capacity, he served in the family, civil and criminal divisions. He also served as the administrative judge of the civil division. In December 2008, Justice Labarga was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. On January 1, 2009, he was appointed by Governor Crist to the Florida Supreme Court, where he presently sits as the 84th Justice to take office at the Florida Supreme Court since statehood was granted in 1845. >>> Office Information

Justice Labarga’s phone number is (850) 413-8371, and his judicial assistant is B.J. Vickers. His staff attorneys are Janice Scott, Jorge Pérez Santiago, and Valencia Davis. The mailing address is 500 South Duval Street, Tallahassee FL 32399-1925. Attorneys or law students interested in clerkships in this office should check our Law Clerk Recruitment Page. There also is information on Internships.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Issue of boleteros at the forefront of Aug. 14 primary, dark cloud hanging over elections for years may finally begin to dissapate

With arrest of another ballot broker, Sergio “Tio” Robaina, an uncle of former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina, the investigation of these shadowy people inserting themselves into national and local elections has come to the forefront. http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/10/2944431/commissioner-disturbed-his-name.html And the resulting campaign tension was seen at some of the early voting sites where supporters for Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Miami-Dade Commission Chair Joe Martinez are battling it out and to say the topic of the ballot brokers is a touchy subject is a understatement, when it comes to the candidates supporters. Gimenez, who thought he would win the upcoming primary Aug. 14 outright without a runoff may be in for a surprise after all the commotion, even though Gimenez has gone to great lengths to sever ties with one person that has caught the media’s attention. Campaign operative Al Lorenzo, but the matter is still out there in the public domain and Spanish media, after years of being silent on such matters, has jumped on the boleteros as these people are known in Spanish with both reporting feet.

Further, one person ensnared in the investigation was a past aide to Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo and he vehemently denies any ties to the matter and he is shocked one of his former staff members might be involved but with the race coming down to the wire. Insiders suggest the bulk of the damage may be done. Since tens of thousands of absentee ballots have been already sent in and while a small percentage of these votes have been segregated as evidence. The other absentee votes will not get the same scrutiny and if fraud was involved in any of these votes. It will likely not be detected given the large number of absentee ballots being received by the Miami-Dade Elections Department.

>>> Press release: Statement from Commissioner Esteban Bovo, Jr. regarding absentee ballot fraud investigation — “I am deeply disturbed that my name, or that of my office, is being mentioned in the same breath of an absentee ballot investigation. I won re-election without opposition during the qualifying period and I am not a candidate.  None of my County employees have been authorized or instructed to work on any of the local campaigns in this election. Furthermore, all County employees are instructed that County time, offices, and equipment are not to be used for personal matters, and that includes campaigning.

“Over the last 14 years, I have served my community and have strived to do so in a dignified and respectful manner.  It is for that reason that I voted in favor of tightening the County’s absentee voter laws as a means to guarantee that our election processes are beyond reproach. A former employee’s actions are not indicative of the mission the residents of District 13 elected me to do.

“The truth and facts will reveal that neither I nor any other member of my staff utilized the Commission office for campaign purposes.  Ms. Pedrosa’s situation and actions are an isolated event by one individual, and I expect her to cooperate fully with the investigation. I sincerely hope that no laws were violated by her actions.”

>>> GMCVB press release: RECORD DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REMAINS STRONG IN JUNE 2012 RESULTING IN INCREASES IN GREATER MIAMI’S TOURIST-RELATED TAX COLLECTIONS

In June 2012, the  2% Food and Beverage tax collections from hotels in MIAMI-Dade (excluding MIAMI Beach, Bal Harbour, and Surfside) generated $490,374 compared to $409,669 in 2011, an increase of +19.7%. The Convention Development Tax (CDT) collections for Greater MIAMI and the Beaches of $3,906,295 compared to $3,423,295 for the same period last year represent a +14.1% increase in June 2012. The Resort tax collections (excluding MIAMI Beach, Bal Harbour and Surfside)  totaled $1,297,746  compared to $1,170,300 in 2011 for an increase of +10.9%.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> FRB member state Rep. Bileca facing GOP challenger in primary and Democrat in Nov. If he loses, will it have a ripple affect on seven-member oversight board?

While Miami-Dade residents hold their breath as Jackson Health System formulates a new budget for 2012-2013 due in place by Oct 1. Another race in time is going on with one of the seven members who oversee JHS on the Financial Recovery Board (FRB). State Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami is facing an opponent in the Republican primary and Eugenio Perez is challenging the first term state representative and healthcare company owner. Bileca was first elected to the state house in 2010 and local delegation chair state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami appointed him to the FRB and Bileca has been helpful with bringing the Miami-Dade delegation together when it came to JHS during the past legislative session. The combined Miami-Dade delegation was much less critical this past year of the public hospital and its management that had plagued past health trust administrators and the oversight board in past years. Further, since there is a Democratic Party challenger in Jeffrey Solomon, whichever GOP candidate wins the Aug. 14 primary will face Solomon in the November general election. Bileca has raised $307,600 for his campaign war chest (including a $100,000 loan) to Perez’s $12,800 and Solomon has to date $30,386 that includes a $7,200 loan to the campaign.

This state house race is important for if he were to lose, he would likely be taken off the oversight board that has around only nine months left before it dissolves unless the Miami-Dade Commission in the mean time extends its life. But with the mayoral race in full swing and a possible runoff between Commission Chair Joe Martinez and Carlos Gimenez that could go on until November. This political turbulence could bleed into the running of JHS and any change in Bileca’s political stature could just ad to the oversight management instability that if not corrected in the future. Could result in a new oversight board and new members at a critical fiscal juncture for Jackson, and that potential issue looming in the future, could have a profound affect in the months ahead depending on how the election pans out in the end.

>>> The FRB held a meeting on Friday and to see what The Miami Herald wrote about what was discussed go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/10/2944147/jackson-health-system-board-holds.html >>> And here is another story on the health of Miami-Dade residents and the lack of a coordinated healthcare program with other local hospitals: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/09/2942927/jackson-too-weak-county-too-divided.html#morer

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Its big and blue, new 96 gallon recycling cart hitting Miami streets

Press release: The City of Miami Department of Solid Waste will begin distributing new recycle carts on August 7, 2012.  All city residents receiving city sanitation services will be provided with one 96-gallon blue recycle cart at no cost.  City residents are scheduled to receive their new recycling carts during the months of August and September 2012. The distribution of these new carts is in preparation for the launch of City of Miami Department of Solid Waste’s Fully Automated Recycling Collection Program which begins October 1, 2012. The Blue 96 gallon recycle cart will allow the recycling of more products than ever before and will be fast, easy and convenient for City residents to wheel out for collection. Recycling helps save the Earth by preserving the environment, saving energy, mitigating global warming, reducing pollution, illegal dumping and waste products in our landfills.

>>> Notice of Public Hearing regarding the issuance of not exceeding $50,000,000 Tax Increment Revenue Bonds to finance certain redevelopment projects in the southeast Overtown/Park West Redevelopment District.

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to be held by the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (the “Agency”) on August 27, 2012, commencing at 5:00 p.m. at Frederick Douglass Elementary School, 314 Northwest 12th Street, Miami, Florida 33136, to receive comment on the adoption by the Agency of a resolution. WHO: SEOPW CRA WHAT: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING – WHEN: MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012 at 5:00 PM – WHERE:   FREDERICK DOUGLASS ELEMENTARY, 314 NW 12TH STREET, MIAMI, FL

CITY OF HIALEAH

>>> Operators of Uninspected Slaughter House Arrested and Charged for Food Safety and Humane Slaughter Violations

Press release: Wifredo A, Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Larry Hortert, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), announced that Gelio Hernandez, 50, of Hialeah, Florida, and Angel Busurot, 46, of Miami, Florida, were arrested today as a result of their indictment by a federal Grand Jury in Miami for having engaged in the inhumane slaughter of swine, the sale of uninspected and adulterated swine meat for human consumption, in violation of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), Title 7, United States Code, Section 1902(a) and the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), as amended, Title 21, United States Code, Sections 601(m)(4), 610(b), (c)(1)-(2), and 676(a).  Hernandez and Busurot made their initial appearances in federal Magistrate’s Court in Miami today on the charges, and another hearing is set for August 17, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Joan A. Lenard.  If convicted on the charges, Hernandez and Busurot face possible terms of imprisonment of up to three years on each of the fives charges brought against them.

According to the indictment, Hernandez and Busurot were the co-owners and operators responsible for the day-to-day activities of Finca El Novillo, an unincorporated enterprise on N.W. 122nd Avenue, in Miami, Florida.  At that location, the defendants engaged in the commercial slaughter of swine and goats.  Hernandez and Busurot also processed, handled, stored, and sold the meat and meat food products at the site for human consumption.  Specifically, they are each charged with knowingly distributing and attempting to distribute swine capable of use as human food on November 23, 2011 and March 17, 2012, which had been prepared, packed, and held under unsanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated and been rendered harmful to health.  The same meat products were also placed into commerce without first being inspected and approved, as required by the FMIA. The indictment further charges that on November 23, 2011, Hernandez and Busurot knowingly slaughtered and handled swine, without first rendering the swine insensible to pain.  The HMSA established as the public policy of the United States that the slaughtering or handling for slaughter of livestock, including swine, may only be carried out by humane methods.  Accordingly, the law requires that such animals be rendered insensible to pain by one of the methods described in the HMSA, prior to the animal being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut, Title 7, United States Code, Sections 1901-1902(a). >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Compliance Officers of the USDA FSIS, Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review, Compliance & Investigations Division and Evaluation and Enforcement Division and further expressed appreciation for the assistance rendered by the United States Marshal’s Service Florida Fugitive Task Force in effecting the arrest in this case.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald. An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Judge Wolfson takes a hit in Herald, got campaign contributions from vendors to city where husband Jonah is commissioner

Andrea R. Wolfson, a Miami-Dade County judge appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist looking to be retained on the bench, but is in a three way race for the Group 24 seat took a hit this Saturday when http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/10/2945534/miami-beach-vendors-donate-to.html did a story on her campaign fund raising that involved people that did business at Miami Beach where her husband Jonah is a sitting commissioner. The story notes it was not illegal but in many ways, it was not a resume builder and could have been avoided. Further, she is facing two challengers in Greer Wallace the wife of Florida City Mayor Otis Wallace and Barbara Jordan a county commissioner up for reelection herself, and the third candidate is Arthur Spiegel. Wolfson, has raised a prodigious amount of money for her campaign that is around $233,000 in the campaign war chest, but this local Beach money has come back to haunt her reelection campaign that could end in a runoff in November if she does not get the required 50 percent plus one vote on Aug. 14.

Wolfson the jurist on Saturday when the Watchdog Report drove through the pounding rain to the early voting site she has been at all week said the people referenced in the story were “friends.” However, because of “judicial canons” she was restricted to saying only “no comment,” when I asked about The Herald article, she said. The controversy is a shame since Wolfson who approached voters regardless of the weather (except for lightning) had a roll going prior to that article. In addition, many early voters were impressed she was weathering the thunderstorms at the polling site that had her husband Jonah traveling around the county’s 17 early voting sites like a whirling dervish. And he was seen sometimes in a soaked tee shirt with his wife’s name emblazoned on the front as he made the rounds.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> Gables business group to hear about insurance reform in Florida

Press release: “Keeping you abreast of the pressing issues affecting Coral Gables.” We meet the first and third Mondays of the month at JohnMartins restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor) at noon.  Lunch is $20 for members and $25 for non-members August 30th – Jay Neal – Executive Director of the Florida Association for Insurance Reform – Please join us for lunch on Monday, August 20th, our guest speaker will be Jay Neal, Executor Director of the Florida Association for Insurance Reform (FAIR).  We meet at JohnMartin’s Restaurant (253 Miracle Mile – 2nd floor) at noon. FAIR is a non-partisan, non-profit education organization that works to educate Florida consumers and insurance industry stakeholders about the effects of insurance public policy.  Unlike other organizations that represent specific constituencies, FAIR works with all constituencies to facilitate ongoing dialogue and transparent communications.  FAIR believes that there is a solution to every insurance problem that both promotes a robust insurance market and also protects consumers and policyholders. >>> FAIR is committed to reducing the barriers of the unique property and casualty insurance issues currently facing Florida.  The Association believes that educating and informing interested groups on ways to bring increased protection to policyholders, the insurance industry can accomplish comprehensive reform to create a stable and vibrant insurance market. Jay Neal is the Executive Director and he will be discussing the goals and accomplishments of the organization. Please RSVP at poncebusiness@gmail.com For upcoming events please visit our website at www.poncebusiness.com

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Ritter, like the phoenix after controversial investigations looks to be reelected, faces one poorly financed challenger; she had $147,500 net worth in 2011

Former Democratic state representative and now County Commissioner Stacy Ritter is in the spotlight this week and the colorful legislator is facing off against Republican Robert Sutton during the 2012 election cycle. Ritter has raised $105,695 for her campaign and has spent $65,000 in the race. Sutton, a former school board candidate in 2010 but losing, is trying again for elected office and while he has more than the $2,900 raised in his first race. The man’s commission race has only roughly $10,000 for this recent campaign and he has spent $7,013 through Aug. 1, 2012 state the Broward County elections webpage. Ritter has served as a Broward mayor since being on the nine-member dais but some of the campaign money in past elections spent on expenses have been criticized in the press and her husband is a prominent Broward lobbyist. Further, she ended up paying a roughly $8,000 election violation fine and if she ran again in 1012. She was expected to face an uphill battle given the different controversies that have dogged her in the past but with Sutton’s paltry campaign war chest. She will likely be reelected to another term representing District 3 that includes Parkland.  >>> http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-12-03/news/fl-ritter-violations-20101203_1_campaign-law-violations-campaign-funds-russ-klenet >>> http://miami.cbslocal.com/2011/11/29/broward-commissioner-stacy-ritter-to-pay-8k-fine/ >>> http://www.browardbeat.com/stacy-ritters-kickoff-draws-huge-crowd/

What do we know about her finances?

Ritter through Dec. 31, 2011 had a net worth of $147,500 and lists $50,000 in household goods. Her home is valued at $875,000 and UBS has $52,000 in the account. She lists two mortgages of $675,000 and a second $179,000 loan from a lender in Louisville Kentucky, and her only listed income for the year was $92,097 as a county commissioner.

>>> Webpage bio: County Commission > District 3 – Stacy Ritter was elected to the Broward County Commission in November of 2006. The following year she was selected by the Board to serve as Vice-Mayor and in 2008 was chosen to serve a one-year term as Mayor. Stacy brings unique perspective and experience to the Commission. In 1996, she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, serving the residents of District 96. She served as a State Representative for eight years and was forced to leave office in November 2004 due to mandated term limits. Broward County Commissioners are elected from nine single-member districts. Stacy serves as Commissioner for District 3… Stacy was a community activist for years with the National Council of Jewish Women and other organizations prior to her election to State office… In 2001, she was elected Chair of the Broward County Legislative Delegation by her colleagues. Stacy chaired Broward County’s Management and Efficiency Study Committee from June 2004 to June 2006. As Mayor, Stacy was instrumental in getting the county to consider and move forward on a new county courthouse, by creating a task force to study all the issues with the structure. Construction of a new courthouse and her push for improvements at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, including the expansion of the south runway, Stacy says, will promote the economy and provide jobs for the county.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> BrowardBulldog.org hosts 9/11 conversation with former Senator Bob Graham on September 11

Questions about Saudi Arabia’s possible involvement in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks have lingered for more than a decade. Over the past year, BrowardBulldog.org has reported how Congress and the 9/11 Commission were kept in the dark about a secret FBI investigation that found troubling ties between the 9/11 hijackers and Saudis then living in Sarasota.

Former Florida U.S. senator and two-term governor Bob Graham, co-chair of Congress’s Joint Inquiry into the attacks, was privy to top-secret information on suspected foreign support for the hijackers. He believes events in Sarasota offer important clues about what happened, and has called on President Obama to reopen the investigation. Join us at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 11 for a special evening with Sen. Graham on the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks for our program, “Unanswered Questions of 9/11: A Conversation With Bob Graham.”  Sen. Graham will answer questions and be available afterward to sign copies of his latest book, “Keys to the Kingdom.” >>> Ticket Options: Tickets are available at http://browardbulldog.eventbrite.com/ Meet Sen. Graham at the 5:30 p.m. VIP Cocktail Reception. $75 ticket includes drinks and hors d’oeuvres, lecture, upfront seating and priority access at the book signing. Pre-sale general admission tickets to the 6:30 p.m. lecture are available for $20 through Aug. 31; $30 on Sept. 1-11. Proceeds benefit Broward Bulldog.org, an independent 501(c) 3 nonprofit providing local watchdog reporting in the public interest.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Marcus saying sayonara after 28-years, GOP liberal with environmental credentials, had $129,500 net worth through 2011

Karen Marcus, the long serving moderate Republican commissioner is in the spotlight this week and she has served on the body for the past 28 years on the dais that had a public corruption purge a few years ago, that sent many of her peers to federal prison for public corruption charges. Marcus has a strong environmental record and despite this liberal approach on the seven member commission. She still was reelected seven times in the GOP leaning Commission District 1 that encompasses West Palm Beach and Jupiter including the airport in the sprawling district. Marcus has been free of scandal during this time and was first elected in 1984 to the body. Two Republicans, Dan Amero and Harry Gaboian are running to replace her and Democrat David Levy, the mayor of Palm Beach Gardens is the opposition in the November election.

What do we know about her finances?

Marcus through Dec. 2011 had a net worth of $129,517 and she lists $60,000 in household goods. Her home is valued at $230,000, an investment property is worth $82,660, two cars are worth $17,000, and there is $16,274 in a savings account. She has two mortgages owed $82,100 and $178,000 and she owes about $16,500 to two credit union accounts, and her only income is $96,705 as a commissioner.

Marcus http://www.pbcgov.com/countycommissioners/district1/biography.htm >>> Webpage: Commissioner Marcus serves on the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, representing District One.  She has also served as President of the Florida Councils Association and was President of the Florida Association of Counties from November 2000 to June 2002.  Commissioner Marcus has served on the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council since first being elected to the County Commission.  For many years she chaired the School Advisory Council for Palm Beach Gardens High School, during the time her daughters attended the school, having graduated from there herself. Since she has been in office, she has supported the acquisition of more than 1,430 acres of park and recreation property in District One alone.  Through various funding sources, parks and beaches such as Ocean Cay, Diamond Head/Radnor, Riverbend Park and many others will be available for all of us to enjoy.  Northern Palm Beach County has 22 parks and has more public beachfront property than any district in the entire county…  Commissioner Marcus supported the acquisition of 29,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land to protect it from development.  She helped garner the public’s support to approve a bond issue in 1991 to purchase environmentally sensitive land, and again in 1999 to preserve environmentally sensitive lands and agricultural property in the Ag Reserve.  Commissioner Marcus received the Nature Conservancy’s distinguished Public Service Award and the Nature Conservancy’s Grassroots Leadership Award…In 2005, Commissioner Marcus, as Chair of the Board, took the lead in negotiations to bring the Scripps Research Institute to Palm Beach County in District One. Although a complex and complicated project, Commissioner Marcus is making sure Scripps positively impacts our current residents.  Working together with the Town of Lake Park, City of Palm Beach Gardens, Town of Jupiter, Town of Mangonia Park, and the City of Riviera Beach, the North Palm Beach County LifeScience Corridor became a reality when the site was chosen by the County Commission on February 14, 2006.  This will transform Florida and Palm Beach County into a leading center for scientific and medical research.  In 2009, the Max Planck Florida Corporation broke ground on their facility, joining Scripps at Abacoa.  The Max Planck Society is a 60 year old research institute that will bring an international component to Palm Beach County’s bioscience industry. In recent activities, Phase II of Scripps Florida began moving forward.  The Briger tract located in the City of Palm Beach Gardens will be a 681 acre mixed use development focused on biotechnology and bioscience research industries. The potential of 4.0 million square feet, including Scripps Phase II, of biotechnology research and development has been allocated on the plan for the second phase of the Scripps Florida Campus.

Commissioner Marcus is the recipient of the distinguished Executive Women of the Palm Beaches 21st Annual Women in Leadership Award for the Public Sector for 2004 in recognition for her achievements in government and the demonstrated difference she has made in Palm Beach County.  She was named a Community Development Leader in 2006 by the South Florida Local Initiatives Support Corporation in recognition of her efforts to provide affordable housing in Palm Beach County… In addition, Commissioner Marcus received the Champion of the Everglades Award from the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation in 2011. Karen is a native Floridian.  She is married and has three daughters and five grandchildren.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

>>> Press release: Fort Pierce Financial Manager and Six Other St. Lucie County Residents Charged in Mail Fraud Embezzlement Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, Miami Field Office, and Sean Baldwin, Chief, Fort Pierce Police Department (FPPD), announce the indictment of Erica Gilmore-Grier, 35, of Fort Pierce, for embezzling more than $200,000 from her former employer, Policy Studies, Inc. (PSI), while working as a financial manager for the PSI Call Center in Fort Pierce, Florida.  Margo Nickerson, 36, of Fort Pierce, Bridgette Galarza, 31, of Port St. Lucie, Chelsea Durham, 40, of Port St. Lucie, Jessica Harris, 22, of Fort Pierce, Jamile Williams, 34, of Fort Pierce and Venus Holloman, 26, of Fort Pierce, were also indicted as part of the scheme.  All of the defendants are St. Lucie County residents. The indictment charges Gilmore-Grier, Holloman, Nickerson, Galarza, Durham, Harris and Williams with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and sixty-four counts of mail fraud.  Gilmore, Nickerson, Galarza, Durham and Williams had first appearances in federal court in Fort Pierce today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Lynch, Jr.  If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory sentence of up to twenty years in prison on each count.

According to the indictment, from October 2008 to October 2011, PSI was a management company supporting federal and state governments in administering health and human services programs, such as health insurance for low-income children, across the United States.  One public program administered by PSI was Georgia PeachCare for Kids (GAPC), a children’s health insurance program providing affordable healthcare for children who are Georgia residents and who live in low-income households. PSI’s Fort Pierce Call Center administered the GAPC program.  Gilmore-Grier worked as Finance Team Lead at PSI’s Fort Pierce Call Center. Gilmore-Grier was responsible for overseeing the resolution of financial issues on GAPC customer accounts and issuing refunds when customers overpaid their premiums. The indictment alleges that from October 2008 to October 2011, Gilmore-Grier authorized fraudulent refund checks for her co-defendants and others, who were not GAPC clients and not entitled to refunds, by claiming that they were legitimate GAPC clients who had inadvertently overpaid their premiums.  Based on Gilmore-Grier’s requests, PSI’s main office in Denver, Colorado issued more than 64 checks to Gilmore-Grier’s friends and family throughout St. Lucie County.  Holloman, Nickerson, Galarza, Durham, Harris and Williams were among the individuals who received and cashed checks and split the proceeds with Gilmore-Grier.  According to the indictment, Gilmore-Grier and others stole approximately $213,147.56 from PSI and GAPC through this scheme. >>> U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Secret Service and the Fort Pierce Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaniek Maynard. An indictment is only an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 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.

MADISON COUNTY

>>> There he goes again, Gov. Scot suspends Commissioner Martin after hit with two grand theft charges

There he goes again, Gov. Rick Scott suspended Madison County Commissioner Alfred Martin last week after he was charged with two counts of official misconduct and two grand theft charges and the improper use of a voluntary firefighter’s account where he is the Fire Chief of the City of Madison. Martin’s suspension just continues the trend of past Governors Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist of suspending elected officials when they are charged. And after a lull the last few months that had one elected leader back in office after an acquittal and reinstated by Scott. The governor continues the tradition though not quite at the suspension rate of Bush and Crist who once called all the suspensions of public officials because of a “culture of corruption.”  And both Bush and Crist worked hard to root out wayward public officials while they were in office, believing it had to be done, if Floridians would ever have confidence in their public officials.

Alfred Martin Dist. 4

OSCEOLA COUNTY

>>> Charter School hired lobbying gun Attkisson in the spotlight, net worth increases to $209,000 through 2011

Frank Attkisson, a former state representative and now Osceola County Commissioner is in the spotlight this week and his claim to fame here in South Florida is that he is representing the Arts and Minds Charter School in Coconut Grove Florida. And A&M is reeling from a critical forensic audit of the school’s governance and oversight of the millions of public tax dollars the charter school gets from the nation’s fourth largest public schools district. Attkisson says the charges are false, though he has been charged with making governance changes and resolving some other issues.

What do we know about his finances?

Attkisson filed his financial disclosure form with the state in August, during the grace period that ends in September. The commissioner through Dec. 2011 had a net worth of $209,678 and lists $20,000 in household goods. Some of his assets are a home worth $480,844, a tractor is valued at $3,500, a truck is worth $21,500 and a lot is worth $88,350. His liabilities include some mortgages owed 123,900, another is $133,000 and another is owed $103,000 for total liabilities of $416,516. His income for the year was $66,700 as a commissioner, he received $83,192 from an Equity Leasing firm, and Osceola School Investments LLC kicked in $4,710.

>> PAST WDR:  A&M Charter School brings in hired gun Attkisson, makes strong offensive argument to critical district forensic audit, school’s auditor stands by document’s accuracy, Osceola Commissioner Attkisson net worth drops to $77,114 through Dec. 2010

The one-inch thick forensic audit of the Academy of the Arts and Minds charter school on Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove was the talk of the Miami-Dade Public Schools Audit & Budget Advisory Committee meeting Tuesday, and school founder Manny Alonso-Poch brought in a charter school hired gun to defend A&M against the reports findings. Board members were told the consultant, Frank Attkisson, was a former state legislator and had been involved in writing some of the state legislation that dealt with the creation and operation of charter schools, of which Miami-Dade has 109 such schools. He immediately went on the verbal offensive when Audit Committee Chair Jeffrey Shapiro, a former prosecutor, allowed him to speak to the citizen-based board. And the man challenged the report’s findings as being inaccurate and was angry that the report was leaked to the Miami Herald early http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/21/2859749/audit-coconut-grove-charter-school.html before the appropriate time and blasted the school auditor’s findings as being skewed and conjecture. >>> Here is the link to the school district audit and A&Ms rebuttal http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_june_26_2012/item8.pdf

Attkisson said that the school since 2004 had grown from 75 students to 450 students and of course, there were growing pains. But A&M has had “clean audit statements” over the years and the charter school “operates within state laws” and the school now is keeping with the “spirit and intent” of the school district’s findings. He said they are taking steps “to correct” some of the audit’s observations regarding the school’s governance and “the board is looking for three new members,” he told the audit committee…

What do we know about Attkisson?

Attkisson, who walked out quickly after the meeting, did not have a card and declined to speak to the media. However, the Watchdog Report thought a quick scan of the man might produce some insight on the past state official that treated the audit committee and the auditing department in a condescending manner and it is now clear why he felt so confident in front of this board. The businessman and charter school advocate has politically in the past been a commissioner and mayor of the City of Kissimmee, was elected to the Florida House in 2000 running as a Jeb Bush Republican, and after being termed out in 2008. He was elected in 2010 to the Osceola Commission and represents commission District 4, and while he was on a road trip. He seemed to think he was dealing with country bumpkins when he discussed A&M and casually chatted during the meeting with Alonso-Poch before being asked if he wanted to address the audit committee.

Attkisson  http://www.osceola.org/bcc/101-16548-0/frank_attkisson.cfm

What do we know about his finances?

Attkisson since 2007 has gone through some tough financial times and back in 2007 he had a listed net worth of $567,719 through Dec. 30^th of that year. In the following year that net worth drops to $498,000 though his assets in total listed are $1.5 million and through 2010 his net worth drops to $77,114 and he lists $20,000 in household goods for all the last three years the financial disclosure forms are on file with the state. His current assets in 2010 include a home valued at $448,000, a tractor is worth $3,500, a Chevy truck is worth $30,000 and his 2006 mustang is valued at $6,000 with total assets for the year being $487,000. And his listed total liabilities come in at $429,000 for the year that includes mortgages owed $127,500 and $133,000, a lot loan is owed $103,000, American Express is owed $36,286 and Bank of America wants $30,100.

MONROE COUNTY

>>> Clerk Kolhage says sayonara to office in Nov. goes to county commission Dist. 1 seta, had $785,000 net worth through 2011

Danny Kolhage, the Monroe Clerk of the Courts who is resigning the office on Nov. 20 2012 to be sworn on as a Monroe County Commissioner is in the spotlight this week. Kolhage has been in the low profile position for years and won his new office when no one filed to run against him for the Monroe County Commission District 1 seat after incumbent Commissioner Kim Wigington decided not to run again.

What do we know about his finances?

Kolhage through Dec. 2011 had a net worth of $785,000 and he lists $31,000 in household goods. His home is worth $255,000, there is $457,000 in investments and a savings account has $56,000 in it. The clerk lists no liabilities, and his income for the year was $106,000 as the county clerk, the Florida Retirement System kicked in $78,759 and social security provided $28,096.

>>> Press release: Attention Faith-Based Providers: Provider Position Open on Board of Directors

The Early Learning Coalition of Miami- Dade/Monroe is seeking a candidate to fill a position as a representative of faith-based childcare providers on its Board of
Directors.  Candidate must reside in Florida and be associated with a faith-based childcare center or family childcare home conducting business in Miami-Dade or Monroe County. Accredited provider preferred.  Please contact Christina Vila at 305-646-7220 x. 266 for an application, or visit our website www.elcmdm.org and click on the Board of Director’s Application link on the homepage. Applications must be submitted by August 31, 2012.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Zen Village www.zenvillage.org special introduction to Buddhism and Meditation Retreat – Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation Retreat Friday, August 24th at 7:00pm -through- Sunday, August 26th at 7:00pm – The Details… Join us at Zen Village for our Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation retreat. Master Chufei Tsai will be leading to total of six, three-hour sessions on Buddhism and Meditation. During the retreat you will get an in depth overview of Buddhism and meditation; what it is, why they are practiced, how to practice, as well the philosophies behind these practices.

You will have the option to stay as an over night guest of Zen Village, where you will experience temple style accommodations in our sacred space (bed and linens will be provided). Additionally, you will be provided, simple-healthy Zen meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a tea experience in the afternoons. Upon completing these sessions, your may participate in an optional ceremony, which is held to initiate you as a Buddhist and receive refuge. After the ceremony will be a celebration welcoming you on your Buddhist path. >>> Session Schedule Friday 8/24 Evening 7-10pm Saturday 8/25 Morning 9am-12noon Afternoon 2-5pm Evening 7-10pm Sunday 8/26 Morning 9am-12noon Afternoon 2-5pm Ceremony 5-6pm >>> Retreat Fees/Costs: $430 for complete experience All 6 sessions 2 Over-night stays Daily meals, teas and beverage. For information go to www.zenvillage.org

>>> Kristi House press release: Please mark your calendars! We hope you will join us for the 13th Annual Touch A Heart Dinner on Friday, November 2, 2012 at

the Four Seasons Hotel 7:00 p.m. Reception 8:00 p.m. Dinner For more information, please visit www.kristihouse.org or call: Bianca Fernandez – 305-547-6802 Mary Faraldo – 786-218-9748

EDITORIALS

>>> The investigations of the ballot boleteros must run its course, no matter how many people involved, voter fraud and manipulation must end

With another arrest of an absentee ballot broker Sergio “Tio” Robaina, the uncle of former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina in an expanding state attorney and Miami-Dade police investigation. The tide is receding and more people involved in this entrenched activity are being brought to light, and this will turn into a torrent before the last person has been picked off. For this absentee voter manipulation has exploded since 2000 along with the use of write in candidates to keep a primary election closed to voters of another party and while the latter has been upheld in the local courts. The absentee ballot problem has metastasized into the fabric of South Florida and is not just limited to Hialeah, as so many people seem to think.

Further, as investigators peel off layers of the absentee ballot onion and this absentee ballot manipulation, they will find a variety of people that will be involved. And you are already seeing that blowback after campaign manager extraordinaire Al Lorenzo and his partner Francois Illas, the former chief of staff for former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz were terminated by the Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez campaign. Though state Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle is keeping Lorenzo and his team on for her reelection campaign, but the controversy is bleeding into her own race as well as in the public mind.

However, this absentee ballot charade has become so rampant over the years, and since there was no punishment until now. These people doing the absentee ballot brokering have had no fear of being caught since it has become so entrenched into the election fabric of Miami-Dade. And like in the classic movie Casablanca, some elected leaders are shocked that this activity was taking place even though it was widely known and reflected in past elections where once the absentee ballots were counted. It was clear immediately who would be the winner and was the icing on the victory cake that any successful politician worth their salt has known for years, but kept a quite secret.

Now the voters and residents of Miami-Dade have a chance to find out the scope of this scourge that rears its ugly head during election season and investigators should keep at it. For it is like low hanging rotted fruit that must be picked and thrown out of the democratic process, for while we all want every vote to count. We don’t want that vote to be compromised by political operatives who fill out the ballot themselves or tell people who they must vote for. Because that is not the time-honored tradition of America now, and whatever resources must be expended to end this civic blight must be used to cut out this ballot cancer. If we are to finally be able to actually say to voters that every legitimate vote counts, regardless of whom you are voting for.

LETTERS

>>> I’ve never received as many outraged e-mails as those in response to my sending around the link to The Herald article on corruption at the Miami Beach Community Health Center. Residents are asking why the press hasn’t followed up with the board of directors: Why haven’t they resigned? Is there a cover-up?  Were Abbate’s degrees legit or bogus? Below are links to board membership, Abbate’s awards and her claimed degrees.

FDV

>>> http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/06/2936472/repeal-the-pit-bull-ban.html Here is some good information as to why to vote For the Repeal of the Pit Bull Ban!  Again, it is not the Gun but the Shooter that Kills.  Laws should be enforced against Bad Owners not a dog!

Joel

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.

THE MIAMI HERALD     www.miamiherald.com (2000-2008)

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION  www.knightfoundation.org

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $2,000 a year

BADIA SPICES    www.badiaspices.com

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 a year

AKERMAN SENTERFITT   www.akerman.com

RON BOOK

LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.

WILLIAM PALMER

SHUBIN & BASS     www.shubinbass.com

>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC.   www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATOR MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA  www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org

THE BEACON COUNCIL   www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA    http://www.firstgov.gov/

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI             www.miami.edu

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 600 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 www.watchdogreport.net

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2012, 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.

********************************************************************

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 To contact the Publisher please e-mail watchdogreport1@earthlink.net