Charlotte Shocker …. Dead Last!




     So much for conventional wisdom! 

    
The pundits clearly expected Charlotte Rodstrom to win yesterday’s race for the District 7 County Commission seat, currently held by her husband, John, but instead, she came in dead last.

                                   
                                           Yesterdays’ Power Couple?

     Now, it will be up to the same pundits to wax why!
 
                Here’s a few thoughts!

     A main reason is probably that the voters are just finished with the Rodstrom dynasty. 

    * Add to that -Charlotte’s running for City Commission and announcing two weeks later that she was leaving  to run for the County seat.
    *Add to that – husband John trying to get rid of term limits, so he wouldn’t have to leave the seat in the first place
   *. Add to that – the suspected Rodstrom effort to let Republicans vote in yesterday’s Democratic primary!
   * Add to that – the winner

     

      Tim Ryan – 

     Former State Representative Ryan clearly earned the win, running hard, knocking doors, determined to win.

                   Here’s how it came out

                     Tim Ryan -3385
                     Ken Keechl – 2736
                    Charltotte Rodstrom – 2436

     Now the burning question – will Rodstrom run to gain back her City Commission seat?  Rodstrom could not be reached this morning, but I’ll try and track her down later today!

After Tuesday –

     There is more news about the ….

     Special Fort Lauderdale District II Commission  seat election,

   ….  to replace Charlotte Rodstrom, who’s running for a County Commission seat, this coming Tuesday!

         ……So, let’s wait and talk about that After Tuesday!

     ………………………………………………………

    If you haven’t voted yet by early voting, or absentee ballot, you will be going to the polls on Tuesday with about 9% of your rare – fellow citizens ( the ones that vote in August primaries).

     The candidates in these primaries have now done about all they can to win –  door knocking, TV commercials, mailers, –  now it’s up to each candidates’ turn out operations for Tuesday.

     I endorsed a few candidates on the ballot, but in one race, I declined to endorse any of the candidates ( Rodstrom, Keechl, and Ryan).

     
    
After I posted that blog, I suspected that I wouldn’t get many phone calls from any of those three politicians for some time ( about a hundred years ,) but I was wrong.

     Tim Ryan  called me the next day.

     “Tim, I read your blog post, and I must say, I understand. And I wanted you to know that if I win, I will still work hard to fix the problems you and I talked about this year.”

     

     I voted Ryan.

       …………………………………………………………

Don’t Vote Julio Gonzalez for Judge

     …. I almost forgot ! … Whatever you do – Don’t vote for Julio Gonzalez for Judge!!!

           ………. Here is an amazing blog posting from a few years back, detailing how Judge Gonzalez coddled criminals of the worse kind….  We were able to deny him his Judgeship in the last election, but like a bad rash, he keeps coming back !!

     Give it a read if you don’t remember it….

                                          Crackhead Crackdown Showdown Update !

     The substantial criminal records of
the men who yesterday received a restraining order from Judge Julio E.
Gonzalez Jr. against a Poinsettia Heights man, were obtained today by
Tim Smith’s Fort Lauderdale. 
 
      They are sometimes called
the Railroad Track Gang, not so lovingly, by residents in the four
neighborhoods surrounding NE 13th Street in Fort Lauderdale.

     They have
been holding up in makeshift campsites along the RR tracks, and some are
suspect in the areas’ recent surge in crimes. They had complained to
the Public Defenders Office that local businessman and artist Steve
Sticht, had chased them with a chainsaw, posted wanted posters of them,
and threatened to kill them.

     Sticht, a member of one of the area’s
anti-crime committees, says that is “all bull”, that he just cut down
one of their many campsites, dubbed “Camp Crackhead”, after authorities
were either unable or unwilling to accomplish it. 

               Here are the  men and some highlights of their rap sheets:

                                

                                 Steven Charles Newton (42)
                                             a.k.a. “Shorty”
                         
                                           
Multi State Offender
                                 Total Felony Charges – 15
                                 Total Felony Convictions – 5 
                                 Total Misdemeanor Charges – 9
                                 Total Misdemeanor Convictions – 2
                                 Total Failure to Appear – 3  
                                 Total Incarcerations – 5
     ( charges include Burglary, Larceny, Cocaine Possession, Resisting Arrest, Cocaine-Sell, Trespassing,among others)

                                     
                                      
                                                Michael Scarola (39)
                                             a.k.a. – Michael Carpece, 
                                                        – Cross Eyed Mike

                                             Multi-State Offender
                                     Total Felony Charges – 11
                                     Total Felony Convictions – 6
                                     Total Misdemeanor Charges – 20
                                     Total Misdemeanor Convictions – 11
    
( charges include Burglary, Larceny, Cocaine Possession, Lewd/Lasciv,
Prostitution, Trespassing, Shoplifting, Resisting Arrest, Drugs Sell,
among others. 

                                            
                                               

                                     
                                               James Earl Brown (38)
            
                                               
Total Felony Charges – 7
                                       Total Felony Convictions – 3
                                       Total Misdemeanor Charges – 4
                                       Total Misdemeanor Convictions- 0   
                                       Total Failure to Appear – 5
                                       Total Incarcerations – 0
     (charges include Burglary, Larceny, Fraud, Cocaine Possession, Cocaine-Distr, Trespassing, among others)           

                                  
                                       
                                   Terry Dwayne Hampton (41)

                                          Total Felony Charges – 2
                                          Total Felony Convictions – 1

        (charges include Cocaine Possession, Drug Equip, Trespassing)

     These
men have a Protective Order in place against Sticht, which orders him
to stay away from their residence, which in this case we assume means
“Camp CrackHead” on the FEC Railroad line! Another hearing is scheduled 
on April 17.
 

                                          

Judge Orders Protection for Neighborhood Crackheads !

      Broward County Judge Julio E. Gonzalez Jr.,  Monday, ordered Court Protection for a Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods’ known felons and crackheads.

    
In a move that stunned neighborhoods that have been under siege from
street criminals over many years, Judge Gonzalez, acting under the
request of the Broward Public Defenders Office, ordered local business
man and neighborhood crime fighter, Stephen Sticht, to stay away from
the areas’ admitted drug addicts and suspected burglars.

    
According to the Sun-Sentinel newspaper, some of the men he was ordered
to stay away from had felony convictions for cocaine possession,
prostitution, lewd and lascivious conduct, burglary and grand
theft.  The Judge also ordered Sticht to “surrender any weapons that he
had to Law Enforcement”. Sticht was accused by the felons of
“posting wanted posters ” of them, chasing them with a chainsaw, and
threatening to kill them.

     Sticht denies all of the felons’ allegations.
Sticht says he used his chainsaw to decimate the “crackhead camp” that
they had built along the RR tracks. Sticht’s neighborhood, and those
surrounding it, had experienced a marked increase in burgularies, (homes
and cars), as well as many other crimes since the encampment
arrived. City Officials had not been successful in eliminating it.
      
   

                                               

                                                                      the brochure

     On
Tuesday night, at the Council of Civic Associations monthly meeting,
(an advocacy group that fights for neighborhoods), Judge Gonzalez had
operatives handing out his reelection brochures. Some in attendance,
keenly aware of Gonzalez’s ruling earlier in the day, were drawn to the
last line of his brochure that claimed he was “devoted to family and
community”. One attendee was overheard asking, “is that the criminal
community, or our community”. 

     A formal hearing on the
matter is tentatively scheduled for April 17th, where many in the
affected neighborhoods hope that the Judge will decide that he is
devoted to the law-abiding members of their neighborhoods, not the
criminals.

    

Endorsements ………..

     There will be voting going on this month in Broward County.

     August is a bad month to vote in Broward  ….  too damn hot! … lots of people on vacation! ….   but some primary votes happen this month, the rest happen in November!

        ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

       I was a politician, once upon a time…….now in recovery! …  but some still ask me who I think they should vote for this year!

                                             
                                             
after losing the Mayor’s race …with son Timmy

              ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

    OK… here is who I think does or doesn’t   deserve your vote!

     Vote for Howard Forman   … Clerk of the Court –

     Vote for Kristen Jacobs   …. Congress

     Vote for Lori Parrish (Property Appraiser) and
 Vote for Katie Leach ( School Board)

Don’t Vote for Dale Holness ( he can’t be trusted)

            Vote for Ritter, Wexler, LaMarca,

         Vote for Brenda Snipes ( Supervisor of Elections -)

     Now he’s running for Soil and Conservation District!
          Vote NO for Al C. Jones

                                  AND
                                    

                    
                     Keechl                   Ryan                           Rodstrom

                               ………… you’re on your own ……………….
 

Write – in Candidate, ordered to Court Friday!

     Jessica Heinecker is 24 years old, a candidate for County Commissioner, and finding herself in the big-time world of William Scherer lawsuits!

                                           
                                                              Scherer

    Heinecker came home from work last night to a subpoena on her door, instructing her to be in court on Friday.

                                        
                                                      Heinecker
    

     “It’s weird”, says Heinecker, “I have to testify, about what, I have no clue!” And what’s even weirder, says Heinecker,  “there are people lurking” [outside her workplace], asking people about her.

     Pundits have been speculating about whether Heinecker is a real candidate, or just another “sham” candidate, put in the race to make sure Republicans can’t vote in the Democratic primary later this month. Heinecker told me that no one put her in the race, that she doesn’t know any of the candidates. 

    Heinecker says she got in the race for “personal growth”, and when she realized she could get in – “seized the opportunity”.She says this should “prepare her for the future”. She doesn’t actually think she can win, but expects some votes from “family and friends”.

    Heinecker also is perturbed that people (like me )have focused her side business as a self-employed Make-Up Artist, instead of her day job as a property manager. She sent me a “daytime” picture of herself, probably what we’d see on the dais – 

                           

     Before the dais, let’s see how she does on the witness stand Friday!

            




     

      



    
 

Can Foul Election Smell Worse!

     The Broward County District 7 Commission race, already marked by bad behavior and lawsuits, has grown worse.

     In my last post, we discussed the candidates in the District 7 race, and some of the ugly tactics that some were taking, and a little about the mysterious write-in, Make-up Artist, candidate Jessica Heinecker ( more on her tomorrow!)

     But today, we’re talking about ugly, sharp, dirty, disgusting campaign tactics, which will always bring you around to this…..


                                      
                                              Judy Stern

     Politicians hire Stern because she gets results. She gets those results anyway she has to, and now that includes some powerful arm twisting.

    Broward Commission candidate Tim Ryan is Stern’s newest project, and yesterday Stern sent out this, well, very stern e-mail to the all powerful (Broward lobbyists):

  

     He [Ryan] is looking for contributions to wrap up the end of this opportunity, and as an experienced former legislator, he understands the loyalty of those who step to the plate in the beginning versus those who may wait until after election day in August for his November election cycle. If anyone wants to meet with Tim, this is the week to do so, and Donna, my secretary can schedule the meeting.“

     I reached Stern this morning, and she sent me this explanation- 

             ………………………………………………………..
     Thanks for your inquiry on my late night email.

     Since Tim (Ryan) did not ask me to send any request, it was my own creation late one evening only to a handful of individuals who previously asked me about wanting to give donations to Tim’s campaign and time is now running for deadlines to give.
 
     I apologize if any individual, who previously asked me about this race and campaign contributions, wished to mistake this email for something more than its intent


          ……………………………………………………………

     I’d put in a call to Ryan, and just heard back.

     “I’m very upset and disappointed (in Stern). First off, she is not on my payroll, and what she said is absolutely false” 

    
Ryan said he knew Stern was trying to drum up cash for him, but “went overboard” with the e-mail. 

     Ryan said he “denounces” the e-mail in “its entirety”.





    

Tidbits on Foul County Commission Election

     Politics !

     Just the latest example of why we love to hate our elected officials –

                              the District 7 County Commission  race.

     So far, we know these three candidates  …………..


      Rodstrom                                    Keechl                                  Ryan

     Charlotte Rodstrom ran for her City Commission seat and won in January of this year, then announced two weeks later that she would be leaving to run for the County Commission. Now, her husband’s lawyer friend has sued to try and allow Republicans to vote in the primary race, as she is considered the most conservative of the three….

     Ken Keechl  was the County Mayor, but lost his re-election bid despite raising an enormous amount of campaign money-  $590,000. Most pundits credited his loss to reports that he spent campaign funds on his own property mortgage, and  lavish lunches, wine, food and travel. Now, Keechl has admitted putting one of the two republican write -in candidates in the race to exclude Republicans from voting in the primary (as he is considered the most liberal of the three!)

     Tim Ryan spent eight years in the Florida House of Representatives, until term limiting. Ryan comes from a long line of family politicians, though I couldn’t dig up any dirt or controversy..   As a matter of fact, Ryan, a lawyer, received the highest legal ranking for, get this, ethical standards!  This race could use some of that!

    
Then there are the two shadowy republican write-in candidates in the race. One was put in by Keechl. and     ……here is the other one!

                                     …  Jessica Heinecker  …  Make-Up Artist !

     ( no, I’m not kidding!) ….  I reached her on the phone and she was quite surprised -“how did you find me?” ..  She was busy and couldn’t talk, and I haven’t been able to reach her since.

         …….  on another note on this screwy election, Judge Naugle recused herself from being the Judge on Rodstrom’s friend’s lawsuit, saying she was one of the “disenfranchised” voters who couldn’t vote in the County primary election since the County doesn’t have open primaries.  Wouldn’t that mean no County Judge could take the case (unless they lived in Dade or Palm Beach?)

    

Shame on Scherer/Rodstrom/Naugle/Rodstrom

     Once again, County Mayor John Rodstrom’s friend, no-shame lawyer Bill Scherer, is suing to try and help a Rodstrom win another election.


      Rodstrom             Scherer

     Last time around, Scherer sued to overturn term limits, so that John Rodstrom could continue to hold office, ( Rodstrom has already been in elected office about 30 years, and reportedly has over a half million dollars in pension funds due him from the taxpayers).

     Scherer first won that term limit case in local court, having another friend, Judge Carol Naugle,  side with them, but lost when Judge Naugle was overruled at the Florida Supreme Court.

     This time around, Scherer is trying to overturn the election laws, so that Republicans can vote in the Democrat primary next month, in order to help John Rodstrom’s wife, Charlotte, win husband John’s current Banana Republic – err, uh – County Commission seat!

                                                    
                                                   Charlotte Rodstrom

    
And what makes this new case the foulest of all,  guess which Judge has just been assigned this case?

    To find out, click on this link below to read Sun-Sentinel’s Brittany Wallmans’ whole sordid story….

                                               click here for wretched tale!

Rodstrom Replacement Costs

      The Broward County Supervisor of Elections office,

                                
                                Supervisor Snipes


has sent the City of Fort Lauderdale an estimate on the cost of the Special Election to replace Commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom.


                                         


                                    $108,000.00

Holy Gauged Tree Robin!

     NOTE: This is not a blog site specializing in tree killing issues…. it has just turned out that way this month ! …

                  ……………………………………………………………………..


      Anyhow, this is another interesting update about the Oak Tree that someone is trying to kill on Las Olas Boulevard, by drilling holes in it, and filling the holes with diesel fuel.

     
First news is, the reward is growing, (leading to the conviction of the tree killer/driller perp!)

                                  

     
     The reward was $100 yesterday, now the reward is $400, ( details in a second) and the reward is probably destined to increase again as ….

                    

                 …… TV has picked up the story!


     ……   for a refresher, the suspects in the tree killer/driller case were the Bridal Shop, whose sign was blocked by the Oak,

    …. the Bridal Shops’s next door shop owner, who had complained to the city in January about the overgrown Oak, 

   …..   and to a lesser degree, the Valet parkers  from Rocco Tacos, and the church….
 
                ……………………………………………………………………..

      Today, I talked to all …..
 
    …  not only do all of the known players confess innocence, but they all have contributed to the escalating reward pot, and they all agree to taking a polygraph test! ( to prove their innocence).

                   

      ……. and, just to elevate this story to a rather weird kind of reality show/ day time soap level,

     ….. a wonderful local business woman named Robin,  is praying for the tree’s recovery ( pictured above)…

       And, … the church, (First Pres), who actually owns the tree, has followed the City’s prescription for the tree’s recovery,  and flushed the drilled holes to get rid of the diesel fuel, filled the holes with dowels and a put on a covering, and fertilized!


       Will someone please come forward and let us know who done it??