An Evening with Dina Keever
Join us, Tuesday, September 4th at Boca Greens Country Club in Boca Raton, for an exciting evening with State Attorney Candidate Dina Keever, brought to you by the Boca Raton Chapter of the Palm Beach County Tea Party.
About Dina: Dina Keever has spent most of her legal career prosecuting crime. She entered law school at Florida State University College of Law in 1991, not because she wanted to be a lawyer, but because she wanted to be a prosecutor. Dina believes victims must be vindicated and individuals must be held accountable for their actions. Dina is a tireless advocate for criminal justice and ethics in government.
Doors open at 5:30pm, Dinner is from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Dinner price is now $20, includes full meal, coffee, tea, tax, and gratuity. Speaker introduced after brief announcements, around 7:15pm.
Please RSVP on the button below!
Wellington Chapter Meeting with State Attorney Candidates
Join us for a candidates forum with Dave Aronberg, Robert S. Gershman and Dina Keever. Learn their qualifications and why they want to be your next State Attorney. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner price is $15, includes full meal, coffee, tea, tax, and gratuity, and is from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:00 p.m. BE THERE!
| DATE: | Monday, September 10, 2012 |
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| TIME: | Doors open 5:30pm. Buffet at 6pm. Meeting starts at 7pm, $15 per person (tax and gratuity included) |
| PLACE: | Binks Forest Golf Club, 400 Binks Forest Drive, Wellington, FL 33414, Click HERE for Directions |
Candidate Biographies
Dave Aronberg
Dave Aronberg was born in 1971 in Miami and grew up in North Miami. He attended Harvard College and Harvard Law School, receiving his Law degree in 1996.
As an attorney for a large South Florida law firm, Dave was involved with then Insurance Commissioner Bill Nelson, investigating European Insurance companies that refused to honor World War II-era policies sold to victims of the Holocaust. In 1999, he became a Florida Assistant Attorney General for economic crimes, investigating Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of the prescription drug Oxycontin, for its marketing practices and led the State’s lawsuit against “Miss Cleo,” the “Jamaican Shango Shaman Psychic,” who had become an international celebrity. In 2000, Dave served as a White House Fellow and later served in two presidential administrations as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury for international money laundering.
Elected to the 5-county Florida Senate District 27 in 2002, with 69% against Republican Frank Mann, he was re-elected with little opposition by 86% in 2004 and 71% in 2008, and served until term-limited in 2010. As a Senator he worked to secure federal funding for Everglades restoration, worked on consumer protection legislation and restrictions on the diversion of perscription drugs.
In 2009, he ran for Attorney General, losing the Democrat primary to Dan Gelber with slightly under 41% of the vote, but going on to work for the winner in the race, Pam Bondi, as Special Prosecutor for Prescription Drug Trafficking, where he worked against pill mills.
Robert Gershman
Robert Gershman was born in 1966 and lives in Boca Raton. He received a BA in Accounting from George Washington University in 1988 and a law degree from Nova Southeastern Law School in 1991. In his final year, he interned at the PBC State Attorney’s office and was then hired by then SA David Bludworth as a full time prosecutor, and he served as assistant State Attorney under both Bludworth and Barry Krischer.
During his tenure, he prosecuted all types of crimes, up to and including death penalty cases, and served as a division chief, managing high profile cases. Upon leaving the State Attorney’s office, he entered private practice in criminal defense litigation, and has managed his practice for the last 15 years. He is one of a small group of attorneys certified under Florida State Statute to serve as lead trial counsel in death penalty cases, and has contributed many hours in pro bono work in the community.
Robert is running as a Non Party Affiliate because he believes the Office of Palm Beach County State Attorney should be fair and independant, without favoritism to any person or entity. As the next State Attorney for Palm Beach County, Robert intends to enforce the law, end corruption, prevent crime, and be an effective voice for the victims of crime. As the highest ranking law enforcement officer for Palm Beach County, he will represent the residents of Palm Beach County with zeal and integrity and will focus his efforts on ensuring justice for all.
Dina Keever
Dina Keever was born in Danville, Illinois in 1962. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Journalism, she worked in advertising at the St. Petersburg Times prior to earning a law degree at Florida State University where she was editor-in-chief of the Law Review.
After law school she served as a law clerk for Peter T. Fay of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Miami, then as a prosecutor in the US Attorney’s office in Miami, where whe worked on drug trafficking cases and later in Philadelphia where she prosecuted corruption, fraud, immigration, narcotics and violent crimes.
Dina has prosecuted over 250 federal cases and has extensive courtroom experience. She has written over forty federal appellate briefs and successfully argued numerous appeals in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the Third Circuit. Dina has received awards from both the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Customs Service for her courtroom contributions to federal law enforcement.
In 2009, Dina joined other former federal prosecutors at the law firm Lewis Tein, P.L., as of Counsel. Dina took an indefinite leave of absence from Lewis Tein on April 20, 2012, in order to concentrate full-time on her campaign for Palm Beach County State Attorney. If elected, Dina will be the first female to serve as State Attorney in Palm Beach County.
August 2012 Wellington Chapter Meeting
- PBC Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits informs about November ballot initiatives
- Marion Frank discusses SCOTUS impact related to Affordable Care Act
The monthly gatherings of the Wellington Chapter of the Palm Beach County Tea Party are known for their educational value. Every month speakers are carefully selected to inform and educate our members and guests about a variety of local and national civic issues as they relate to our core values of fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets. Keeping with that tradition, the August meeting was no different.
The August meeting was kicked off by Gina Rascati, one of the Willington Chapter organizers. As always, Gina started off by generously acknowledging the efforts of our dedicated volunteers. Several candidates who are currently running for both local and Federal offices were in attendance. Upon a brief introductions they all were greeted with enthusiasm. The Chapter senior and founding members followed, one by one, with brief leadership updates on the overall state of the National Tea Party as well as the state of affairs in our local Chapter. The key underlying message was that the Tea Party movement is as strong as ever but we must maintain the momentum in order to win back our Country in November. Our success will very much depend on the grass roots support of our volunteers. This November, the Tea Party throughout the United States has undertaken the monumental responsibility of poll watching to ensure that a fair election process is conducted in accordance with procedure. On Election Day, we intend to have the maximum degree of coverage by our volunteer poll watchers all across Palm Beach County. A great number of people already signed up but there is always need for more. Attorney-led poll watcher training session will be scheduled prior to the election in October of 2012. More information will be provided in the weeks to come.
Our main speaker for the evening was Gary Nikolits, the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. He delivered a highly informative, non partisan presentation in his capacity as the longest serving Elected Constitutional Officer in Palm Beach County. After a brief explanation of the process employed by his office to calculate individual assessed value of every property throughout the County, Mr. Nikolits went on to explain the current ballot initiatives relating to property taxes that Palm Beach County voters will be deciding in November. The first of several amendments, Amendment 2 provides a property tax discount to disabled military veterans with no residency requirement at the time of service.
Amendment 4 consists of three parts. Part 1 seeks to repeal the existing recapture rule that requires the assessed value of each property to be increased by a fixed amount every year even if the market value of the property drops provided that the market value remains greater than its assessed value. Part 2 seeks to reduce the existing cap on assessed property value increases for non-homesteaded properties from 10 to 5%. And last but not least, Part 3 seeks to provide a tax exemption to first time home buyers of up to $140,000 dollars in addition to the existing $50,000 dollar homestead exemption. This is a 5-year benefit that would only be extended to homebuyers who have not owned a property in the County during the last 3 years. The benefit will be gradually decreased at a rate of 20% per year.
Amendment 9 seeks to provide additional tax exemptions on the homesteaded property of surviving spouse of military veteran or first responders that die in the line of duty. This is intended to be a lifetime benefit as long as the surviving spouse does not re-marry. The first responder benefit will be retroactive, while the military benefit will be available only going forward effective January 1st 2013.
Amendment 10, seeks to increase the tangible personal property tax exemption from $25,000 dollars to $50,000 dollars. The tangible personal property tax includes furniture and fixtures owned by small business in Palm Beach County.
Amendment 11 seeks to provide an additional tax exemption to low income seniors who maintain a long term full time residence on their property.
Mr. Nikolits concluded by reminding the audience that exemptions and tax breaks for any particular group do not come without the sacrifice by the rest of tax payers who shoulder the burden of filling the resulting revenue gaps. Additional information and resources may be found on the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s website at www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/papa/
Marion Frank, the National Co-Chair of Docs 4 Patient Care Alliance, was our second speaker of the evening delivering an update on the implications of the Affordable Care Act post the recent SCOTUS decision to uphold the Law as Constitutional under the Congressional taxing power. “The Law, as it’s written, still stands with billions of dollars going towards implementing it…” passionately explained Marion in her opening remarks. At the request of the ranking republican members of the Ways & Means Committee, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) made attempts to determine the cost of implementing this Law to date. The results of the study were simply inconclusive given the massive nature and scope of this entitlement expansion masqueraded as reform.
Chief Justice Roberts, Jr. wrote; “It is not our Job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices.” Given our current course, it’s painfully clear that November may be the last chance for us to change direction as a Country.
The “mandate” has now officially become a tax, and a burden of any tax payer who may choose not to purchase, regardless of the reason, a health insurance policy starting in January of 2014. Any tax payer who unlike the nearly 50% of Americans that pay no taxes, will be subject to automatic withholding by the IRS if they are due a refund. And with over 16,000 new IRS agents on the beat, redistribution of wealth is becoming our new reality. The new Healthcare Law has many unintended consequences that are likely to have adverse impact. Experts are predicting a doctor shortage over the next several years because of the growing projections in new patient demand for care. The new Law has absolutely no provisions to encourage adding new doctors in order to meet the projected demand levels. Provisions do exist, however, to add nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants to cover the projected shortfall of doctors. At the same time, starting in August of 2012, the State of Florida has began to limit the number of nurse practitioner and physician’s assistant wellness visits for Medicaid patients to a maximum of two per month. These cost-cutting tactics amount to nothing other than rationing of care, despite the promises. Rules have also been enacted to revise the drug formulary for Medicaid patients by drastically reducing list of covered medications. Such changes encourage an environment where it becomes much more burdensome for physicians to willingly accept new Medicaid patients. Reimbursement rates of 17 cents on the dollar also help promote a future where Medicaid patients are likely to have difficulties finding the medical care that they need. At the same time, nearly 19% of employers are planning to drop healthcare coverage for their employees. Furthermore, a new medical device tax that’s built into the Law is expected to drastically impact the medical device industry which mostly consists of small business that are not likely to survive the additional squeeze on already low profit margins. Marion concluded by listing a number of practical options that can serve as great low cost alternatives to the Affordable Care Act that can be implemented immediately. Everyone is encouraged to visit the Docs 4 Patient Care web site for additional information at docs4patientcare.org/
Yes we did build this business!
Brought to our attention by Jay Goulet of Boca Signworks
2nd Annual Labor Day Barbeque At Carlin Park
Come one and all to the Palm Beach County Tea Party’s 2nd Annual Labor Day Barbeque at Carlin Park. Join us 4:30 to 6:30 PM on Monday, September 3, 2012 for a fun afternoon on the west side of Route A1A at Carlin Park’s Sea Oats and Gumbo Limbo Pavilions.
Open, shaded pavilions, a beautiful children’s playground and background music provided by DJ Mark at the keyboard welcome you to a relaxing and fun afternoon of food and fellowship with Congressman Allen West. Hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks, watermelon and ice cream will be available for purchase on site.
Rain or shine – we look forward to seeing you and your families as we have reserved two covered pavilions with plenty of adjacent parking ! Just follow the signs on entering the park entrance on the west side of Rt A1A just south of Indiantown Rd.
Click here for directions.
PBC Tea Party and SF 912 jointly host Candidate Roundup
As elections approach, there are many venues in which to see and hear the candidates. Many of these, such as the network of political clubs of both parties, have rules that don’t allow non-party members to speak, even in non-partisan elections like Sheriff or Supervisor of Elections.
District 82 Candidate Forum with Senate Candidate Dave Weldon
Last evening’s joint event with Palm Beach County Tea Party and South Florida 912, kicked off with a visit by Senate candidate Dave Weldon.
Boca Chapter and SF 912 Present: The Pre-Primary Candidate Forum Roundup!
The Boca Raton Chapter of the Palm Beach County Tea Party, in conjunction with the SF912, present the “Pre-Primary Candidate Forum“, for Tuesday, August 7th at 7:00pm. NOTE: Due to the high number of candidates who wish to speak to our audience, we will likely begin EARLIER than 7:00!!! It will be held at the Boca Greens Country Club (Map HERE), and the doors will be open at 5:30pm for a cash bar, and dinner will follow from 6pm to 7pm (as usual, the cost is $15, which includes tax and gratuity). We will have this event in lieu of our normal “Dinner/Speaker” meeting, which we normally have on first Tuesday of the month. Our leadership has concluded that we would like to provide this type of event as a service to both the candidates, as well as the citizens in our county who wish to be better prepared when it comes time to vote- whatever their party of political “stripe”. This is a great opportunity for everyone involved to get to understand more of what the candidates stand for before their big Primary Election vote on August 14th.
The format will be simple: Each candidate will be allowed 5 minutes at the podium and microphone after he/she is introduced. We want each candidate to address the top two or three issues that they want to meet head-on if elected, an how they would be accountable to one or more of the Tea Party’s 3 tenets: Fiscal Responsibility, Free Markets, or Limited Government, and how they will be manifested in your approach towards the office. We ask that each candidate be very specific towards that, so that it’s not just some generic “stump speech”. We will have a volunteer timer, who will hold up cards letting each candidate know when they have 1:00 and :30 seconds remaining. A bell will ring to stop anyone who goes over time allotted.
As of August 6th, the officially confirmed candidate speakers will be: Joe Talley, Cleamond Walker, Susan Bucher, Fran Hancock, Jody Lane, Mike Lameyer, Cindy Tindell, Margherita Downey, Melanie Peterson, Gary Nikolits, Lisa Epstein, Timothy McCarthy, Sharon Bock, James Martz, Tom Thayer, Peter Evans, Peter Feaman, and Robert Weinroth.
This event will be provided in a safe and fair environment which our leadership ensure will be the model of civility. It is not a “Debate”– it is a “Forum”. There will be no mud-slinging, and the candidates are asked to confine their time at the podium to address what their platform is, NOT to attack their opponents.
Due to the number of candidates who wish to address our group, it is EXTREMELY UNLIKELY that there will be time left for a Q&A with the candidates. Assuming there is, the microphone will be tightly controlled by our leadership to avoid any questions designed with nothing more than malicious intent towards any of the candidates, determined at the sole discretion of SF 912/PBCTP personnel.
Jupiter-Palm Beach Gardens Chapter Meeting Is District 82 Florida House Candidate Forum …And US Senate Candidate Dr. Dave Weldon!
The next Jupiter- Palm Beach Gardens Chapter Meeting will be Monday, August 6, 2012 at Abacoa Golf Club, Jupiter and will be a Candidate Forum for the District 82 Florida House Seat. The Forum is jointly sponsored by our South Florida 912 friends and those candidates confirmed to attend include: Carl J. Domino (REP), Mary Lynn Magar (REP), Jonathan W. Milton (REP), Jonathan “Jon” W. Pasqualone (REP) and Calvin D. Turnquest (REP).
Doors will open at 5:00 with dinner buffet at 5:30, Dr. Dave Weldon speaking at 6pm and the Candidate Forum beginning at 7:00 PM. Be there, it will be an interesting and very timely meeting!
Mr. Brian Mudd of WJNO has accepted our invitation to moderate the Candidate Forum and South Florida 912 will assist in time keeping of responses. Questions are being developed relative to our Tea Party / SFL912 precepts of Fiscal Responsibility, Limited Government and Free Markets and more specifically – how the candidate’s presence in the Florida House can make a difference for genuine Constitutional Governance; first in Florida, then serving as an example to other States on a national scale.
And now, we get to meet Dr. Dave Weldon, US Senate candidate and hear from him between dinner and our Florida District 82 House Candidate Forum! Dr. Weldon is a practicing physician in Melbourne, Fl and was US Representative from 1994 to 2008. This will make it a near sweep on hearing personally from each of our Senate primary candidates. (See the Voters’ Guide on the Senate Race.) This promises to be a packed and very informative evening, hope to see you there.
August Meeting for Wellington Chapter- Be There!
Did you know that in November you will be voting on changes to the homestead exemption and allowing tax increase caps on commercial property? Want to know how Amendment 4 will effect you, your homestead and your business? Elected Constitutional Officer, Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, Gary Nikolits, will give us an informative, interactive, educational presentation on Monday, August 13th at Bink’s Forest Country Club. In addition, Marion Frank will also present a follow-up to the Supreme Court’s decision on Obamacare.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Buffet is served from 6-7 and is only $15.00 all inclusive. Come enjoy the company of some great patriots, help support the club and enjoy a delicious meal, get informed and get ready to make a difference in November. Click on the RSVP below so we can ensure we have enough seating.
- As always, volunteers are needed to sign in guests and sell raffle tickets and t-shirts. Please call Gina Rascati at 561-798-5498 if you can help.
