North County Candidate Forum Draws Crowd at Abacoa
Seated at a long table, 10 candidates for 3 north county races (Congress 18, Senate 32, and House 82) answered questions from moderator Michael Williams, Emmy winning anchor of WPTV’s “To the Point“.
Williams’ show, which airs on Sunday mornings, is a “must-watch” for county residents who follow local politics and issues. Over the last few months, he did on-air interviews with 5 of the 6 CD-18 candidates (Nick Wukoson will be on July 13), giving him a unique perspective on their positions and styles.
Unlike many grassroots forums where the organizers provide the questions, Williams did his own thing, although sticking to topics he thought would be of interest to the audience. Debt, taxes and Obamacare were covered as you would expect, but he also spent time on All Aboard Florida, money in politics, and helping local businesses, and took audience questions on immigration. The candidates for the Florida Legislature were also asked about Common Core.
Participating in the event were all 6 Republican candidates for Patrick Murphy’s CD18 (Carl Domino, Beverly Hires, Brian Lara, Alan Schlesinger, Calvin Turnquest and Nick Wukoson), Senate 32 incumbent Joe Negron, Republican opponent Brandon Cannon with Democrat challenger Bruno Moore, and House 82 incumbent Mary Lynn Magar who will face Democrat Mary Higgins in November.
Clockwise from upper left: Carl Domino, Beverly Hires, Brian Lara, Alan Schlesinger, Calvin Turnquest, Nick Wukoson, Mary Lynn Magar, moderator Michael Williams, Joe Negron, Bruno Moore, Brandon Cannon.
The CD18 candidates gave predictable answers on debt and taxes (too high and won’t raise them, incentives to repatriate foreign capital), but they differed some on Obamacare. While most were for a “repeal and replace” strategy, promoting competition across state lines and health savings accounts, a few answers stood out. Carl Domino spoke of some of the “good” things in the Affordable Care Act and did not want to “throw out the baby with the bathwater.” Calvin Turnquest pointed out that advertisements for car insurance are all over the TV channels, but not health insurance, since competition is very limited in a government controlled system.
To help local businesses, Alan Schlesinger would allow individual health care deductions on the front of the 1040, so small business would get a similar break to large corporations.
Not surprisingly, all 10 of the candidates are opposed to the widely despised “All Aboard Florida” as presently proposed, and argued among themselves as to who was first to point out that it should be called “All About Freight”. It should be noted that Democrat Patrick Murphy is also now against it. Carl Domino pointed out that it is not accurate to call it a “private” enterprise, since it requires a $1.5B taxpayer loan guarantee, and very little financial or operating data has been disclosed to the public.
The state level candidates were also speaking from the same page on many issues (against Common Core, simplifying processes for small business), although Democrat Bruno Moore did point out that common education standards are needed to prepare today’s students for the global competition.
Immigration garnered a few differences in the candidates. Joe Negron opposes in-state tuition for illegals and promotes e-verify. Nick Wukoson pointed out that the current border crisis does not need new laws – enforcing the current ones would be sufficient. Brian Lara would oppose the expansion of H1B visas, such as those that provide for high-tech workers (and take jobs from home-grown specialists). Pointing out the fallacy in Williams question about illegals “taking jobs from Americans”, Alan Schlesinger pointed out that the real problem is not employment but the overburdening of the social systems. Calvin Turnquest, a legal immigrant himself from the Bahamas, summed it up with “I am the face of immigration”, and anyone who came to this country by following our laws is being disenfranchised by the flood of illegals who are circumventing the system.
Links to the “To the Point” interviews of the candidates can be found in our voters guide on the candidate”s pages. See: PB County Online Voter’s Guide
PBCTP Candidate Forums in July
Join us starting in July for our 2014 primary season candidate forums. On August 26, there will be primary elections for some districts (see below) as well as the general election for School Board. Candidates running in these races have been invited to the forums being held in their districts to make their case for their election. Since the PBCTP is non-partisan, we have invited candidates of both parties to participate.
Some of the candidates responded to a set of questions submitted to them beforehand and their answers can be downloaded from:
The PBCTP Primary Election Member Voting Guide
For the details of each of the three forums and who has been invited, please see: Jupiter Forum, Boca Forum, and Wellington Forum.
The races that will appear on the August ballots (depending on where you live) are:
| Republican Primary Races | |
|---|---|
| Congress 18 | Carl Domino, Beverly Hires, Brian Lara, Alan Schlesinger, Calvin Turnquest and Nick Wukoson |
| Congress 22 | Andrea McGee, Paul Spain and David Wagie |
| Governor | Rick Scott and other minor candidates |
| Senate 32 | Joe Negron and Brandon Cannon |
| Senate 34 | Joseph Bensmihen and Ellyn Bogdanoff |
| Democrat Primary Races | |
| Congress 20 | Jean Enright and Jameel McCline |
| Congress 21 | Ted Deutch and Emmanuel Morel |
| Governor | Charlie Crist, Nan Rich and other minor candidates |
| Atty General | George Sheldon and Perry Thurston |
| House 81 | Kevin Rader and Joshua Izaak |
| Cty Com. 6 | Kathy Foster and Melissa McKinlay |
| Non Partisan – August General Election | |
| School Brd 3 | Karen Brill, John Hartman, David Mech |
| School Brd 4 | Justin Katz, Larry Rosensweig, Thomas Sutterfield, Erica Whitfield |
| School Brd 6 | Marcia Andrews, Carla Donaldson and Joseph Moore |
| School Brd 7 | Debra Robinson and Piaget “Peppi” Hendrix |
| Ckt Judge 14 | Diana Lewis and Jessica Ticktin |
| Ckt Judge 30 | Maxine Cheesman, Jaimie Goodman and Peggy Rowe-Linn |
Boca Chapter Candidate Forum July 8
PROGRAM: Candidate forum for 2014 Primary Election*
CANDIDATES:Candidates for the following offices have been invited:
US Congressional District 22, Florida executives, Florida Senate District 34, Florida House District 89, County Commission District 4, School Board District 3, and School Board District 7.
MODERATOR: David DiCrescenzo, Publisher, The Patriots Press
DATE: Tuesday, July 8, 2014
TIME: 6:30 PM. Doors open at 6:00 PM
PLACE:Palm Beach County Library
West Boca Branch
18685 State Rd. 7, Boca Raton, FL 33498
Phone: 561-470-1600
DIRECTIONS: MAP
I-95 to Exit 48 (Yamato Rd.). West on Yamato Rd. to State Road 7. Right onto State Road 7. Library is the first left.
Florida Turnpike to exit 81 (FL 806, W. Atlantic Ave.). At the end of the exit ramp turn right (westbound). Drive west to State Road 7. Left onto State Road 7. Library is approximately 4 miles on the west (right side) between Clint Moore and Yamato Roads.
Please
For information: info@palmbeachcountyteaparty.org
*Note – check out the Voters Guide before coming to the forum
Jupiter Chapter Candidate Forum July 7
PROGRAM:Candidate Forum for 2014 Primary*
Candidates for the following offices have been invited:
US Congressional District 18, Florida executives, and Florida Senate District 32
MODERATOR: Michael Williams, eight-time Emmy award winning co-anchor at WPTV NewsChannel 5.
DATE: Monday, July 7, 2014
TIME: 5:30 PM Dinner (Soup & Sandwiches $13, tax and tip inc. Cash Bar), 6:30 PM Meeting
PLACE: Abacoa Golf Club, 105 Barbados Dr., Jupiter, FL 33458.
DIRECTIONS: MAP
Donald Ross Rd. to Parkside Dr. North on Parkside Dr. 0.4 miles to Barbados Dr. Left on Barbados Dr. to first driveway on Left.
Please RSVP
so we are prepared to accommodate you.
INFORMATION: Email: info@palmbeachcountyteaparty.org
*Note – check out the Voters Guide before coming to the forum
PBG Candidate Forum Synopsis
Wellington Chapter Meeting February 20
PROGRAM: The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has graciously invited the Wellington Chapter of the Palm Beach County Tea Party to a candidate forum for Wellington Village Council. Two seats are up for election on March 11, 2014.
MODERATOR: Jim Sackett
CANDIDATES: The 2 incumbents, Anne Gerwig and Howard Coates.
The 2 challengers, Matt Kurit and Sharon Lascola, have not yet responded to our invitation. If they do not attend, we will tell you everything we have learned about them.
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 2014
TIME: 6-8 PM
PLACE: The Wanderer’s Club
1900 Aero Club Drive, Wellington, FL 33414
DIRECTIONS: MAP
State road 80 west past State Road 7 to Binks Forest Dr. South on
Binks Forest Dr. to end (Aero Club Dr.). Right on Aero Club Dr. to S. Club Dr. Left on S. Club Dr. to entrance on left.
Please RSVP so we are prepared to accommodate you, using the button below:
There will be no food and there is no charge to attend.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Email: info@palmbeachcountyteaparty.org
Five CD18 Candidates Participate in RCPB Forum
PBC Tea Party Co-Hosts PBG Council Candidate Forum
Slade O’Brien Educates Boca Crowd On Realities Of Florida Politics!
With a crystal-clear night on the back end of a Florida “cold-snap” (getting into the 40’s the day before), there was another exciting night of patriotism from the Palm Beach County Tea Party. Though the turnout was lighter than this past month, it was an unquestionably exciting evening of brisk dialogue amongst Patriots in Boca Raton. Slade O’Brien was the guest speaker, and his perspective as a leader of grassroots movements, and dealing with politics on the LOCAL level, was quite illuminating. As the Florida Director of Americans For Prosperity, Slade has an extraordinary inside perspective on Florida politics, with access to all the “movers and shakers” within the political sphere in our state.
What he revealed about statewide graft and corruption in state contracts from legislators “thanking” their lobbyists and supporters who got them elected was both sickening and motivating at the same time. Slade also updated us on the “Five For Florida” initiative that AFP began last year, and updated us on their progress. While much has been accomplished, we have a “long road ahead”, as Slade said.
This also marked the return to Boca Greens Country Club, and exceptional venue for our group in terms of space, facilities, location, and food. Salad, Rolls, Chicken, and Salmon was served with a Vodka Penne dish, and a yummy-looking Apple-Cobbler type of dessert (I did not partake). It was a great crowd, populated by both familiar faces, as well as many new people. PBCTP Co-Founders Mel and Barbara Grossman made the trip from Jupiter to be with us, as did Terry Brady.
Boca Chapter Coordinator Alex Berry began the proceedings at 7:00pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. Carlos Manuel Santana then regaled us with his impassioned version of the National Anthem. After the usual protocol of explaining what the PBCTP is, and what it stands for, Alex made general announcements, and then asked former Board member Francisco Rodriguez to come to the podium. Francisco explained how he has recently published a book that addresses the critical issue of WINNING ELECTIONS, and how that starts on the local level, something we can all participate in. And this dovetailed well with Slade O’Brien’s discussion of the “pragmatics” of politics….
Alex then introduced Slade, who held the crowd captive with a personal account of his observations on how Florida has foolishly discouraged entrepreneurial activity with miles of red tape. He was actually very encouraging, however, because he drew parallels between what Scott Walker has done in Wisconsin, and what is possible here in Florida.
Slade followed his presentation with a boisterous “Q&A” session with the audience, moderated by Alex Berry. Tea Party members donated the raffle prizes, and the winners were announced at the drawing, concluding the evening.
We look forward to more great meetings in 2013 for our Boca Chapter—please INVITE YOUR FRIENDS to our next event, which will be on April 2nd, 2013!!! Remember—we always have our Boca Chapter Dinner/Speaker event on the FIRST TUESDAY of every month, so mark your calendars! Please get involved if you aren’t yet, and STAY involved if you already are! Remember, we are LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL BOCA TEAM LEADERS, including a Boca Chapter Coordinator (leader in Boca). Please help out if you can!
PBCTP co-hosts PBG Council Candidate Forum
On February 28, PBG Watch, along with the South Florida 912 and the Palm Beach County Tea Party, Taxpayer Action Board and the Palm Beach Gardens Residents Coalition hosted a candidate forum for City Council election, featuring former Mayor David Levy and challenger attorney James D’Loughy..
