One theory why Palm Beach Democrats lost

On Nov 27, 2022

One Democratic Palm Beach County commissioner wondered why Democratic turnout was so low in the county. Although turnout for Florida Democrats was low statewide, it was especially low in Palm Beach. It’s time for the Palm Beach County Democratic Party to do some soul-searching.

Why would rank-and-file Democrats be so unenthusiastic? Maybe it’s because, for several years, Democratic commissioners failed to enforce workforce housing rules for powerful wealthy developers like GL Homes. They may think voting for Democratic commissioners isn’t much different than voting for pro-DeSantis Republicans.

Indeed, both newly-elected Republican commissioners (Marci Woodward and Sara Baxter) had kinder words for protecting the Ag Reserve than did their defeated Democratic opponents.

Maybe it’s because Democrats who care about the environment were shocked as they watched Democratic commissioners approve development of the Ag Reserve which county voters created in 1999 by an overwhelming margin. Maybe it’s because Palm Beach Democrats look at other Florida counties, such as Brevard and Polk, where commissioners supported new conservation measures while Palm Beach panders to developers.

So when you ask why Democrats didn’t show up this year to vote for Democratic candidates in large enough numbers, it may be that they think that voting for commissioners who pander to wealthy developers and out-of-state millionaires is not their idea of what their party should stand for.

Bruce Rocheleau, Delray Beach

Re: He won a Fort Lauderdale commission race by 2,852 votes. Now he’s battling to be sworn in.

I was born in Fort Lauderdale and for 31 years have lived in our house here in City Commission District 1.

Fort Lauderdale has had its issues related to growth, traffic, zoning, water and sewer infrastructure, all typical of a large and thriving municipality — until now.

John Herbst on the balcony of his northeast Fort Lauderdale apartment on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. More than two weeks after he won the District 1 race, his political status remains in limbo. The day before Herbst was to be sworn in, two losing candidates, Ken Keechl and Chris Williams, challenged his qualifications, claiming he had moved into the district 19 days late. The claim was based on mistaken information provided by the Broward Property Appraiser’s Office. (Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

We have an unnecessary drama related to seating a newly and irrefutably elected commissioner. I voted for John Herbst, believing his years as city auditor would serve the city and district well. But sour grapes, and perhaps a little trepidation by some on the current commission who will now share the dais with the auditor they fired, have resulted in an unacceptable act of political nonsense.

“Deplorable” and “Trump-ish” are words that come to mind. Please seat the duly elected commissioner for Fort Lauderdale District 1.

You make yourselves appear petty. It’s not a good look.

James Carbone, Fort Lauderdale

Re: Eligibility issue prevents Broward School Board from swearing in newly-elected member Rod Velez

A good job by our newly elected School Board to replace Torey Alston, the unelected DeSantis-appointed board chairman.

Alston’s partisan agenda alternated between thinly-veiled and heavy-handed. He chastised the board attorney because she advised that the board might not prevail if it were sued under the Sunshine law over the shady firing of Superintendent Vickie Cartwright. Then he brazenly doubled down, proposing to appoint an interim superintendent for “continuity of leadership” to “stabilize (and) heal this district.”

If an interim superintendent were capable of fixing the current problems, including healing the district, and be so successful that education leaders around the country would want to flock to Broward, why in the world would we want to replace him or her?

It was not the first or last time Alston’s flawed rationalizations exposed his true purposes — in this case, to impose a new superintendent selected by himself and other unelected board members. He has not displayed the temperament, restraint or judgment necessary to lead. Now he won’t, and the children and citizens of Broward will be better served.

Greg Everett, Fort Lauderdale

As I exited church on a recent Sunday, I reflected on the message of the day. It reminded me of how far we have strayed as a country. The deliberate divisions, belittling remarks, un-Christian behavior.

Here in Florida, two narcissistic political figures seek to divide and conquer. One is the disciple of the other.

The liturgy proclaims: Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture. It is you who have scattered my flock and driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord (Jeremiah 23: 1-6).

The intentional strategy of maintaining control over others by encouraging dissent and division is the definition of divide and conquer. The work of evil is to divide. With prayer, one day soon this country will be united again.

Jack Sheehan, Boynton Beach