Club Hears County Government Update from Commissioner Hal Valeche

At its first meeting of 2015, Commissioner Hal Valeche swore in this year’s officers and gave us an update on some topics of interest at the county level.

Elected to the commission in 2012, a Republican success in an otherwise dismal election cycle, Hal has enjoyed his time on the commission, the “best job” he’s had short of his days as a fighter pilot. Representing north county district one as one of only 2 Republicans on the seven member commission (Steve Abrams of district 4 in south county is the other), Hal does not always prevail. He was the only commissioner to oppose the 1 cent hike in the bed tax for example, which recently passed.

Addressing the county budget, he acknowledged that the half a billion Sheriff’s portion is not totally under the control of the commission, and is crowding out other necessary spending such as on roads and bridges. The Sheriff is an elected constitutional officer, and although the overall spending level must be set by the commission, they have no purvey over the line item detail, and the Sheriff’s popularity in his service area limits the commission’s ability to challenge him. (Only Commissioner Paulette Burdick challenged the Sheriff’s budget in the last cycle).

An upcoming duty that Hal is not looking forward to is the selection of the next County Administrator. With high praise for the current administrator Bob Weisman, who he said can never be ‘replaced’, he discussed the search committee that has been formed to choose among a couple of in-house choices and others drawn from nation-wide recruiting, and how difficult it will be to decide on the candidates in full public view. (Sunshine laws prohibit private interviews or non-public discussion).

Touching briefly on the upcoming decision concerning development in the Agricultural Reserve (West of the turnpike from Lantana south to Clint Moore), he explained the tradeoff between the rules established when the reserve was formed with a taxpayer approved bond issue and the wants and needs of current property owners who would like to sell their farms to developers. Another tough decision for the commissioners.

And finally he touched on the baseball stadium, which he has been involved with since it was first proposed in Palm Beach Gardens. The county has approved $135M from bed tax revenue to pay for the construction and maintenance of a facility – currently proposed within West Palm Beach south of 45th street. A current sticky point has been that the county must acquire the land from the city of West Palm Beach, which takes it out of the city’s taxing jurisdiction. The city proposes a land swap for a small county parcel downtown, near the TriRail station. Although this swap has been opposed by county staff, Hal indicated that it is very close to a resolution.

Taking a few questions from the audience, Hal explained further the relationship between the commission and the Sheriff (it’s complicated), the county’s role in the All Aboard Florida project (very little), and how and why the original $90M baseball proposal grew to $135M.

Following Hal’s remarks, he swore in the new officers (shown below). They are Ron Nelson, Jane Pike, Linda Stoch and President Marilyn Parmet.

County Commission Update with Hal Valeche

The Republican Club of the Northern Palm Beaches

Invites you to a county update with

District 1 Commissioner Hal Valeche.

Hal will speak about the top issues facing the commission over the next several months.

With the taxpayer-funded baseball stadium now more likely, All Aboard Florida and its impact on the northern communities, development of the Ag. Reserve and Minto West, not to mention the burgeoning county budget, there will be lots to talk about. Hear Hal’s take on these issues and much more.

RCNPB Holiday Party

Voter Fraud in Colorado

Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera at Frenchman’s Reserve

Republican Club of the Northern Palm Beaches
and the Republican Club of the Palm Beaches

Invite you to a Rally
Featuring
Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera

Please join us on Tuesday October 28 at 5:00pm at Frenchman’s Reserve Country Club.

---

Carlos Lopez-Cantera is the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Florida.

He was born in Madrid, Spain.

Lopez- Cantera graduated from Miami-Dade College and continued his studies at the University of Miami, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration.

From 2004 through 2012, Carlos served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives. He served as Majority Whip from 2009 through 2010 and as the Majority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives during the final two years of his term from 2010 through 2012.

In August 2012, the citizens of Miami-Dade County elected Carlos Lopez-Cantera as the Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County.

Carlos Lopez-Cantera was appointed as Lieutenant Governor on January 14, 2014, and officially began serving on February 3, 2014. He is the first Hispanic to hold this position in Florida.

Carlos is married and has two young daughters.

 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014
5:00 PM
Frenchman’s Reserve Country Club
3370 Grande Corniche,
Palm Beach Gardens.

Please RSVP to:
 

Marilyn Parmet

marmaid12@aol.com

561.427.8578

Crist Supporter Says He is not the Best Guy for the Job

Poll Watchers – a Letter from the Rick Scott Campaign

Governor Scott’s re-election campaign is in the process of recruiting poll watchers for Early Voting and Election Day for the November 4, 2014 General Election. We appreciate your time and effort as a poll watcher for the Republican Party of Palm Beach County in past elections and now we need your help again for the 2014 General Election.

We need tons of volunteers to fill all the polling locations on Election Day as well as the early voting sites in Palm Beach County. You will play a vital part in protecting the fundamental constitutional rights of all Florida’s citizens—regardless of race, color, ethnicity, or political persuasion. I know I do not have to tell you how important this election is. We have over 15 Early Voting sites and approximately 500 Election Day polling locations to cover in Palm Beach County, so the success of our Poll Watcher Program for the 2014 General Election depends on you. The Democrats will have people at every pollinglocation and we need to counter this and can only accomplish this with your participation. Please reply to my email with your name, address, daytime phone number, and date of birth. The Elections Office needs your date of birth to certify you.

Thank you in advance for your help and contribution to our success in the 2014 General Election. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Ryan Walker
South Florida Deputy Political Director
Rick Scott for Florida
(561) 373-7626

CFO Jeff Atwater at Co-Sponsored Event

Co-sponsored by the Republican Club of the Palm Beaches and the Republican Club of the Northern Palm Beaches, Florida CFO and Palm Beach County favorite son Jeff Atwater joined us for lunch at Bear Lakes.

CFO Jeff Atwater at September Lunch

Join us on Friday, September 26, at Bear Lakes for Florida CFO and local favorite Jeff Atwater. Running for his second term, Jeff will update us on his campaign and what’s happening in Tallahassee these days.

This event is co-sponsored with the Republican Club of the Palm Beaches.

A fifth generation Floridian, Jeff Atwater was born in 1958 and lives in North Palm Beach. He has a BS in Finance and an MBA from the University of Florida and prior to starting a political career, has worked as a community banker for more than 25 years. He served on many local boards, including the NPB Chamber, United Way, the Boy Scouts and Roger Dean Stadium.

Elected to the North Palm Beach City Council in 1993, he served as Vice Mayor, then was elected to the Florida House in 2000, and the Senate in 2002, becoming Senate President from 2008-2010.

In 2010, in his first statewide race for Chief Financial Officer, he defeated Democrat Loranne Ausley with 57% of the vote.

As CFO he has opened the state’s books to the public through a comprehensive website, including audits and vendor contracts in addition to detailed budget information. In other initiatives, he has pushed for insurance reform and prosecution of insurance fraud, particularly associated with PIP (Personal Injury Protection) claims for staged accidents.

$20/Members $25/Guests

« Previous Page — Next Page »