CD18 Meet and Greet
PBCGOP Hosts Juneteenth
Legislative Update with Pat Rooney
Peter Feaman on the dangers we face in the world
RNC member and county committeeman Peter Feaman, speaking at the RCNPB March meeting, provided a sobering assessment of the challenges we face in the world.
“The winds of war are blowing” he said, – in the middle east, in Africa, Eastern Europe, Pakistan, South America, and Asia – beginning anew the struggle for freedom for people from those who would deny them. History repeats – the Crusaders were the first freedom fighters, seeking to liberate the holy lands from Muslim domination.
America is a special nation to face this challenge, he said, – our Declaration of Independence was the first assertion that our basic rights come from God – not from a monarch. He defined for us the “American Trinity”, three principles that define us: 1. “In God we Trust” – stated on our money and the touchstone for our government, 2. “e pluribus unum” – the assertion that regardless of ethnic or racial origin, we are all Americans, and 3. Liberty, not equality – we all start out with equal rights and opportunities and have the liberty to pursue them.
Sadly, all of these principles are now under attack from our own government.
In Peter’s view, the contemporary leader who is the best spokesman for liberty, the Churchill of our day if you will, is Bibi Netanyahu. The Israeli Prime Minister has no problem is laying out that Iran and ISIS both plan world domination – they only differ on who should rule. As Israel is our only natural ally in the middle east, a country that shares our values, we should have a litmus test for our presidential candidates, asking what they will do for Israel.
We are fortunate to have someone with this world view representing us on the RNC.
Peter Feaman on March 24
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
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.
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Frenchman’s Reserve Country Club
Grande Corniche PBG, FL 33410
Please RSVP to Marilyn Parmet
561.427.8578
marmaid12@aol.com
RCNPB Holiday Party
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.
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.
5:00 PM
Frenchman’s Reserve Country Club
3370 Grande Corniche,
Palm Beach Gardens.
Please RSVP to:
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.
