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Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Developments in the Governor's Race
The last few days have been active on the Democratic Primary side of the 2006 Florida Governor's Race. Yesterday, the Miami Herald reported that Scott Maddox has severed ties with his lead fundraiser, Miami based Kory Mitchell. On Monday the Herald reported that Rod Smith has been questioned over a prosecution relating to a 1999 case while Smith was State Attorney. Also on Monday, Palm Beach County commissioner Burt Aaronson who had previously raised money for Scott Maddox indicated to the Palm Beach Post's George Bennett, that he was in fact neutral in the Governor's race. Considering Maddox's 2nd Quarter Campign Finance Report is littered with contributions from individuals from South Palm Beach County associated with Aaronson, is it really possible that Aaronson has backed off of Maddox because of the poor publicity Maddox has recently received? Perhaps, but it is important to note that many of the contributions from South Palm Beach county were recieved AFTER the first negative stories about Scott Maddox surfaced in the statewide press.
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- Kartik
- I am the host of the Major League Soccer Talk and EPL Talk Podcasts and am frequent guest on other (world) football shows. I am also the publisher of various other websites including this one. I work in public/government relations in addition to my soccer work and have a keen interest in history, politics, aviation, travel,and the world around us.
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34 comments:
More trouble for Maddox, big surprise!
Burt Aaronson is the leader of Palm Beach County Democrats.
Without his support, Maddox is dead in the county.
Aaronson is a legend in his own mind. Wasn't he supposed to be indicted?
I have heard that Burt Aaronson is a pompous fool from my friends in South Florida. Any candidate he backs my friends say that they will oppose.
"Kory Mitchell fleeced our campaign of lots of cash."
Jeff, you just love to slander Kory Mitchell, don't you.
You should just be thankful he hasn't sued you.
Typical Maddox... he decides to fire the fundraiser he personally chose to head the campaign after allowing the fundraiser to fleece the camapign account for $45K.
Just the kind of guy we need in the Governor's mansion with the power to appoint Department directors.
So first Debbie Griffin Button - the comptroller is incompetent and forced to resign and now Kory Mitchell - the fundraiser is fired for overcharging the campaign.
Maddox hired (and fired) both of these folks... when do the excuses end?
Kory Mitchell's poor level of service and failure to deliver any meaningful contributions for Maddox led to his firing. Mayor Maddox deserves better. He has given his time and effort to try and improve the party's status in Florida and he did not expect to be fleeced by a consultant just looking to make a buck.
In the last few months, Mitchell has been fired by Maddox, Kendrick Meek and by several other entities that had retained Mr. Mitchell as its fundraiser.
Thankfully Scott Maddox has taken out the trash in his campaign and is moving on to better more loyal staff.
Kory Mitchell quit the campaign from what I have been told. Can you blame him? Maddox is sinking ship, and as a fundraiser it must be difficult to raise money for him.
Now, Jeff please understand that in this business you are entitled to work for or against candidates for whom you may disagree with. I will have a longer response for you later.
I understand though that Mitchell had charged way too much money to Maddox, and wasn't delivering. That's why he was fired.
I understand though that Mitchell had charged way too much money to Maddox, and wasn't delivering. That's why he was fired.
You are talking about lawsuits on me -- that's laughable. It's shameful that in a democratic society where government is founded by competing ideas and candidates that you believe that Burt Aaronson is exempt from that process. Should Aaronson be our nation's first king? -- is he the first politician who should not be allowed to have one compete against him or any of his chosen candidates and if they do they should not be able to earn a living and be run out of town as some sort of traitor? It's silly and scary at the same time. I have nothing against Burt Aaronson personally and I agree with a lot of his politics. However, I do have something with his behavior towards me and anyone else that he perceives has threatened his political kingdom. Just last week Aaronson told people that I would never work in Palm Beach County again because of what I had done to him. Every other public official in this nation is accountable for their record as a public official except for Burt Aaronson, it seems. Everything the 527 I worked with hit Aaronson with was cleared by prominent election law attorney and was documented from news sources. I am not after Aaronson' kingdom or a threat to his power in Palm Beach. I am just trying to make a living by working for good candidates who share my ideals, and treat people with respect, whether they agree or disagree with them. Do you and Aaronson have a right to disagree with my choices -- surely! But do you have the right to malign my character based on them – no you don’t!
I apologize that I worked against Aaronson. Nobody ever told me that Palm Beach County is dicatatorship owned by Burt Aaronson and if anyone ever conflicts wiuth him that they should be banished from it. It's amazing that Aaronson takes the philosphy the French monarchs had for years which is contrary to the ideals of American Republicanism since he was so quick to bash France all over the national airwaves just two years ago, to show his solidarity with George W. Bush's policies regarding the Iraq war.
If Kory Mitchell was worth anythinghe would not have been fired by all these campaigns.
Hey Jeff - can i have some of what you are smoking? you sound like the biggest moron. are you really advocating that any one person should or could "control" votes? how little must you know about campaigns and elections to contend such a thing?
Jeff - you've got to be on the aaronson payroll. You are too funny.
Jeff,
Wake up, will ya!
Your asinine comments prove how little you about the real workings in your campaign. Andre Fladell will tell anyone who asks that Maddox is dead and I'm sure one of the number one reasons why Aaronson pulled the plug on his previous endorsement of Maddox, to Scott's continuing and unending embarrasament.
and please don't ever threaten Kartik again. your posts here are being sent to the authorities.
The issue of Kory Mitchell is complicated. Evidently he refused to take a pay cut even though the campaign was hurting. Shared sacrifice is a Democratic Party virtue and Mitchell lacks it.
It's amazing that Aaronson takes the philosphy the French monarchs had for years which is contrary to the ideals of American Republicanism since he was so quick to bash France all over the national airwaves just two years ago, to show his solidarity with George W. Bush's policies regarding the Iraq war.
What are you talking about, Kartik? Aaronson never advocated a France boycott or the Iraq war as you claim. That was a National issue which the County didn't deal with. What are you smoking?
This is too funny. Wasn't Aaronson on the national news advocating this boycott of France? Anyone want ketchup with their freedom fries?
Kartik- you are wrong in claiming Aaronson raised money after the Maddox story broke. Aaronson claerly stated that he raised money for him before that date but backed off of him afterwards.
Guys, it's over for Scott. Get over it!
The only fact that counts here is that Mayor Maddox had the good sense and made the tough, but responsible, decisions to fire the two campaign employees that were directly responsible for harming his campaign:
Kory Mitchell & Debbie Griffin-Bruton.
While undoubtably, good people, these two individuals were lightning rods for the campaign and unecessary distractions from the overall message of Maddox for Florida.
It's never easy to fire staff and rather than criticize Mayor Maddox for inaction, we should praise his good judgement and leadership skills for knowing when to make the tough calls that allowed his campaign to move forward.
Maddox for Florida. for Governor.
I agree totally with Jeff. Had Aaronson not had to spend his money he spoke openly about giving his money to John Kerry and Betty Castor. He also could have raised much more for both candidates. What a pity, Democrats once again trying to eat their own.
To the outspoken Aaronson supporters on this blog. PLEASE FIND A THERAPIST AND GET A LIFE. You are clearly suffering from post-post-post election stress disorder. Your doddering old hero on the County Commission really knows how to champion key issues, doesn’t he? With all the human service needs in Palm Beach County, he claims a stupid film festival as his signature accomplishment. He must be waiting for Steamboat Willie to come back. And seriously, how pitiful is it for a 70-something man to threaten a good Dem like Kartik? What a jerkoff. Nah, make that a self important jerkoff. The face of Palm Beach County is changing and it looks nothing like Burt Aaronson. As his political base wanes, he is beginning to reveal himself to be what he truly is – an insecure asshole.
For all of you saying Kartik was a bad Dem to do those mail pieces against Aaronson and blame him for making Aaronson work hard in a primary...remember these races:
McBride v. Reno v. Jones
Deutsch v. Castor v. Pinellas
Maddox v. Dyer
McAfee v. Miller
Levine v. Slosberg
I'm sure I'm missing some. But notice that all were primaries, and ALL his candidates in those races lost the area, and in some cases by a huge margin...Loyal to the party? Or to his own self interests?
Boy, Aaronson is quite the subject!
beth hit the nail on the head - anyone who is powerful as jeff and others purports aaronson to be would be delivering wins in all these high profile races. what's the excuse for these losses? kartik once again i assume?
This is amzing. Some of you people must be part of the "machine" that Aaronson runs.
Hey "Mattingly" maybe you should have been as focused on winning a world series as you are on delivering sleep-inducing nonsensical rants
I agree with Jeff on all points. Kory Mitchell is not worth the price and Aaronson ought to be exempt from crticism.....attacking him only helps the GOP.
Aaronson controls who win the Governor's race- isn't that obvious from this blog?
What does Aaronson have to do with Kory Mitchell being fired by Scott Maddox?
NEW POLLING FROM STRATEGIC VISION
The poll from Strategic Vision shows movement in the Democratic race for governor. Comparing the July Strategic Vision poll to the June Strategic Vision poll you will find:
Davis is UP 3 points
Smith is UP 1 point
Maddox is DOWN 9 points
Undecided is UP 5
Here's June and July's numbers.
Strategic Vision Poll conducted June 9 - 13, 2005:
http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/florida_poll_0615.htm
Who is your first choice for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2006? (Democrats only)
Jim Davis 23%
Scott Maddox 20%
Rod Smith 14%
Undecided 43%
Strategic Vision Poll conducted July 16 - 20, 2005:
Who is your first choice for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2006? (Democrats only)
Jim Davis 26%
Rod Smith 15%
Scott Maddox 11%
Undecided 48%
... And here are the numbers from the Strategic Vision poll conducted April 20 - 24, 2005:
Who is your first choice for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2006? (Democrats only)
Jim Davis 21%
Scott Maddox 15%
Rod Smith 13%
Undecided 51%
http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/florida_poll_0426.htm
You guys have no idea how hilarious you sound. County politics are a blip on the screen... We appreciate what you all do, but you really have NO effect on the big picture. Everybody slow down, end the conspiracy posts, and contribute where you can. You're not as important as you think you are.
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