“HOW THE SAUSAGE WAS MADE” and BEYOND….
WHO WOULD BE THE MAYOR?….
Early on …just who… WOULD…. be the mayor…the CIC -endorsed mayor was a huge problem….that caused many sleepless nights….
And this was only during the Recall of Oliver Parker!….
The Recall….
We… in the CIC really did believe the Mayor…Mayor Parker had lost his “bearings”…to put it nicely…he was “vindictive”…”overbearing”….and “ruling this town like a king”….. HMMMM……
The organization chose from a few options …that seemed to “fit the bill” to prove Malfeasance or Misfeasance…as required for a Recall to proceed….settling on the illegal fire assessment’s inclusion of EMS……..although many were not convinced it was the best choice to “run” with….
A vote of the members was made…….a member to spear-head the action…to be a name of record came forward voluntarily…….Stuart Dodd…
Our attorney walked us through the procedure…the expectations…and the pitfalls…and we were off…confident of two out three…of the major building blocks to succeed…in our mission….
Still not completely “sold” on the choice of the “grounds” for the Recall…we were “sold” on the the “givens”…if we lost round one…in court…a follow-up…”appeal”…”guaranteed” a positive outcome…a “safety net” understood…by all….and Marc Furth would be our CIC candidate for mayor….the real ” lynch-pin” of the whole undertaking….all agreed!…
Not long after our initial “euphoria” wore off…. in the “thick of it”….petitions being signed…..and getting all the “i’s dotted and t’s crossed”…the first “shoe dropped”…
Marc Furth would NOT be running for mayor….had no desire ….and made it clear….to whom we did not know… he would not go “there again”…meaning sit on the LBTS dais…..having endured years of “bad treatment” in his term on the commission…
So who would be mayor….the number one topic….the number one concern….many were wracking their brains….coming up empty!…
All of the sudden …it seemed to this writer….a name kept “popping up”….everywhere….Michael Deem…
Who was Michael Deem?….
Still a little “sketchy”…to this day….depending on who you ask….the “story” goes something like this….
Michael Deem was a retired Federal Government employee…who recently retired from the IRS sector as an investigator….
He was a frequent source of “help” for the BTSTimes… investigating stories….and made it his “habit” to make the LBTS morning coffee gatherings at the Swiss Bakery….and maybe other such coffee klatches….around town….
At that time he and his wife were renting at the L’Hermitage….looking for a residence…perhaps in LBTS…with MacMillan and wife as his real estate agents…
Michael Deem we were told…was “up to date” through both his association at BTSTimes…and the talk at those morning gatherings over their coffee….of the Parker situation…the Old Guard….and he shared the views of those around him….that something needed to be done….
Like “Music Man”…and Harold Hill….Michael Deem was becoming quite well known in LBTS….
Not only for his name….but there was “talk”…Michael Deem could run for mayor!….
Quite surreal….from hearing a name….here and there and everywhere…to meeting the man who could be mayor……
All were not happy with this growing “movement” though….
Commissioner McIntee and wife….had a “jaded” view….a penchant for negative comments…and proceeded to “circle the wagons”….to halt the process…ASAP!….
They proceeded to “investigate” this Michael Deem…for the Commissioner and wife said….he (Michael Deem) …could not possibly have done all he and others said he had done in his career…….that he (Michael Deem) could not be who he says he is!….
This writer….”deep in the mix of things” at this point in time…”helped out” online…with “Google”….what was found…he was EXACTLY” who he said he was….no doubt….
NO GOOD….to the McIntees…who were “convinced” there was something “there”….relaying that the Commissioner had checked a bit further….through his “connections”…that the “claims” made by Michael Deem didn’t pass the “test”….
Others at the time were ” miffed”….the Editor MacMillan and wife….were fully behind Michael Deem….for what he had done for them and their paper….and perhaps…. because he was now also their client…
John Thompson…himself involved in government before he retired…found Michael Deem to be more than credible….he found him informative…knowledgeable….and helpful …a good guy….
Many in the CIC were also enamored with Michael Deem….
Enter Michael Deem….the “enlisted” candidate to run for mayor….an invited guest to the CIC monthly meeting….
Hushed voices all around …asking who the unfamiliar face was in the back of the room….the response…”That’s Michael Deem.”…..resulting in a “knowing” response….a “nod’….”he’s the one that’s going to run for mayor”….
In this writer’s opinion……that was it…the nail in Michael Deem’s coffin….McIntee and wife would have none of it….time to get rid of Michael Deem…for good!….
The badmouthing intensified…the insinuations grew….on a “warpath”…to make this guy go away….
There could not be two “CHIEFS”….not in this organization…not in this Commissioner’s future…no way!…
McIntee met resistance on this one…from the Editor and his wife…CIC Board members…and those “movers and shakers” from the coffee klatches….
The lack of backing just seemed to enrage the couple more…the main topic of conversation…to stop this guy….
culminating a low point for the CIC…and making it clear to all on the board…and all who were members….who the CIC was…and a choice that had to be made….
McIntee…put his foot down…
He came to the next CIC meeting…took a board member outside…and laid down the law…..giving the final ultimatum….
Michael Deem goes…or McIntee walks…for good….decide….NOW!….
And so it was….a long time board member…walked over to invited guest Michael Deem…sitting next to his wife….and told him he had to leave!…
No one stepped forward to stop it…including this writer….
McIntee won!….
BCbythesea…this was a major regret…standing in silence…knowing full well…it was wrong…on every level….
Afterwards…with the end of Michael Deem…. below the McIntee radar…..most were “seething” from the actions…of Commissioner McIntee and wife….
Michael Deem……this writer was told….was rightfully confused….for it was those around him…that brought him into this situation….persuaded him….built his expectations…….resulting in this unconscionable act at the CIC….that evening….
He decided to move on….
The Recall lost in round one…in the Broward County Courthouse….the choice of the fire assessment charge did not meet the “threshold” required….
The “blow” was not readily realized after receiving this decision….by the judge…for we all thought…the appeal was a “given”…. WRONG!….
Our attorney said…it would not lead to the results we all thought it would…the odds we thought were a “forgone conclusion”….were not to be….GAME OVER!…
The result…the CIC walked away with a big loss…”egg on our face”….and a large bill that the Town paid for the Mayor’s high priced attorney…
Most in the CIC….outside of the “group” will tell you…if we knew all the “facts”…about the appeal and Marc Furth….this Recall might have never taken place….
The public “line”…given to the press and those outside the membership……we were weighing our options…for an appeal….and the inside word throughout the organization….with court time and monies needed…the only real choice…to run someone against Mayor Parker in the next election….
Deem was gone….and the “search” was still on…..
McIntee had his own plan….Marc Furth….. he was “working on him”…was the constant reply….some days…he thought he had him…it was only a matter of time…with the “bait” being …altered depending on McIntee’s idea at the time….retirement benefits….only doing it for 2 years….you name it….
Two major “crimps” in his plan though…we were told…also depending on the day….Marc and Cristie Furth!…
They apparently had some “personal” reasons…confided in McIntee…..and the Commissioner told this writer…as if it were a fact…that Cristie would not be supportive…of Marc….for it was she….who wanted to be the one on the dais this time….
At these times…McIntee would tell us…he had a back-up…someone we all would never figure out…to step in…if Marc’s “resolve” could not be broken…. (after finding out the back-up….it is said he too had no interest)….
A complete non- starter…….having Commissioner Silverstone step down and run for mayor…or even McIntee… way too risky… the “new Guard” could end up off the dais completely…..with “fickle” voters…
John Thompson…was mentioned ….moving into town….if need be…
NOTE: this was prior to the election date being moved up to January…making the time of required residency impossible to meet….
There was talk that the Editor and his wife were trying to sell their Pompano Beach condo…to move back to LBTS….
NOTE:…there was a time…some thought it could be a Palm Club address…they had their sights on….HMMMM….
And then there was that fateful day….when this writer brought up Cristie Furth……for mayor at pizza night….(although it came up previously from others before in smaller settings.)……previous post….
Many played the “shell game”….before the date to declare official entry into the race…thinking It should be Stuart Dodd for mayor…Cristie as commissioner…
Attempts to persuade Dodd of such a winning ticket….went by the wayside….he wouldn’t bite….
Stuart felt it was not….. in his opinion…. right to run for mayor without having commissioner experience… those in the group….”were not happy”….
As posted previously…..it was put out there on pizza night…by this writer….for Cristie or Marc Furth…to run against Parker…
The results for this “perceived” act of “betrayal” are also posted previously…..
Now the rest of that story…..
McIntee was not about to let Cristie Furth have the middle seat on the dais….to be in charge on the dais……and proceeded to find a replacement…ASAP….and he did….
From pieces of this confusing puzzle…at the time….McIntee enlisted and threw his support to L. Peanuts Wick….
Peanuts Wick …this writer was told….had come to the Furths prior….and made it known…if either of them were going to run….he would not….for he had made it known to many his desire to run….independent of the CIC or the OG….
The “promise” made …varies…depending on who recalls it….was the offer was made to both husband…and wife…or husband only?….
Whichever is correct….if it indeed transpired….somewhere not long afterwards….the offer disappeared …..
At another pizza night…Ms Furth asked for time to make her decision…for time to announce in front of of the CIC…at the CIC monthly meeting coming up….
McIntee intervened….and “pushed” Stuart Dodd into adding L. Peanuts Wick on the next CIC agenda…never mind…the time asked for from Ms Furth…
Again depending on who is recalling…Peanuts was told to come by McIntee…thinking he was going to announce and perhaps “debate” others running for mayor…
Cristie Furth…the object of McIntee’s “manipulations”….folded …and walked away…..
That was it….L. Peanuts Wick…was the CIC candidate for mayor…..
The formalities…were just that….. formalities….whether it was IF Peanuts would run as a CIC member…or just CIC-endorsed- independent candidate……whether it was…. if and how…. L. Peanuts Wick answered the CIC questionnaire….the “deal” was “sealed”……..
NOTE: it is said that L. Peanuts Wick made it known he wanted only one term as mayor…….and was immediately told to keep quiet…..this writer told …at the time…it was the “kiss of death” to the voters to hear one term only….from a candidate….
Recently though a new “twist” came forth….Peanuts would run for one term….making room for McIntee….HEARSAY!….but if true…WOW!….
On the other side…. the Old Guard…. seemed to be facing confusion of their own…………
We…the CIC…were sure it would be Parker….then we were sure it would be Clark….some thought a “possibility” of Yanni….but no one ever…thought…… Minnet!….
Readers…voters…….. here for the January 2008 election……are well versed on the election itself….the ups and downs…attacks and counter attacks….BTSTimes and The Futures….CIC and the OG….
With the “too close to call”….extension of days…. for the results….. of …..who would be mayor….
in the end….
LBTS had a new mayor….and her name was Minnet….
BCbythesea…..could it have been…Michael Deem?…..
Final Note:………after walking away from the M & Ms & Fs….in a self- healing process….of getting “clean”…I asked a close friend…still in contact with Mr Deem…to extend my regret…my embarrassment….my sincere apologies….for standing silent….
Word received back….he said thank you……..
more to come
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Tags: Civic Organizations, Local Politics, Scoops
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