FROM …”HOW THE SAUSAGE WAS MADE”…AND BEYOND….
For those unaware…….of the above reference….
a friend and confidant…told this writer…in the height of the ongoing insanity….leading up to the LBTS election in January 2008…….
“Elections are like sausage ….nobody wants to how they’re made!”….
STUART DODD…..
The “problem” with Stuart Dodd…in this writer’s opinion came from his stubborn…independence …front and center ….from the get-go…
When he became the name of record for the Oliver Parker Recall….and again when he put his name on the ethics complaint …of then-Vice Mayor Yanni….because he thought it was the right thing to do….
Stuart was elected to the Board of the CIC…and then appointed Chair by the directors…(the procedure in 2007) which still included then- Commissioner/Chair Jerry McIntee
BCbythesea…a little history….
in the previous year as Chair of the CIC…then -Commissioner McIntee…loved to “run the show”…regale in his trials and tribulations…his going to “bat” for the CIC…taking on the “bad guys”…the “evil Old Guard”….the “dastardly developers”…the supposed “briber”…and his “nemesis”…the Mayor…Oliver Parker…
We… who were fully immersed in all things McIntee…”oohed and ahhed”…at the “Great Protector “…of the “little guy”…as he so often reminded us!….
It was McIntee who decided that a President/Chair..should serve for 1 year…with the “caveat”… that they could come back after sitting it out …serve 1 more and so and so on…and so on….
BCbythesea…of course it was not a correct call…..which he should have known…for he was charged with a conflict of interest…ethics complaint…for being the Chair…and being the Commissioner….(most of us were unaware of this at the time…but McIntee was….)
DESPITE..recent CIC e-mails…and “selective memory” declarations on the dais or in BTSTimes….McIntee was indeed in a “conflict of Interest” situation….and “Probable Cause” WAS FOUND…on June 6,2008….lucky for him …they “threw him a bone”…”gave him a one time only free pass”…due to not benefiting financially…and being INSTRUCTED by the Ethics Commission…to NOT do it again!….
Back to Stuart….he was now the new Chair…and this writer…the new Vice Chair….after some maneuvering from McIntee…to push aside…the present CIC Chair …then Board member Cristie Furth…who was voted in as Vice-Chair …by the board…including this writer…(it was “decided” before the actual vote…that I would be Vice Chair….although a board member forgot…this writer did not care…and stated so….as long as Cristie would fulfill the role.)……but…McIntee and a former Mayor…pushed for it…and Cristie stepped down….
We..the New Chair and Vice- Chair had the “audacity” to believe that this organization would work like all others…newly in charge….we were now “allowed” to run it in a manner that suited our style…VS McIntee’s…WRONG!…
What transpired…in this writer’s opinion…we were a “RUSE”… a “FRONT”….we were to continue on as if McIntee were still Chair…and he would continue to “run” the meetings…to continue to “regale” the CIC in all things McIntee!…..
Well…Stu stood up…and so did this writer…and some others on the new board…to “tell” McIntee otherwise…
It caused the expected …”The WRATH of McIntee”….due to being “challenged”…. responding with his customary….”Don’t be telling me what to do!”…..retort…..
Pizza Night…. the get together ….took place while a group of us were “on the outs” with McIntee……due to a series of confrontations over “control”…and “pitting” us against each other with “stories”…a little “mind game” he liked to play…as he proudly told one of us later on….whether it was the upcoming campaign…or CIC…..issues…some previously posted …
Stu and this writer stood our ground…and McIntee fought back…most assembled at this pizza night..agreed with the rights of the newly acquired position…including .. one very vocal….John MacMillan…who seemed at that time to be “above” McIntee in a position of “authority”…resulting in McIntee’s backing off…..surprisingly so….
BCbythesea…in fact this “on the outs with McIntee” group were so impressed with MacMillan…and his “authority” we each “prevailed” upon him to further implement this action…and get McIntee “in line”…MacMillan…spent a significant amount of time with each of us…assuring us of his “stature” and “ability” to do just that….
We waited….feeling all was good…only to be totally “blindsided”….when MacMillan….not only did not do as he promised….but joined McIntee…to become….a team….that caused double the trouble…going forth!…
We went ahead with what was the primary cause for the pizza night “showdown”……going ahead with the invitation to the monthly CIC meeting of former candidate for the Florida House.of Representatives…..Chris Chiari….
Chris Chiari came…producing a “welcome change” according to the responses received afterward from those CIC members in attendance….
The meeting itself…was “boycotted” by McIntee and wife along with their “pal”…MacMillan and wife…..as he “proudly” stated some time later!…
BCbythesea…a sitting LBTS Commissioner and CIC Board member… and the Editor of a LBTS newspaper…..”boycotted”…a past and possible future candidate and potential elected official….. who could likely be representing our town…NICE MOVE!….
Stuart Dodd ultimately decided to run for Commissioner from the south end of town…after a few “episodes” of dissent were put to rest……and being the candidate …decided he would put together a small “campaign committee”…and get a handle on who along side him would advise him…and put together a plan…seems the “appropriate” move …right?……..WRONG!…
BCbythesea…McIntee had a “fit”….the candidates…were “expected” to “re-enact” the “BROOM BOYS CAMPAIGN!”….
An aside…..watch for …the Ms & Ms & Fs…to take another shot at “BROOM BOYS… PART 2″…..at their re-election for McMayor…..kicking off July 4th…2009!…..
The “DEMAND” for absolutely…. no deviation… what-so-ever…from the prior VFD/ Commission campaign…..was later brought to the Dodd campaign committee meeting…via “MESSENGER” Maureen McIntee…followed by a “barage” of phone “attacks” coming from McIntee himself…not long after the conclusion of the meeting…and after he was “filled in” on the campaign strategy from his wife…
BCbythesea….This is why…Stuart and this writer as members of the CIC Board…pushed for no spouses or significant others to be allowed on the CIC Board…when deciding new By-Laws for the April 2008 CIC election….previous post….
Palm Club sewers….was the next big problem….Stuart was against them…and said so from the start…..due to it being private property…and therefor it could not be the recipient of taxpayers monies….
McIntee and MacMillan…were FOR it!….
They both were on the “rampage” again ……with a “set-up” meeting at the BTSTimes office…between the Palm Club and their CIC candidates…
Prior to the meeting…….MacMillan attempted to “guide” the candidates to change their position….to be FOR the sewers…to be prepared to tell the Palm Club so….in short order …upon the arrival of the Palm Club representative….
Dodd and Clottey declined…Wick…appeared to “flip-flop” over the sewers about this time….saying as much at the next public comments…at the next regular commission meeting….
BCbythesea…it was told to this writer by MacMillan at the time…”his wife was the largest real estate agent in the Palm Club.”….HMMM….sounds…like a Cooney “promise”…..
Also…..McIntee said to get those 90+ votes…”Give them the sewers”…..
Stuart did not change his stance…and informed the Palm Club representative of just that….
BCbythesea…. later…with the political climate …showing it was NOT the right decision to be FOR the sewers…with the majority of the voters…especially in the condos…the M&Ms…did an about face….
As is his “M.O.” McIntee…spoke at a debate prep meeting…at the VFD office on Commercial Blvd. ….as if…he was always AGAINST the sewers!…
Many in attendance…just knowingly “smirked”…at the “revisionist history”… well known …. by now….
Further trouble arose………with the last BTSTimes newspaper…the Election Edition…including a real “over-the-top”…reversal for the Ms & Ms & Fs…. the 1st “mock-up” …cover…of the paper….
A photo of the front of the Palm Club…with $ signs all over it…to put it in the face of the voters…the candidates were AGAINST the Palm Club!…
This writer ….upon hearing the plan from Stuart…was appalled….and outraged….as was he!….
This candidates …all three……were never against the Palm Club….for they were unfortunately caught between “promises” of the outgoing Old Guard Mayor…and what was allowed under the law….
So to put a “BULLS-EYE” of their gated entry …on the cover….. YIKES!…GREAT WAY TO BLOW AN ELECTION!
Stuart..called on the other candidates……who were paying for this whole BTSTimes candidate issue…and the three of them put the “Kabosh” on it….resulting….. in yet again….. hours of verbal rebuke from the Ms& Ms & Fs!….
In the end…after a multitude of CIC Board exchanges….a pleasant photo of the three candidates…became the final cover….. that came out…. PHEW!…..
Both candidates Dodd and Clottey had to stand up against numerous…”hair-brained” ideas..throughout the campaign……”zigging…and zagging”…with no continuity…arising from the Ms & Ms & Fs….on fire safety protection….and such…incredible…. unpredictable ….. increasingly disturbing… ideas….
Each time Stuart and Birute…said…”NO”…you guessed it…”It’s Barbara’s fault!’..
Thus the “joke”…previously posted…anything not Ms & Ms & Fs…was “Barbara’s fault!”….still is……
Stuart Dodd was the Sun-Sentinel choice for commissioner….big deal…right?…..WRONG!…
That “green-eyed monster”…came decidedly quick in the responses from McIntee and MacMillan…
To anyone who heard these two….it meant nothing!…HUH?….
Election….biggest winner…Stuart Dodd….
A night for this newly elected Commissioner to savor….right?….WRONG!….
In his victory speech this evening… winning candidate Dodd….was kind enough to single this writer out…to mention some others…and apologize if anyone was left out…a normal addition…for any victory or acceptance speech…all well and good…right?…WRONG!…
A “BOOMING” voice came from the sidelines….McIntee….”YOU FORGOT MOE!”….”YOU BETTER DO SOMETHING!”…
Shocking!….
Maureen McIntee…ran from the room…and proceeded to “require” a group of good hearted people … to “console” the absence of recognition …the “perceived betrayal”….”done to her”….
BCbythesea….a grudge some say…she has never gotten over….. carried over to the reaction and subsequent actions towards Stuart’s July 11th e-mail…perhaps?….
Commissioner- elect…Dodd’s wife’s….election night evening was also “torpedoed” ….she was “ambushed” by the MacMillans…and “raked over the coals”…pun intended…for what they said happened …to Moe….
On this night…that should have been “HIS” night…the McIntees…and the MacMillans….”pulled the rug out from under him”…….NICE!…
Commissioner Dodd…as previously posted…asked to step away from the CIC periodically… starting from the time he he decided to run for office……..but remained…… due to many events……such as electing the new CIC Board…and the 4th of July ……he waited…to fulfill his personal decision…well known to those who are so angry now…
BCbythesea…” Methinks they Doth protest too much”…comes to mind…from the Ms & Ms & Fs….(they knew!)
Not known for a good 6 weeks though…… by Commissioner Dodd…. was that Vice Mayor McIntee…”threw him under the bus”…at the June 6th Ethics hearings in Talahhassee…..previous post….
Well known to Commissioner Dodd …. increasingly well aware … in recent months….McIntee on the dais…taking over …Commissioner Dodd’s agenda items….and making them his own…”cutting to the chase”….says McIntee….
BCbythesea….perhaps this is due…to the BCbythesea…previous post…on how the Commissioners were doing …in the first months on dais…extolling….the campaign promised agenda items…swiftly being enacted by Commissioners Dodd and Clottey…along with the glaring…lack of agenda items…non-VFD…that is…. from Silverstone and McIntee….this writer was immediately “informed”…McIntee was “angry”….and had “planned” it this way……..
At the 6/24/08….1st “pre-commission” meeting…….put together by Commissioner Dodd….the increasingly overbearing …Vice Mayor…suddenly sat forward ….( in his customary dais behavior…lean back in the chair…rub your head….and sit forward….and pounce)….to declare….. to Commissioner Dodd…. that he was “trying to upstage me….and I don’t need that.”…..
A REAL HONEST COMMENT…HOW RARE!….
Coming up to the present now….
July 4th…..a day of happiness…unity…success….after months of meetings…endless re-dos…of the event site plans….and pulling it all together….amongst friends….CIC members…and Commissioners….
July 9th…a meeting to that was “supposed” to be to discuss the above…iron out what went wrong…and what can be done to fix it …next year….
With “talk” in the audience…of Stuart coming back…to do it once again….(no “figurehead” was he!)
Unfortunately…in what could have been a sign of what was to come…in the following days….
as previously posted…it quickly…in this writer’s opinion…took a “wrong turn”…into discussion for next year….treating the Chair of Donations…amazingly bad…by talking of his replacement….as he sat there….. discarding any voice of reason…from Commissioner Clottey….for the correct “protocol” required for a final event meeting of the present committee…
July 10th….Stuart Dodd….decided…it was now finally the right time…to act on his desire to step away from the CIC UNTIL his time as Commissioner was over…..writing up a letter making his intentions known….
July 11th….early in the morning…Stuart showed the e-mail to his wife….and sent it…to the Chair…Cristie Furth…as was the correct action to take….
See scoops…..The Train Wreck series…..for what transpired…next….
July 13th…The CIC PARTY.. the July 4th celebration…and…..the “Tar and Feathering…of Stuart Dodd”….
see previous scoop posts…
July 24th….The BTSTimes…the…..”SCORCHED EARTH EDITION OF STUART DODD”….
see previous scoop posts…..
more to come…..
Tags: Civic Organizations, Local Politics, Scoops
