Issues
Keeping the County Budget Under Control
Protecting and Creating Jobs, and the Maritime Industry
Windstorm Insurance
Trust in Government
Education
Public Safety
Change
Keeping the County Budget Under Control
Broward County is facing unprecedented hard economic times which will continue to affect south Broward residents. We must find the appropriate balance between taxes and spending. Government must work efficiently, and be held accountable for meeting goals and budgets. All Commissioners must remember that the tax dollars spent by the Broward County Commission don't belong to the Commissioners, but belong to the taxpayers. We must ensure that the taxpayers receive a dollar's worth of services for every dollar that they pay in taxes.
Finding this balance is difficult, but I helped our local governments do it while I was representing south Broward residents in Tallahassee. That's why I both supported local tax cuts, and received the Legislative award in 2007 from the Florida League of Cities, and in 2008 received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Association of Counties.
Protecting and Creating Jobs, and the Maritime Industry
We are all fortunate to live in a vibrant area like Broward County. In order for Broward to continue to have a strong economy, and to keep taxes low, we must also have a vibrant job market. The County Commission must do more to both keep our existing jobs, and to create new jobs. This includes providing more and better job training, competing with other areas to keep and protect jobs, and minimizing red tape that small businesses have to go through.
One area of particular concern to me is our Maritime industry, including both the large commercial vessels that come to Port Everglades and the Port of Dania, and the yachting/boating industry that has brought so many jobs to South Florida. Many of these maritime jobs are the type of well paid jobs that traditionally have built a strong middle class, which are unfortunately increasingly rare today. Longshoremen, diesel mechanics, Maritime carpenters and painters, and other skilled professionals all earn good salaries. The generally small and midsized businesses that employ these workers help support an industry that is critical to Broward County. Without the Maritime businesses and boating, we lose much of what has made South Florida special, and become Omaha or Des Moines.
Because these businesses offer well paying jobs, other areas are eager to lure them from us. The Carolinas, Savannah, New Orleans, and even the Bahamas are trying to lure away our industry and the jobs that go with them. Government must work more closely with trade groups such as the Marine Industry Association of South Florida, the Port Everglades Association, and the Marina Mile Association to devise plans to keep and strengthen the economic potential of our Maritime industry.
Windstorm Insurance
Many people in south Broward today are losing their homes or businesses because of the high cost of Windstorm Insurance, especially in Coastal Cities like Hollywood and Hallandale. I have been a State and National leader in the fight for lower hurricane insurance rates. The most effective way to do this is to create a National Natural Disaster Insurance fund. I have testified before Congress on this, and have traveled to Washington to help build nationwide support on this critical issue. As your County Commissioner, I will continue to make sure that Washington understands how critical this need is.
Trust in Government
Recent newspaper stories about corruption in Broward County have resulted in a decrease in public confidence about our elected officials. In order to help restore confidence, we must transform the way that the County Commission does business. The current ways that the County picks vendors, with County Commissioners appointing themselves to Selection and Negotiation Committees, and taking campaign contributions from the very same groups seeking county contracts shortly before and after they vote on awarding the contracts (as my opponent has done) is not acceptable. We can and must do better.
Education
I have always believed that education is one of the most important ways to prepare for our future. That is one reason that I have received both the statewide Friend of education award from the Florida Education Association (teachers union) and the Legislative Award from the Broward County PTA.
I believe that the County Commission must do more to foster education in Broward, by working with the School Board, the local Colleges and Universities, the Union Apprenticeship programs, and other groups. Our future depends on an educated workforce. As soon as financially possible, we must recommit to adequately funding our libraries.
Public Safety
There are numerous issues that Government must focus on. None are more important than keeping our residents safe. I am a strong supporter of ensuring that our Police, Firefighters, and Paramedics have the necessary equipment, personnel and training to protect us. That is one reason that I have been early endorsed by both the firefighter unions and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Change
Broward County has 12 year term limits. Despite this, my opponent, who will have been on the County Commission for 18 years when her current term is up, is running for another 4 year term.
I am not currently holding any office, having retired from my position as the Florida Senate Minority (Democratic) Leader in November. I believe that the County Commission needs a change in attitude, a change in ideas, a change in its commitment to ethics, a change in the methods it uses to award contracts, a change in the way it raises and spends taxpayers’ hard earned dollars and the way campaign dollars are raised from many who do business with the county. And that is just the beginning. With your help, I can become your agent for change on the Commission.
Please remember my Campaign Slogan:
Elect Steve Geller - Leadership * For a Change.
