Election Prep- 2018

The Interview- BP Election 2018

Hello Neighbors,

I had every intention to title this post “The Interviews” (as in plural), but our candidates simply would not comply with my request. Or, as it seems, with the requests from anyone else here in their attempt to properly access them. This marks the first time I can remember that BP candidates have deliberately gone so far out of their way to avoid any community sponsored vetting and our traditional Meet the Candidates Q & A Event. Rather they have preferred to attempt to ply voters with sweets, a concert, and several casually segregated, (and in my opinion), meaningless assemblies.

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I’ll give you some insight into this entire fiasco.

As one who has hosted several Meet the Candidates Events, I acknowledged the feedback from both residents and several candidates about getting the same questions downline and in possibly repeating what someone else had already said. The purpose of asking the same questions was one of fairness, and not to have any one candidate feel singled out, etc. So, for this election I had something else in mind (private one-on-one interviews) and starting reaching out to the candidates around the end of September.

During my first sweep, I received interview commitments from Dan Samaria, Jared Susi, and Manny Espinoza. I told them all that I was in the process of contacting the other two candidates and would keep in touch regarding my progress.

Long story made short (or somewhat short for me), Will Tudor (the incumbent) dodged my calls and emails until I finally reached him. (after sending a somewhat shaming email) After relaying what I had in mind, he stated that he “needed 24 hours to consider it.” That was on September 28^th and is the last I’ve heard from him. Know that I have asked nothing of Will Tudor for the two years he’s been on the Commission and his deliberate avoidance is troubling. Not the behavior befitting an incumbent, in my opinion.

Now for Betsy Wise or The Great Unknown as I view her.  Since I had no idea who she is, I asked for her phone number so that I could contact her at her convenience. After several cat and mouse emails back and forth between us, I never got her phone number, nor had the opportunity to even explain what I was planning in person. Then, all contact was cut off on her side. The last email I received from her on October 4^th stated, “and rest assured I will get back to you.” Well, it’s now 19 days later and I’m still waiting…?... Like Will Tudor, this deliberate avoidance seems contrived and moreover, totally baseless. Neither has legitimate grounds to shun neighbors, nor seem to understand the role of public service. And that is to serve the public’s trust, and that means ALL of the public people. Not just a select few. This is Betsy’s first run at the Commission.

As time is now getting short, I issued a “Last Call” email this past Friday to once again attempt to schedule the remaining interviews. Only Manny Espinoza had the common courtesy to reply and that was to inform me that he was reneging on his previous commitment. Now call me old fashioned, but to me your word is your bond and is part of what forms ones integrity. But, he was polite and good enough to not leave me hanging in the wind, so to speak.  And for that I am appreciative. This is Manny’s second run at the Commission.

Dan Samaria also reneged on his commitment, but in his case, he was on one day, the next off, then on, and then off again. So, a flip flopper one could say. He also asked for “a couple accommodations prior to sitting down for our interview.” These included “that you provide the questions in advance” and that “you provide me with an unedited version of the videotaped interview for my records.” I replied that I would not disclose the questions in advance (as we’ve never done that, and was the same answer I gave him during our last election when he again asked for the questions in advance) but would be happy to provide the video. I then (on October 8^th) received a series of odd emails from him asking “who else had agreed to do it” and “if it is only jared and manny it is not worth it for me.” And lastly, “two of the candidates i will beat easy and they are the one i believe u have and one of them i dont trust are being control by a gtoup of people that dont have the residents interest at heart.” This is Dan’s third run at the Commission.

That leaves Jared Susi who visited with me last Thursday evening. The link to his interview is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbReu_Fij74 . This is Jared's first run at the Commission.
 

Needless to say, what should have been an easy request for access from various neighbors turned into a frustrating run around. I felt the responsibility to share my experiences with you all for the direct purposes of transparency and discovery.  On paper, I have issues with all of the candidates and find myself ill prepared to vote with so little meaningful contributions offered from them.

Talk is cheap, so I put little value in printed pamphlets or other perfunctory campaign promises.  Actions speak louder than words and the actions I’ve observed from some of the candidates have proven to be, petty and segregating, fearful, dysfunctional and as such mostly unworthy in my opinion.  

Standing Watch,

Milton Hunter

The Biscayne Parker