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DEBATES? WHAT A JOKE!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published
September 30, 2016
I guess until Monday evening I would have been all for debates
among candidates for an election. But I quickly changed my mind
after watching the REALITY SHOW between Trump and
Clinton. What a joke! After it I watched CNN for a short time: I
think they had the THREE STOOGES with some other
morons sitting on the panel.
As much as I’m for free speech and everybody’s right to express
their opinion, I am against it when it turns into a funny circus
show that can’t really be taken seriously. And I have to agree
with Darlys' opinion. In many community associations a “DEBATE”
would quickly turn into a childish circus with no serious
meaning.
I have attended some annual meetings where candidates attempted
to tell the assembly what they would like to do if they would be
elected to the board. From BOOING to WHISTLING to
CAT-CALLS – I have heard it all. To me it often seems to be very
difficult to hold an organized discussion about association
topics without the meeting getting out of hand. And not even an
off-duty police-officer in uniforms seems to be able to deter
folks from getting out of hand.
I think the solution offered in the CONDO ACT [FS
718.112(2)(d)4.] is very reasonable and avoids
“confrontations” and other “mishaps.”
Together with the written notice and agenda as set forth in
subparagraph 3., the association shall mail, deliver, or
electronically transmit a second notice of the election to all
unit owners entitled to vote, together with a ballot that lists
all candidates. Upon request of a candidate, an information
sheet, no larger than 81/2 inches by 11 inches, which must be
furnished by the candidate at least 35 days before the election,
must be included with the mailing, delivery, or transmission of
the ballot, with the costs of mailing, delivery, or electronic
transmission and copying to be borne by the association. The
association is not liable for the contents of the information
sheets prepared by the candidates. In order to reduce costs, the
association may print or duplicate the information sheets on
both sides of the paper.
If properly executed – and that’s another topic for discussion –
it can be very helpful for the voters to decide what candidate
they want to vote for.
But we all know that candidates in this country always promise a
lot, but quickly forget about their promises as soon as they are
elected!
And I don’t think that will change, no matter if there is a
debate or a written candidate statement.
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Jan Bergemann is president of Cyber Citizens For Justice,
Florida
's largest state-wide property owners' advocacy group.
CCFJ works on legislation to help owners living in
community
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associations. He moved to
Florida
in 1995 - hoping to retire. He moved into a HOA, where the
developer cheated the homeowners and used the association dues
for his own purposes. End of retirement!
CCFJ was born in the year 2000, when some owners met in
Tallahassee
- finding out that power is only in numbers. Bergemann was a
member of Governor Jeb Bush's HOA Task force in 2003/2004.
The organization has two websites to inform interested
Florida
homeowners and condo owners:
News Website: http://www.ccfj.net/.
Educational Website: http://www.ccfjfoundation.net/.
We think that only owners can really represent owners, since all
service providers surely have a different interest! We are
trying to create owner-friendly laws, but the best laws are
useless without enforcement. And enforcement is totally lacking
in
Florida
!
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