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Home My WebLink About2002 10 07 Other - Lobby Groups, Ethics, and Conflicts of Interest Robert S. Miller . Commissioner, District One 1126 East SR 434, Winter Springs, Florida, 32708 October 7, 2002 Subject: Lobby Groups, Ethics, and Conflicts of Interest. Ethics in government is critical at this time of national scandals, a time of war, while those around the world bear us evil tidings. Let me preface my remarks by pointing out that twenty- eight years of my life has been devoted to the protection of our country overseas, and public service, for me, is not a path to wealth, riches or influence, and therefore even the slightest perception of ~ conflict of interest is something which greatly concerns me. In recent years a vocal group in our city have presented themselves as advocates of good government when in fact this has not been the case. The organization, "People for Good Government," and its leaders, while obviously being loyal Americans, have completely lost their way when they perennially employ innuendo, half truths, and outright deception in their obsequious and obtuse propaganda, which to them obviously constitutes "Good Government in America." These people and their supporters are nothing more than a Political Action Committee (a PAC), or a long-winded word for a lobby group. But ... a lobby group for what? The conduct of their President and his supporters in recent years presents a unique if not somewhat bizarre view of government by almost anyone's standards. Examples: · The Mayor publicly chastised its presidentoduring a public Commission meeting, for publicly mouthing rude insults and making obscene sexual hand gestures which disgusted many at a city meeting. He was warned that such public outbursts in future would be grounds for being removed from public proceedings. · This president's written reply to the above warning was not the apology most decent folks expected, but a challenge instead, to... "Sue me if you got the guts? · Its president sent a letter to City leaders that he had files with such incriminating information that he could destroy the top management at City Hall, and would do so without hesitation. Is this a form of blatant blackmail, rather than anyone's idea of "good government"? · A private investigative firm associated with PFGG's lobbying in Winter Springs dug up and publicly disseminated highly unflattering personal information about a dependent of a city employee. · At a public city meeting recently, its president continuously waived a small black object in the air over his head, a small black object containing a glowing red light. He also repeatedly made facial contortions while silently mouthing what appeared to be obscenities at the dais. A closer inspection of the black object in his hand indicated it was not some form of life-threatening device. · On three occasions its president threatened female employees of the City and told them to buy Vaseline because he was coming to City Hall and was going to need the Vaseline to shove something up their ----. · Its president was publicly ridiculed and insulted in correspondence from his legal associates who addressed him as "Dear Shithead," and a person always being childish, and always relying on incorrect assumptions and poorly supported facts. · Its president stated publicly at a city meeting that Black Americans, and other American minority groups had no rights being at a voting precinct and he found it comical that any Black American would be outraged when forced to leave a voting precinct by the police when he had done nothing wrong. · Its president barged into a special 'for owners only' Highlands Homeowners Association meeting being held to vote-out the HOA Treasurer (Helga Schwarz). Not a resident, nor a homeowner in the HOA, this individual was repeatedly asked to leave that meeting and the premises. He refused and ignored the requests. Who have this man and his disciples and advocates endorsed for public office in Winter Springs, and lobbied to get elected? Two elections back, People for Good Government's Vice President, who was a resident of Tuscawilla, ran for City Commission, but forgot to register to vote in Florida, and had never registered or voted in any State elections. One election back, another of their candidates recruited to run for office, was found to have two felony convictions and was a resident elsewhere in the State And in the present election who are they lobbying for and raising funds for, Helga Schwarz, the former treasurer of the Highlands Board of Directors. Last year 600 Highland homeowners signed a recall petition demanding Helga Schwarz's resignation for transgressions regarding irregular Board meetings, failure to keep accurate records of Board minutes, and in some instances keeping no minutes at all. Involved too in the recall was the Highlands former President who is now Helga Schwarz's election campaign treasurer And what has this lobby group's advocacy been on serious City improvement issues such as the Tuscawilla community's referendum to tax itself for improvements, new athletic property acquisitions, Charter revisions, the Town Center and a host of other city improvements. PFGG has openly and noisily opposed them and refers to them as "boondoggles," which put the City in "bondage." At the same time they have remained absolutely silent regarding the Mayor Partyka's efforts to bring a Homeless Center to the City's Westside, introducing Central Florida's large homeless population to upscale Winter Springs communities like the Highlands, Deer Song, the Ranchlands, and Seville Chase. This lobbying group has also religiously avoided any comment or criticism of Mayor Partyka's serious ethical "oversights of common sense and . good judgment," such as calling the Westside a 'Crappy Place to live,' using City Hall for his personal real estate business transactions, using City business cards for personal correspondence, trying to appoint a city attorney who had just lent him a significant amount of money, concealing his part in trying to introduce the Homeless Center into the City's Westside, and Mayor Partyka's involvement in several frivolous law suits which have cost Winter Springs taxpayers over two million dollars. I implore all of our citizens to give no credence to the poison-pen and yellow journalism missives of lobbying groups like People for Good Government, and their candidates who seek only to 'divide and conquer' and to bring to a halt the progress of a great city. Winter Springs resi ts demand quality development, integrity in government, and leaders with high ethics and n co ict of interest. //'7 . :. /fd-~ Robert S. Miller Commissioner