Your vote is your voice on February 1 & March 8

Posted 1/4/22

Pahokee will celebrate its centennial (100 years of incorporation) as a city.

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Your vote is your voice on February 1 & March 8

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March 2022 will be both a special and monumental time in the City of Pahokee.

Pahokee will celebrate its centennial (100 years of incorporation) as a city. It will also see a historic election where three of the commission seats will be on the ballot. The centennial and election give the community an enormous opportunity and responsibility to move Pahokee to new heights. The centennial allows the city to celebrate its past and reflect on the community’s growth since inception. This time of remembrance and commemoration will also provide the city with the ability to look toward to the future and envision the next 100 years.

I have said in the past that former elections were critical to Pahokee’s future, but I can truly say that March 8, 2022’s election, is the most consequential in recent history. Anyone who has been following the City of Pahokee Commission meetings since the last election of March 2021 will attest to this. What we have seen from the new majority (since April 2021) on the commission dais is nothing short of reckless, controversial, disdain for the public and outright combativeness. The majority of Bohlen, Perez and Gonzalez have made irresponsible decisions and taken dangerous actions.

During their campaign, Perez and Gonzalez, along with their supporter Bohlen, claimed they would be responsive to citizen questions and be transparent as well. If you have attended city meetings or watched the videos of them, you will see that promise has been false. Perez and Gonzalez have been nothing more than rubber stamps for Bohlen’s motions and views. Bohlen, Perez and Gonzalez feign interest in bettering Pahokee, but they have shown that’s not their goal with their actions, especially those of the last several months. Their votes and actions have been extremely dangerous for the governance of Pahokee. They fired a city manager and city attorney. Then they hired a previous city attorney that was fired. They also created a hostile working environment for city staff. In short, they have put a target on city employees with their unfounded accusations and troubling rhetoric. Bohlen, Perez and Gonzalez also hired a city manager with no qualifications, resume, application or experience. Thompson serves on the commission in Clewiston and was recommended to Pahokee by their/our city attorney Brandenburg. On July 23, 2021, Bohlen, Perez and Gonzalez, held an illegal meeting outside the commission chamber that resulted in an out of court settlement payout against the city of over $74,000 in attorney fees and other costs.

On Dec. 2, 2021, Bohlen received notification from the city clerk and Supervisor Link that they received the verified requisite number of electors’ signatures via petition to continue her recall. “F.S. 100.361 (4) provides that within five days after service, you may resign from office. Please be advised that these are five calendar days, including weekends.” Supervisor Link’s certification letter stated that she certified 555 signatures on recall petitions for Regina Bohlen. Bohlen decided not to abide by the will of the people and resign as commissioner based on the results of her recall petition. She has decided to waste taxpayer money to force a special election. There was an article published in the local Belle Glade Sun Newspaper on Dec. 3 where Bohlen stated she has no intention of resigning. I asked City Clerk Warner how much a special election would cost Pahokee and she stated it would be $20,000-plus. A judge has set the recall election for Bohlen for Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.

If you watch all the commission meetings from April 2021 to present, you will clearly witness that Mayor Babb and Commissioner Murvin have tried to keep Pahokee progressing against the oppressive will of the new majority. Two of the seats up for election are that of Babb and Murvin. Mayor Babb and Commissioner Murvin have shown they are dedicated to putting Pahokee’s needs and potential at the forefront of every issue. If you compare the city’s commission meetings prior to April 2021 with those after, you will see that Babb and Murvin have shown constant leadership in the face of overwhelming odds. Both Mayor Babb and Commissioner Murvin are seeking a third term in their respective positions. I fully support their re-election. You can view Pahokee Commission meetings at www.youtube.com/channel/UC6r5fRCdlXi0Y2kEbfg5oFw

This election brings first time office seeker Derrick Boldin into the race for a commission seat. Boldin is an educator who moved back to Pahokee to bring opportunities to the youth of the community. He has become active in local government by attending commission meetings and being an outspoken member of the public. He has addressed the Pahokee Commission several times on their votes, positions, policies, and statements. Boldin is the right person for a seat on Pahokee’s governing dais. He will bring a new perspective, vision, and youthful vigor to tackle Pahokee’s challenges and opportunities. I wholeheartedly support Boldin’s election.

Now more than ever, we need true leaders who are willing to show up, speak and act. We need individuals dedicated to serving all of Pahokee and not just a select few. We need people who have shown you they are committed to being involved. We do not need individuals who show up to meetings just to sit and watch. We don’t need people who won’t speak up for the community when given the chance during public comment. We certainly don’t need candidates plucked out of thin air to run for office because they were promised something or encouraged by the current majority to run.

Put plainly, Pahokee doesn’t deserve candidates for commission that are past losers of several elections or candidates sought to split the community’s unity.

To Pahokee’s citizens: Your Vote Is Your Voice & Your Vote Is A Terrible Thing To Waste. Please register to vote. The deadline to register is Feb. 7, 2022. www.votepalmbeach.gov/Voters/Register-to-Vote

Vote on Tuesday, March 8, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vote Babb For Mayor. Vote Murvin For Commission Group 1. Vote Boldin For Commission Group 2.

Sincerely,
David J. Ruiz
Advocate For Pahokee

Letter to the Editor, election, Ruiz

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