EDC Declares Brevard County Elections A 'War'
PALM BAY, Florida -- Senior Director of Business Development for the Economic Development of Florida's Space Coast, Greg Weiner, compared the upcoming 2014 Brevard County Primary Elections to a war when speaking at the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon last week.
Weiner singled out the Brevard County Commission District 2 and District 4 primary races as 'critical.' "Many of them [candidates] have very extreme
political views and a vision for this county, that if put in place, will
freeze dry us economically for years to come," Weiner said without specifically naming the candidates.
"The simple fact of political life is that in a primary, and this is a primary. But of course, our primaries are often functionally the final election," Weiner said. "Primaries tend to bring out the extreme in both parties, left, right, it doesn't make a difference. People like you and me don't always vote."
"The simple fact of political life is that in a primary, and this is a primary. But of course, our primaries are often functionally the final election," Weiner said. "Primaries tend to bring out the extreme in both parties, left, right, it doesn't make a difference. People like you and me don't always vote."
"In my judgment, it is a war.
It's a war of ideas and nothing less than that," said Weiner. "Our opponents are
frankly your opponents. And some of them have been working for years,
for years, to get to this day. And trust me, they will vote. They will
vote come rain or shine. There could be a hurricane - there could be
lava in the streets. And so if it rains, at some point during the day,
which is likely, I hope you'll remember that you need to get out. Let
that be your reminder to get out there and vote. People like you and me
need to vote. This is a conservative county, that's true. But it is not
an extreme county."
"Neutrality
may have worked well over in Switzerland in World War II, but politics neutrality effected by not voting is surrender. If
you own a business, have a job, own a home, I would ask you not
surrender."
BACKGROUND: Why Is Economic Development A Key Issue This Election Year?
Economic development, through the use of tax abatements and direct
payments of taxpayer dollars to select corporations, had never been much
of a deciding political issue in Brevard County.
Beyond the scandals and negative publicity economic development organizations in Brevard have helped to generate in the last few years, there is a fundamental philosophical issue of whether government should be intervening in the free market at all by picking winners and losers.
Local supporters and opponents of the status quo have fallen into two political camps.
The most outspoken supporters of government intervention in the free market under the banner of economic development are:
Select companies that financially benefit directly or indirectly from the government aid;
The most outspoken opponents of government intervention in the free market under the banner of economic development are:
Brevard County companies that are placed at a disadvantage when their direct competitors receive government handouts (e.g. Searstown Mall and Mack Technologies);
According to the Republican Party's 2008 economic platform:
"Today’s Democratic Party views the tax code as a tool for social engineering. They use it to control our behavior, steer our choices, and change the way we live our lives. The Republican Party will put a stop to both social engineering and corporate handouts by simplifying tax policy, eliminating special deals, and putting those saved dollars back into the taxpayers’ pockets." (Emphasis added.)
"Taxes, by their very nature, reduce a citizen’s freedom. Their proper role in a free society should be to fund services that are essential and authorized by the Constitution, such as national security, and the care of those who cannot care for themselves. We reject the use of taxation to redistribute income, fund unnecessary or ineffective programs, or foster the crony capitalism that corrupts both politicians and corporations."
(Emphasis added.)
When the current economic development policies in Brevard County are held against those standards espoused by the national GOP, it appears that the Republicans (Curt Smith, Frank Zilatis, and Michael Hartman) who are ideologically similar to Ellis, Infantini, and Mick, are more politically consistent with the GOP economic platform than the Republicans (Jim Barfield, Richard Charbonneau, and Greg Jones) who are more politically aligned with Florida Today, Fisher, and/or the EDC.
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But Brevard voters
are now taking a more skeptical look at economic
development and questioning whether taxpayers are actually getting all of
the benefits promised by economic development advocates following:
1. The arrest of Mitch Needelman in the BlueWare scandal;
2. Less than 1,000 jobs confirmed in 7 years after spending over $10 million;
2. Less than 1,000 jobs confirmed in 7 years after spending over $10 million;
4. The County Commission's refusal to audit the Economic
Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast (EDC);
5. The EDC's refusal
to comply with a public records request;
6. The Department of Labor investigation into Brevard Workforce for possible cronyism;
7. The multimillion dollar settlements by the Technological Research Development Authority and the Melbourne Airport Authority following a Department of Justice's False Claims Act investigation.
7. The multimillion dollar settlements by the Technological Research Development Authority and the Melbourne Airport Authority following a Department of Justice's False Claims Act investigation.
8. The federal indictment of Thomas Biddix; and
9. $6.5 million taxpayer dollars given to Miracle City Mall developers through the North Brevard Economic Development Zone (NBEDZ).
9. $6.5 million taxpayer dollars given to Miracle City Mall developers through the North Brevard Economic Development Zone (NBEDZ).
Beyond the scandals and negative publicity economic development organizations in Brevard have helped to generate in the last few years, there is a fundamental philosophical issue of whether government should be intervening in the free market at all by picking winners and losers.
Local supporters and opponents of the status quo have fallen into two political camps.
The most outspoken supporters of government intervention in the free market under the banner of economic development are:
Select companies that financially benefit directly or indirectly from the government aid;
FLORIDA TODAY, which holds a seat on the EDC board and received over $50k for a substandard website from the Tourism Development Council (TDC);
FLORIDA TODAY opinion columnist Matt Reed;
NBEDZ, TDC, CRA, and EDC officers, board members, and employees;
Lobbyists;
BlueWare CEO Rose Harr;
Former Clerk of Court Mitch Needelman;
County Commission District 4 candidates Richard Charbonneau (R) and Greg Jones (R);
County Commission District 2 candidate Jim Barfield (R); and
Brevard County Commissioner Robin Fisher (D).
The most outspoken opponents of government intervention in the free market under the banner of economic development are:
Brevard County companies that are placed at a disadvantage when their direct competitors receive government handouts (e.g. Searstown Mall and Mack Technologies);
Conservative radio talk show host Bill Mick;
Tea Party organizer Matt Nye;
Tea Party organizer Matt Nye;
Brevard County Clerk of Court Scott Ellis;
County Commission District 2 candidate Michael Hartman (R);
County Commission District 4 candidates Curt Smith (R), Frank Zilatis (R), and Randall Victor (Vic) Brungart (NPA); and
Brevard County Commissioner Trudie Infantini (R).
Since
the Brevard County Commission races will likely be decided in the
Republican primary, it will be up to Brevard County Republican voters to
decide the economic policy future for the Space Coast. Therefore, it
is helpful to look at the national Republican Party platforms for some
insight on Republican economic policy.
According to the Republican Party's 2008 economic platform:
"Today’s Democratic Party views the tax code as a tool for social engineering. They use it to control our behavior, steer our choices, and change the way we live our lives. The Republican Party will put a stop to both social engineering and corporate handouts by simplifying tax policy, eliminating special deals, and putting those saved dollars back into the taxpayers’ pockets." (Emphasis added.)
"Taxes, by their very nature, reduce a citizen’s freedom. Their proper role in a free society should be to fund services that are essential and authorized by the Constitution, such as national security, and the care of those who cannot care for themselves. We reject the use of taxation to redistribute income, fund unnecessary or ineffective programs, or foster the crony capitalism that corrupts both politicians and corporations."
(Emphasis added.)
When the current economic development policies in Brevard County are held against those standards espoused by the national GOP, it appears that the Republicans (Curt Smith, Frank Zilatis, and Michael Hartman) who are ideologically similar to Ellis, Infantini, and Mick, are more politically consistent with the GOP economic platform than the Republicans (Jim Barfield, Richard Charbonneau, and Greg Jones) who are more politically aligned with Florida Today, Fisher, and/or the EDC.
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