Likely commissioner chips away at debts with late bets
Imagine being allowed to bet on the winning horse after a race is run. In essence, that’s what happened onMonday with a power-broker fundraiser for Tim Ryan, the surprise winner of a three-way Democratic primary for a Broward County Commission seat last month.
Ryan, an attorney and former state representative from Dania Beach, is a virtual cincha gainst two-write-in candidates inNovember. Before the primary, Ryan largely self-funded his campaign with $85,000 in loans, as much of the local political establishment backed his opponents Ken Keechl and Charlotte Rodstrom.
Now lobbyists, developers and vendors seeking county contracts and approvals can’twait to put their money on Ryan.
Ryan told me he took in $16,325 Monday at the mahi-mahi and chicken luncheon held by lobbyist Bernie Fried- man at the Becker & Poliakoff lawfirm. Friedman said the final tally will be closer to $20,000.
Ryan is merely the latest to benefit from a system that allows candidates with token or no opposition to rake in campaign cash, then pay back loans or give leftovers to political organizations, favored charities or their own “office accounts” for certain expenses. Commissioners Kristin Jacobs, Sue Gunzberger, John Rodstrom, Stacy Ritter and Ilene Lieberman have done so in the past.
The irony: Once Ryan takes his commission seat in lateNovember, he won’t be able to take a cup of coffee from lobbyists under the county’s strict ethics rules.
But while he’s still officially a candidate, he’s allowed to take all the $500 campaign checks he can get. The more
the power brokers chip in, the more Ryan can recoup the $85,000 he gave his campaign.
It’s all perfectly legal, but distasteful. Especially given Broward politics’ recent history of corruption arrests and pay-toplay culture.
It’s a great deal for Ryan, and it’s a great deal for the lobbyists, developers and vendors who want to get on Ryan’s good side.
But I don’t know if it’s so great for average citizens, who’ll be left wonderingifRyanisbeholden to thosewhoput a dent in his debts.
“Absolutely not,” Ryan told me. “It doesn’t give anyone one bit of benefit for some kind of government contract.”
Friedman, whose firm is registered to lobby the commission for more than 60 clients, said, “Fundraising is part of what we do …Tim is on the general election ballot and he’s still allowed to raise money.”
Ryan’s primary campaign cost $135,000, including mailers and cable TV ads. He said he’d like to recoup his loan, but, “If I have to absorb it, I’ll absorb it.”
Friedman gave contributions to Keechl, a former county commissioner, and Rodstrom, a Fort Lauderdale city commissioner, before the primary. Ryan said Friedman called after the primary and said, “I want to help you.”
This isn’t the first time Friedman has held a fundraiser for a sure thing. He did thesamefor presumptive Broward commissioner Dale Holness in September 2010 after his primary win. Back then, Friedman told me, “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. It’s the Americanway.”
I justwishtherewere a less odoriferousway.