Offer to Stream Board Meeting for Free Draws Criticism

As they say...no good deed goes unpunished.

- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi -  June 30, 2012

The recent school board meeting in which our new School Superintendent was selected was steamed live over the Internet, and happily close to 2000 viewers had tuned in at some point, with as many as 187 watching at any one time.  This was conveneint, as the live broadcast on Comcast channel 78 failed.

Clerk to Close Courts - Other Solutions Exist

Or...what would never happen if Matt Gardi were Clerk!

- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi -  June 27, 2012

A recent article in the Key West Citizen (Found Here) discussed the fact that in response to a budget crisis, the Clerk of Courts intends to close the Courts on Fridays at 3pm.  This is to make up for a State funding shortfall of $210,000.

That's great, so the solution is to reduce service to the public in an already overwhelmed and back logged court system, versus finding other efficiencies and cost savings.

School Board Missed the Fact Gentile's CPA Could not be Verified

Andy Griffiths -  "I also think one of us would have said, "wait a minute, why didn't you verify that"?  Seems too obvious a question for a five person board to miss. "   

Yes Andy, it does seem too obvious!

- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi -  June 23, 2012

Compounding the already ridiculous fact that School District Chief of Staff Ken Gentile is not really a CPA as he stated on his resume and as he has been attaching to his signatures, is this latest bombshell...

The School Board knew about it.  

I'm a CPA, You're a CPA, We're all CPAs...Why not?

So much for professional accreditation, right? 

I mean while we're at it, I'm an MD too.

- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi -  June 21, 2012

What was I thinking?  All caught up in this career thing, when all I needed to do was pick one.  I mean after all, it is simply some paper work and a couple of bucks, right?

Yes, you may have guessed I am referring to the latest School District scandal that School Board Candidate Larry Murray uncovered.  Apparently MCSD Chief of Staff, Ken Gentile, formerly the internal auditor, is not really a Florida CPA even though he claimed to be one on his application.  You can read about it here in the Keynoter and here in the Citizen.

The Koval Conspiracy Calls for Clarification...NO DUI?

Was Sheriff Candidate Discipline Politically Motivated?  More Questions Surface...
Where was the DUI?  Were other Deputies never tested?

- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi -  June 18, 2012  

A recent article in the Key West Citizen (Found Here) covered how Candidate for Sheriff Matt Koval was recently reprimanded for allowing a Deputy he was supervising to go on duty drunk. Not just drunk, but twice the legal limit!  An internal investigation conducted by Koval's chain of command concluded that Koval allowed Deputy Donald Dalton to go on duty and drive after being warned by other deputies that Dalton was impaired.

Clerk of Courts Debate - June 14, 2012

Another Great Finnegan's Wake Scrimmage

- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi -  June 17, 2012  

I'd like to say all were present and accounted for.  Unfortunately, Amy Heavilin felt it more important to be a guest bartender elsewhere rather than being part of an informative debate.  Thank you Kevin and Stu for showing up and helping our Republican voters become more informed of their choices.

Question 1:  Please describe the Clerk's responsibilities in a couple of sentences and 

tell us why you could carry out the job better than your opponents.

Question 2:   What new programs or systems would you put into place if elected?

Question 3:  What other issues about the Clerk's Office should the voters know about?

www.mattgardi.com
Paid for by Matt Gardi, Republican, for Clerk of Courts

State Attorney Debate - Round 2!

- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi -  June 16, 2012

Here it is folks, the second debate between Dennis Ward and Catherine Vogel, Democratic candidates for State Attorney!  Enjoy!  Don't forget to take the poll below the videos.

Fact Check Update:  Dennis Ward's claim of an increasing conviction rate is accurate.  According to trailstats.flcourts.org County conviction rates for Mark Kohl's last full year in office (See Here) was 77.5%, and for the most recent year under Ward (See Here) it was 94.1%.  In terms of Circuit level, the years varied between 89-91% with a slight advantage to Ward.  

www.mattgardi.com
Paid for by Matt Gardi, Republican, for Clerk of Courts

Clerk of Courts Debate On-Line

The Tavernier Community Association recently held a Clerk of Courts debate on June 7.

- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi -  June 12, 2012  

You can view the video in its entirety by clicking here!

The video includes the statements of all the Clerk candidates.  Why would a candidate give exposure to his opponents?  The reason is because I am confident that even though my opponents are well qualified individuals, that the combination of my ideas, specific solutions, experience and track record make me the most qualified to serve as your next Clerk of Courts. 

But I need your help!  The campaign covers all the Keys, and in order to effectively get his message out, I would ask that you consider making a small contribution to his campaign.

To contribute to the campaign, click here! 

www.mattgardi.com
Paid for by Matt Gardi, Republican, for Clerk of Courts

Signs, Signs...Everywhere a Sign...

Political Signage Onslaught Begins....Ugly.
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi -  June 5, 2012

It's here.  Yes, that time of election season when candidates names seem to spring from every tree, fence, and inch of green space available in the Keys.  Again, I must pose the question...do we really need this seasonal foray into environmental wallpapering??

Some of you might recall, that as a candidate for State House District 120 in 2010 I pledged not to use lawn signs during the campaign.  In my mind, the need to do so is purely to capture those disinterested voters that cast their ballot solely on name recognition.  As a candidate I felt that I had enough ideas, and reasons I was running for office that it might carry me through to a victory.  I was wrong.  However, while being outspent 20 to 1 by an opponent that had signs on every street corner, I still managed to win 48% of the votes in Monroe County.  I think that illustrated that ideas matter and that there are other effective means to communicate with voters.

Now many supporters came to me afterwards and suggested that if I had only had signs out that it may have made the difference in the election, and that very well may be true.  So, in this election as I run for Clerk of Courts, again with a host of ideas, issues, and reasons I feel are important, I am struggling with the choice.  I am leaning towards an approach of what I would describe as..."Selective and Effective!"  I may choose to put out a few well placed signs in strategic places, but if I do, I will be very selective in doing so.  However, I am still undecided as to the need.

However, what remains as an ugly component to the campaign season are those candidates that feel the need to utilize an approach of what I would describe as..."Obnoxious and Excessive!"  Everyone knows what I am referring to.  It's just plain ugly, and I feel indicative of a candidate short on ideas.  I would call on all candidates to take the "Selective and Effective," approach instead.

That being said, feel free to offer your opinions in the comment section below, and please participate in the following poll to help gain a sense of how the public feels about this seasonal destruction of our landscape.

www.mattgardi.com
Paid for by Matt Gardi, Republican, for Clerk of Courts

GUEST POST: Cudjoe Regional Sewer Assessment

- Naked Conch - Posted by Daniel R. Dombroski -  June 2, 2012

June 2, 2012

Dear County Commissioners,

I read with great interest the article in this week’s News-Barometer that stated in November the homeowners within the proposed Cudjoe Regional Waste water system will be notified that they will be taxed an additional $5,700 onto their property taxes for their sewer assessment. First of all, I want to make it clear that I am for the sewers and wish that we all were doing more to protect the fragile environment in the Keys. However, I have to voice my displeasure over this assessment fee.  I believe, that when the County first announced the goal of constructing sewers in the Lower Keys their claim was that the assessment fee per home would be no more than $2,500.  Home owners in the Cudjoe Regional system will be paying over twice the amount of money than their fellow home owners paid in other areas built first. Why is this? How can the County justify that a owner of a multimillion dollar home on Shark Key, which was not even included in the original plan to have sewers in the Lower Keys, pay half the amount of a sewer assessment fee than a person who might own a trailer in Big Pine Key.  “Come on Man”- this to me not only seems unethical but is down right immoral. Why are we being left to be responsible for the delays and underfunding issues that have hampered this project on a local and state level and that we, as homeowners, had no say in nor control of.  Is there anywhere else in the Keys where there is a disproportionate tax levy for sewer assessments solely based on which homes were assessed first or last?  I do not think so. Then why is this disproportionate tier level of assessment tax being considered for the Cudjoe Regional System? It just does not seem fair to me that those who were first on line, or were allowed to cut into the line, should pay less than those who had no choice other than to be placed on the back of the assessment line.

I know that when the County Commissioners were discussing the possibility of putting a toll on US 1 in Key Largo the argument against it was that it would be unfair since it would levy a disparate monetary burden on the citizens of the Upper Keys because the residents of the Upper Keys would most likely have to pay the toll more often than the residents of the Lower Keys. Well, please explain to me how this is different.

I realize the argument will be made that the majority of the current County Commissioners were not elected officials when some of the prior decisions were made about the sewers, funding and the previous assessment costs. However, the current elected County officials were involved in establishing the cost of this current assessment fee for the Cudjoe system and they also have the power to act upon and correct an inequitable financial burden being placed on the backs of residents of the Cudjoe Regional system.  This could be done by reassessing areas that have already paid their assessment and make this a fair and balanced tax for all.

Thanking you in advance for your response.

Daniel R. Dombroski

29135 Camellia Lane

Big Pine Key, FL 33043

dombrosl@bellsouth.net

Gardi for Clerk - Informative Campaign Event May 31

An enjoyable, informative evening was had by all during this casual meet and greet held at Sugarloaf Lodge on May 31st.  It was great to see the new faces that showed up to find out more about the campaign.  Thanks to one and all for taking the time to come out!

www.mattgardi.com
Paid for by Matt Gardi, Republican, for Clerk of Courts