Getting back to principles--

One of my good friends called this morning defending Cara Jennings and her action in Miami. Her argument is that we have the right to be on a city sidewalk and the right to demonstrate. She said that Retha Lowe’s problem with the Florida Elections Commission was far worse than Cara’s and should have received much more press than it did. I agree that it should have received more press. Read Post article

Ms. Lowe was found guilty of willfully filing false reports for the purpose of preventing the public from finding out the actual source of the contributions from Sun Recycling. As you recall, Sun Recycling got the contract to re-open our closed dump that is in Commissioner Lowe’s district and Sun also was awarded another contract in the City of Lake Worth. Sun gave Retha Lowe $3,500 for her campaign and Lowe tried to hide the fact that the money was from Sun Recycling.

I agree with my friend that Ms. Lowe’s actions were fallacious. She committed fraud against the people. It was her “cover up” that got her into the trouble for violating Chapter 106, Florida Statutes, not for accepting the contributions. Cara Jennings, on the other hand, demonstrated in front of a foreign government, blocking the sidewalks and causing a ruckus. The police asked her to move because of safety and she refused. They did not tell her that she could not demonstrate; just that she had to move. Cara Jennings has little respect for the police. She has admitted that. Although not breaking her Loyalty Oath when she took office, she believes that "authority" is hers to decide; the police said otherwise and the law prevailed.

Both situations, Lowe and Jennings, are irrational—one was deliberately deceptive and a “con” on the citizens, resulting in a $2,500 fine and the other, the Jennings episode, was caused by a total lack of respect of authority and for the people who voted her into office that resulted in her getting arrested and a night in jail. Both situations are a mockery and an insult to the office and to the people these Commissioners represent.