Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton Pushed Colleagues To Award Garbage Contract To Company That Contributed More Than $20,000 To PACs Tied To Him
Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton was asked twice to recuse himself from voting on a new city garbage contract amid accusations of “bribery” and “corruption” by a fellow commissioner. During a May 6, 2024 city workshop, Commissioner Elvin Villalobos asked Bolton to recuse himself because an applicant made more than $20,000 in contributions to a political action committee (PAC) tied to Bolton. Villalobos stated the contributions were made by Coastal Waste & Recycling. Bolton refused to recuse himself and voted to recommend Coastal.
Two days later, Villalobos repeated his request during the Tamarac City Commission meeting. “I’m going to request Commissioner Marlon Bolton recuses himself from voting on this item…he received $20,000 from a PAC he manages and…should disqualify him,” Villalobos said. Bolton did not recuse himself. Villalobos said, “One of our commissioners receiving $20,000 to vote in favor of a company—that is my main issue.”
A disgusted Villalobos then leveled accusations of “bought,” “unethical” and “corruption” within the city commission.
PAC MONEY
State of Florida records show contributions by Coastal Waste & Recycling to the Broward Vision PAC. On January 7, 2022, Coastal made a $5,000 contribution to Broward Vision.
On February 15, 2023, Coastal made a $15,000 contribution to Broward Vision.
State records also show Coastal made a $500 contribution on December 9, 2023 to the Friends Of Marlon Bolton PAC.
On March 26, 2024 Broward Vision PAC made a $5,500 contribution to the Friends of Marlon Bolton PAC.
BROWARD VISION
In 2021, REDBROWARD exposed the deep ties between Broward Vision PAC and Marlon Bolton.
In September 2019, Trace Robinson created the Broward Vision PAC political committee using the same post office box address used by businesses owned by Marlon Bolton.
Florida business records list Marlon Bolton and Trace Robinson as owners of The Driven Project, Praise Experience Worldwide Outreach Church, and South Florida Theological Seminary, Inc.
According to financial reports filed with the State of Florida, Broward Vision PAC has paid more than $52,000 to companies with close ties to Marlon Bolton.
Since its formation, Broward Vision PAC paid $1,400 to Exy Consultants, a fictitious corporation created under the Happy Feet Advertising LLC name by Robinson. Exy Consultants used the same P.O. Box 451711 address as Marlon Bolton. Trace Robinson is the founder of Happy Feet Advertising.
Florida business records show the post office box address used by Happy Feet Advertising has been used by Marlon Bolton since at least 2014. These businesses include Tyson Bolton and Associates, Forecast Holdings, LLC, Prophet Fire, and Win Without War.
In March 2023, Broward Vision Pac paid $16,000 to Happy Feet Advertising. Since 2022, Broward Vision paid nearly $44,000 to Happy Feet Advertising.
In March 2024, Broward Vision paid $809 to Forecast Holdings LLC, another company owned by Marlon Bolton. According to records, the amount was for “reimbursement staff transportation” to an event hosted by Broward Vision.
Last May, REDBROWARD revealed Jamaican government officials joined forces with Marlon Bolton and other Broward elected officials to raise money for Broward Vision. On Friday May 5th, Jamaican Consul General Oliver Mair was supposed to join Marlon Bolton and his fellow Tamarac Commissioner Morey Wright at the Marriott North in Fort Lauderdale to celebrate the Jamaican singer known as “Spice.”
Bolton presented Spice with the “Key To The Region” award. “I am honored to receive the Key to the Region of Florida from Vice Mayor Bolton,” Spice said. “Throughout my career, it has always been important to me to spread our beautiful Jamaican culture around the world.”
Bolton was joined by Miramar Commissioners Alexandra Davis, Maxwell Chambers, Yvette Colbourne and North Lauderdale Commissioner Regina Martin.
A flyer for “An Evening of Excellence Honoring Spice” stated “general theatre” tickets cost $45 while a VIP ticket (with dinner!) cost $500 per person.
The flyers and press release stated, “All proceeds from the night will be donated to Broward Vision PAC. All tickets purchased are a donation to Broward Vision PAC.
Marlon Bolton remained largely silent while Elvin Villalobos asked for his recusal.
Bolton said little about the large contributions by Coastal Waste.
According to Tamarac Talk, Bolton said, “My decisions are never impacted by who gives campaign contributions or not … It’s not based on who supports who or what.”
Tamarac voters deserve answers.
Why are companies seeking business in the City of Tamarac making large contributions to an obscure statewide PAC?
Who is asking these companies to make these contributions?
Why is Broward Vision paying more than $50,000 to companies tied to Marlon Bolton and his friends?
More to come…
This is a disgrace. The City of Tamarac set the guidelines in their RFP for Waste & Recycling Services. The criteria were specific and three firms submitted bids. The bids were rated by qualified city staff, and Waste Management came out on top. It was discussed at the meeting on May 8th, and a certain commissioner advised that they were only on top by one point. Waste Management was ON TOP. According to the RFP, they should have been awarded the contract. In fact, at the workshop meeting on May 6th, the Mayor & Commissioners believed that Waste Management was going to continue in their position in the trash & recycling removal for the City of Tamarac. ENOUGH of the shenanigans.
It appears that the City of Tamarac is sinking into a morass of lies, deceit, corruption, double-dealing, and bribery. It must STOP. If the City puts out an RFP, and bids are received and rated, the top bidder should get the job. If not, what other criteria is being used? Contributing to a commissioner’s PAC? Rebuilding a clubhouse where a commissioner’s church, (he IS the church), owns property?
WHERE is the Broward County Inspector General? Does this comment work as a request for that office’s investigation????
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