Author Archives: Tom Lauder

About Tom Lauder

Covering South Florida Politics Since 2010...As Seen On: POLITICO, The Huffington Post, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, The Miami Herald, WPLG LOCAL 10 (ABC MIAMI), The New Times

Lighthouse Point Candidate Maria O’Donnell Digging Up Dirt On Private Citizens?!?

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder in Lighthouse Point, REDBROWARD obtained documents showing mayoral candidate Maria Corvaia O’Donnell digging up dirt on private citizens. Public records show O’Donnell sought information on eight Lighthouse Point residents. Only two names were public officials: Mayor Glenn Troast and former Broward Health Commissioner Maureen Canada. The other residents were apparently targeted for supporting O’Donnell’s opponent on social media.

On February 28, 2017 Maria O’Donnell submitted her first public records request to the City of Lighthouse Point Clerk.

I would also like to request records on the following individuals:

Maureen Spieker Canada

Christian Spieker

Matthew White

Nicole Burrier White

Vicki Alfani Burrier

Greg Pagans

This records request is for their entire residency. Thank you.

Maria Corvaia O’Donnell

The People’s Law

What was Maria Corvaia O’Donnell looking for? 

The City of Lighthouse Point Clerk handles requests for police reports. The request was made on the same day her husband was interviewed by Lighthouse Point Police about the unlawful removal of Glenn Troast campaign signs. 

Yesterday, REDBROWARD reported Brendan O’Donnell admitted to removing “Re-Elect Mayor Glenn Troast” signs from the yards of his supporters. O’Donnell was caught in the act on a neighbor’s surveillance video camera. Lighthouse Point Police recommended advising the victims on how to file misdemeanor charges.

On Thursday, March 2nd, Maria Corvaia O’Donnell made another public records request.

I’ll reduce my request actually based on the latest information I’ve received:

Marjorie Troast

Glenn Troast

Greg Pagans

Matthew White

Nicole White (same address as Matthew)

Thank you.

Maria Corvaia O’Donnell

The People’s Law

Marjorie Troast, the wife of Mayor Glenn Troast, defended herself after a pro-Maria O’Donnell Facebook page spread false rumors about the mayor’s children and the death of his first wife in a tragic car accident.  The same pro-O’Donnell page falsely accused Greg Pagans’ wife Lynn of operating a pro-Troast Facebook page.

Was the public records request payback for the online comments? Was Maria Corvaia O’Donnell trying to intimidate private Lighthouse Point residents?

We tried to ask her.

MARIA O’DONNELL RESPONDS (SORT OF)

On Friday, we asked Maria O’Donnell about her public records request. In a Facebook message, this reporter asked, “Question: why did you do a PRR for so many private citizens of LHP?”

Her response: “Question: how did you know to go get that police report?” (She’s referring to the police report regarding her husband removing Troast campaign signs).

REDBROWARD stated we do not discuss our reporting techniques or reveal any sources.

Then we asked her, “Why did you make PRR for info on private citizens? What info were you hoping to find? How did you use info?”

She has yet to respond.

Lighthouse Point residents deserve answers before the March 14th election.

Sign-Gate: READ Lighthouse Point Police Report About Maria O’Donnell’s Husband

Read the full Lighthouse Point Police report about Brendan O’Donnell removing campaign signs of Mayor Glenn Troast.

UPDATE: Two items on page one of the police report have been redacted for privacy reasons. These items were inadvertently visible in the original post. We regret the error.