Tag Archives: Billy Hardemon

Broward PAC Operated By Relatives Of Miami-Dade Commissioner Keon Hardemon Received More Than $111K In Days Before Controversial Calusa Golf Course Vote

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A Broward political committee operated by relatives of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon received more than $111,000 from Miami based special interests just days before a vote rezoning the Calusa Golf Course, records show. In June, REDBROWARD exposed the growing “unholy alliance” between Keon Hardemon and controversial Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness. Records showed Hardemon’s aunt, Barbara Hardemon formed the “Better Leadership” political committee in May. In its first five months, the Hardemon political committee pulled in just $12,000 in contributions.

But in October, Better Leadership reported a whopping $111,500 from twenty-one contributors. Nineteen of the twenty-one contributions came from Miami-Dade County. One contribution came from Palm Beach while another was made by a construction company based in New York City. Not a single contribution to the Broward-based Better Leadership political committee came from Broward County.

Zero, zip, nada.

Why were so many Miami developers, architects, construction companies and lawyers giving money to a Broward PAC?

In June, REDBROWARD reported the creation of the Better Leadership PAC appeared to coincide with Alexandra Davis’ campaign for a seat on the Broward County Commission. Miramar Commissioner Alexandra Davis filed her campaign paperwork for the District 8 seat on the Broward County Commission on May 3, 2021. She is a close ally of Dale Holness.

On May 7, 2021, Barbara Hardemon filed the “Better Leadership” paperwork with the Broward Supervisor of Elections office. Hardemon stated the committee would “support local issues” in Miami-Dade and Broward. REDBROWARD revealed Barbara and her husband Billy were already supporting Alexandra Davis’ campaign.

In her first campaign treasurer’s report, Alexandra Davis lists a $1,000 contribution from B&B Professional Consultants Inc. State business records show B and B Professional Consultants, Inc. is owned by Barbara Hardemon. Davis reports another $1,000 contribution from Barbara Hardemon.

But with the County Commission nearly a year away, would these Miami special interests flood a pro-Davis PAC with so much cash?

The timing of these large contributions suggests they may be related to issues before the Miami-Dade County Commission not the Broward County Commission.

BETTER LEADERSHIP IN BROWARD OR MIAMI-DADE?

Broward Supervisor of Elections records show twenty of the twenty-one contributions were made on October 28, 2021. On November 17, 2021 Keon Hardemon and the Miami-Dade County Commission voted to allow construction of 550 homes on the Calusa Golf Course in Kendall. Residents objected to turning the golf course, a nature preserve in a existing community, into a giant development.

The developers were represented by the Bilzin Sumberg law firm. On its website, Bilzin Sumberg brags how it worked to get a restrictive covenant removed which paved the way for the 550 homes.

Election records show Bilzin Sumberg and eight of its lawyers made $9,000 in contributions to Better Leadership on October 28, 2021.

REDBROWARD reached out the the lawyers at Bilzin Sumberg to ask about the contributions to the Better Leadership political committee. Anthony De Yurre, a partner at Bilzin Sumberg said he could not recall why he gave the Broward PAC a $1,000 contribution. When asked if he spoke with Barbara Hardemon about the contribution, De Yurre said, “no.”

When asked if the Bilzin Sumberg contributions were tied to their work on the Calusa Golf Course matter, De Yurre said, “no comment” and ended the call.

Who asked for the Better Leadership contributions? Why did Miami lawyers give their hard earned cash to a Broward PAC? Giving money to a Better Leadership is perfectly legal, so why is it so hard to recall the specifics from one month ago?

Attorney David Winker, who represents residents opposed to the Calusa redevelopment plans, did not seem shocked by the contributions. “Listen, Commissioners [Joe] Martinez and [Sally] Heyman openly spoke about knowing that the fix was in,” Winker said. “Democracy is not working when Commissioners are openly speaking about the fact that the hearing is a waste of time because approval was a foregone conclusion.”

Winker said Commissioner should disclose any money received before they vote. “At the end of the day, everyone in favor of this was paid,” Winker said.

Calls to the Better Leadership political committee went unanswered.

Do Broward voters want this Miami style of government coming here?

Is the Hardemon family really offering Better Leadership to Broward residents?

Teamwork: Allies From Miami-Dade, Miramar & Tamarac Donate Big Bucks To Dale Holness Congressional Campaign

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Team Dale Holness?

On Monday, Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness did not want to discuss the details of the money he raised for his U.S. Congressional campaign.

“We’re doing well. God is good. In spite of all this stuff that they might throw at me, I’m doing all right. Thank you,” Holness told the Sun-Sentinel.

No worries Dale. REDBROWARD is more than happy to share the details with the public.

Team Dale Holness™️ assembled from across Miami-Dade, Miramar and Tamarac to fill Dale Holness’ congressional campaign with big bucks, records show. The controversial Broward County Commissioner is seeking to replace the late Alcee Hastings in the United States Congress (CD 20). Last week, the Holness For Congress committee reported more than $300,000 in contributions.

In June, the Holness campaign picked up nearly $6,000 in contributions from relatives of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon. On June 11, 2021, Holness received a $1,000 contribution from Aunt Barbara Hardemon. On June 29th, Barbara chipped in another $1,900 while Uncle Billy Hardemon made a $2,900 contribution.

In January, REDBROWARD revealed the growing alliance between Dale Holness and Keon Hardemon. In October 2020, B and B Professional Consultants, Inc. made a $2,500 contribution to the federal “People of Principle PAC.” REDBROWARD exposed the deep ties between Holness aides and the shady Federal political committee. State business records show B and B Professional Consultants, Inc. is owned by Keon Hardemon’s aunt, Barbara Hardemon.

Last month, REDBROWARD exposed the Hardemon’s ploy to further influence Broward elections.

Records show Hardemon’s aunt, Barbara Hardemon formed the “Better Leadership” political committee in May 2020. The timing appears to coincide with a campaign for a seat on the Broward County Commission by a close ally of Dale Holness.

Miramar Commissioner Alexandra Davis filed her campaign paperwork for the District 8 seat on the Broward County Commission on May 3, 2021. Barbara Sharief is expected to resign from this County Commission in order to run for U.S. Congress CD 20. In April, Alexandra Davis endorsed Dale Holness in the same CD 20 race.

On May 7, 2021, Barbara Hardemon filed the “Better Leadership” paperwork with the Broward Supervisor of Elections office. Hardemon stated the committee would “support local issues” in Miami-Dade and Broward. REDBROWARD previously reported Aunt Barbara and Uncle Billy were already supporting Alexandra Davis’ campaign.

In her first campaign treasurer’s report, Alexandra Davis lists a $1,000 contribution from B&B Professional Consultants Inc. which is owned by Aunt Barbara. Davis reports another $1,000 contribution from Barbara Hardemon.

MIRAMAR INC?

Broward Supervisor of Elections records show Barbara Hardemon listed 3900 S.W. 26th Street in West Park as the the address for the “Better Leadership” committee. Barbara and Bill Hardemon live next door at 3840 S.W. 26th Street. Broward property records show the home at 3900 S.W. 26th Street is owned by their daughter, Zakiya Hardemon Kelley.

According to the City of Miramar website, Zakiya Kelley is the assistant director of their cultural affairs division. REDBROWARD asked Zakiya Hardemon Kelley for comment. She did not respond.

This is not the first case of a Hardemon/Miami to City of Miramar political pipeline.

An August 2013 investigation by the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission exposed the role Billy and Barbara Hardemon played in City of Miramar politics. The 2013 complaint alleged Billy Hardemon, then an employee with the Miami-Dade County Department of Public Works and Waste Management (PWWM), spent “substantial amounts of county time, taken without authorized leave, in the City of Miramar, in Broward County…during hours when Hardemon was understood to be working at his Miami-Dade County job.”

What was Billy Hardemon doing in Miramar? According to the complaint, Hardemon attended numerous City of Miramar government meetings as the “de facto chief of staff” for Miramar City Commissioner Yvette Colburne. (Other employees claimed Hardemon served a similar role with Miramar City Commissioner Alexandra Davis).

In an interview with investigators, Colburne admitted Billy Hardemon was her “advisor.” She said his role was to advise her and “attend meetings for and with her.” While he assisted with her campaign, Colburne stated Hardemon was not paid or compensated in anyway.

However, investigators determined Colburne’s campaign paid $2,000 to B and B Professional Consultants, Inc., a company owned by Barbara Hardemon.

Colburne told investigators that Billy Hardemon and Barbara Hardemon were members of “Team Colburne.” As to his employment in Miami-Dade County, Colburne told investigators, “I felt that was being handled with his superiors.”

Campaign records show “Team Colburne” definitely backs Team Dale Holness. On June 29, 2021, Yvette Colburne made a $1,000 contribution to Holness for Congress.

In April, Miramar City Attorney Burnadette Norris Weeks and her law partner Michelle Pamies each made $1,000 contributions to Holness for Congress. REDBROWARD has written numerous reports detailing the alliance between Dale Holness and Burnadette Norris Weeks who was the attorney for former Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes.

TAMARAC HALL?

In March, REDBROWARD revealed several candidates for the Tamarac city attorney position were linked to the Austin Pamies Norris Weeks Powell law firm owned by Miramar city attorney Burnadette Norris Weeks. Attorneys with Ottinot Law and Michael Garcia P.A. were listed as attorneys on the Austin Pamies Norris Weeks and Powell website. Hans Ottinot was serving as the interim Tamarac city attorney.

Despite the convoluted and undisclosed ties with Austin Pamies Norris Weeks Powell, Tamarac Commissioner Elberg Mike Gelin defended the Ottinot and Garcia bids.

In June, REDBROWARD revealed Elberg Mike Gelin failed to disclose his business dealings with the City Of Miramar and its city attorneys with the Austin Pamies Norris Weeks Powell law firm.

During his full-throated defense of the Michael Garcia and Austin Pamies Norris Weeks Powell firms, Tamarac Commissioner Elberg Mike Gelin stated both firms worked for the City of Miramar. But Gelin never mentioned his business relationship with the City of Miramar. According to public records, a company owned by Commissioner Gelin has a lucrative contract with the City of Miramar.

State records show Elberg Mike Gelin formed the company in January 2015. Three years later, the City of Miramar signed a contract for health benefits consulting with Gelin Benefits Group, Inc. The three year deal was set to expire in January 2021.

On January 27, 2021, City of Miramar officials recommended a new deal with Gelin Benefits Group. The first contract awarded $105,000 per year to Gelin Benefits Group. The new deal saw a huge 60% increase for Gelin Benefits Group.

Under the new deal, Miramar taxpayers would pay $165,000 per year to Gelin’s company as well as “$240 hourly for work on an as needed basis.”

In April 2021, Elberg Mike Gelin made a $1,000 contribution to Dale Holness’ congressional campaign. Gelin’s wife Shaheewa Jarret Gelin also gave Holness For Congress a $1,000 contribution. Hans Ottinot, the then-interim Tamarac city attorney gave $1,500 to Holness For Congress.

In June, Shaheewa Jarrett Gelin chipped in another $1,000 to to the Holness campaign. And even though he did not land the lucrative Tamarac city attorney job, Hans Ottinot still gave $1,000 to Dale Holness.

Talk about teamwork….