Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Dean Trantalis is still spending campaign funds on members of “Team Dale Holness.” The newest campaign treasurer report filed with the City Of Fort Lauderdale shows Trantalis’ mayoral campaign issued more payments to a marketing company owned by an official of the Palm Beach Democrat Party. The report shows Trantalis made two payments to Elijah Manley, a self-described “radical” candidate for the Broward County School Board.

The new treasurer report shows two payments to campaign “volunteer” Elijah Manley. On January 10, 2018, a payment of $292.50 was made to Manley. Two days later, Manley was arrested after running from Fort Lauderdale Police conducting an investigation into vandalism of campaign materials belonging to Vice Mayor Bruce Roberts. Trantalis faces Roberts in the March 13th runoff election for Mayor.

According to the police report, Manley fit the description given by an eyewitness. Manley was charged with resisting arrest without violence. In appearance on WPLG Local 10 This Week With Michael Putney, Trantalis was asked about Manley. He said he spoke to Manley on the phone. According to Trantalis, Manley said a police car was following him. Trantalis, an attorney, did not disclose his advice to Manley. But Trantalis said he could understand why a young black man would run from police.

After last week’s primary, Trantalis told a Sun-Sentinel reporter that Elijah Manley was no longer with the campaign. A review of campaign reports show Manley was the highest paid “volunteer” on the Trantalis campaign. For two weeks of volunteering, Manley received $742.50 from the Trantalis campaign.

As REDBROWARD reported, Elijah Manley has deep ties to controversial Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness. In addition to working on the Trantalis and Holness campaigns, Dale Holness has endorsed Manley’s bid for a seat on the Broward County School Board. Damara Holness, his daughter, is the campaign manager for Manley’s school board campaign.

A review of Federal campaign records show Dale Holness made at least two contributions to Elijah Manley’s 2016 U.S. Presidential campaign. Manley sought the Socialist and Green Party nominations for President.

TEAM HOLNESS’ PALM BEACH BRANCH

The latest Trantalis campaign report shows three more payments to SA Nelson and Associates, a Palm Beach marketing firm owned by Palm Beach Democrat Party official Sophia A. Nelson. In less than one month, the Trantalis paid $9,435.25 to Nelson. Earlier this month, REDBROWARD reported ties between Team Holness and a pro-Dean Trantalis email sent to Broward voters. The email urged voters to support Dean Trantalis, Donna Guthrie, Steve Glassman and Warren Sturman. The email claimed voters, “need responsive, accessible leadership with the fortitude to make the tough choices.” Trantalis, Glassman and Sturman have advanced to the March elections.

The email lacked any proper disclaimer. It simply states it was sent from a marketing company in West Palm Beach. The company, FlyerSmith, has deep ties to Dale Holness.

Florida Business records show FlyerSmith is a fictitious name name tied to A Star For I, Inc. owned and operated by Omar M. Smith at 2930 Okeechobee Road in West Palm Beach. Records from 2016 show FlyerSmith performed campaign extensive work for Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness.

Commenting to Sun-Sentinel reporter Brittany Wallman, Smith denied anyone asked him to send the endorsement email. Smith said he came up with the idea after reading emails from Fort Lauderdale candidates.

Throughout her ill-fated candidacy, Donna Guthrie was plagued with comical email blunders. First, supporters received an email alerting them it was election day. Just one problem, the email went out one week before the election. Then, supporters received emails after Guthrie lost the primary election.

This week, Guthrie told Wallman the embarrassing mistakes were the fault of her email vendor, Omar Smith of FlyerSmith.

Last month, A Better Florida For All, a political committee, hosted a fundraiser for Dean Trantalis. According to an announcement, the A Better Florida For All event was held at All Broward Realty in Plantation. State records show this company is owned by Dale Holness.

Florida Division Of Elections records show Sophia A. Nelson is the chairperson of the “A Better Florida For All” political committee. The address for this political committee is the same address found on the FlyerSmith email to Fort Lauderdale voters.

Division of Elections records show Omar Smith is the treasurer of the “A Better Florida For All” political committee.

Why is Dean Trantalis so interested in getting the support of Dale Holness?

Why is Dale Holness so interested in the City of Fort Lauderdale?

Do Fort Lauderdale voters want a Mayor beholden to Dale Holness?

Fort Lauderdale voters deserve answers before the March election.