Tag Archives: commission

Shameless: Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton Tries To Spin Gift Card Controversy With Gift Card Video

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While Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton refuses to answer questions regarding the funding of a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, that did not stop him from posting a video showing him giving gift cards to a resident. On Monday, REDBROWARD broke news about City of Tamarac employees pressuring a Tamarac non-profit to write checks to local businesses on behalf of Marlon Bolton. A Sun-Sentinel reporter did not get a response from Bolton on the controversy. But a social media post by Bolton “thanked” the Sun-Sentinel for highlighting his gift card giveaway. Bolton made no mention of the funding questions raised by the media.

On Tuesday, REDBROWARD revealed Tapatia Supermarket gift cards emblazoned with Bolton’s name and title were featured at a private food drive in Plantation. Hours later, Marlon Bolton posted a Facebook video showing a gift card giveaway to a Tamarac resident.

Marlon Bolton Gift Cards Used For Plantation Turkey Giveaway Promotion

Bolton said, “I am happy to have provided gift cards to residents in Tamarac this holiday season!”

Once again, Marlon Bolton failed to address the funding of his giveaways.

Marlon Bolton provides spin when Tamarac residents deserve answers.

After Landing No-Bid Contract From Broward Supervisor Of Elections Office, Tamarac Commissioner Elberg Mike Gelin May Score Big Commission Check For Work He Did Not Perform

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Team Dale Holness Strikes Again?
Joe Scott & Dale Holness

Thanks to a no-bid contract from Broward Supervisor of Elections (SOE) Office, Tamarac Commissioner Elberg Mike Gelin may pocket a huge commission check for work performed by another insurance benefits company. In March, newly-elected Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott signed a contract with Gelin Benefits Group, Inc. to provide insurance benefits services to SOE employees. Elberg Mike Gelin created Gelin Benefits Group in 2015.

Under the no-bid contract Gelin Benefits Group would act as the “service provider” for the insurance benefits policy between the Broward Supervisor Of Elections Office and United Healthcare Services (UHS). The deal would pay Gelin Benefits Group a commission equivalent to 6.83% of the medical premium paid to United Healthcare Services. Elberg Mike Gelin signed the contract on February 16, 2021.

According to a source, the previous Broward SOE service provider submitted the 2021 insurance information to United Healthcare Services in December 2020. At some point between February 16, 2021 and March 10, 2021 (when Joe Scott signed the contract) United Healthcare Services recognized Gelin Benefits Group as the sole service provider for Broward SOE. Even though Gelin Benefits Group played no role in the crafting of the current policy, United Healthcare Services would pay the 2021 commission to Gelin’s company.

The source told REDBROWARD that Gelin Benefits Group would do nothing more provide information and guidance to Broward SOE employees during the 2021 calendar year.

The source claimed former Broward Supervisor of Elections Peter Antonacci was happy with the work of previous service provider but he wanted Scott to have a say in the matter. The source said Joe Scott never met or even talked to the previous service provider.

When asked by REDBROWARD about changing service providers, Joe Scott said, “My team wasn’t happy with the previous vendor and Gelin Benefits Group has a great reputation and my staff is very happy with the change.”

Scott said Gelin Benefits Group recently hosted a “health fair” for SOE employees.

As to why he didn’t seek proposals for the contract, Scott said, “Going out to bid is not always necessary to get the best deal. Our office has ongoing needs from our benefits provider. Some treat the relationship as if it was only about setting up the benefits package. Gelin works with us on an ongoing basis.”

Scott claimed the previous service provider “didn’t have adequate customer service.”

REDBROWARD asked Joe Scott how he became aware of Gelin Benefits Group.

“Gelin is really good at what they do,” Scott said. “The company is very well known in my community.” Scott would not elaborate on what he means by “my community.”

When asked if he was concerned the no-bid contract looks like political payback to one of his earliest supporters, Scott said, “I made changes in vendor relationships to improve the organization. It’s pretty typical for losing vendors to be sour. It’s not newsworthy.”

Scott failed to respond to questions regarding discussions with anyone about Gelin Benefits Group.

GELIN BENEFITS GROUP GROWS

While Joe Scott may not think it’s “newsworthy,” taxpayers do have a right to know when an elected official lands big government contracts for his company. Government agencies will put contracts out to bid in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. Here, the Broward SOE deal with Gelin Benefits Groups raises questions about a conflict of interest.

In early 2020, Joe Scott was a political newcomer in a race filled with longtime political insiders like former Broward Democrat Party Chairman Mitch Ceasar and former Broward School Board Member Jennifer Gottlieb. Some of Joe Scott’s earliest supporters were members of Team Dale Holness. In January 2020, Joe Scott received $500 from Happy Feet Advertising. REDBROWARD exposed Happy Feet Advertising’s close ties to Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton. In June 2020, Scott received a contribution from Gelin himself. One month later, Scott received $500 from Forecast Holdings LLC, a company owned by Marlon Bolton. In October 2019, Scott received a contribution from Coral Springs Commissioner Nancy Metayer. Gelin recently revealed Metayer served as his aide on the Tamarac Commisison.

In September 2020, Joe Scott picked up a contribution from Miramar Commissioner Yvette Colburne. Last month, REDBROWARD revealed Gelin Benefits Group received a big new deal from the City of Miramar. Gelin did not disclose this deal when attorneys representing Miramar applied for the City of Tamarac city attorney position.

During the 2020 election, Joe Scott hired Flyer Smith for campaign services. REDBROWARD reported how Flyer Smith owner Omar Smith, Dale Holness’ campaign guru, is repeatedly involved in mysterious political committees supporting Holness and his allies. Last year, The People Of Principle PAC mailers featured Joe Scott alongside Dale Holness.

Did Joe Scott discuss Gelin Benefits Group with any of these supporters?

Is it just a coincidence that an incoming supervisor of elections just happens to know the name of a fairly new company that does business with municipalities?

Is it another coincidence that this obscure company is owned by one of his earliest supporters?

Is it fair that Gelin Benefits Group gets to pocket a commission for work it did not perform?

Is this just another case of crony capitalism? Well-connected friends reaping the rewards of backing the winning candidate?

Don’t Broward taxpayers deserve answers?

Broward SOE contract with Gelin Benefits Group

Far-Left Candidate Nancy Metayer Reports Just Eight Coral Springs Residents Contributed To Her Campaign In September

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Nancy Metayer, a far-left City Commission candidate, reports just eight Coral Springs residents contributed to her campaign in September. Metayer, a Democrat, raised $8,744 in September from eighty-two contributors. Just $393.60 was raised from Coral Springs residents. While Metayer did report contributions from two Coral Springs businesses, most of her campaign cash came from far-left politicians and activists.

Earlier this month, REDBROWARD exposed the far-left push to control Coral Springs city government.

In 2019, Metayer, a “climate justice organizer,” placed second in the Coral Springs Mayor’s race.

Metayer’s 2019 mayoral campaign received numerous contributions from progressive groups like Common Voices, Alliance For A Better Community, FLIC Votes, SEIU and Ruth’s List. None of these groups are located in Coral Springs. Metayer had the support of controversial politicians like Broward Dale Holness, Tamarac Commissioner Mike Gelin and Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Sabrina Javellana.

According to Metayer’s 2019 campaign reports, only 30 contributions came from Coral Springs. Over 90% of her 304 contributions were made from people and groups from outside Coral Springs city limits.

In a stark contrast, Metayer was defeated by Scott Brook who received 53 percent of his campaign contributions from Coral Springs residents.

As of September 2020, Metayer reports 597 contributions to her city commission campaign. Just 71 contributions come from Coral Springs residents. Outsider contributions make up nearly 89% of Nancy Metayer’s support.

In September, Metayer received a large contribution from Burnadette Norris Weeks, the former attorney for Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes.

Metayer received support from Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Ben Sorensen and Sarah Leonardi, the newly-elected School Board Member for Fort Lauderdale. She received a check from a fellow candidate on the ballot, Jennifer Andreu of Plantation.

Metayer picked up a contribution from Desmond Meade of Ovideo. Meade is a well-known Florida Felons Rights leader.

Earlier in the campaign, Metayer received contributions from Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton and Plantation Councilwoman Denise Horland. She received campaign support from failed Broward State Attorney Joe Kimok, who wanted to decriminalize hard drugs.

Metayer received funding from Dwight Bullard and the New Florida Majority political committee which is conducting operations in support of Joe Biden and the Democrats. She received contributions from Ithohan “Stephanie” Ighodaro whose “Hard Knock Strategies” received $6 million dollars from George Soros’ Win Justice PAC.

Metayer received numerous contributions from politicians calling for defund of the police like Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Sabrina Javellana and Mike Gelin of Tamarac.

Metayer received support from Jasmen Rogers-Shaw, a founder of the local Black Lives Matter (BLM). Metayer attended several BLM/Dream Defenders protests this summer.

But Metayer is not the only Coral Springs candidate with backing from the far left.

STACKING THE CORAL SPRINGS COMMISSION

In 2018, Joshua Simmons, a Broward school teacher, beat incumbent Coral Springs Commissioner Lou Cimaglia. Despite being a political novice, Simmons managed to collect nearly $32,000 in campaign contributions. Simmons received contributions from MoveOn.org, Emerge (Emgage), and Latino Victory US. Simmons had the financial support of politicians like Rep Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland), Broward School Board Member Rosalind Osgood, and Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness.

None of these politicians represent the City of Coral Springs.

According to the reports, more than 75% of Josh Simmons’ campaign contributions came from outside the City of Coral Springs.

Simmons used Holness Consulting, a company owned by Damara Holness, as his campaign consultant.

In the 2019 City Commission race, candidate Khurrum Wahid showed numbers similar to Nancy Metayer. For the June 18, 2019 seat 2 election, Khurrum Wahid reported 202 total contributions. Only 21 of the contributions came from Coral Springs. Ninety percent (181) of Wahid’s contributions were made by entities outside Coral Springs.

Why are progressive groups and outside interests flooding Coral Springs elections with money? What do they want in return? What happens to the Coral Springs Police Department if Simmons and Metayer try to “defund the police?”