Tag Archives: florida democratic party

Broward Democrat Chair “Occupies” Palestine Table At Muslim Event

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Cynthia Busch, second from left, confers with Ghazala Salam of the American Muslim Democratic Caucus

Even though they risk alienating their traditional base voters, the Broward Democrat Party continues to pander to local Muslim groups. The latest stop in the party’s pandering tour took place last week at the Muslim Heritage Celebration Dinner in Lauderhill. The dinner at the Mehfil restaurant was hosted by the American Muslim Democratic Caucus. Many Democrat party leaders and politicians, including former party boss Mitch Ceasar, attended the Ramadan dinner.

Ceasar told the Sun-Sentinel, “We have to spend these days now banding together. We have to realize we are all in this together. If we want this country to be as we believe it to be…we have to unite and stand together, whether it’s fighting bigotry or intolerance or just plain lies and ignorance.”

While Ceasar runs for Broward County Clerk of Courts, Cynthia Busch has taken the reins of the Broward Democrat Party. In pictures posted on social media, Busch can been seen sitting at a table at the event. A sign placed in the center of the table has the word “Palestine” written on it.

While it’s doubtful Busch was making a political statement on Israel by sitting at the table, one wonders how traditional Democrat voters in King’s Point, Wynmoor and Century Village would feel about the table’s centerpiece?

This is not the first example of Broward Democrat’s failure to make Muslim outreach a “teaching moment.” Last June, REDBROWARD exposed how local female judicial candidates covered their heads at Ramadan dinners. The event was hosted by the Democrat-friendly Emerge USA group. In 2014, REDBROWARD documented EMERGE USA’s strong support for Democrats Charlie Crist and Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief.

Pictures from the event featured Broward County Commissioner Marty Kiar, Broward Sheriff Scott Israel and Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan. While these gentleman appeared as they do at any community or political event, the Broward women running for office looked very different.

Pictures show State Rep. Gwyn Clarke-Reed and several women seeking to be Broward judges wearing scarves over their heads.

Before you say they’re showing respect inside of a mosque, many of the pictures were taken under a tent in the parking lot.

Broward Chief Judge Peter Weinstein attended the event in his normal attire. Would a sitting female judge cover her head? Would she politely decline and use the opportunity as a “teaching moment” on women’s issues in the Muslim faith?

Did anybody tell Rhoda Sokoloff, Betsy Benson and Andrea Gundersen to cover their heads?

Perry Thurston Campaign Spends Money on Perry Thurston & His Family

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courtesy SFLTimes.com

courtesy SFLTimes.com

According to State of Florida campaign records, Perry Thurston’s State Senate campaign spends most of its money on Perry Thurston and his family members. Facing term limits in the Florida House, Thurston has been running for the District 31 Senate seat since 2013. Thurston is running against fellow Democrat Fl. Rep. Gwyndolen “Gwyn” Clarke-Reed.

According to the Florida Department of Elections, since January 2013, Thurston has raised nearly $55,000 for his State Senate campaign. Not surprisingly, as the minority leader of the Florida House, most of Thurston’s campaign contributions came from special interest groups and political action committees. As of August 2015, the Thurston campaign has spent $26,156.37 of his contributions.

The records show the overwhelming majority of the money was paid to Thurston and his wife Dawn. Since 2013, the campaign has paid $6,923.04 to Dawn Thurston. The campaign stated the expenditures were made for “canvassing,” “meals,” “campaign supplies,” “campaign expences [sic],” and “campaign expendatures [sic].” Since March 2015, Mrs. Thurston has received $5,071.61 from her husband’s campaign.

Campaign records show multiple payments to Perry Thurston, Floyd Thurston and Frances Merricks. In April 2013, this reporter exposed Perry Thurston’s residency games involving Frances Merricks’ Fort Lauderdale home. Thurston claimed to be living with a convicted felon in Merricks’ small home, rather than with his wife and children in the two-story home he owns in Plantation, in order to meet elected officials’ residency requirements in the Florida Constitution.

The Florida Constitution requires state legislators to live in the districts they represent. Thurston, a lawyer, represented House District 94. Broward County Property Appraiser records show Thurston, the Democratic Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives, owns a two-story home with Dawn Thurston in Plantation which lies in Florida House District 99.

Thurston’s 2012 campaign treasurer’s reports show he paid Frances Merricks $4,770 for “campaign headquarters rent.”  Thurston’s 2012 campaign headquarters was located at a Fort Lauderdale liquor store owned by Frances Merricks and Floyd Thurston.

Records show Thurston spent $6,165.74 on “other distributions.” Most of the expenses covered gas purchases and meals.

In stark contrast, Clarke-Reed has raised just $1,465 since joining the race in June. This amount includes a $1,000 loan to the campaign by Clarke-Reed. The rest of her contributions are small donations made by local supporters.