frank ortis - REDBROWARD

Longtime Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis endorsed State Senator Lauren Book on Tuesday. Book is facing a tough primary challenge from former Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief. Here’s the press release from the Book campaign:

DAVIE, Fla. – The campaign to re-elect Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book is proud to announce strong support and endorsement from Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis, who knows Senator Book’s proven track record delivering results for the City of Pembroke Pines and Broward County is exactly the kind of leadership our community needs in the Florida Senate.

“I’m proud to support and endorse Lauren Book as our State Senator because she’s a strong champion for Broward families,” says Mayor Ortis, one of South Florida’s most beloved and respected public servants. “She’s always fought hard to deliver results for Pembroke Pines and always stood strong to bring the greatest resources from the Legislature. She makes us proud and I’m excited to support her campaign.”

A champion for Broward County, Senator Book is a tireless and effective fighter and legislative leader who has made a real difference for families in our community and across the state – successfully fighting to keep children safe from sexual predators, make our schools and communities safer, protect seniors, reform the child welfare system, support first responders, and so much more — earning Senator Book praise and respect from Mayor Ortis and other local leaders.

“I am proud to have earned the support of Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis,” says Senator Book, who has represented Western Broward County — including Pembroke Pines — in the Florida Senate since 2016. “Together with strong local leaders like Mayor Ortis, we will continue to fight for policies that benefit Broward families and all residents, including tackling the ongoing affordability crisis and keeping our kids and communities safe.”

The Broward Democrat elected officials who gathered in Pembroke Pines to rally for Cuban Freedom were not happy when one resident tried to exercise his First Amendment rights. Sure, Broward Mayor Steve Geller, Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis, County Commissioner Dale Holness held signs calling for “Democracy in Cuba,” but Geller and Ortis would have made the Castro brothers proud by their reactions when one resident interrupted the photo opportunity.

The Broward resident dared to ask Mayor Geller if mask mandates and arrests of residents violating COVID-19 protocols were reminiscent of communism. While any politician should be able to explain the differences, Geller, Ortis and their taxpayer funded aides tried to silence the resident.

Geller’s controversial aide Bina Fink and her associates desperately tried to block access to the Mayor.

Ortis and his allies tried to get Pembroke Police to intervene. The video shows police declined. Unlike Ortis, his officers were well aware that a resident recording politicians on public property is protected by the First Amendment.

When their attempts to silence the resident failed, Geller sought safety inside the Pembroke Pines government center. On his way inside, Geller told the resident, “I think you’re a jerk.”

The resident had the final word. He called Geller a “tyrant.”

Earlier, Geller held a sign which read “Democrats For Democracy In Cuba.” Guess he’s undecided about “Democracy in Broward.”

For our Margate readers, the Cuban people are risking arrest by taking to the streets to protest the tactics of their Communist leaders. These Broward Democrats were supposed to be showing unity with the Cuban people. Instead, men like Steve Geller and Frank Ortis did their best imitation a of Cuban politicians.

Some would call them hypocrites.

Even worse, elected officials stood by in silence as Geller and Ortis attacked a protestor at a Cuban Fredom rally.

Officials elected to city government, County government, the Broward School Board and even the State Legislature did nothing as a Geller and Ortis tried to get police to silence a man with a camera shouting questions at a Cuban freedom rally.

Cowards.

Shame on you.