If you haven’t seen the excellent article about behind-the-scenes Plantation by former Sun-Sentinel political reporter Buddy Nevins, you’re missing out on the inside scoop about the biggest story in town. But there’s more to the story that Buddy only alluded to….

Since the election, our city has made great strides. Yet when the City Attorney was picked from a fair and open bidding process after 40 years of a no-bid contract, one commissioner who wanted to protect their campaign supporters had the nerve to complain about the process. Only one tried to put her thumb on the scale by having the same “gadflies” and “insiders” make noise on Facebook and at meetings.

This commissioner and the old guard insiders” are organizing behind the scenes to thwart the voters and bring us back to the bad ol’ days when the good ol’ boy system of nepotism and cronyism decided the direction of our city, not good ideas. They have decided the way to get there is by creating division and bashing and bullying the mayor via the same obvious proxies and lackies they’ve been using for years.

Plantation residents want what is good for our neighborhoods, not what is good for a small group of individuals to regain power.

They are already seeking out candidates to run in 2020 and think being loud on Facebook and at Council meetings will bring them back to power. They are wrong.

The electorate is more educated then ever and last year, voters set the City of Plantation in a new direction by overwhelmingly rejecting the candidates who wanted a continuation of the same old way of doing things. Instead, our neighbors decided to move our city forward to prevent our city and our neighborhoods from becoming stagnant and blighted.

Residents overwhelmingly rejected the stale policies of Mayor Diane Veltri-Bendekoic and her hand-picked successor Pete Tingom, who ran specifically on a “more of the same” platform. While she and her allies at the Chamber blamed conspiracies and games, Plantation voters simply wanted change. We are ready to move forward.

When this small group of insiders can pick and choose which new businesses can open in the City based on their personal tastes and dislikes, or use their office for electoral revenge, it’s bad for our residents and our neighborhoods.

Plantation residents should be proud of the new direction our city is taking and we must vow to never go back to the old way of doing business.