Tag Archives: Praetorian

Why Did Broward Republican Party Leaders Fail To Endorse Republican Women For Judge? Twice!

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Last August, the board members of the Broward Republican Executive Committee (BREC) issued endorsements of candidates in the primary election. Unlike the Broward Democrats, BREC leaders decided to endorse candidates in the non-partisan races for Broward judge. The BREC board includes Chairman George Moraitis, Vice Chair Celeste Ellich, Secretary Rupert Tarsey, Treasurer Kevin Moot, State Committee Woman Michele Merrell and State Committeeman Richard DeNapoli.

In the three-person race for Broward County Court Judge Group 9, the BREC Board endorsed Tanner Channing Demmery over Leonore Greller and Corey Amanda Cawthon. In the November runoff, the BREC Board once again endorsed Demmery over Cawthon.

In October, Javier Manjarres of the Shark Tank wondered why the BREC leadership decided to endorse Demmery, a Democrat public defender over Corey Cawthon, a registered Republican.

Manjarres wrote, “This is disgraceful for Republicans, but is an expected move from the embattled misfit group of Republicans who supposedly represent all Broward Republicans.”

In a statement to Manjarres, Chairman George Moraitis, “affirmed the decision, stating that the decision was made to endorse after ‘the attorneys’ recommended it. Moraitis did not say who the attorneys were.”

The only attorneys on the BREC Board are Moraitis, Moot and DeNapoli.

DEFENSIVE DEMMERY DENIES “PAY FOR PLAY”

REDBROWARD caught up with Tanner Demmery last month at the early voting location in Coral Springs.

As REDBROWARD reported, Tanner Demmery faced questions over his endorsement by the A Better Florida For All political committee. The committee strongly supported Democrat gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum. With close ties to controversial Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness, the committee also endorsed local African-American candidates for judge. Local insiders were shocked to find Demmery listed on the “Diversity” slate for judges.

Buddy Nevins at Broward Beat reported the four non-partisan judicial candidates appearing on the A Better Florida For All card were Haccord James Curry, Stefanie Camille Moon, Jackie Powell and Tanner Channing Demmery.

“Partisan appeals judicial candidates’ ads are forbidden by the Florida Supreme Court Code of Judicial Conduct. Joint advertising by judicial candidates is also prohibited,” Nevins wrote.

When REDBROWARD caught up with him at the Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs, Demmery cried “harassment” when asked about his appearance on the partisan card from the A Better Florida For All political committee. Demmery even asked a woman to call the police.

Demmery said, “I don’t pay anyone to be on endorsement cards.” When asked about the BREC endorsement, Demmery’s answers were not as clear cut. He claimed he was on the card because “people support me.”

When asked if he met with Rupert Tarsey, Demmery said, “I don’t even know who Rupert Tarsey is.”

When asked about his contact with Richard DeNapoli, Demmery denied meeting with anyone but would not answer when asked if he talked to him or any other BREC leader. “I never paid to be on any of these cards,” Demmery said.

Demmery was badly beaten by Corey Cawthon.

https://youtu.be/DNBIzGe4t8A

2016 FIGHT OVER ENDORSEMENT LEADS TO LACK OF PALM CARDS

The controversy over the Demmery pick is not the first time endorsement drama enveloped the BREC Board. In 2016, BREC failed to include Judge Nina DiPietro on its list of endorsements. Her husband, David DiPietro was former legal counsel for BREC.

After some prominent Republicans complained about DiPietro’s exclusion, BREC was forced to print new endorsement cards. Buddy Nevins of Browardbeat.com “was also told that the board of directors of the local GOP were split over whether to redo the cards, which will be distributed to select voters. A number of directors opposed changing the list to include Judge Di Pietro.”

What was the real story behind the DiPietro mess?

According to former BREC Chairman Robert Sutton, one particular BREC Board member did not want Judge Nina DiPietro the palm card.

“Richard DeNapoli said he did not want Nina DiPietro to get the BREC endorsement,” Sutton told REDBROWARD.

In an October 2016 e-mail to REDBROWARD, DeNapoli included the endorsement card without DiPietro. He said it was available on the party Facebook page. DeNapoli wrote, “This was the finalized guide as decided by the Board and amendments voted upon by the BREC members at the September meeting.”

Sutton said party leaders in Tallahassee were extremely angry over the slight and the cards were reprinted.

Did DeNapoli let his dislike of David DiPietro interfere with BREC business? In his 2014 failed race for the Florida House, DeNapoli was angered when DiPietro held a fundraiser for his opponent.

Did DeNapoli’s personal feelings influence his endorsement of Democrat Tanner Channing Demmery?

BREC members deserve answers, right?

Lawsuit: Party Candidate Tied To Websites Attacking Former Broward Republican Chairmen

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A lawsuit filed in Broward County Court seeks information from Broward Republican Executive Committee Board (BREC) candidate Jeff Brown about his ties to emails and websites attacking former BREC chairmen and party members. On Monday, BREC members received an e-mail announcing Brown’s campaign for BREC treasurer. According to the e-mail, Brown is part of a “BREC slate” which includes Chairman George Moraitis, former Coral Springs City Commissioner Tom Powers and Rupert Tarsey.

Earlier this month, Brown was subpoenaed in a “John Doe” case filed by former BREC Chairman Kevin Tynan. Subpoenas were also issued to companies owned by Brown( Top Of Google and Inspiration Museum) and as well as tech giants Google and Go Daddy. The lawsuit seeks information on the identity of the person(s) responsible for a website attacking Tynan.

The subpoena asks Jeff Brown to produce information regarding e-mail accounts (bytheluckoftheirish@gmail.com, browarditalianstallion@gmail.com and brec4change@gmail.com). Last year, REDBROWARD exposed attacks on BREC members sent from the brec4change@gmail.com address.

In October 2017, BREC members received an email attacking a supporter of Chairman Robert Sutton. Sent from the “BREC4Change” email account, the piece promised an upcoming hit piece on the BREC legal counsel. The anonymous email was not an authorized communication.

Days later, BREC4CHANGE sent another email attack on Tuesday. It attacked this reporter as the “Chief of Fake News.”

Proving that the sender(s) of the email to be rank amateur(s), the attack included links to other hit pieces that may have not been sent. The account shows 5 email pieces were created between October 2 and October 10, 2017.

The subpoenas issued to Jeff Brown asked for information regarding the creation, registration and operation of several websites. The sites were KevinTynan.com, BobNicholsAttorney.com, JayNarang.com, BobSutton.com, LanceSchaper.com, DanielPaulDiaz.com, RupertTarsey.com and Richard-DeNapoli.com. The Tarsey and DeNapoli websites are not attack websites.

Brown is a longtime friend of Richard DeNapoli, the Broward State Committeeman. Since March 2018, BREC paid Jeff Brown $1,667 to manage the official BREC website. According to Brown’s Top Of Google website, he specializes in website creation, search engine placement and reputation management.

“McLean advised Brown that a local blogger had published some negative information online and he wanted it mitigated.”

In October 2013, Jeff Brown was questioned by the Broward Office Of The Inspector General (OIG) regarding his work for Margate City Commissioner David McLean. The Broward OIG was investigating whether McLean misused campaign funds during the 2012 election. Brown said he met McLean at a local tiki bar owned by the commissioner. Broward OIG investigator Steven Grenier wrote, “McLean advised Brown that a local blogger had published some negative information online and he wanted it mitigated.” Brown told Grenier he used press releases to affect the stories. Grenier wrote, “Brown stated that he entered into a written agreement with McLean to provide ‘PR Logs,’ which is a means of queuing positive information ahead of negative information disclosed during an internet search.”

Brown was not the focus of the investigation. He was not accused of wrongdoing. Grenier wanted to know about the payments he received from McLean. Brown said he picked up three checks from McLean’s bar. When one of the checks bounced, Brown met McLean’s campaign manager at a Coral Springs bank. He was given $400 in cash. Grenier said Brown could not remember the campaign manager’s last name or any information regarding bank fees. He wrote, “Additionally, [Brown] advised that his recordkeeping was poor, and his records were disorganized, and if he could locate the written agreement, he would email it to the interviewer.”

McLean ended up paying a fine to the Florida Elections Commission.

Two years later, David McLean was arrested on public corruption charges. He was later acquitted.

BROWN: “NO COMMENT”

On Wednesday, REDBROWARD spoke with Jeff Brown about his candidacy for BREC treasurer. Even though all members did not receive the news, Brown said he believed the announcement of the slate was sent by official BREC e-mail accounts. The e-mail reviewed by REDBROWARD was sent by “brecslate2018@gmail.”

When asked about the lawsuit, Brown said, “That’s so horrible, but no comment.” When asked if he created the sites or if he is represented by the lawyers for the defendant Brown hung up the phone.

We did not get a chance to ask Brown if he would continue to receive payments from BREC if elected treasurer.

We did not get the chance to ask Brown if he has any ties to Rupert Tarsey, Richard DeNapoli and the “Praetorian Consulting” scandal involving soliciting business from local candidates including Democrats.

When asked for comment about Jeff Brown and the Praetorian scandal, BREC Chairman George Moraitis told REDBROWARD, “I have asked everyone to lay their swords down in the interest of party unity….I am not personally aware of Jeff’s activities, but I am going to give him the same message that we need to stop focusing our attacks on other Republicans.”

Broward Republican Executive Committeemen and Committeewomen deserve better answers before the December 10th BREC Elections, right?