Tag Archives: residency

State House Candidate Fails To File Campaign Cash Report

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Roxanne Valies, right, with former Gov Charlie Crist and State Rep Hazelle Rogers in 2014

Roxanne Valies, right, with former Gov Charlie Crist and State Rep Hazelle Rogers in 2014

The State of Florida wants to know why FL House candidate Roxanne Valies failed to file her campaign finance report. Valies is seeking the Democrat nomination for the Broward District 95 seat currently held by Rep. Hazelle Rogers. Vailes was required to file her report on May 11, 2015.

On May 12th, the Florida Division of Elections sent a “Fail to File” letter to Valies. Kristi Bronson, chief of the Bureau of Elections, told Valies Florida statutes required her to explain why her report was not filed. Also, Valies would be fined $50 a day for the first three days the report is late. If the report is not filed after three days, Bronson said the campaign would be fined $500 per day not to exceed 25% of the receipts or expenditures in the report.

As of Friday May 29th, the State has not posted Valies report or explanation for the missing report.

The State sent all correspondence to the Tamarac post office box listed on Valies’ campaign paperwork.

In April, REDBROWARD revealed issues regarding Valies’ residency.

According to numerous Federal, State and local records, Roxanne Y. Valies does not live in District 95.

The Florida Constitution requires all state legislators to live in the House or Senate district they represent. Since 2013, this reporter has exposed numerous politicians violating the residency requirement. These politicians included State Sen. Maria Sachs, Rep. Lori Berman, Rep. Perry Thurston, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Rep. Alan Williams, and Hazelle Rogers, the current representative of District 95.

Valies currently resides in House District 97, represented by Democrat Jared Moskowitz. According to the Broward County Property Appraiser (BCPA), Valies has owned a spacious Sunrise townhome since 1998. Valies receives the full Homestead tax exemption at this address.

BCPA records show Valies has owned a much smaller Lauderhill condominium since 2003.

While her official campaign documents filed with the State of Florida show a Tamarac address, voter registration websites show Valies is still registered to vote at her Sunrise home.

Valies simply needs to reside in District 95 on the day of her election. Will she actually move into her small condo? Maybe she hasn’t made the drive over to her Tamarac mailbox yet?

Valies faces off against fellow Democrat Patrick Jaboiun in 2016. More on Patrick next week….

Lien Forward? Broward Commissioner Not Paying Taxes Across Florida

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Dale Holness, left, owes big bucks.

Dale Holness, left, owes big bucks.

Controverisal Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness owes big bucks to the City of Lauderhill, Broward County and St. Lucie County. A review of county tax and property records show liens, tax deeds and even foreclosure proceedings filed against the Broward politician. Holness, a real estate agent, has a long history of not paying his property taxes.

Since February 5, 2015, the City of Lauderhill filed five liens against properties owned by Holness, a former City of Lauderhill Commissioner. Filed for “delinquent local business taxes, fees and/or penalties,” Holness owes the City $4,398.95 on condominiums he owns in Lauderhill. These Lauderhill properties were at the heart of questions surrounding Holness’ residency issues.

In May 2013, REDBROWARD was first to expose Holness did not live in the run-down townhouse at 2630 NW 52 Avenue in Lauderhill. The City of Lauderhill filed a $761 lien on this townhouse in February. In 2013, Holness was registered to vote within District 9 by claiming to live in the small, older 940-square foot townhouse in the Royal Oaks development.

The 2006 Central Lauderhill Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) master plan shows  City officials targeted the Royal Oaks for a dramatic makeover funded by federal and state grants. The plan says Royal Oaks is in “disrepair and in need of landscaping upkeep.” The entire neighborhood was part of an ambitious plan to build parks and improve roads and sewers. The Royal Oaks neighborhood was “identified as properties suitable for acquisition, demolition and redevelopment.

As vice mayor of Lauderhill in 2006, Holness wrote the Central Lauderhill CRA master plan. Florida Department of State records show Holness has been an official of the Royal Oaks Condominium Association since 2000.

At visit to the townhouse by RED BROWARD and LOCAL 10 News, showed the unit was being used as a storage unit for old furniture and appliances.

Holness is currently registered to vote at a east Plantation home.

Broward County tax records show Holness has not paid county tax on the same five Lauderhill properties. He owes $4,457.90 in county taxes for 2014.

A sixth Lauderhill property owned by Holness has no liens and its taxes are current. However, the unit at 2611 NW 56th Avenue still created legal and financial headaches for Holness. In February 2014, the unit was under foreclosure proceedings. It was even set to be sold at auction.

Two years ago, this reporter exposed Holness’ delinquent $13,000 tax bill. According to Broward County tax records, Holness owed a tax payment of $2,586.86 on his Lauderhill home. He owed $2,605.28, $2,393.83, $2,672.09 and $2,502.01 on four of his rental properties.

Broward is not the only Florida county where Holness owes taxes.

St. Lucie County tax records show Holness has not paid property taxes on two vacant lots since 2008. Holness currently owes $7,415.45 to St. Lucie residents.

Holness’ outstanding taxes were paid by the tax deed certificate auction process. Florida counties hold auctions of delinquent tax bills. Investors bid on these certificates. Winning bidders pay the tax bill, but when a homeowner finally pays the taxes they levy 14% interest on the homeowner.

If a homeowner fails to pays the taxes, the holder of a tax certificate can initiate foreclosure proceedings.

In 2012 and 2013, the St Lucie County School Board purchased tax certificates for Holness’ property. The 2010 and 2011 tax deeds are held by the St. Lucie County Commission.

In 2013, Holness dismissed our reports as “conservative” attacks. Holness told the Sun-Sentinel he planned to sell one of his units to pay his taxes.

“I’m paying it as I can,” he said. “I have different responsibilities. I have children, I don’t neglect my children. I’ve been helping them because they have had a tough time and even though some [of them] are grown … I still have the responsibility.”

Holness has filed for re-election in 2016. To date, he has already raised $91,645 for his campaign for the District 9 seat.

District 9 voters should demand answers from Holness.