Companies seeking towing contracts with the City of Tamarac gave more than $58,000 in contributions to political committees tied to Commissioner Marlon Bolton, State records show. Three different towing companies and their owners gave contributions to Broward Vision PAC and the Friends Of Marlon Bolton political committee. The City of Tamarac issued two separate requests for proposals (RFP) for towing services in 2022 and 2023.
According to City of Tamarac records, Westway Towing of Lauderdale Lakes made the winning bid for the 2022 contract. Some City insiders were shocked when Tamarac issued another RFP for towing services in 2023 even though Westway seemingly won an “exclusive” contract. D&G Towing and Recovery of Fort Lauderdale won the 2023 contract.
State campaign records show Westway Towing and D&G Towing along with another bidder—Towmaxx, made large contributions to Broward Vision PAC and the Friends Of Marlon Bolton committee.
BROWARD VISION PAC
According to State records, Westway Towing gave $2,000 to Broward Vision PAC in 2020. A $500 contribution in June and a $1,500 contribution in December.
Two months before winning the 2023 contract, D&G Towing and Recovery gave $15,000 to Broward Vision PAC.
The biggest contributions to Broward Vision PAC were made by Towmaxx Towing LLC and its executives—Dwayne Williams, Mark Vespia and Mathieu Boileau.
Between June 2020 and December 2023, Towmaxx executive Dwayne Williams gave $27,350 to Broward Vision PAC. In February 2023, Towmaxx executive Mathieu Boileau gave $3,500 to Broward Vision PAC.
In September 2019, Trace Robinson created the Broward Vision PAC political committee using the same post office box address used by businesses owned by Marlon Bolton. Florida business records list Marlon Bolton and Trace Robinson as owners of The Driven Project, Praise Experience Worldwide Outreach Church, and South Florida Theological Seminary, Inc.
State elections records show half of Broward Vision PAC donors were longtime Marlon Bolton donors. At least Twelve of Broward Vision PAC donors contributed to Marlon Bolton’s 2020 re-election campaign. Most of those funds were spent on businesses with ties to Bolton.
In 2021, REDBROWARD exposed the deep ties between Broward Vision PAC and Marlon Bolton.
According to financial reports filed with the State of Florida, Broward Vision PAC has paid more than $52,000 to companies with close ties to Marlon Bolton.
FRIENDS OF MARLON BOLTON
State records show Westway Towing made a $500 contribution to the Friends Of Marlon Bolton committee in April 2023.
D&G Towing and Recovery made three contributions to the Friends Of Marlon Bolton: $1,500 in May 2023, $5,000 in December 2023 and a $1,000 contribution in March 2024.
Towmaxx Towing executives made three contributions in 2023. Mark Vespia made a $500 contribution on May 24, 2023. On that same day, Dwayne Williams made a $760 contribution. In November 2023, Mathieu Boileau made a $1,000 contribution to the Friends Of Marlon Bolton.
“BRIBERY” & “CORRUPTION?”
Last month, Tamarac city hall was rocked after Commissioner Elvin Villalobos leveled “bribery” and “corruption” accusations after Marlon Bolton refused to recuse himself from voting on a new garbage contract.
During a May 6, 2024 city workshop, Commissioner Villalobos asked Bolton to recuse himself because an applicant made more than $20,000 in contributions to Broward Vision PAC.
Villalobos stated the contributions were made by Coastal Waste & Recycling. Bolton refused to recuse himself and voted to recommend Coastal.
Two days later, Villalobos repeated his request during the Tamarac City Commission meeting. “I’m going to request Commissioner Marlon Bolton recuses himself from voting on this item…he received $20,000 from a PAC he manages and…should disqualify him,” Villalobos said. Bolton did not recuse himself. Villalobos said, “One of our commissioners receiving $20,000 to vote in favor of a company—that is my main issue.”
A disgusted Villalobos then leveled accusations of “bought,” “unethical” and “corruption” within the city commission.
PAC MONEY
State of Florida records show contributions by Coastal Waste & Recycling to the Broward Vision PAC. On January 7, 2022, Coastal made a $5,000 contribution to Broward Vision.
On February 15, 2023, Coastal made a $15,000 contribution to Broward Vision.
State records also show Coastal made a $500 contribution on December 9, 2023 to the Friends Of Marlon Bolton PAC.
On March 26, 2024 Broward Vision PAC made a $5,500 contribution to the Friends of Marlon Bolton PAC.
Who is telling companies seeking business with the City of Tamarac to make large contributions to an obscure poltical committee based in Margate?
Why are these same companies making contributions to the Tallahassee-based political committee operated by Marlon Bolton?
Who is asking these companies to make contributions to the Friends Of Marlon Bolton?
Tamarac voters deserve answers.
