Multi-Millionaire Senate Candidate Gary Farmer’s Unpaid Tax Bill
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Gary Farmer spent $1.4 million on his campaign for state Senate so far, but he has let a Broward property tax bill go unpaid since 2010.
Farmer also failed to pay an election law fine for more than a month. He finally settled the fine on August 18, one day after a Miami Herald article was posted on the Internet mentioning he had not paid it.
Farmer’s law practice owes $568.15 for delinquent tangible property taxes in Fort Lauderdale. The original tax bill was $281.85 and the rest is interest.
Gary Farmer
Why Broward County let the unpaid bill drag on for so long without further action could not be ascertained from county records.
Businesses must pay tangible property tax on equipment, fixtures and furniture used for a commercial purpose.
Strangely, Farmer paid the tax in 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, according to Broward County records.
In addition to not obeying the property tax laws, Farmer has repeated problems with election laws.
He was first warned in February that his campaign treasurer reports were incomplete. The reports, which must be filed periodically, is a list of contributions and spending.
Farmer eventually satisfied the state Elections Office by fixing the incomplete forms. However, when he filed his July 1, 2016 treasurer report six days late, an automatic fine of $650 kicked in. Farmer didn’t pay the fine despite warnings from the state, until the Miami Herald wrote about it.
Farmer could not be reached for comment.
A spokeswoman for Jim Waldman, one of two Farmer opponents for the beachfront Senate District 34, was not shy about talking.
“He thinks the rules don’t apply for him,” Waldman’s campaign spokeswoman said.
Waldman has gotten warnings for incomplete campaign treasurer reports, but has not been fined.
A personal injury attorney, Farmer has the money to pay taxes and the fine.
His net worth is $4.4 million, including:
- Three homes worth $1.9 million.
- His interest in his law practice valued at $1 million.
- Three Lexus cars and a GMC van valued at $133,000.
- Three $3,000 Tourneau watches and a $5,000 Rolex watch.
Farmer earned $655,000 last year.
The general counsel for Keiser University, Waldman has almost the same net worth as Farmer. His $4.3 million net worth includes:
- A $1.5 million home in Coconut Creek.
- A condo in downtown Tallahassee valued at $250,000.
- An interest in a family business worth $1.5 million.
- Two retirement accounts valued at $468,000.
Waldman earned $392,000 from Keiser last year.
Compared to the two wealthy lawyers, the third candidate in the race has a modest net worth and a poverty level income.
Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, a state House member from Northeast Broward, has a net worth of $260,000, mostly the value of her Deerfield Beach home. She earned roughly $10,000 from a state retirement.
Clarke-Reed spent almost nothing in this race, just over $16,000. Her two opponents spent almost $2 million to date.
Farmer spent $1.4 million coming mostly from personal injury attorneys, while Waldman spent at least $524,000 from businesses big and small.
With all that money thrown at voters along Broward’s voters living largely east of Interstate 95, why couldn’t Farmer pay simple property tax bill and election fine on time?
Gary Farmer’s tax bill unpaid as of August, 2016. 
August 25th, 2016 at 9:41 am
Buddy, you generally post some interesting, provocative even, and useful info. This is so not newsworthy. A $500 bill? With a record of paying it for years? I’m not a fan of Farmer, voted against him already, but what a waste of your time.
August 25th, 2016 at 9:49 am
So, in summary, Farmer repeats untrue facts (about NRA grades), sends out slash and burn mailers- tons of them, is rude and has a bad reputation amongs the folks he lobbies, and he doesnt pay his taxes, and is being put up by trial lawyers (ambulance chasers).
Who in the world would vote for this guy.
I say vote for anyone but him!
August 25th, 2016 at 11:56 am
FARMER reminds me of TRUMP
A bully that never pays his share of taxes!!!!!!!!
August 25th, 2016 at 12:59 pm
If this was two Republicans spending a fortune I won’t comment because the Rrpublican Party is the conservative party supporting business and property rights and limiting government services n support for the non wealthy.
BUT FOR OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT STANDS FOR THE POOR SICK UNEDUCATED THOSE IN WANT THE ELDERLY and giving EVERYONE THE BEST EDUCATION MEFICAL CARE n HOUSING POSSIBLE the Waldman-Farmer Race for a politically limited Democratic District State Senate seat is OBSCENE and, frankly Mr Farmer”s antics delong in the Republican Party NOT IN OURS.
August 25th, 2016 at 12:59 pm
Wow!!!!!! Fast talking Farmer
August 25th, 2016 at 2:05 pm
Hope Farmer doesn’t stiff his vendors, especially the ones sending his mailers
he is sending out mailer after mailer full of nonesense and lies
vendors, make sure to get paid up front.
August 25th, 2016 at 2:44 pm
The act of not paying property taxes seems to be a tradition with some candidates and elected officials. Two years ago, a constant candidate for office in Dania Beach suddenly came up with $20,000 to pay back taxes on various properties. The bills had languished for years. She was reelected. Current tax records reveal some taxes are still owed and tax certificates have been issued, again!
A current candidate for the Broward County commission made news a few years back for not paying property taxes. The local newspaper, based in Chicago, has endorsed the man for reelection to office.
It seems there is a double standard, one for politicians and one for the rest of us from the national to the local levels.
August 26th, 2016 at 11:47 am
$1.4 million spent for a job paying 30K a year?
I don’t see how this is possible unless you expect a hefty return on your investment.
Most moral people with 1.4 million to burn could help so many people with something like habitat for humanity or school expenses for those in need etc.
Buddy, are you sure the commas are in the right place?
FROM BUDDY:
Those giving to the campaigns expect a sympathetic voice in Tallahassee.
August 27th, 2016 at 5:48 pm
How many units of housing for the homeless or facilities for those with addictions could be built with the fortune being spent on this minor politically insignicant State Senate seat.
That’s the scandal for US DEMOCRATS.
August 28th, 2016 at 10:03 pm
I didn’t know that Waldman was the counsel for a for-profit college, essentially getting paid our tax dollars that are funneled through enrollment and federal loans. How can any Democrat justify taking money from a for-profit college that collects tax money and hands out worthless diplomas leaving people in debt? Kaiser has a class-action lawsuit against it for telemarketing. Both of these choices are absolutely horrible.
FROM BUDDY:
Keiser University is a non-profit institution.
August 29th, 2016 at 2:33 pm
3.3 MILLION DOLLARS spent in a STATE Senate Race IN OUR DEMOCRATRIC Party Primary is beyond negative words