U. S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sheriff Scott Israel, Steve Geller Gather Signatures To Qualify
BY BUDDY NEVINS
U. S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz gathered enough signatures to qualify for office this week.
So did Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel. And South Broward County Commission candidate Steve Geller, a former state Senator.
Wasserman Schultz handed in 2,453 verified signatures to state officials and received a place on the August Democratic primary ballot.
Geller presented 1,399 verified signatures to the Supervisor of Elections office.
Israel was required to submit 10,675 certified petitions, a larger number than the other two because he runs in the entire county.
State Senate candidates Lauren Book and Jim Waldman earlier qualified to get on the ballot by petition.
Candidates must gather the signature of 1 percent of the registered voters in the geographic area they are seeking to represent.
Steve Geller at the Broward Elections Office, May 23
Gathering signatures rather than just paying the filing fee has become popular in recent years. The filing fee equals 6 percent of the salary for the office a candidate is seeking, or around $6,000 for a county commission hopeful.
That’s not because it saves money. It actually costs more money because most candidates, including Wasserman Schultz and Geller, send mailed expensive advertising soliciting signatures. Plus it costs 10 cents-per-signature to verify it was signed by a registered voter.
The real benefit is seeing which volunteers work hard and who works well together.
“It’s a trial run for the election team,” Geller said.
Another bonus is compiling a list of supporters to gather additional volunteers and supporters.
Political consultant Amy Rose explained this benefit for her client, Sheriff Israel:
“This achievement is particularly significant as it represents more than 10% of the total number of ballots likely to be cast in the August primary. Starting with this commitment of support from Broward Democratic voters is a huge advantage for Sheriff Israel heading into the primary.”
In addition, the early advertising introduces the voters to the candidate and the race.
Both Wasserman Schultz and Geller have new districts with large numbers of new voters. Geller, a veteran state House and Senate member with two decades in Tallahassee, has an additional reason the advertising was beneficial:
“I haven’t been in office since 2008.”
Geller personally collected signatures in South Broward parks, rediscovering a feature of campaigning he had forgotten.
“It’s hot out there,” Geller quipped.
It’s only May. Wait until early voting in soggy, broiling August.
May 24th, 2016 at 7:01 pm
Whether you support these candidates or not you have to applaud their n their supporters hard work. Getting valid signatures is only marginally harder than soliciting campaign contributions n with the internet may be the hardest job in politics.
May 24th, 2016 at 11:50 pm
The Donald hires illegals to gather his signatures! He pays Muslims twice the going rate to work for him.
May 25th, 2016 at 10:55 am
Hmm? Illegal Muslims here in the United States according to @2. And who is the head of the federal government that has let them into our country? I know – it is Barack H. Obama!
Not sure why @2 had to play the Trump card in this article? At least she didn’t blame Bush so perhaps the Dems have finally moved on after 7 years of doing so.
Regardless, if any person of any nationality, race, or religion comes to the United States legally, welcome!
If they come here illegally or overstay their visas, our country’s immigration laws simply need to be enforced. Sadly they are not being aggressively enforced by any recent Administration with the current being the worst.
As to the focus of Buddy’s article, congrats to any candidate that garners sufficient signatures to qualify to run for political office. That is democracy at its best. And may that democracy finally remove DWS from Congress either at her August primary or November general election. Not to worry, she can then work for the Clinton Crime Family Foundation.
FROM BUDDY:
The allegation concerning illegals here must be taken with a huge bucket of salt. How does anybody know if various individuals are here illegally unless they check their papers?
Please remember that the problem of people coming to this country illegally did not start with President Obama. It has been around for decades. At least three of the 9/11 terrorists were here illegally.
May 27th, 2016 at 11:20 am
I am so pleased to have viable options instead of DWS and former Senator Geller.
I just find DWS irritating. I was also disturbed that she would stand in front of a place of business (Hobby Lobby) and comment regarding their religious beliefs. I support gay marriage, but thought that it was very distasteful for an elected official to conduct herself that way.
When Steve Geller was Senator I had an issue I wanted to discuss with him. He would not take a meeting after several attempts. I pointed out to his staff at the time how inappropriate I thought it was for an elected official to refuse to meet with a constituent, still no.
We don’t need arrogant know it all lawyer/politicians representing us when they don’t represent us.
Good riddance and good luck to their opponents.
I have no problems with Sheriff Israel, seems to be doing a good job.