Broward Politics: New Ideas For Campaign Signs
BY BUDDY NEVINS
It is not often voters see this kind of display at the polls:
Judicial candidate Shari Beth Africk-Olefson’s campaign display at a Pembroke Pines early voting location.
It is also not often that a judicial candidate has a net worth of $11 million and a willingness to spend it.
Shari Beth Africk-Olefson’s campaign has spent $385,592 through August 10, with $365,000 from her own pocket.
A good deal of the money went to Randi Gold PR and Strategic Media, a Davie-based media marketing company, for TV ads. She also spent $11,508 on an ad buy from the Sun-Sentinel.
Her opponent for Broward Circuit Court Group 36 is Kristin Weisberg Padowitz.
Some early voters were also greeted by this unusual standup sign for Circuit Court Group 46 candidate Maria Markhasin Weekes:
I love it.
It is said to cost roughly $100, compared with roughly $5 for the usual lawn signs that crowd out each other at polling places.
Despite the cost, expect to see bigger and bigger signs like Weekes’ in the future because they clearly stand out in the sea of much smaller campaign signs.
Huge Companies Debate On Marijuana
Marijuana is suddenly an issue in the primary campaigns.
This is not marijuana in Cheech and Chong’s bong. It’s the medical kind slated for use by the seriously ill — people with cancer, arthritis and others debilitating disorders.
On Monday, two huge companies interfered with campaigns that did nothing more than advocate expanded medical marijuana use:
- Facebook censored Broward District 98 House candidate Andrew Dolberg for posting an advertisement calling for greater access to medical marijuana, according to the candidate.
- Wells Fargo cancelled Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s campaign account because she advocated expanded access to marijuana. Fried is a Fort Lauderdale lawyer.
Nikki Fried
Just who appointed Facebook and Wells Fargo the arbiters of political debate?
Medical marijuana is legal in Florida, but apparently Facebook doesn’t care.
Wells Fargo recently admitted opening phony accounts for customers to fulfill sales quotas. And now this. Why does anybody do business with this firm?
Dolberg, a Democrat, said this:
“Facebook claims to prioritize free expression and to serve as a forum for the open exchange of ideas. Yesterday, however, we saw the company choose to limit discussion about a political issue, specifically suppressing a conversation about the ways medical professionals may choose to treat sick and dying Floridians. I have appealed Facebook’s decision because I believe in fair, unabridged debate and I believe in ensuring suffering people have access to the medicines prescribed by their doctors.”
Be assured of this. Dolberg and Fried are on the right side of history.
A majority wants easier access to marijuana, no matter what Facebook and Wells Fargo do.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:54 pm
For Sale: One Judicial seat in Broward. No experience necessary. Must be willing to spend lots of $$. Judicial seats can be bought. Not cheap, but they can be bought. smh
August 21st, 2018 at 2:19 pm
What a waste. The law says, campaign signs can’t be placed on public property. Anyone can remove a sign that is on public property and destroy it. It is an illegal sign.
Who would pay $100 for an illegal sign that may be up only a few minutes before the illegal sign is removed.
Signs can be the placed on private property with permission of the owner. Signs are regulated by size. Some cites allow larger signs on commercial property. Some cities require permits.
I would hope a candidate for judge would follow the law.
August 21st, 2018 at 4:40 pm
Buddy – I am ‘early voting’ along with a neighbor who needs a ride there on Sat 8/25, the last day. I know who I am voting for in all but judicial races. Are you going to post a list of all on ballot and a cheat sheet?
If not I will skip each one in spite of all the mailers I get.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:47 am
Vote for the ones that didn’t spend a 4 years worth of college tuition on mailers.