Bye Bye Diana

BY BUDDY NEVINS

Prosecutors are preparing to file several criminal charges within weeks against the ethically challenged County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Since I intimately know how the Sun-Sentinel operates and worked with the reporter who wrote the story, take this one to the bank.

The Sun-Sentinel is very, very careful about using unnamed sources.  The story has to be checked and checked again by top editors before it is printed.

When the Sun-Sentinel says it has two well-placed sources stating that Wasserman-Rubin is going down, believe it.   

The writer of the piece is the always solid Paula McMahon. She’s a scrupulous reporter.  

If McMahon put her name on a story, its credibility goes up in my mind.

According to McMahon, Wasserman-Rubin’s attorney still hopes to talk State Attorney Mike Satz’s pitbulls out of charging her.  

Good luck.

Satz is seeking to remake his image. He wants to be known as a prosecutor who fights public corruption.

So bye bye Diana.

The charges will involve her voting for a grant that her husband authored for Southwest Ranches.  Husband Richard Rubin got a bonus when the grant was awarded.

Wasserman-Rubin paid $15,000 in 2007 to settle a civil state Ethics Commission complaint concerning the same matter

A veteran politician, Wasserman-Rubin was elected a commissioner in 2000 after a dozen years on the School Board.

Although the incident took at least five years ago, Satz wants to bag more bad elected officials. His eyes naturally fell on Wasserman-Rubin, who already paid a civil fine for the wrongdoing.    

The political question now is who Gov. Charlie Crist will appoint to fill out the remaining months of Wasserman-Rubin’s term if she is charged?

Crist used to ask a small group of Republican insiders for advice when filling Broward appointments.  Who will advise Crist now that he has broken with the Republicans?

Two Republican activists said they expect Crist to appoint a Democrat from Wasserman-Rubin’s Southwest Broward district.  It would be an attempt to get more Ds aboard his independent U. S. Senate campaign.

Names floating around include Eric Jones, the mayor of West Park.  If Crist was seeking to pick up some black votes, Jones would be an interesting choice. 

Jones son, Shevrin Jones, is already running for Wasserman-Rubin’s seat, but I haven’t heard his name mentioned for appointment.

Pembroke Pines Commissioner Iris Siple has been considering a run for the seat.  Crist could appoint her and win points with many Democrats.

One pol mentioned that Crist might seek out a Democratic condominium leader.  No one on the county commission lives in one of the huge senior complexes. 

Al Entin is the lone Republican that I’ve heard being discussed.  Entin is a moderate Republican who was once general counsel for Miami-Dade and Broward’s GOP.

We live in fascinating political times.



21 Responses to “Bye Bye Diana”

  1. Beth The Bounty Hunter says:

    It’s disgusting that people are looking for bad things to happen to a really wonderful woman who has done such great things for the children and citizens of th is County. Plus she is very ill and this stress is not good for her.

  2. Margaret says:

    Another one of Barbara Miller’s protege’s. Can’t wait to see Diana’s final campaign report to see how much Barbara Miller and her crew made from this non-campaign.

  3. Miramar Resident says:

    I say appoint Shevrin Jones. I met him this weekend at an event and I think he is the man for the job! Experience or no experience, the boy is VERY smart and he might be JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED!!!

  4. the gotts says:

    All too often, all the good one does butts up against poor judgements made, many times due to ill advice and circumstances unknown to others who sit in judgement . bottom line, choices are made.

  5. Virginia says:

    I hope Iris SIple is appointed. She has done so much for the Citizens. It would be an honor to have her, what a wonderful woman, with a kind and gracious heart, not to mention her wonderfl reputation for doing the right thing, Iris Siple is the perfect choice.

  6. Chaz Stevens, Genius says:

    Stress is not good for her? Should have perhaps considered that BEFORE….

    Sing with me everyone…

    Nah nah nah nah
    Nah nah nah nah
    Hey hey hey
    Good bye and good fucking riddance.

    FROM BUDDY:
    Very good!

  7. Keep your eyes on Broward says:

    Chaz!

    You are amazing! LMAO!!!!

  8. sunny skies shady people says:

    if she did nothing wrong…no stress issue

  9. Just wondering says:

    Iris Siple has done an outstanding job as a City Commissioner of Pembroke Pines and is highly respected amongst her peers as well as her fellow residents. She would do an excellent job as County Commissioner!!!

  10. amy says:

    Iris Siple is the only choice. She has a remarkable reputation of doing the right thing and serving her fellow citizens wisely. Crist would lose out if he didn’t elect her to the position!

  11. I'm just saying says:

    Just wondering, FYI:

    Iris Siple workS for the County Clerk office! She does not even go to work! I work there and I know she don’t go to work! Somebody already need to look up her attendance and why she don’t show up to work!!!!!!

  12. Pines Resident says:

    Just Wondering…..You are an idiot who can’t even speak correctly; why should we listen to anything you have to say? I also work in the Clerk’s office and Iris (and Howard Forman) are the best thing that has happened to the Clerk’s office in years. You must be one of those clerks who always screwed off and now has to actually work for your pay!!!

  13. Three Legged Bar Stool says:

    to “Just Wondering”:

    you are so full of shit. iris siple is a very dedicated, hard working employee of the clerk’s office who goes to work every day. find a life, you lying sack of you know what.

    to Chaz Stevens, Numbskell:

    you are such a dweeb and goof, find a life, man or woman or whatever you is!

  14. Virginia says:

    Don’t hate, Iris Siple made you be accountable for actually working and not goofing off, yes you have to wear closed shoes and yes, you have to look professional at work. Sorry, you can’t wear last year’s disney vacation shirt and purple flip flops and toes to work anymore, Thank her for making you respectable,,,,,

  15. Pines Resident says:

    Correction……My last comment was meant for “Im just saying” not “Just Wondering”….. Sorry!

  16. Pines Resident says:

    I have lived in Pembroke Pines for many years and have always followed the politics of the city……Iris Siple would definitely be the best choice for the position. I have followed her political career and watched most of the Commission meetings. She is tough when needed and always understanding. She always puts the people first. Her voting history speaks for itself. She is only female commissioner in Pines and is not afraid to go up against the big guys!!!

  17. Another Voice says:

    Dear Everybody Avocating for Iris Siple: THIS IS A COUNTY COMMISSION POSITION, not a City of Pembroke Pines position. District 8 covers portions of Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Park, West Park, Miramar, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Southwest Ranches and Weston. PS-The governor will appoint a Republican, regardless of his recent abandonment of the party

  18. Pines Resident says:

    Another Voice……I am well aware that it is a county seat. Who cares??? Having been a city commissioner for years, in one of the county’s largest cities is the perfect stepping stone……wouldn’t you agree???

  19. Tony B. says:

    To another voice, the current chair holder served as a school board member prior to gaining her position. She ended up running her own corrupt organization. Iris Siple has a proven track record for serving the city of Pembroke Pines. She also holds a high-ranking position as the CAO of the Broward County Clerk of Courts. This woman knows what she is doing and does it with dignity, honor and class. Broward County would be lucky to have her.Finally, Crist is an Independent now. Hopefully, he will continue to elect people based on merit and not party affiliations.

  20. Elvis says:

    When it comes to Iris Siple I can say that if you want to rid the county with the corruption that has plagued it for so many years she is the perfect person. And just to set the record straight, from a previous comment, Gov. Crist will “appoint” her… not “elect” her. Siple is the most intelligent person I know. It’s a shame that she will only step up to the county level. Tallahasse and even perhaps DC could use someone like her. A straight shooter that doesn’t take crap from anyone and will not give in to lobbyists or special interest groups. Siple is a patriot while Crapstillo is just another POLITICIAN. Yes she butts heads with commisioners in Pines only because she does not “go with the flow” and vote in a way that benefits her or the others elected around her. It’s about time we had an elected offical, or even appointed, that stood for the people and not the establishment.

  21. nottinamazesme says:

    Diana has done a lot of good for Broward County. She has worked tirelessly for years at improving life in this once-semi-dead place. She still has lots of more ideas for the good of the County that obviously won’t come to fruition now…unless she’s willing to present them anyway and see if they take off. She is a very kind and generous lady. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors and all the luck in the world at getting out of the mess the press and some people have orchestrated against her.