Act Two: Franklin Sands’ Phony School Campaign
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Franklin Sands’ School Board campaign is at it again.
I believe when a candidate’s resume doesn’t stand up to scrutiny and his motives for running are questionable, the candidate resorts to nasty attacks and half-truths.
That’s Franklin Sands, a do-little legislator who is leaving Tallahassee because of term limits.
Franklin Sands: At it again.
If he wins, Sands will boost his pension. He will get health insurance to supplement his Medicare and be in a key position to land his son-in-law a promotion to principal. Others and I believe those benefits are the real reason he is running.
Tallahassee, where some say he did little, leaves him little to run on. So his first advertising flyer was a compendium of misrepresentations, falsehoods and attacks.
Now the second piece to hit mailboxes again sprinkles fairy dust on his record, while attacking with falsehoods, opponent Donna Korn.
Sands again makes the claim that he will “strongly enforce the new ethics laws” and that spent his career “fighting against the governor’s disastrous cuts in funding for public education.”
This is the guy who opposed ethics legislation in the Legislature and even wrote an op-ed piece mocking it.
If Sands fought against the governor’s cuts in education, he didn’t do a good job. He was the only Democrat to miss the 2012 budget vote – the one vote the Legislature is required to make.
False Attacks
It is his attacks on Korn that are most annoying to anybody seeking a more civility and truthfulness in politics.
He states that Korn “supports” the forces in Tallahassee “starving public schools of money, punishing good teachers and robbing our children of the education they need to succeed.”
This is nothing more than a lie.
Usually campaigns cite actual statements reproduced by newspapers or at meetings. Not Sands.
When asked to prove the statement, his campaign sent me vague e-mail comments about Korn supporting outsourcing and moves to balance the budget on the backs of teachers before she was appointed to the School Board. No proof of these allegations were offered.
Korn’s mother was a public school teacher. Her sister is a public school teacher. Korn was a public school teacher, too.
Do you really believe she would “punish good teachers”?
I have no horse in this race. I just would like to see cleaner, more-honest campaigns.
The sad thing is all this hateful, false advertising is not needed. Korn has virtually no campaign.
Propped up by mostly with special interest and lobbyists money, Sands has collected $82,000 to Korn’s $25,000. He still had $50,000 in the bank, while she has $2,000, as of mid-July.
I believe Sands advertising is part of what’s wrong with politics. His is the politics of confrontation rather than compromise.
And it’s the politics that needs to be exposed for what it is – win-at-any-cost and the truth be damned.
August 8th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Everyone should email or post on facebook, linkedin and twitter, Mr Nevin’s story on Sands. With the history of corruption Broward’s School Board has had, the last thing we need is this lifetime politician Sands, who is strictly out for himself to add to the corruption.
August 8th, 2012 at 5:13 pm
On a positive note, he appears one Twinkie away from a diabetic coma.
August 8th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
More clarity and good financial horsesense from Franklin Sands … the guy who admitted that he lost everything he had investing in Bernie Madoff.
August 8th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
I agree with you 100% Buddy! I was so furious when I saw his attack piece. As Mark Twain said, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.
In this case, unfortunately for Mr. Sands, these are damned lies. The statistics (facts) not only don’t support his bald face lies, they totally contradict them.
Donna Korn first ran for the School Board in 1998, just barely losing by about 200 some votes. Since then, she has continued to be involved in supporting the Broward School Board by actively serving on committees and participating in school issues. Mr. Sands, in the meantime, was up in Tallahassee, NOT getting more funding for education or our teachers.
He is campaigning at Democratic clubs touting his experience in the Legislature, but the statistics show there is nothing he did to further the cause of education while he was there.
And for someone who claims to so supportive of upholding ethics laws, his behavior is repugnant.
Besides his bald face lies about his opponent, and his misrepresentation of his own prowess and experience, he is making a mockery out of the “non-partisan” aspect of the School Board.
School Boards became non-partisan because folks believed that certain positions should not be guided by party politics, and that education should not be political. To run in a non-partisan race, a candidate is supposed to respect the non-partisan aspect of the position.
Mr. Sands’ campaign tactics are to attend Democratic Club meetings and announce to everyone that his opponent was appointed by the (admittedly very unpopular) Governor, and saying with a wink and a smirk, “and we all know what that means.”
All that means is that even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while. Donna was very qualified to be appointed to the position, and while Mr. Sands attacks her for representing a district she does not live in, she was appointed to that position. She is not now running for a district that she doesn’t live in, she is running county-wide.
Your conclusion is right on the money as well. The sad thing is, Mr. Sands, with his well-funded campaign treasury (any special interests funding his campaign? Any ethical problems with having a son-in-law who lobbies the School Board?) is in a better position to spread his filthy lies to the voters who don’t know better, and unfortunately, Donna does not have the funding to counter his disgusting campaign.
I, for one, am very sad that we may lose a highly qualified School Board member, one who is vested in the system, having children of school age and being a former teacher herself, as well as being a very competent business woman, and instead gain a member who has already demonstrated a willingness to win at all costs to gain a position that he never had any interest in until now, and is willing to put forward bald face lies in order to get a position that he certainly does not deserve.
August 8th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
I am really disappointed in Mr. Sands. Donna is none of things that Franklin Sands says she is. I served with Donna on the Community Budget work group and we did ask what the cost of outsourcing transportation and maintenance. It was research that the committee ask for since we were considering everything. Donna didn’t necessarily support anything. We just asked for the info.
I have to wonder where Franklin Sand and Davis Brown are getting this. Certainly not from any credible source.
August 8th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Perhaps someone should look into Donna Korn’s relationship with the out on bail Stephanie Kraft…funny how Korn just walked off away at Tuesday’s board meeting when “The Wedge” was being discussed, especially for someone who had so many questions a few days before the meeting. Before becoming a Board Member, Korn was always trying to get real estate business with the SB….and the beat goes on!
August 8th, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Hey Stephanie…
How goes it with the legal defense?
Dirtbag.
August 8th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
@ M. Deen–
Donna has no relationship with me. As a former school board member, I respected Donna’s work on the Facilities Task Force and other committees with which she was involved.
In the 12 years that I served on the School Board, Donna was not “always trying to get real estate business with the SB.” In fact, she often offered her professional expertise without asking for or expecting anything in return.
You must be one of Mr. Sands’ supporters since you are making the same types of inaccurate statements as he is.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:27 am
Beat them at their own game and help elect Andrew Luciani, the only really experienced insider who cares about and remaines focused on our students. He will do an outstanding job and is a fresh personality to help refresh the same ole move em along mentalities. Buddy. How about some support here?
August 9th, 2012 at 7:44 am
Sands sounds as dirty as Lamberti. Maybe Dirty Al will give him a job to boost his pension. After all, he is doing it for Wheeler.
August 9th, 2012 at 7:59 am
Is Donna Korn campaigning at all? We are supervoters and haven’t gotten a single mail piece from her. Is she only mailing to R’s and I’s? Just curious. I voted for her but it was a vote against Sands based on his horribly weak performance in the House.
August 9th, 2012 at 8:30 am
M.Deen + More lies = David Brown
That is total crap. Your candidate is a disgusting lifelong politician who is good at the politics but not at getting anything positive accomplished. You have nothing positive to say about him so all you can do is sling mud. I have received your pieces and not ONE positive about your candidate, just negatives about his opponent. You are a true scumbag.
August 9th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Stephanie Kraft wants us to elect Donna Korn over Franklin Sands.
Yup. My mind is made up now.
August 9th, 2012 at 10:00 am
Korn lost to Bev Gallagher and now she is in prison.
If Korn loses to Old Man Sands he will play the game for his loser sons and join Gallagher soon in the big house.
The voters get what they ask for!
August 9th, 2012 at 11:38 am
@Real Deal and Mr. Deen
Are you kidding? During his political career, Franklin Sands received campaign contributions from people like Alan Mendelsohn and Scott Rothstein. He was a Bernie Madoff investor and received profits. His stepson, Alex Heckler, worked for the Chaits, the same people Mitch Kraft is accused of working for.
Instead of slinging mud why don’t you vote on the merits – a mom of three public school children who is a successful businesswoman and longtime volunteer vs. a career politician who actually was a member of the legislature that took away money from schools. If he didn’t vote for it, he certainly wasn’t successful in arguing against it.
August 9th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Sands is a fake, a liar and only in it for the money. He doesn’t give 2 bits about PEOPLE in general let alone the kids in school. With the exception of himself and that hardly qualifies him as a human.
Our household and all our friends will vote Korn because she is the MOST QUALIFIED and she cares about the school system and the effect on our children’s education. Wake up everyone these players are just that, playing.
P.S. Chaz, crawl back under your rock, no one gives a toot about your sarcastic ugly comments. I for one am sick of you and your cry for attention. Unless you have something constructive to say go back to your Lincoln logs and build yourself an asylum.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
@ Just the Facts: Once Stephanie Kraft slithers into this discussion all bets are off. That kind of endorsement turns me off.
August 9th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
I’m a bit worried now… Mrs.Kraft is still speaking about SBBC.. What has been done for our kids and our teachers??? Care to speak about Coventry Insurance??? Care to speak about the children???
August 9th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
>> go back to your Lincoln logs and build yourself an asylum.
Now THAT is funny.
August 9th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Why is Stephanie Kraft commenting here? Shouldn’t she be under a rock somewhere preparing her bogus legal defense?
August 9th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
If you want sleaze, I am you man. Steve Geller campaign was mine. Sands is mine.
August 9th, 2012 at 7:44 pm
Rothschild too…
August 9th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
“And for someone who claims to so supportive of upholding ethics laws, his behavior is repugnant.”
This quote coming from Stephanie Kraft……we are all going to need Depends so we don’t wet our pants laughing……LOL LMAO
Yes time to fumigate….trial starting the end of the month…FINALLY!
August 9th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
The only thing I can state here in response to Ms. Kraft’s prose in this forum is that she has chutzpah with no bounds. Her credibility is zero.
August 9th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
I hear Luciani is the best candidate; he has teachers endorsement and is really for the kids.
August 9th, 2012 at 10:24 pm
I agree with a lot of the comments, anyone who Kraft endorses, stay away from…..and yes Stephie, Coventry insurance, many thanks to you that is the district’s only option..we hear Humana just couldn’t get it right for you…and the only thing you have in common with Mark Twain…you are both HISTORY!
VOTE FOR LUCIANI!!
August 10th, 2012 at 10:42 am
a nod or more from stephanie kraft is the kiss of death. she chucked any semblance or ethics and integrity many years ago
August 10th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
It makes me laugh when Kraft gets on her soapbox about corruption in the District…Let’s start with:
1. Why did Till get forced out?
Answer: Notter would be her puppet
2. Why did she lead th campaign to get the District to buy a school site that we do not need, sits vacant, and we can’t sell because of COPS…uhmm, that price tag was in the millions; the school site the staff recommended was shot down by Ms. Almighty..
Answer: ask her! $$$$$$$$$$$$
Why did her daughter’s school need major cafeteria renovations, again, cost be damned
Answer: Daughter had to wait in line for food one day….
Let’s all hope Kraft will be waiting in line for her bologna sandwich the end of this month! Hope the media is in the court room.
August 10th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
OH SAY CAN YOU SEE….
VOTE FOR LUCIANI!!!!
KRAFT & KORN = BFF 4EVER
August 10th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
IT MAKES ME LAUGH TO HEAR KRAFT ON HER SOAP BOX ABOUT CORRUPTION IN THE DISTRICT…..LET’S SEE
1( WHY WAS TILL FORCED OUT BY HER LEADING THE CAMPAIGN?
ANSWER: HE WASN’T A PUPPET
2) WHY DID SHE HAVE THE DISTRICT BUY A PARCEL OF LAND THAT SITS VACANT, DISTRICT DOESN’T NEED YET CAN’T SELL DUE TO RESTRICTIONS..
ANSWER: ASK THE ALMIGHTY, PERHAPS $$$$
3) WHY DID HER DAUGHTER’S SCHOOL SUDDENLY NEED MAJOR CAFETERIA RENOVATION WHICH COST THE DISTRICT THOUSANDS
ANSWER: THE DAUGHTER HAD TO WAIT IN LINE ONE DAY FOR FOOD
WELL, LETS HOPE BY SEPTEMBER, SK IS WAITING IN LINE FOR HER BOLOGNA SANDWICH…IN MY OPINION, THE DISTRICT IS IN SUCH A FINANCIAL MESS BECAUSE OF HER 8 YEAR REIGN..BULLYING STAFF, JOBS THREATENED…NOW THAT SHE IS OUT ON BAIL, SHE STILL COMMENTS ON SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS…DON’T YOU GET IT, WE DON’T WANT TO HEAR YOUR NAME ANYMORE..AND YOU ENDORSE KORN…THE WOMAN IS GOING TO LOSE ON YOUR ENDORSEMENT ALONE, THAT SAYS IT ALL. OH, BTW, THE MUG SHOT IS JUST STUNNING, YOUR DAUGHTER MUST BE SO PROUD OF MOMMY DEAREST!
August 10th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Donna Korn does not need an endorsement from anyone. If anyone has bothered to watch the school board meetings, you would see a thoughtful woman, who asks intelligent questions and has done her home work. I see no need to replace some one doing a good job.
August 10th, 2012 at 7:02 pm
I don’t care which candidate Ms. Kraft prefers. I have spoken with Ms. Korn and Mr. Sands and heard both of them talk at candidate forums. The choice is clear – Korn is by far the better candidate.
I have no connection with her campaign, but I would hate to see the better candidate lose simply because Ms. Kraft (or someone claiming to be her) posts an online endorsement.
August 11th, 2012 at 1:33 am
ANDREW LUCIANI!!! HE IS THE FRESH NEW HOPE OUR STUDENTS DESERVE !
Please, let us get the wird out for Andy. He represents most of us who are nit lobbyists nit in with special interests. He knows our ststem very well. He is honest and caring and highly capable! Let us do it Right for a change!!! Give our students someone they themselves eould easily endorse! Vote for Andy! He is by far our best option here!!!
August 11th, 2012 at 1:34 am
Please forgive my typos!!! Fat , fast, clumsy fingers!!