Plantation Candidate Once Involved In National Controversy

BY BUDDY NEVINS

And you thought the elections were over.

There are three candidates already running for mayor of Plantation in next March’s election.  Only one of the three has played on the national political stage.

Businessman R. Warren Meddoff is the dark horse in the Plantation race.  He is running against veteran City Council members Jerry Fadgen and Diane Veltri-Bendekovic.

Thirteen years ago, Meddoff was all over the national media because of alleged discussions involving a $55 million donation to the Democratic Party and then a demand to shred a document related to the donations.

The U. S. Senate Government Affairs Committee held hearings in 1997 after Meddoff made his claim to the media, according to newspaper reports at the time.

Here is an excerpt from the Washington Post, September 20, 1997:

“A bizarre story involving a shadowy Texas businessman, an offer to donate up to $55 million to the Democratic Party and an alleged request to shred a White House document unfolded yesterday before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, where it was greeted with incredulity and growing hostility by most committee Democrats.

The allegations, which he made earlier this year to news organizations, were related by R. Warren Meddoff, who last July was fired from his job with the U.S. subsidiary of a Danish vehicle and parts supply firm.

According to Meddoff, he approached President Clinton at a October 1996 fund-raising dinner in Florida and gave him a business card saying that he had “an associate” who was interested in donating $5 million to the president’s campaign.

The “associate” was William R. Morgan of Richardson, Tex., a Dallas suburb. Meddoff said Morgan also was prepared to contribute another $5 million a month for 10 months to the Democratic Party in a “tax favorable” way that would eliminate any tax liability on a business deal he hoped to close around then.

Meddoff said his encounter with Clinton soon led to his being contacted by then-White House deputy chief of staff Harold Ickes, who on Oct. 31, 1996, faxed a memo to Meddoff from the White House asking him to contribute more than $1 million to the Democratic National Committee and three other Democratic-affiliated, tax-exempt organizations. Shortly thereafter, Meddoff said, Ickes asked him to shred the memo. Ickes has denied making the shredding request.”

Committee Democrats reacted to Meddoff’s charges with an attack on his credibility and by raising questions about the mysterious Morgan. But one Democrat, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), said the Ickes memo was “outrageous.”

“You’re telling a story which, if true, is hair-raising,” Lieberman said. “This is on its face possibly a violation of the law. It amounted to a conscious attempt to circumvent what people are allowed to contribute to campaigns. This document alone, whether anyone asked you to shred it or not, ought to outrage us.”

The article goes on to detail how some Democrats on the committee didn’t believe Meddoff.

Sen. Robert G. Torricelli (D-N.J.) produced an e-mail message that Medoff sent earlier this month to Christian Haar, chief executive officer of Bukkehave Inc., his former employer. ‘Tomorrow you and your company will come under international scrutiny and scorn,’ the message said. ‘Prepare to face the [w]rath of an entire country foreigner.’

‘This appears to be an attempt at extortion of a former employer,’ Torricelli told Meddoff.

I asked Meddoff about the incident.

“I do not believe, unfortunately, that the events of my meetings with President Clinton and subsequent events will be a factor.  It is my hope that either my opponents or the media bring it up, in order that I may present facts, not inuendo, and political spin,  he e-mailed me.

When asked why he was qualified to be mayor, he answered like this:

QUALIFICATION

Definition for qualified:
  Meeting the proper standards, requirements and training for an office, position or task.

Graduate Federal Aviation Administration Academy Certified Journeyman Air Traffic Controller – Air traffic controllers are generally individuals who are well organized, are quick with numeric computations and mathematics, have assertive and firm decision making skills, and possess excellent short-term memory and visual memory abilities. In addition, studies have shown that air traffic controllers generally have a degree of situational awareness that is much higher than the average population. Excellent hearing and speaking skills are a requirement, and trained undergo rigid physical and psychological testing. In addition they are generally assertive but calm under pressure, and they are able to follow and apply rules yet be flexible when necessary. Air traffic controllers must maintain some of the strictest medical and mental requirements for any profession. Teamwork plays a major role in a controller’s job.  They are formally trained in crisis and emergency management.

Prior experience or training in air traffic control is not required. However, candidates must have three years of progressively responsible work experience, have completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree, or possess an equivalent combination of work experience and college credits. In combining education and experience, 1 year of undergraduate study (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) is equivalent to 9 months of general experience.  U.S. citizenship is required.

Automotive Finance & Insurance Manager – Finance and insurance managers have a minimum of two years of automotive sales experience and one year in a dealership management position.

Managerial positions are required to maintain the profitability of their department while controlling expenses and maintaining customer satisfaction.

Managers are required to not only understand and keep abreast of the federal, state, and local regulations that affect their operations but are required to maintain the profitability of their department while controlling expenses and maintaining customer satisfaction.

F & I personnel require strong communication skills in order to work with customers, employees and finance and insurance vendors as they represent the dealership.  A college degree or equivalent experience in finance is preferred.  A strong background in business, mathematics, marketing and computers is also useful.

Owner/Broker of Record, Commercial Real Estate Corporation – Commercial Real Estate Brokers negotiate leases and sales for retail, high-tech industrial, and other industries that need office or industrial space. They can represent both landlords seeking to market office or industrial space and commercial tenants looking to relocate or expand. They also work with investors interested in buying properties for investment purposes. Commercial agents analyze property values, future income potential, and other market conditions to structure acceptable lease or purchase terms.

By presenting an accurate picture of a property’s potential value, commercial brokers are able to create a competitive market and extract the highest offers from prospective purchasers. This process requires extensive market research and sophisticated financial modeling, which enable the broker to put together a credible offering memorandum. The most successful brokers have deep relationships with senior level investors in the institutional and entrepreneurial real estate community. These relationships are developed through marketing success and a strong track record of previous sales.

Commercial brokers also arrange financing, working with a network of banks and other sources of funding. They maintain a close watch over the markets to anticipate economic trends affecting the real estate industry. Brokers who sell industrial properties are knowledgeable about transportation costs, utility rates, labor supply, and other issues in their sales region.

Measured by the number of active brokers, Commercial Real Estate Brokers are a distinct minority in the real estate brokerage community. About 6 percent of licensed brokers were actively employed as commercial brokers in 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Commercial Real Estate Brokers need to have good analytical skills and be aware of the economic growth possibilities in the region where a property is located, current state or federal income tax regulations, and financing/purchasing options that may give the buyer a greater return on investment. Also important are excellent people skills and some technical knowledge of the real estate markets, such as prevailing economic conditions in a local market area.

Consultant to Ministries of Finance of Sovereign Governments contracted to help in Sovereign Debt Consolidations of Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Tajikistan, reporting directly to the Minister of Finance, President or Prime Minister.  Representative to and interaction with board level top management of major international banks including Chase, Union Bank of Switzerland, and Goldman Sachs as well as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. 

Executive Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for a Public Corporation and Private International Corporation – An executive vice president (EVP) is responsible for maximizing an organization’s operating performance and achieving its financial goals. EVPs tend to have a broad array of responsibilities ranging from communicating with the board of directors to preparing operating budgets to overseeing a strategic plan. A bachelor’s degree in business plus seven to ten years’ experience is typically required for this position, along with outstanding management skills, demonstrated leadership and the ability to solve problems.

Typical functions of an EVP may include liaising with the board of directors, attending board meetings, ensuring sound financial practices of the organization, managing the strategic plan, ensuring a healthy working environment and overseeing revenue generation and general operations.  Executive Vice Presidents tend to have a broad array of responsibilities across several departments and with various members of the organization. These may include:

Finance: responsible for sound financial management of the organization, identifying ways to increase revenues and decrease costs, analyzing financial reports and working with staff and an audit committee to prepare operating budgets.

Human resources: maintaining a healthy work environment and ensuring sound policies and procedures are in place.

Board of directors: sharing information with the board of directors to ensure it is kept up to date on activities, providing financial information and attending board meetings.

Business development: responsible for sales innovations and strategic business development.

Licensed Commodities Broker, Foreign Currency Broker/Analyst, and Precious Metals Dealer – Commodities brokers find clients and customers to assist with their investments and stocks. By offering advice on when to buy and sell, commodities brokers are trusted with making appropriate investments to earn their clients a profit. This position requires a master’s degree in business administration, a federal license and job training.  The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority requires commodities brokers to be registered representatives of the firm that employs them. Before applying for this license, a commodities broker must be employed with a registered firm for a minimum of fourth months and complete the General Securities Registered Representative Examination. This exam consists of 250 questions and generally takes six hours to complete. Continuing education is required to maintain this license.  Commodities broker usually have a bachelor’s degree in a suitable subject. Mayor course of studies included economics, finance, accounting, business administration, business finance, international business, marketing and logistics.

Commodity brokers buy and sell physical commodities such as gold, silver, palladium, grains, sugar, crude oil, gas, non-ferrous metals and foreign currencies. Brokers trade on behalf of product producers and buyers. They also deal in derivatives (futures and options), which are based on physical commodities.

Commodity brokers provide services within commodity broking companies, investment banks and exchanges/clearing houses such as the London Internatoinal Financial Futures & Options Exchange, Intercontinental Exchange and The London Metal Exchange  and the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Typical work activities include:

§         monitoring world markets and following financial news and developments;

§         conducting trades on behalf of the client;

§         advising clients on the best way to position themselves within markets;

§         seeking and pursuing new business opportunities;

§         visiting clients and suppliers in the US and abroad;

§         discussing and agreeing prices, quality, delivery and specifications;

§         Maintaining contact with shipping, transport and insurance companies.

Venture Capitalist An investor who makes money available for innovative projects (especially in high technology)  Venture capital (also known as VC or Venture) is a type of private equity capital typically provided for early-stage, high-potential, growth companies in the interest of generating a return through an eventual realization event such as an IPO or trade sale of the company.

Venture capitalist needs strong business backgrounds to be able to sort the golden investment opportunities from the chafe. Venture capitalists are constantly being approached with ideas that need money. The investor has to know how to read business plans, understand how to read a company’s balance sheet, income statement, and shareholder’s reports. One survey found that in the recent business climate, investors typically reviewed 100 business plans before finding a potential investment opportunity with merit.

XXXXX

If you’re are a voter, you’ll be deciding whether Warren Meddoff is qualified.  I already know that a race involving Warren Meddoff will be interesting.  



19 Responses to “Plantation Candidate Once Involved In National Controversy”

  1. No Nonsense says:

    Buddy,
    Does he spell it Madoff or Medoff?

    FROM BUDDY: His name is R. Warren Meddoff.

  2. plantation resident says:

    He has been filing bogus ethics and elections complaints against other candidates to get publicity.

  3. Broward Lawyer says:

    Ain’t voting for him.

  4. Plantation Working Mom says:

    Plantation needs a candidate like Mike Ryan and nobody running so far is it. Come on Plantation residents, if our neighbor Sunrise was able to do it, why can’t we?

    Instead, this is what we have? What a joke!

  5. R. Warren Meddoff says:

    Former Senator Robert Torricelli withdrew from re-election campaign in disgrace after it was shown he accepted illegal campaign donations from foreign entities.

    The Florida Ethics Commission has found probable cause to formally investigate ethics and elections complaints against one of my opponents.

    The Sprecial Prosecution Unit of the Office of the State Attorney is conducting a criminal investigation of one of my opponents.

    If the claims filed were bogus, why have the parties being investigated hired criminal defense attornies?

  6. Another resident says:

    Don’t most resumes includes names, dates, places etc.?

  7. Not Qualified says:

    He is not qualified to run a business like Plantation government. Meddoff is a joke.

  8. Plantation Truth says:

    Despite what Meddoff writes above, the Florida Ethics Commission has made no finding of probably cause in his complaint. He is not telling the truth.

    The State Attorney’s Office is not conducting a real, comprehensive investigation into his complaint. Prove what you write, Mr. Meddoff. Your history already shows that you are willing to say anything to get your name publicized.

  9. broward business guy says:

    This guy is a bad actor. He acts like he actually had “meetings” with Clinton. He is trying to create the impression that the job requirements he lists are his actual qualifications. Their is no proof he ever had any of the jobs he claims to have had. Actually, if he had been successfully invoved in all of these industries, he would have listed the companies, time frames, responsibilities, and achievments. Their is no proof he was affiliated with big time campaign donors. If he was involved in all of the ventures he claims, maybe he could provide you with a few references from legitimate local business people. My guess is the more exposure this guy gets, the more ridiculous he will look. Pathological liars are so prevelent in South Florida we might as well brand them with our own logos. R. Warren, you are so full of crap. Please go get some therapy, and stay out of public service.

  10. Hopeful Voter says:

    Hiring an attorney does not indicate guilt,as Mr Meddof insinuates. In fact, given the personal attacks and outrageous allegations he has made on other sites, it would seem the prudent thing to do ( I might even suggest the individual hire police protection, as he appears quite unstable).
    Hopefully, the voters will do their research-there is lots to dig up in Mr Meddoff’s past, all readily available on the internet.

    I am hopeful that the REAL candidates, Jerry and Diane, will run on their accomplishments and clearly present their ideas on how to take our city forward. Steer clear of the mudslinging,guys, because the voters are sick of it!

  11. R. Warren Meddoff says:

    The Plantation attack maching is geared up! Great! The next methodology used is to “quote” this article and comments and mail anonymously to select individuals. I intend to bring my opponents voting record to the voters. They both have voted for higher taxes, increased pay and pensions for city employees at a time of plunging property values and unprecidented economic hardship in South Florida. Plantation Truth is a known liar and compaign supporter of Jerry Fadgen.

  12. Diane V B says:

    I am qualified to be Mayor, my daddy was the Mayor, that’s all I need. Stupid voters!

  13. Councilman Bob says:

    I serve with both Diane and Jerry. We do anything the Mayor or Don tells us to do. As long as we get our little white envelopes each week we will continue to do what we are told.

  14. Diane for Mayor says:

    My mentor, Mayor Armstrong, has taught me how to steal better than my Daddy did.

  15. R. Warren Meddoff says:

    State investigating Plantation official’s campaign conduct
    By Lisa J. Huriash, Sun Sentinel
    6:04 p.m. EST, November 17, 2010

    Enough of the Plantation Political Machine attacks. This election, the voters will get a fair chance to decide who is best. Dirty Tricks, You will go to jail!

  16. Planation Truth says:

    Mr. Meddoff should know about investigations because he has been the subject of many of them as the election will bring out. He left out the following from the Sun-Sentinel story.

    ” The commission’s actions become public when they are concluded, or upon a finding of probable cause that the accusation is legitimate.”

    UPON A FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE THAT THE ACCUASTION IS LEGITIMATE.

  17. Diane for mayor says:

    Warren’s NFA Experience

    NFA 04BCC00015
    • SALES PRACTICE 11/07/2006
    • TEMPORARY BAR FROM NFA MEMBERSHIP 30 DAYS
    • TEMPORARY BAR FROM NFA ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP 30 DAYS
    • REQUIRED TO TAPE RECORD 6 MTHS
    • FINE $1000

    0045037 MEDDOFF, ROBERT WARREN • C.R.2-29(a)(1) – FRAUDULENT COMM. TO PUBLIC PROHIB.
    • C.R.2-2(a) – CHEAT,FRAUD DECEIVE CUSTOMERS

    FROM BUDDY: I assume this purports to be a copy of a report from the National Futures Association.

  18. FedUp says:

    Being a resident of Plantation I have been wondering when the day would come that the Feds, someone, anyone would show up on the steps of city hall to begin investigating
    all the bullcrap that goes on here. Our elected officials think we are a bunch of stupid sheep and that they are pulling our own wool over our eyes. And maybe they are right in some respects because stupid sheep are voting them in year after year. Ever wonder why the elections are in March and not November? Wake up Plantation – we have been lead down the rose colored path for years. The DVB “investigation” may only be about campaign ethics, but maybe it is the catalyst to open the flood gates so to speak. Meddoff seems to be a nutjob, but a nutjob who makes a lot of valid points when he can actually get out of his own way. DVB and JF are both jokes. Our fair city is doomed if this is all we hae to choose from.

  19. Archdiocese Files Complaint Against Plantation Candidate : BrowardBeat.com says:

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