Pol Quits Commission & House Race For New Job
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Hallandale Beach Commissioner Alex Lewy will quit the commission and drop his Florida House race to take a job with American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Alexander Lewy
Lewy, 32, will be AIPAC’s new Miami-Dade area director. He told Browardbeat.com that the organization’s rules forbid him from holding elected office.
He will resign the commission May 11, five months from the end of his first term.
Hallandale Beach commissioners will appoint his replacement, who will serve until November when a new commissioner is elected.
A pro-Israel lobbying group., AIPAC describes itself as seeking “to strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of Israel and the United States.”
Lewy’s departure dramatically alters the race for the open House District 100. With a solid Democratic resume and an ability to raise money, Lewy had a good chance of victory.
With Lewy out of the race, the frontrunner now is former Miami-Dade Democratic Chair Joe Geller, a lawyer.
But since the filing period isn’t until the third week in June there is plenty of time for others to enter the campaign.
District 100 is occupied until November by term-limited state Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach. Stretching from Southeast Broward through Northeast Miami-Dade as far south as Surfside, the seat is a heavily Democratic.
Lewy raised over $87,000 for the race.
His toughest opponent was Joe Geller, a lawyer and brother of former state Sen. Steve Geller. Joe Geller raised about $95,000 and lent the campaign another $10,000.
Two other Democratic candidates trail far behind in contributions and support — John Paul Alvarez ($18,600 in contributions and loans) and Benjamin Sorensen ($24,400 in contributions and loans).
An aide to Miami Democratic former U. S. Rep. Kendrick Meek from 2005-2010, Lewy also is the immediate past president of the Florida Young Democrats.
While at Florida International University, Lewy was the Biscayne Bay Campus Student Government Vice President. In that job, he had a say in how $7.1 million budget was spent and went to Tallahassee to lobby for the school.
Lewy was born and raised in Sunny Isles, which is in District 100.
(One interesting fact: Lewy’s family heritage is German and German’s pronounce “W” like English speakers pronounce “V”. So Lewy said that his family pronounce their last name Levy. He conceded many English speakers pronounce it “Louie”.)
Here is his resignation letter sent to Browardbeat.com:
For close to a decade, I have had the honor to work alongside some incredibly talented and passionate people in support of values I hold dear; and I am proud of what we have accomplished together for Hallandale Beach and the community at large. The journey has allowed me the opportunity to advocate for children, war veterans, the LGBT community, the environment and America’s unbreakable bond with Israel.
As an elected official I have worked with some outstanding professionals and among the highest quality are the staff at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), who devote themselves completely to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. So when I got a call last month to fill a vacancy in their organization, I was uplifted by the idea of joining their top-notch team. A stalwart of bi-partisan cooperation, AIPAC and its success on Capitol Hill represents the best of what our country can do when we all work together.
It has been an honor and privilege to serve the residents of Hallandale Beach, a community I have called home and watched flourish since 1994. I am appreciative of the opportunities I’ve had during my time in office.
However, I cannot pass up the chance to help our greatest ally in the Middle East, as threats to the Jewish State continue to grow.
I am excited and humbled to accept the position of Area Director for Miami-Dade County as of May 12, 2014. Correspondingly, I will tender my resignation as a member of the Hallandale Beach City Commission as of May 11, 2014 and will withdraw my candidacy for the Florida House of Representatives.
I would like to thank all of those who have offered their encouragement and support during my time in public service. I am looking forward to continuing to work with you to champion and advocate for the values we all hold dear. Thank you for your understanding and support during this next phase of my life.
Sincerely,
Alex Lewy
April 10th, 2014 at 8:34 am
Steve Geller will be the real House member. He can only do two jobs, which are lobbying and feeding at the public trough. He wants back in and is using his brother to regain influence in the House.
April 10th, 2014 at 8:36 am
I’m sorry that Alex Lewy will not be representing us in Tallahassee. Now we are stuck with one of the Geller brothers. We need new blood in Broward politics and Geller is very old blood. I’ll be taking a look at Alverez or Sorensen, who at least are new faces.
April 10th, 2014 at 8:52 am
Buddy:
Does the name “Amanda Nelson” ring any bells?
April 10th, 2014 at 9:20 am
This is indeed very good news.
All the worst to you Alex.
April 10th, 2014 at 9:21 am
Both Geller brothers used to be heavily involved in the Young Democrats with Steve being a national officer in the 80s and both of them being former Florida Young Democrats Presidents
April 10th, 2014 at 10:41 am
After 60 years dealing inside the Jewish community I have the rise of more left beliefs that include no religious observance, not only none support but actual opposition to Israel as the Jewish homeland and Jewish state and, frankly slavish outsized support for Jewish and Christian hating Arab terrorists and illegal aliens. On the other hand I have seen Jewish politicians including the Geller brothers promote questionable financial activities including with public funding by merchandising the unspeakable horrors of the holocaust. I wish me lewy well but am sadden such a useless heel like any Geller is going to further downgrade the reputation n quality of our public officials, Mr lewy would have been more dignified n serious in public office
April 10th, 2014 at 12:58 pm
I’m sure Amanda Nelson is having a great day now. Deserves credit for knocking Mr Lewy down a peg too.
April 10th, 2014 at 4:50 pm
I don’t know who this Amanda Nelson person is, but she sounds irrelevant to the conversation of who should be the next State Rep from the district. Alex is a solid Dem who weighed his options and made his choice. I tip my hat to him for making the decision that was best for him. Sometimes the inside baseball in these comments makes me sick.
April 10th, 2014 at 5:14 pm
Well, Mr. Lewy stood gloating and smiling next to then-city manager Good during the Hallandale Diplomat golf course proposed destruction at the County Commission.
They thought the community would lose. They were wrong.
I’ll think about my membership in AIPAC after hearing this news. I wonder if a deal was made, which is likely given the people involved.
When I think about the quality of most of the people who were in public office when Reuben Askew was Governor…..
April 11th, 2014 at 10:23 am
@OldDemocrat – I feel sorry for your sour grapes. Alex wasn’t knocked down a peg by anyone. He was recruited by a juggernaut lobbying organization that is highly respected to run their Miami operation. He won and Hallandale will miss him on the Commission.
@Charlotte – Alex wasn’t on the Commission when Good was Manager or when the Diplomat came up for a vote. He was the only person for smart growth by increasing parking requirements for condos. Your precious London never did that or anything. Stick to your our neighborhood. You have no business here.
April 12th, 2014 at 10:27 am
AIPAC’s one and only goal is to subordinate United States’ interests to that of Israel.
It’s regular tool is to call anyone who disagreees with them either anti-Semitic or a self-hating Jew.
If Israel was once an idealistic refuge for the Jews, that is no longer the case.
Every poll now show that younger American Jews see Israel for the racist regime it has become. The most recent Pew poll shows that even the Evangelicals, who backed Israel, are dropping off left, right and center
Antime Mr. Lewy would like to debate me publicly I will be more than happy to take him on.
I am pretty sure that I won’t be hearing from him