School Board Candidate’s Strange E-Mail
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Sometimes the most important thing a candidate can do is keep his mouth shut.
This is something School Board candidate Michael Levinson has apparently not learned as evidenced by an e-mail leaked to Browardbeat.com.
This is the story:
Levinson is running in a non-partisan School Board race.
But he makes it no secret he is a Democrat.
Levinson takes every opportunity he can to blast his opponent Katie Leach as a Republican, I am told.
In the leaked e-mail, Levinson displays the very un-Democratic position of blasting the gay group Equality Florida for backing Leach. He also isn’t too friendly to unions, either.
The e-mail appears to be sour grapes to me since both the unions and Equality Florida endorsed Leach. It says something to me about his demeanor and his ability to control himself.
Regardless, his reaction with a voter is very bizarre for a Democrat.
Levinson had no comment, except to say in an e-mail:
“This was a private email message, between me and a voter. I felt it would be highly improper to make it public; but, if (the voter) wants to make it public, then ‘have at it’”.
Given a second opportunity to comment, Levinson wrote:
“The problem with the current school board is that they do not focus on their mission, which is to educate children in the three R’s, arts, sciences etc…
That’s why, if you want to publish it…have at it!!!
PS: Gee, now you’re paying attention to my campaign???”
Levinson is a Plantation Middle School teacher running in Central Broward’s District 3.
Candidate Michael Levinson is a middle school teacher
Here is his original exchange with the voter:
———- Forwarded message ———- From: Michael E. Levinson <talonholco@aol.com> Date: Thu, Aug 2, 2012 at 1:23 PM Subject: Re: You came to my door…. To: XXXXXXXX@gmail.com
Just one more thing, Cindy… I’ve recently been made aware that Equality Florida PAC is backing my opponent, Ms. Leach. This is an organization that represents the interests of the Gay/Lesbian/Trans-gendered citizens in our State and promotes, among other things, the teaching of alternative lifestyles in our public schools. You and I both know that we are all defined by the company we keep and the associations we make. I will not belabor this any further, but I want you to consider this matter carefully because so much is at stake. Yours truly, Mike
—–Original Message—– From: Cindy XXXXXXXXX <XXXXXXX@gmail.com> To: campaign2012 <campaign2012@michaelelevinson.com> Sent: Fri, Jul 27, 2012 9:32 am Subject: You came to my door….
… and I told you then I would not vote for you if you were a Democrat. Yeah, yeah, yeah, non Partisan, you can’t tell me, blah, blah, blah. I would have thought more of you if you’d said, “I’m not allowed to tell you, but even if we have some differences I will work hard for you.” Instead you said, “Well, my opponent was endorsed by the unions – that should tell you something.” I did my research and found out the endorsement was due to your opponent’s superior credentials. You used typical Democratic double speak and subterfuge. Be assured I have used my extensive contacts in the area to spread the negative word about your candidacy and duplicity.
Cindy XXXXXXXXX Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
August 7th, 2012 at 10:48 am
Very telling about his attitude toward some of the students he teaches. Makes me concern for the school board should he be elected.
August 7th, 2012 at 10:49 am
I want to correct my last sentence. It makes me concerned from students of Broward Schools.
August 7th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Alternative lifestyles?
How about just “lifestyles”?
***
The company you keep? I’m a bad guy because a few of my friends are gay and lesbian?
Really?
PS Speaking from experience, lesbians make great
wingmenwingwomen.***
Unions brought us the 40 hour work week, paid health care, pension plans, and higher wages among other things…
***
Maybe it’s time you stopped channeling your inner LaMarca, turned on some Queer Eye reruns, and crawled back under that rock from whence you sprung forth.
And in this case, by rock I don’t mean Marano’s wife’s ass.
August 7th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
What a double-talking hypocrite this guy is.
He’s gone out of his way to court the progressive Democrats by putting himself out as “one of us” while at the same time, when he’s speaking to someone who is not a Democrat, he comes out (no pun intended) against diversity and inclusion, insinuates that Equality Florida isn’t the kind of “company we [should] keep” or an association someone should have, and then does a low blow on the unions.
To my Democratic friends who have been supporting this guy, what do you think of him now? He’ll clearly say one thing to your face and another behind your back.
So is he a closet homophobe and anti-union guy in D’s clothing, or is he just a pandering loser grasping at straws in a campaign going downhill fast?
Because it’s clearly one or the other.
August 7th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
So desperate for votes I guess! What an idiot…I didn’t like him from the minute he stepped on my door front a few weeks ago. My daughters were so weirded out by this man, they actually called our neighbors and told them not to answer the door.
August 8th, 2012 at 7:09 am
Equality Florida does have a reputation for bullying, and being less than truthful in their dealings (i.e. lying), among those that they have lobbied.
August 8th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Statement from Dolphin Democrats President Tim Ross on Broward County School Board District 3 Candidate Michael Levinson’s offensive comments about LGBT People
“I’ve recently been made aware that Equality Florida PAC is backing my opponent, Ms. Leach. This is an organization that represents the interests of the Gay/Lesbian/Trans-gendered citizens in our State and promotes, among other things, the teaching of alternative lifestyles in our public schools. You and I both know that we are all defined by the company we keep and the associations we make. I will not belabor this any further, but I want you to consider this matter carefully because so much is at stake.”
Michael Levinson
Statement from Dolphin Democrats President Tim Ross on Broward County School Board District 3 Candidate Michael Levinson’s offensive comments about LGBT People
Wilton Manors, FL – In response to Broward County School Board District 3 Candidate Michael Levinson’s offensive comments showing his inadequate knowledge of LGBT issues when referencing “the teaching of alternative lifestyles” and inferring derogatory judgment against LGBT people when stating “…we are all defined by the company we keep and the associations we make” the Dolphin Democrats demand he apologize for his offensive comments.
Equality Florida is a not-for-profit non partisan group. According to its website, Equality Florida is “…dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.” Also according to its website, “…ending bullying in the schools has been a top priority for Equality Florida for over a decade.”
Promoting the equality and rights of all LGBT people is the priority of the Dolphin Democrats in all aspects of our lives, including school environments, regardless of what makes one person differ from another.
We believe in the inherent human dignity of all people. We commit to working together to continue the progress achieved to increase protections for all LGBT-students in the Broward County Public Schools. At a time in our nation when our public schools struggle to reduce the barriers to academic success, we continue to ensure every child the right to an education that is affirming, inclusive, and free from bullying.
Pandering to the perceived bias and homophobia of the Tea Party and other extreme conservative groups only adds to the challenge to address the needs of our LGBT youth who suffer at higher rates of bullying, violence and suicide. Mr. Levinson’s statements are offensive. It is our sincere hope that Mr. Levinson will recognize the offensive nature of those remarks, and apologize for making them.