The Race Is On! First Candidate Files To Replace U. S. Rep. Alcee Hastings
BY BUDDY NEVINS
The gate has opened. The starting gun has sounded.
And they are off.
In what promises to be a political blood bath, Broward County Commissioner Barbara Shariff has filed to replace to replace U. S. Rep. Alcee Hastings.
Hastings just got reelected, but announced in January 2019 he is suffering from pancreatic cancer. First taking office in 1993, he is the longest serving member of the Florida congressional delegation.
Shariff was first elected to the Commission in 2010 after a year on the Miramar City Commission. She served as the first black and first Muslim Broward mayor 2016-2017.
The owner of a home health care service, Sharief is feared by campaign opponents for her deep pockets and her dogged grass roots organizing.
She is just the first of the political notables in the Broward’s burgeoning black community expected to fight for the seat. Although the district will be redrawn before the next election, it is expected to be heavily weighted towards black voters again.
Her colleague — Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness — is expected to run.
Is it distasteful to open your campaign when Congressman Hastings is still alive? It kinda reminds me of the Wes Craven zombie movie The Serpent and The Rainbow, which had the advertising tag line: “Don’t bury me, I’m not dead yet.”
But that’s for voters to decide.
Stay tuned.
December 1st, 2020 at 7:38 am
Why in the world did Hastings run this year? He and Tom Brady both should have retired at the top of their games. Money, power, fame, ego???
December 1st, 2020 at 9:36 am
I heard that Hastings ran again because Holness let it be known that he wanted to run for this seat this past cycle. Hastings wasn’t about to let Holness tell him when to retire. I am not sure who Hastings will endorse for his seat but you can bet it won’t be Holness.
December 1st, 2020 at 9:51 am
Commissioner Sharief has distinguished herself in no particular way either as Miramar or county commissioner. Demonstrated skill at self promotion is no substitute for accomplishment. The list of candidates for that seat is growing. Voters should look for the candidate that demonstrates the strongest potential to deliver for that district. Because once a pol gets into one of those seats it could be decades before they leave.
FROM BUDDY:
Which one of the commissioners “distinguished” herself or himself?
December 1st, 2020 at 2:30 pm
1,2, n Buddy’s comment NOT 3’s false statement sets things right. But REALLY the District’s election of an Impeached AND CONVICTED ex Judge shows the kinds of voters in my former Congressional District
December 12th, 2020 at 12:31 pm
To answer Buddy’s question to #3 (with information he already knows) and in no particular order:
The notoriously pro-development Lori Parrish took the bold leadership position of supporting the Swerdlow deal which was unpopular at the time but is now thought of as a very smart decision.
Kristin Jacobs brought in a living wage law and a variety of environmental protections.
Ilene Lieberman was queen over the trash compact which served our city for years. Beam Furr is an environmental maven.
Ken Keechl was a social rights leader in a short stint on the commission. Jim Scott was the deal maker in Tally, not just as a senator but later as a county commissioner.
Same can be said for Scott Cowan who was the first strong mayor Broward ever had and Chip LaMarca who never got the credit for the work he did.
Jerry Thompson is credited with the Sawgrass Expressway. Marsha Beach was the social services and libraries maven before she became a judge. John Rodstrom guided the county to fiancial success.
I could go on and on. There’s no doubt about how they and others distinguished themselves.
Who’s Barbara Sharief? What has she done? Why, on what basis should she be a member of Congress?
December 19th, 2020 at 7:38 pm
Is she going to have to actually be nice to people. Good luck.
December 26th, 2020 at 2:34 pm
#5 like Buddy. you are generally right but less so than Buddy in that GENERALLY the County Commissioners havent been leaders. The late Judge Beach was wonderful. The Lori Parrish/Kristin Jacobs comments have factual basis.Ken Keechl n John Rodstrom’s actions cost Fort Lauderdale its seat on the County Commission which sits there. Since leaving office they have been underwhelming in civic affairs. Chip LaMarca never gets his due because he’s a Republican. Jim Scott n Scott Cowan require more time than I have or you would want me to.take. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021 n BE SAFE!