Suzanne Mulvehill's Special Interest Campaign Contributions - 2010

The above list is compiled from the various campaign treasurer reports as submitted by this incumbent Commissioner.  Consistent with her first campaign, Commissioner Mulvehill gathered a significant amount of financial support for her 2010 campaign from tenants at the Casino Building.  These contributions are from companies, individuals and other entities that have an interest in the city-owned building.  As we know, one of the major projects touted by Commissioner Mulvehill during the campaign was the rehabilitation of the existing Casino Building and somehow this will be an economic catalyst for the entire city - but it would also seem to benefit these contributors to her campaign more than any city-wide impact.  There are many decisions yet to be made regarding this project - the number of existing tenants that will be retained in the renewed building, the ultimate terms of the leases, what - if any- arrangements will be made to benefit the tenants during the 15 (?) month construction period.  This is a period of time where they will not be able to operate out of the building.  The impact of this issue was not really addressed prior to the election.  According to the "Ethics Ordinance" proposed by former Commissioner Jennings, Commissioner Mulvehill couldn't vote on these items as these individuals and entities have a contractual relationship (i.e., a lease) with the city.

The "Other Special Interest" category includes people that either have involved themselves actively in major issues decided by the Commission, actively participate in campaign activities, hold some sort of advisory board position or have an unusual interest in the candidate.  Celi and Maroney are representatives of the anti-Gulfstream Hotel contingent and without their activities/contributions, we might have an open and operating signature hotel on our waterfront today.  Ms. Coolican has distinguished herself in her association with Ms. Karson, as a campaign operative on this side of the ledger, as well as heading up the Census Total Count effort and benefited from a contract with the city to perform those services.  Commissioner Mulvehill voted for that team over the Community Relations Board - volunteers - to perform that effort on behalf of the city.  Mr. Taylor is the real estate agent whose "farm area" is west of Dixie Hwy. and regularly is the agent of transactions related to low value residential properties.  He benefits from falling residential property values and takes an active role in campaigns of candidates of this sort.  Many on this list are current members of the Planning and Zoning Board or CRA and might reflect their leanings and disposition on certain matters coming before those boards that relate to the platform espoused by this group.  

There are a whole series of people that have a connection to the Lake Worth Community Development Corporation and one that is on its board as well as the CRA - which of course is appointed by the Commission.  He has also been recently re-appointed and Commissioner Golden was allowed to interview him, even though a board member of the CDC, and to vote on the appointment. The CDC has/had a lease of a city building from where it operates, is staffed by Commissioner Jo Ann Golden (one relative of hers appears on the list as well as her housemate.)  She did not make an individual contribution and identify that as such.  You might ask why?

All tolled, this makes up a little less than one third of the total amount of contributions made to Commissioner Mulvehill.  I did not include others that typically vote or campaign for this sort of candidate since they are not on city boards and are, in essence, private citizens.  Does this mean that for the rest of the residents in Lake Worth that we are served by two-thirds of a Commissioner?

Click here for link to source of treasurer reports - make sure to use Internet Explorer as I have found other browsers, like Chrome, can have problems with .pdf downloads.