Truth Matters - Interview on Lake Worth Talk.com

Please check out my interview from last night on Lake Worth Talk.com. To get to the interview, simply click here. That will take you the page that has an audio player. My interview is at the top of the list as "3187 Guest Wes Blackman". Highlight that by clicking on it and then click on play.

In the interview, I take direct questions from discussion board users (mostly the famous "guest"). I was able to dispel a lot of the misinformation that is being circulated about my positions on issues, my stance on historic preservation and other items related to my professional life - including responses to issues raised by the negative flier that was distributed prior to the general election.

The interview lasts a little over an hour. Here are the questions that I fielded:

• To be perfectly frank, most of us are sick to death with the entire subject of candidates and elections. Just please look after our entire city, if you are elected, and not just your neighborhood and some special groups here. We are a city very divided and I want to know if you believe that it is valid to ask our tax payers what they think and then act accordingly before zoning can be changed in their neighborhoods?



• Wes, What do you think about the Fire Chief wanting to shut down a Fire engine or a Rescue because he does not want to meet the County wide Level of Service after he has had 4 years to prepare for it?



• Wes please explain why we don't have 65 ft projects in areas that allow that kind of height? The voters put their input on this and I thought it allowed 35-65-100ft heights in areas of city. Why hasn't this happened?



• How will the master plan effect development?



• What is the most important issue facing Lake Worth? How will you help to resolve it as a commissioner?



• Wes, as Chair of the P&Z board you were intimately familiar with the under staffing, (and an arguably less than competent director) of a city department. While there was little you could do in that position, what would you do to provide the City Manager with clear direction that high standards and accountability are essential from this department? What would be your expectations from this and other departments in the future? Is the current level of services provided by the city staff acceptable, if not how would you propose raising it? Thanks for your answers.



• How many Historic Structures have been demolished to build townhouses since you have been on P&Z? How many contributing structures that were not declared structurally unsafe by the building department were demolished to build townhouses in that same 7 year period?



• Wes could you talk about the CCF flier that went out the weekend before the elections. Is any of it true? Are you tied to corruption at the county level?



• Wes, What have you learned being a candidate for your first political office that you never knew before? Do you regret not running for Mayor?



• With the largest campaign war chest of all the candidates, how do you explain only getting 39% of the vote and how will you spend the rest of it to win the run-off?



• now that she's been safely re-elected - how would you honestly rate Retha's performance over the last 6 years? Would you give her an A+ like she gave herself in her flyers?



• I was told you want to eliminate historic neighborhoods and that you voted to demolish more than 30 historic homes for developers best interest. True or false.



• What if you get elected and Jeff doesn't? Will the 3-2 alliance hold up with you Dave and Retha?What if Jeff gets elected and you don't? Will you reapply for the P&Z board?



• Do you believe more people should be hired for proper code enforcement ??



• Will the new beach casino building look like the original casino building?Or will it look like the new Lake Worth golf-course building?



• Why do you think the post endorsed Jo Ann? I was shocked.



• What do you think about Joann's idea about the volunteer police?



• Do you think the Fire Department should be trying to get grants for equipment/staffing/supplies etc ...



• Instead of spending the staffs time to review the historic districts in the eastern sections shouldn't the already surveyed districts in the western sections be designated as historic?



• Why hasn't the new residential developments helped sustain the downtown businesses?



• What do you think about the Labor Attorney wanting his contract renewed a full year early while there are 3 union contracts that have expired during his oversight?



• Wes, what are your thoughts about the crime and filth that is getting worse in my neck of the woods. You know that I'm not a person that discriminates, however what is to be done about the illegals that are overrunning the area. A "Don't pee pee" hanger was not left at my door. I'm tired of chasing people out of my yard that think it is their toilet. My commissioner seems to think that this is ok .



• how are you different than Jo Ann?



• Why are people saying that you want to destroy our charm?



• During your chair, on the N/W corner of 10th and Federal, there were two homes that sat on that site. One was moved across the street, the other was raised and then placed on a new foundation, same site. During building the townhouses, the remaining structure (green one story house)was left exposed, no boarding up, all windows and doors empty. Now it says unsafe structure. Is this how contractors get around the prevention of demo work by HRPB and P&Z, leave it out till it crumbles? Do you agree with this tactic or is this what you have to deal with?



• You're saying that it's the will of the people. But, there are people lying about you. How can we stop this???? It sucks.



• Joanne claims she will unite this city. How do you respond to that?



• As there are so many people who are very suspicious of anyone backed by developers, how do you overcome that stigma when your record is very clear in the direction you want our city to go.



• Did you support Cara when she ran last year?



• What about our utility. Do you believe that we should sell it if it does not provide a real benefit to our city? Would you look into that possibility?



• What is your definition of "special interests?"
  

And here are some "reviews" from people posting during the interview:

• I love Wes!!!!!! Go boy go!!!!!!!!!!!! You rock!



• Great response regarding Retha! You are right on. We need to help and get more attention to Retha's district.



• Wes you're a really smart guy. I trust you 100% You're down to earth yet know what's up. You are thoughtful, careful yet progressive. You will be an awesome commissioner!!!!!!



• Great listening to you tonight Wes. Good luck as always.



• Good job... Love the show..



• Great show, Thanks. Go Wes!!



• Yes, yes, yes. You are so right on the target. Bullseye!!! Wes is the man. If you are not elected the city will be the biggest looser. We need your vision, energy, insight, positive attitude and high hopes! Go we love you!



• Thank you for not going negative!!!! It showed integrity for all of us. Thank you!!!

And, for the record, my opponent has been non-responsive to an interview request offered by Jim Stafford, host of Lake Worth Talk.com.

Thanks and I hope you enjoy the interview.

"Political advertisement paid for and approved by Wes Blackman for Commissioner – District #3"