“Take care of Bryant Park and let it take care of us too.” And more about the perils of making campaign promises.

The quote above is by Mr. Ryan Maier
at a debate in 2015.

Mr. Maier later went on to become Lake Worth Commissioner Ryan Maier for District 4 and is now Mr. Maier once again after opting not to run for re-election in March of this year.

Maier withdrew from the 2016–2017 race creating a rarity in the City of Lake Worth, an “open seat” election. Commissioner Herman Robinson is now the District 4 commissioner on the City Commission following the elections last March beating out challengers Maryann Polizzi and Ellie Whittey.

Before long the debates at the Lake Worth Playhouse and neighborhoods will begin here in our little City of Lake Worth. Following the end of the Qualifying Period next Tuesday at Noon we’ll know who is running for what seats on the Commission. Out of the three seats, mayor and commissioners for Districts 1 and 3, only the mayor thus far has no official opposition.

Starting early on next week those opposing the incumbents need to come out and make it very clear why they are in the race. And that’s why preparing a credible and understandable “Opening Statement” is so crucially important. It’s just not enough to say you can do better than Mayor Pam Triolo, Vice Mayor and District 1 Commissioner Scott Maxwell and District 3 Commissioner Andy Amoroso. Therein lie “the perils of making campaign promises”.

Because even if you win the election, those promises made can come back to haunt you.

Incumbency is a huge advantage and that is without doubt. But to try and make incumbency less an advantage a challenger may be tempted to make up a laundry list of campaign promises to win the election. Take for example the case of former Commissioner Ryan Maier in District 4.

One of his promises that went largely unnoticed by the public at the time, one made at a debate when asked how he would increase investment and opportunity in the City of Lake Worth, was his idea to build a “new college”. Although that idea may have been a good one and worth some debate and consideration, then-Commissioner Maier not one single time ever brought the topic up as an elected official prompting this blog post last year with the observation:

After more than 1½ years in office Commissioner Ryan Maier’s supporters have to be wondering what happened to the guy they supported.

At another neighborhood debate on the topic of economic development at the Lake Worth Beach and Casino complex, as well as how to make Bryant Park more popular and economically feasible by adding concession stands, hear what Mr. Maier had to say in the video below.

“Why isn’t the City making any money here?”

“Why isn’t the City making any money here?” Because it’s a free public park, that’s why. Bryant Park was never meant to be a source of revenue for the City of Lake Worth, unlike the Casino and Beach Complex, which was supposed to be providing the City a consistent and reliable source of revenue to fund improvements for things like our City parks and recreational facilities.

Anyhow, stay tuned for more about ‘the perils of making campaign promises’. Why? Because when one makes a campaign promise the public may actually believe you.