GOOD MORNING AND WAKE UP WEST PALM BEACH!

Like the dawning of a new day, West Palm Beach is on the verge of a new beginning….a new era…..

March, 2011 offers a moment in the city’s history to alter course and learn from the city's own past.

In 1988, West Palm Beach began the process to change its government to that of a strong mayor. This resulted in the government format under which West Palm Beach has operated since. Partially adopted in 1991 and fully implemented in 1993, three people have been elected to this position. By March 2011, Nancy Graham, Joel Daves and Lois Frankel will have given the citizens 21 years of experience and background to review and study.

One thing for sure is a need to reconvene the charter review panel to take this moment, after two decades, for a comprehensive structural review. Whether there is political will to reconvene this political debate aside, circumstances in these next two election cycles will provide the citizens change in the majority of the commission’s members by end March, 2011.

This political opportunity comes about out of a natural ambition in politicians to move up the ladder. An art form well practiced in our county and state…..

Let me explain.

City Commission District seats 1, 3, and 5 are up for election in March, 2010. Commissioner(s) Douglas, Mitchell, and Moss are the incumbents. Of these three. Commissioner(s) Douglas and Mitchell have publically stated they intend to run for mayor. That being the case, both must resign their commission seats under state law midway through the upcoming two year term they are currently announced candidates in the March 2010 cycle.

Everyone has the right to run for any seat they chose, but, commissioners should not set the citizens up for failure by running in commission races knowing in advance their intention to then resign midterm to run for mayor. That said, come March 2011, regardless, there will be two new commissioners sitting in the seats now occupied by Douglas and Mitchell.

Since Commissioner Moss has withdrawn his name from consideration for County Commission District 2 and, since he has not, as of yet, drawn opposition, he may remain on the dias at the March 2011 important moment in WPB's political history.

Commissioner Muoio, District 4, has opened her Mayor’s campaign account. This is commendable. She, at least, is clear as to the office she seeks. However, the result of that announcement is that the District Four Commission seat, my former seat, will have new represention come the end of March 2011.

Commissioner Robinson has not exhibited any apparent movement. He was a natural replacement for County Commissioner Addie Greene’s seat but did not apply. He was a natural candidate to run for State Representative Priscella Taylor’s seat but did not file. Commissioner Robinson is a steady voice on the West Palm Beach Commission and seems to be there for all the right reasons…..I highly commend him….

At any rate, given the above matrix, by end March 2011 there will be a new mayor and, at least, three new city commissioners. Not since the 1991 mayor election has that much political change been attainable. What a great opportunity for corrective action in the capital city of Palm Beach County.

But alas….the fly in the ointment…..Lois is rumored to be organizing a petition drive to change the city charter in the midterm fall national elections, 2010. This change is designed to allow her a third term, or perhaps a mayor for life designation, without a debated charter review by the citizens and the commissioners.

Wake up West Palm Beach…..do not let this happen…..there is no more powerful political position in West Palm than the strong mayor and there is no need for any one person to be in that position for more time than the Charter Review Committee of 1988 and the voting citizens of 1991 thought prudent.

This is especially true if done without the opportunity to reconvene a citizens' panel to discuss changes of such dramatic consequence. This remains true regardless of how you feel about whoever the person is that currently occupies the seat.

Remember the strong mayor charter took some five years to fully implement. It is the enabling legislation, the constitution of West Palm Beach. This document cannot and should not be changed merely in the winds of a national election where items and issues will cloud the importence of the municipal needs.

Thank you for listening...

Al Zucaro
City Commissioner 1995 - 2002