Hometown News and Views

By Judy Vik
Pelican Staff
LBTS - A town commission candidate in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea may have violated a state election law by including his political party affiliation and that of his opponent in an advertisement in a local newspaper.
Edmund Malkoon, a candidate for Seat #3, ran the ad in the Jan. 20 edition of the monthly ByTheSeaFuture newspaper. Malkoon included his Republican Party status in the ad as well as his opponent’s Democratic Party affiliation.
According to state law, “A political advertisement of a candidate running for nonpartisan office may not state the candidate’s political party affiliation. This section does not prohibit a political advertisement from stating the candidate’s partisan-related experience. A candidate for nonpartisan office is prohibited from campaigning based on party affiliation.”
For enforcement of any willful violation of this provision, a complaint must be filed with the Florida Elections Commission.  The commission has exclusive jurisdiction over this matter and may impose a fine not to exceed $1,000 per count.
Asked about the ad before Tuesday’s commission meeting, Malkoon said he had “no comment.”
“If elected officials break the law, they should be held accountable for their action. The same applies to candidates,” his opponent Mark Brown said. “The laws are there for a reason, and people should comply with them.”
Brown said he would like to see Malkoon’s ad brought before the State Division of Elections for review but does not plan on taking that action himself.
Campaign signs at polls OK on election day
In other election-related news, commissioners decided Tuesday that despite the code that bans campaign signs on town property, signs will be allowed outside polling places Jan. 31. Campaigners must be at least 100 feet away from the polls.
Connie Hoffmann, town manager, asked for commission direction after noticing all the campaign signs outside Jarvis Hall during the last general election. She said she tried to get Bud Bentley, assistant town manager, to have the signs removed. “He asked me, ‘Do you really want me to do that?’” she said, and the signs remained.
Candidates and their supporters traditionally set up tents and campaign at voting sites on election day here.
“Good luck” [in banning them], said Vice Mayor Stuart Dodd.  “Historically, it’s gone on, and I wouldn’t like to cut it off. Call it election day fever. So long as it’s cleaned up after, I think it’s just part of the election. It’s not worth it to police it. It’s a tradition in this town.”
“We have to maintain that 100-foot limit from the door,” Commissioner Birute Ann Clottey said. “It’s tradition to put up tents. It’s a little late now [to prohibit it].”
“You gave me good advice, Bud. Thank you,” Hoffmann said. Bentley responded with a thumbs-up gesture.
Susan Trevarthen, town attorney, suggested that as the code is revised next month it be changed to allow an exception to the sign ban.
Voters in LBTS will select a commissioner for Seat 3. Polling places are at Jarvis Hall at 4501 N. Ocean Drive and at Assumption Catholic Church parish hall at 2001 S. Ocean Blvd.
The polling place for Sea Ranch Lakes has moved to the Sea Ranch Lakes Beach Club, but LBTS sites remain the same.
Registered Republicans will also vote for a presidential candidate.