Rick Neuhoff for Palm Beach County Commisson, Dist. 5

Rick Neuhoff 2012

I want to thank everyone who came out to The Bull Bar last Sunday evening to support my campaign. The event was a BIG success!!! It was a wonderful room full of terriffic people. I wish I could have you all with me everywhere I go.

Candidate's platform includes pledge to improve county's image

The Sun Sentinel ran an article about me in the Delray Forum section today!!!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/delray-beach/fl-drf-neuhoff-0502-20120502,0,5832458.story

sun-sentinel.com Campaigning for the County Commission's District Five seat, Rick Neuhoff said he wants to change Palm Beach's reputation as "corruption county."

I am proud to announce that I have the endorsement of Shannon Roberts who is the Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress, Florida's District 15.

Once elected, Shannon will work to:
- Expand and bring in new businesses and jobs
- Keep our Space Program #1 in the World
- Provide health care to those in need
- Provide improved roads and new transportation systems
- Protect our natural resources
- Elevate our research and education to the best in the Nation
- Provide a strong national defense and homeland security

www.shannonrobertsforcongress.com

Catch us at the P.E.A.C.E - People Engaged in Active Community Efforts - Tonight at the Palm Beach County Convention Center... Support the fight for jobs and against wage theft and end youth crime...

When you buy stock in a publicly traded company you get to see their profit and loss, their expenses and income. Shouldn't you have the same right when it comes to your government? Rick wants the same transparency in government. Let us all see what we pay for!

Get the word out... Tell your friends to "like" our page. If the future of Palm Beach County matters to you, and you are looking forward to government that is responsible to the tax payers and not the special interests, then now is the time to let your friends and neighbors know about Rick Neuhoff...

HAPPY EARTH DAY

Rick Neuhoff for Palm Beach County Commisson, Dist. 5's cover photo

AroundWellington.com » February, 2012 - Rick Neuhoff Announces his Candidacy

Many thanks to friend and supporter, Carol Porter, for the fantastic photos!!

aroundwellington.net Rick Neuhoff officially announced his candidacy at 10:00 AM on Thursday, February 16, 2012, surrounded by family, friends and supporters in front of the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office.

AroundWellington.com » February, 2012 - Rick Neuhoff Announces his Candidacy

AroundWellington.com has written about the campaign's big news! Read about how the support of the voters of Palm Beach County has enabled Rick Neuhoff to appear on the 2012 ballot by petition. Rick has turned in over the required amount of signed petitions this past Thursday, February 16th. Read about it here at: http://aroundwellington.net/?p=13197

aroundwellington.net Rick Neuhoff officially announced his candidacy at 10:00 AM on Thursday, February 16, 2012, surrounded by family, friends and supporters in front of the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Florida is a paradise that people from around the world gravitate toward, to vacation, to call home and to retire, but the American Dream of home ownership has become a nightmare for too many here in Palm Beach, throughout Florida and across America.

45% of mortgage-holders in Florida are underwater compared to 22% nationwide [1]. With one in every 360 Florida properties in foreclosure compared to one in every 634 properties in foreclosure nationally, Florida is second only to California in new foreclosures [2]. Both tragic statistics are double the national average.

Florida is entering its sixth year of:
- Declining real estate prices
- Unemployment that was close to 12½% and is still hovering around double digits, and
- Home-owners who cannot afford to move and take a good job because they cannot afford to pay the bank the difference between the price they can sell their house for in today’s market and the amount the bank is owed

Compounding these problems are banks that can no longer prove in a court of law that they hold specific mortgages as a result of all the repeated bundling and sales of mortgages.

As the Chief Law Enforcement Agent and Consumer Protector of the Sunshine State, I call for Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to use the power and broad jurisdiction of her office to initiate an investigation into Florida's mortgage backed security process (the electronic registration system, origination, securitization, the servicing pieces...). I want you to work in a collaborative way with other State Attorneys General like Beau Biden in Delaware and United States Attorney General Eric Holder to hold the feet of those people who are responsible to the fire.

Some vocal Republicans on the hill want America to wait for the market to work itself out. That is unacceptable.

Proactively, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citibank, JP Morgan Chase and Ally Banks have proposed a $25 Billion Dollar Class-Action Settlement that would result in approximately $1,200 for each of the affected homeowners [3]. As proposed, their drop in the bucket gesture is inadequate.

During the Union Address, President Obama said “In 2008, the house of cards collapsed. We learned that mortgages had been sold to people who couldn’t afford or understand them. Banks had made huge bets and bonuses with other people’s money. Regulators had looked the other way, or didn’t have the authority to stop the bad behavior. It was wrong, it was irresponsible, and it plunged our economy into a crisis that put millions out of work, saddled us with more debt, left innocent, hardworking Americans holding the bag” … “and I will not go back to the days when Wall Street was allowed to play by its own set of rules!”

President Obama then announced “I’m asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the housing crisis. This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans.”

We need to act now, investigate, file cases, file complaints and seek indictments if the facts take us there. The time to talk is over. Things are not getting any better. Floridians and homeowners across this great country are hurting.

I applaud President Obama’s decisive action. His bold leadership will protect and defend struggling homeowners. The results of this broad, large-scale investigation will shed light on the ‘too big to fail’ banks and all facets of the mortgage industry responsible for the $13.5 Trillion Dollars total U.S. mortgage debt that was the housing market bubble [4].

The effects of this mortgage crisis can no longer be tolerated and the results of this investigation will help homeowners, help our economy and help restore faith that our laws have real meaning.

Thank you.

[1] - Source: Corelogic / Politifact
[2] - Source: Realtytrac
[3] - Source: McCabe Research & Consulting
[4] - Source: Federal Board of Governors, Dec. 2011

Companies that violate Federal laws should not be awarded Palm Beach County contracts.

A timely example is Metro Mobility Management Group who flat out refuses to follow Federal laws, but they have followed their unfair and illegal practices since 2007.

The seniors and disabled Palm Beach County residents who enjoy the inexpensive, door-to-door van services provided by Palm Tran Connection are ultimately the people who will suffer, along with the families of Palm Beach County’s Para-Transit Van Operators.

As a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Palm Beach County Commission, I am aware of a five-year contract for these services that is on the desk's of our Commissioners as you are reading this. Before awarding these contracts, I urge our Commissioners to keep in mind the numerous Federal law violations perpetrated, by Metro Mobility:
- Two Federal Court guilty verdicts for being in contempt of court.
- A foreclosure judgment.
- Private sales of corporate assets, and, to top it off, there is now…
- An outstanding and overdue monetary judgment against Metro Mobility, for monies owed to Palm Tran Connection Van Operators, their employees.

Unfortunately, the situation here in Palm Beach County with Metro Mobility is not an isolated incident. There are also other corporate entities that continually disobey Federal Laws and ignore Court Decisions at the expense of working families and customers. Why? Because they are allowed to!

America is a nation of laws and when those laws are not upheld, it’s no wonder why apathy festers.

It is at opportunities such as this when Palm Beach County’s Commissioners can wake people up by calling attention to injustice.

Laws are made of words. I want the PBC Commissioners to prove that those words have meaning. I want them to use “the power of the purse strings” to enforce the laws. The bottom line is that I want our Commissioners to hold corrupt corporations and corrupt people accountable. When I am elected, this is exactly how I intend to conduct myself.

The good residents and businesses of Palm Beach are struggling, along with our upstanding Commissioners, and this is how to rid us of the lingering remnants of Palm Beach’s “Corruption County” namesake.

It is important to lead by example and this is a perfect example of why I have stood up at County Commission meetings time and time again, calling for the Ethics Committee, and the Inspector General to be as strong as possible.

When contracts, with companies like Metro Mobility, come-up before the County Commission, we the people expect the Board to do the correct thing.

Commissioners, hold this company accountable for its actions and award these contracts to other, more reputable companies.

Don't let these Federal law breakers continue to blatantly disobey the law at the expense of the Palm Tran Connection drivers, their families, the seniors and the disadvantaged who rely on the service availability.

2012 Walk Now for Autism Speaks: Palm Beach - TEAM NEUHOFF

Please join TEAM NEUHOFF on Sunday, March 4 for the 2012 Walk Now for Autism Speaks event at The City Commons, 100 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 [MAP] http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=100+S+Clematis+St&city=West+Palm+Beach&state=FL&zipcode=33401

Every 20 minutes, another child is diagnosed with autism – that’s 3 or 4 in the time it will take us to walk on Sunday, March 4, 2012. If you cannot walk with us, please donate to sponsor the fund raising efforts of TEAM NEUHOFF! Either way, you can help Autism Speaks build a better future for families that live with the challenges of autism every day.
www.WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.org/PalmBeach/RickNeuhoff2012 and sign up today!

The goal of Autism Speaks is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders.

Please donate now or join TEAM NEUHOFF and walk with us on Sunday, March 4, 2012 for Autism Speaks and help raise funds to support research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure of autism; raise public awareness of its effects on individuals, families and society; and bring hope to all who deal with the hardships of the disorder.

Register to walk or donate here www.WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.org/PalmBeach/RickNeuhoff2012

Walk Now for Autism Speaks is a fun-filled, family friendly event and is the single most powerful force to fund vital research that will lead to the answers we need. Experience the power of thousands united by a single cause by joining TEAM NEUHOFF and Walk Now for Autism Speaks. Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder in the U.S. and we need more volunteers to join the fight. Whether this is your first walk or the 11th, take the first step and register today. You will not only raise funds, but you will become a part of a fun and supportive family-focused community.

Every 20 minutes, another family receives the devastating news that their child has an autism spectrum disorder. Take the first step to help by signing up to walk with TEAM NEUHOFF and become a part of the solution! Don’t wait another minute – sign up now! www.WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.org/PalmBeach/RickNeuhoff2012

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at The City Commons, 100 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 [MAP] http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=100+S+Clematis+St&city=West+Palm+Beach&state=FL&zipcode=33401

Register at www.WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.org/PalmBeach/RickNeuhoff2012

Did you know???
• Autism now affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys
• Autism prevalence figures are growing
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
• Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade
• Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism

Please join our Walk Now for Autism Speaks team! We’re walking on Sunday, March 4, 2012 to help families that aren’t as fortunate as we are; they need our help as they continue to search for answers and hope. Autism Speaks invests millions of dollars to fund research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure.

To walk with TEAM NEUHOFF, register at www.WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.org/PalmBeach/RickNeuhoff2012

Can you believe more children will be diagnosed with autism this year than AIDS, pediatric cancer and diabetes combined? Walk with TEAM NEUHOFF and help raise money and awareness to support the work of Autism Speaks. I believe the day will come when no parent has to hear the words “your child has autism”.

What are you waiting for? Donate or register now to walk with TEAM NEUHOFF www.WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.org/PalmBeach/RickNeuhoff2012
Powered by volunteers and families with loved ones on the autism spectrum, this successful grassroots fundraising effort not only generates vital funds for autism research but also raises awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism and the need for increased research funding to combat this complex disorder.

Questions or Comments? Contact Autism Speaks at [email protected] or (954)421-9997.

THANK YOU!!!

walknowforautismspeaks.org

The more I speak with people about my campaign to be elected to the District 5 seat of the Palm Beach County Commission, the more people ask me what a County Commissioner actually does.

In over simplified terms, the Board of seven County Commissioners touch on most every aspect of our day-to-day lives in Palm Beach. There must be a minimum majority vote of four to either enact or kill any initiative. The people are invited to all County Commission sessions and workshops to observe and speak for or against items on that day’s agenda. The people are also allowed to speak on most any topic of importance to them during ‘Matters by the Public’.

In my opinion, to do the job of County Commissioner correctly, even though only 1/7 of the County can vote to elect each individual Commissioner, every Commissioner needs to represent the best interests of the entire County, not just the 1/7 that elects them. Registered voters in West Boca Raton, West Delray Beach and West Boynton Beach are who can vote for me in the upcoming Primary Election August 14, 2012.

In Washington DC there are three branches of Government (Executive, Legislative and Judicial) that interact to maintain a system of Checks and Balances. In Palm Beach County there are two branches of Government, the County Commission along with the County Administrator (as the communication gateway between the Commission and Staff) and the Constitutional Officers (Clerk & Comptroller of the Courts, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Sherriff and Supervisor of Elections) that interact to maintain a system of Checks and Balances.

As a CHIEF EXECUTIVE BOARD, the Board of County Commissioners has administrative and policy duties to direct and evaluate appointed department heads, negotiate contracts, bargain with labor organizations, enact policies to deliver public services, and appoint residents to county advisory committees, boards, and commissions.

As LEGISLATORS, the Board of County Commissioners enacts ordinances that have the force of law.

In making LAND USE DECISIONS, the Board of County Commissioners renders judgments in land use disputes as a quasi-judicial panel.

A major policy responsibility is establishing County priorities through the budget allocations made within resource limitations. The Board of County Commissioners has to consider public input, competing needs, compliance with legislative mandated services, and funds legally restricted to specific uses.

Palm Beach County has an annual budget of nearly $4 billion and has a staff of approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 departments, divisions and offices working together to provide quality services, programs and information to the residents of Palm Beach County. The county departments include:
> Administration
> Airports Department
> Commission on Ethics
> Community Services
- Community Action
- Head Start & Children's Services
- Human and Veteran Services
- Migrant Programs
- Senior Services
> Cooperative Extension Service
- Agriculture
- Agriculture Regulations
- Family & Consumer Sciences
- 4-H Youth Programs
- Horticulture Program
- Master Gardeners
- Mounts Botanical Garden
> County Attorney
> Court Administration
> Criminal Justice Commission
> Economic Development Office
> Engineering and Public Works
- Adopt-a-Road
- Construction Coordination
- Engineering Services
- Geoprocessing
- Land Development
- Road & Bridge
- Roadway Production
- Streetscape Section
- Survey Section
- Traffic Division/Traffic Operations
> Environmental Resources Management
- Coastal Resources
- Lakes, Estuaries and Lagoons
- Mosquito Control
- Natural Areas
- Permitting and Regulation
> Equal Opportunity
> Facilities Development & Operations
- Administration
- Art in Public Places
- Capital Improvements
- Electronic Services and Security
- Facilities Management
- Fleet Management
- P.P.I.G./ Facilities Services
- Property & Real Estate Management
> Financial Management & Budget
- Budget
- Contracts
- Financial Management
- Thrift Store
> Fire/Rescue
- Drowning Prevention Coalition
> Housing & Community Development
> Human Resources
> Information Systems Services
> Internal Auditor
> Legislative Affairs
- Legislative Delegation - Lobbying Regulations
> Library
> Medical Examiner's Office
> Metropolitan Planning Organization
> Office of Community Revitalization
> Office of Small Business Assistance
> Palm Tran
> Parks & Recreation
> Planning, Zoning & Building
- Administration
- Building
- Code Enforcement
- Contractor Certification
- Planning
- Zoning
> Public Affairs
- Cable TV Information
- Digital Marketing and Communications
- Graphics
- Media and Public Information
- PBC TV Channel 20
> Public Health Unit
> Public Safety
- Animal Care & Control
- Consumer Affairs
- Emergency Management/EOC
- Justice Services
- Victim Services
- Youth Affairs
> Purchasing
> Risk Management
> Solid Waste Authority
> Tourist Development Council
- Convention Center
- Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Cultural Council
- Film and TV Commission
- Sports Commission
> Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
> Water Utilities Department
> Workforce Alliance

The Palm Beach Board of County Commissioners work with state and federal officials, and advocate in Tallahassee as well as Washington DC for legislation that aids in the delivery of services locally and that otherwise benefit Palm Beach County.

I look forward to representing you once I am elected and I fully recognize that no matter how well I am informed, it really takes a team to know everything going on in Palm Beach. That is exactly why I freely give people my phone number (561-358-0830). When you have a question, problem or concern, I want you to call me and let me know.

Thank you for your interest.

Those of us who live in Western Palm Beach need to understand that we are all living in what was the Everglades before the water draining management system allowed for development. We need to remember that the farmers were here before the gated communities and they have the right to exist. Farmers are entrepreneurs, they are working families, farms are businesses that create a lot of jobs and Palm Beach County farms generate as much revenue as tourism does. The more that new communities are built on “Agriculture Reserve” lands, the more we encroach upon the ability of farms and farmers to exist. This has to stop.

The current District 5 County Commission administration spear-headed the funding of a $150 million dollar bond issue to purchase agricultural land and establish the "Agriculture Reserve"... so that Palm Beach County, as the new land owners and stewards of this land, would insure this lands preservation and use for agricultural purposes. When land is part of the “Agriculture Reserve” or has been declared “Environmentally Protected” I believe that is exactly what should happen.

If you look at Commissioner Aaronson’s long-term voting record, you see that his consistent actions demonstrate his use of Ag-Reserve and Environmentally Protected land as a bank of pristine land for his big dollar donors (and his daughter-in-law who has worked at GL Homes for many years) to build on. The two-step process starts by either swapping the County’s preserved property for other land that may not be worthy of that status, or voting to simply sell that land for pennies on the dollar. Following the transfer of land ownership, the County Commission votes to allow and enable that land to be built upon.

Please don’t misunderstand; I am in favor of smart, managed growth with new construction and expansion taking concurrency into account. Especially now that the Republican dominated legislature in Tallahassee has completely deregulated growth, with the burst of the real estate bubble, a glut of available residential and commercial properties, along with some of the highest unemployment rates in the United States, I agree with President Obama that Palm Beach County should lead by example, creating construction jobs retrofitting and weatherizing that glut of available residential and commercial property, as well as our Governmental buildings (schools and libraries, law enforcement and fire stations, etc…) to meet or exceed LEED environmental and sustainable energy standards.

Commissioner Aaronson takes great pride having helped to originally fund the Ag-Reserve which I commend him for, but ever since then, Commissioner Aaronson’s voting record shows his ongoing desire to swap or short-sell that pristine land followed by his votes to allow the former Ag-Reserve or Environmentally Preserved land to be built upon.

I say this has to stop now! Reserve what little remains of the “Agriculture Reserve” for agriculture purposes! There are plenty of other places builders can develop, many areas where builders can revitalize and enhance neighborhoods.

A vote for me, for Rick Neuhoff, is a vote for a sustainable future for Palm Beach County.

I used to be friendly with Commissioner Aaronson until about five years ago when I went to the Palm Beach County Commission for the first time to stand up against Commissioner Aaronson who called for changes to be made to the Palm Beach County Charter providing the County Commissioners the power to appoint Florida’s Constitutional Officers and in turn, to take away the people’s right to vote for our Supervisor of Elections, our Clerk of the Courts, our Tax Collector, our Property Appraiser and our Sherriff. I believe in the ability of Palm Beach County voters to elect their Constitutional Officers and think that changing the Palm Beach County Charter to enable the Board of County Commissioners to appoint these Officials opens many doors to a wide variety of possible conflicts of interest, potentially unethical opportunities and temptations. In Washington DC there are three separate branches of government so that a system of checks and balances exist. Here in Palm Beach County, the checks and balances are between the County Commission and the Constitutional Officers. If the Commission appoints the Constitutional Officers, a scenario would be created where the foxes guard the henhouse. Right now, as the Palm Beach County Charter is being reviewed and possible changes are being proposed, this same issue is being revisited and I continue to stand firmly to protect the right of Palm Beach County voters to vote for and elect their representatives.

Rick Neuhoff

As of today, the current District 5 County Commissioner, Burt Aaronson, has been in office nineteen years. During elections seven years ago, 71% of Palm Beach County voters chose eight-year term limits. Now that term limits have finally come into play, Commissioner Aaronson had hoped that Broward County Courts would rule that term limits are unconstitutional, a notion that seems ridiculous to me. However, his actions indicate that he wants to find any way possible to retain his grip on power and I believe that is exactly why he is running his assistant from the past dozen years, Mary. By the time it is Election Day in 2012, Commissioner Aaronson will have been in office twenty years… that’s practically 10% of America’s history and what do they say about “absolute power”? I think Commissioner Aaronson says it best when he publically proclaims himself the “King” of Palm Beach County. I for one, do not think Palm Beach County needs a “King” and I think that Palm Beach County is ready for a new voice with new ideas… it is time for Rick Neuhoff to be YOUR voice on the Board of County Commissioners, it is time to elect Rick Neuhoff.

www.RickNeuhoff2012.com

rickneuhoff2012.com