PB: Araiza Challenges His Opponents to a Duel!
by SDM
Palmetto Bay candidate Jim Araiza issued the following challenge:
Today, I call upon my two opponents to join me in a 1-hour public forum to debate the issues that are before us, and to state their positions and vision for the future of Palmetto Bay. Our campaign has reached out to various neighborhood organizations to moderate and sponsor the event and we are confident a debate can be organized and take place within the next two weeks.
Ok, Mr. Araiza didn’t exactly challenge his opponents to a duel. The word “duel” implies two people. You know, Secretary of State Aaron Burr and Vice President Alexander Hamilton in 1804. SDM presumes pistols will not be involved. Insults at twenty paces!
The exciting thing is that Mr. Araiza has challenged – right here on SDM, in an SDM first - his TWO opponents to a debate! So, will Councilman Howard Tendrich and the mysterious Tim Schaffer take the bait…and debate?
(True, the Palmetto Bay Business Association is hosting a candidates’ forum next Wednesday, but it’s is not a debate.)
SDM Brilliant Suggestion: Why not have Captain Kreepy…errr, Palmetto Bay’s most eminent and honorable communications director arrange for a live debate on Channel 77 The Bay and by webcast?
Why not use modern technology to enlighten voters in advance of the most important election in the village’s short history?
Here’s what you do CK. Tap three prominent Village People (Maybe some former council members would volunteer to serve on a panel?) and hold two consecutive 30 minute debates where each Village Person asks a couple questions to each candidate. SDM volunteers to write up the questions. 
As I understand in this” DEBATE” the candidates will have two minutes to tell them about who they are and what they plan for PB.
There is a PB Candidates Forum, on Oct. 18th, sponsored by the Palmetto Village Voice, at the Palmetto Village Center in the Palm room at 7 p.m.
The Forum will be moderated by Rhonda Victor Sibilia. All the candidates will be given a chance to answer ALL the questions, not one question to one and then a different one to another.
The Forum is free and open to all residents. Here is your chance to see in person all the candidates and inform yourself on the issues facing our village and the solutions each candidate offers.
This election is critical for PB, we need to get back on track, so come and bring your neighbors and be informed before you vote….
While I may support the Village Voice, I think a Real Debate is much better then a lame forum with candidate exchange with one another.
I do love you idea of having it at City Hall for all to see and have it recorded for posterity. City Hall should be considered neutral territory and now all we need is a neutral moderator, I recommend tapping one of the local news channels for one of their reporters.
So all we need now is Tendrich and Schaffer to give the OK and let the Debate begin.
Will someone please have a debate for the Vice Mayor candidates. $50.00 bucks says that Brian Pariser wouldn’t show his face.
By the way I just ran some numbers using the new set backs and found if someone tried to build a church or school on 2.5 acres of land they would only be able to use 40% of their land for parking and/or building area. 60% would be buffer zone.
I took that same formula and applied it to one church and one school located in Palmetto Bay and the loss of available land to have parking or building was over 20%. As I’ve been saying all along if a Hurricane Andrew hit again there would be no way to rebuild the majority of Churches or Schools in the Village of Palmetto Bay.
A package with my calculations will be given to the Council on Monday. I hope there is a class action suit filed against the Village to stop this nonsense.
Are you listening Westminister and Alexander Montessori schools?
I guess Araiza saw the polling results and he knows he needs to start swinging hard.
Araisa has lost twice. Hasn’t he gotten the message ? Political ambition seems to blind people.
Araiza will cost Dubois the election.
The Palmetto Bay Village Voice has taken a big hit in credibility in putting Jim Araiza up for district two. We all believe in recycling, but how many times to they have to race this dog before they admit that this particular dog won’t hunt?
Just FYI, the Palmetto Bay Village Voice does not endorse candidates.
Oh, really ?