PB: Tim Schaffer is… Marathon Man
by SDM
SDM enjoys reading campaign reports. Yes, SDM is warped and hopeless. But if SDM didn’t read campaign reports, you would not know that Tim E. Schaffer, candidate for village council district 2, is Marathon Man.
Before SDM explains, a little context might help.
As of November 1, 2012, Mr. Schaffer reported contributions totalling $15,625. Of this amount, Schaffer loaned his campaign $8,000. This last report before the November 6 election shows that Schaffer’s campaign spent $7,305.23. Therefore, Schaffer’s cash on hand was $8,319.77, which means that if he did not spend the cash by election day, he could use the balance for the runoff – or – to pay himself back the 8 grand he loaned himself.
Isn’t that interesting? SDM can’t wait to see if Schaffer loaned the money to the campaign just to look like he was more financially competitive than he ever intended to be. It’s an old trick, but until the next reports are posted, SDM can only speculate…and…marvel at Schaffer’s loyalty to the Marathon gas station at SW 168th Street and Old Cutler Road.
Since the beginning of the campaign, Mr. Schaffer has visited the Marathon station to gas up his “campaign truck” five times, spending a total of $200.75. This campaign truck was featured in one of Schaffer’s mail pieces. If you’re looking for a candidate who’s loyal to his fuel provider, Tim Schaffer is definitely your [Marathon] man!
SDM Wonders: Why would a candidate loan his campaign $8,000 and then charge back the campaign account for gas? And, why would the candidate charge back $15.84 for campaign meeting food at the Pubgrill in Cutler Bay? (Seriously, how many people attended this “meeting” Mr. Schaffer? 
)
SDM Says: Doing so only makes sense if you never intended to spend the money you lent yourself. Perhaps SDM has underestimated Mr. Schaffer’s political acumen. Time will tell.
The final campaign report is due today 11/16/2012 by 5PM. The Village Clerk can be contacted on Monday to see it. It may or may not get posted Monday on the Village Website for all to see.
Happy Reading!
However, whatever Mr. Schaffer’s report says, the die has already been cast.
Dubois loans to himself:
Q-4 report from January he loaned himself $11,055.88
Q-3 report he shows a $7,000 loan which is never listed on the contribution page.
Q -4 report shows a $29,000 loan
R-1$12,500 (although he describes it as a loan on the summary page and simply a check on the contribution page)
In a campaign where he’s raised over $77,000 over $59,000 is in loans from himself.
What’s your take on that SDM?
That he’s willing to put up his own money to save his community from a government gone wild.
One might also conclude he’s not beholden to the special interests that pull Pariser’s strings.
The irony of Brian screaming about self-funding a campaign. Brian is owned by the CCOCI directors who have nearly single-handedly funded and run his campaign. Lindsay has delivered the village coffers to the CCOCI fight once she got elected. Brian Pariser is a political eunich who turned the village litigation treasury over to her and CCOCI.
Stop lying Brian. You wasted your four years in office. Zero accomplishments and you screwed Tendrich just like you are screwing the taxpayers.
You state that Dubois was willing to loan his campaign money ($59,000) “to save his community from a government gone wild.”
However in an earlier post of yours regarding Peggy Bell, you stated: “Ms. Bell had sufficient personal wealth to loan her campaign $5,500 in 2010.
In the campaign vernacular, this is called “self-financing” and it is perfectly legal. But many also believe permitting individuals to loan money to their campaigns gives those candidates an unfair advantage over those who cannot afford to make such loans. Others say that candidates like Ms. Bell are “buying” their seats. Of course, once a seat is purchased this way, getting reelected is easy because all those pesky interest groups flock to the incumbent.”
Why is this okay for Dubois to loan his campaign $59,000 but not okay for Bell to loan hers $5,500?
Is Dubois buying the seat? Is his wealth giving him an unfair advantage?
Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay are different animals, especially this year. Bell and Pariser are two of a kind, though. She wrote a check to Pariser’s campaign so her support could attract a candidate with deep pockets.
It’s obvious Mr. Dubois has thrown a turd in Pariser’s punch bowl by having the cajones not only to run but to put his money where his mouth is. Wait til Monday for the big enchilada coming from me. Yours truly.
To All,
Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 20th is the day that voters will set the direction the Village of Palmetto Bay will move for the next four years. We as a community can stay where we’ve been for the last four years or we can move in a much more positive direction.
A direction where the word “COMMUNITY” actually means something to the individuals who represent us on the Council. A direction where the phase “FISCAL RESPONSBILITY” is not just a phase batted around by those who have wasted and will continue to waste your hard-earned income. A direction where “OPINIONS” are actually listened to at the Village, not just brushed aside by a group of “condo commando” types who dictate to you how this Village needs to be run.
As you vote tomorrow please remember how we got to the point where we are at this time – it has all been caused by the current Mayor Shelley Stanczyk, the Vice Mayor Brian Pariser and Councilwoman Joan Lindsay. Here’s a list of their failings to date:
• Over 1.65 million dollar in losses over two years at the Coral Reef Tennis Courts since the Jane Forman contract was canceled. Prior to that there were no losses.
• A 1.1 million dollar hot dog stand, the cost of which exceeds the value of 99% of the homes located in the Village of Palmetto Bay
• Over $800,000 and counting for attorney fees paid to the Village Attorneys Eve Boutsis and White and Case to fight Palmer Trinity expansion over the last four years. This equates to a $3,200 attack on each student the Mayor and Vice Mayor tried to disapprove.
• A 2.3 Million dollar operating deficit for the Villages 2012-2013 fiscal year budget.
• Over 10 Million dollars of taxpayer’s money spent out of reserves over the last 3 years.
• A possible 12 million dollar judgment against the Village in Palmer Trinity’s favor.
Please remember this is the damage they have accomplished over the last four years, can you imagine what they can and will do in the next four? We all will pay the financial price with “INCREASED REAL ESTATE TAXES” if Brian Pariser and Tim Schaffer are elected to the Council and the wasteful financial shenanigans continue.
Numbers and facts don’t lie, but rhetoric does. Please tell all your friends and neighbors to get out and Vote tomorrow for John Dubios and Jim Araiza.
David Singer