Fort Lauderdale City Commission incumbents fail to file financials - Lester Zalewski takes lead.

Jan. 1, 2012 - PRLog -- In the District 2 race, Lester Zalewsk has put up $2,000 of the money made from selling his action sports business last year.  He first indicated his decision to run mid-November 2011 but has since then made rapid progress placing full-color posters in high-visibility locations - launching a busy interactive website - www.lesterz.com -  a popular Twitter account-@ lesterzalewski - and videos.

Zalewski's can-do, no-nonsense business management style is reflected in his filing the "F1" Campaign Treasurer's report two days early in contrast to this recent lapse by two incumbent Commissioners.  Donor contributions are expected once Zalewski's social media campaign gains traction.  High impact videos for internet and broadcast are currently in test and scheduled to be released throughout the month.

Meanwhile Lester Zalewski is set to debate the other two candidates and walking through the neighborhoods of District 2 listening to the concerns of residents from Victoria Park to south Middle River to Fort Lauderdale Beach where he is the Vice President of the Central Beach Alliance.  He has won the firm support of Central Beach Alliance Co-Founder and international bestselling author C.J. Beck.  

"IF Lester has one fault, it's his selflessness.  He puts other folks way above himself.  Just like Commissioner Tim Smith did.  Many politicians don't do that," said Beck.

Beck is referring to Former Commissioner Tim Smith, author of the political bio POLITICS 101.  He represented District 2 for six years until 2004 and ran for Mayor losing to the twenty year incumbent Jim Naugle.  Smith introduced term limits and reduced the maximum  donors could contribute from $500.00 to $250.00.

Incumbent Charlotte Rodstrom, the wife of Broward County Mayor John Rodstrom signaled her intentions mid-2011 and had already raised $19,130, by October 2011.  That's quite a hefty war chest but there's no way to predict if donations have dwindled or doubled until she files her report.

The third candidate,  Michael Ferber only just met the filing deadline late November forcing a "sudden-death" January 31 election where 50% plus one will elect.  Thus far he's loaned his campaign $500.00.


The City Clerk’s office has not yet received reports, which have to be postmarked by Friday, from Commissioners Charlotte Rodstrom and Romney Rogers.  Curiously, the local newspaper, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, avoided what we believe is the main story and ran the headline - "Fort Lauderdale incumbents have big money advantage in upcoming elections."  


Certainly the incumbents have a big head start, since none of the challengers began raising money until November.

Four of the six challengers’ total contributions came from personal loans they made to their campaigns.  Few donor contributors are going to show their cards, and support non-incumbents, until and unless the challengers begin to show they are a force to be reckoned with.


Mayor Jack Seiler added $29,245 to the $21,525 he raised previously, bringing total contributions to $50,770.

Mayoral pretenders are well behind. Earl Rynerson reports raising $5,550, including a $2,000 personal loan.  Gabriel Crimi loaned his campaign a $500.

The late entry of third candidates in the Mayoral and District 2 race has forced an early election in January 31 leaving challengers little time - sixty days -  to gain traction.

Cynical observers have opined that this was the reason Mike Ferber was entered in the District 2 race, but he has denied he was involved in this gambit, despite being a big supporter of Charlotte Rodstrom in the past.  

Crimi has been a long time supporter of Earl Rynerson so his late entry is puzzling.  Rynerson's small budget versus Mayor Jack Seiler's  may point to a quick-sprint strategy, but this could easily backfire as  Rynerson's blog "A Better Fort Lauderdale" does not have a convincingly strong enough following to pose a threat.

The March 13 challenger candidates funds display a similar imbalance between incumbent and challenger.  


District 1 Commissioner Bruce Roberts collected $19,638 in the latest period, bringing his total to $33,233, while challenger Mary Graham‘s total contribution was a $600 personal loan.

In District 4, challenger Jackie Scott has raised $10,520, including a $5,600 personal loan. Romney Rogers had raised $11,625 through October.