Amidst the flooding from hurricane Helene, Hollywood, Florida, residents are gearing up to vote for mayor-- but do they have all the facts they need to make an informed decision?
And one piece to the puzzle voters must solve is whether the people running for mayor are solely or mostly motivated to be public servants or whether financial factors play even a subtle role in their decision-making functions.
A recent political mailer delivers a clue to Hollywood residents who are gearing up to vote for mayor of this South Florida coastal city on Nov. 5, 2024. Voting occurs as the city is experiencing unprecedented development, and problems with increased flooding.
The mailer states, Mayor Josh Levy "helped his family achieve the American Dream by transforming a family auto shop into a thriving car dealership."
But like any good puzzle, you need to put more pieces together to make it whole. So, a press release dated June 5, 2024, provides another clue. With trumpets blaring, it announces the Levy family sold Hollywood Kia, adding that "we have decided to focus our efforts on real estate development."
Now, it's possible that Hollywood residents knew about a third clue. It is: the Levy family owns millions of dollars of local property. But the press release left no doubt about the intentions of Josh and his family as he seeks a third term as mayor. They want to get more property.
But these are just the first few clues. There are more. We don't know, for instance, if Mayor Levy owns any property or businesses but has put them in the name of someone else.
In other words, Hollywood residents troubled by out-of-control AirBnbs might want to know if only Levy family members own local AirBnbs or if Josh is a silent partner with them.
The website for the state Commission on Ethics explains why financial disclosure is important. It reads, "Financial disclosure is required of public officials and employees because it enables the public to evaluate potential conflicts of interest, deters corruption, and increases public confidence in government."
State ethics laws also let the mayor keep private for another year whether he got any compensation from the sale of the Kia dealership. That's because Josh Levy filed a state financial disclosure report, as required by law. But it only lists his financial assets and liabilities through June 4, 2024. The sale of Hollywood Kia was announced a day later, on June 5, 2024. Curious, I emailed the mayor to ask him for comment about the two close dates. He never answered me.
However, according to the research director at Integrity Florida, Ben Wilcox, that means "voters will have to wait until the Mayor files his 2024 financial disclosure in 2025 to learn if his net worth has changed. Financial disclosures are a snapshot of a person's financial interests at a moment in time. Public officials are not required to update those disclosures when there are changes during the year." Integrity Florida works to promote accountability in government through research and policy.Of course, the mayor can make voluntary disclosures. Or is it in his best interests to make voters wait?
I vote for the public getting more information. Why? Financial disclosures are a snapshot of a person's financial interests at a moment in time. And the time is important - Hollywood residents are getting ready to vote-by-mail in October. They also start voting early on Oct. 21, in the run up to the Nov. 5, 2024, election.
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(Article changed on Oct 02, 2024 at 12:12 AM EDT)
