OPEN LETTER TO REPRESENTATIVE MATT GAETZ

Published January 11, 2011

Representative Gaetz,

Considering your e-mails [SEE BELOW] it seems that you are in the right mood to exchange some "pleasantries."

Before we start talking about your "qualifications" to represent Florida's citizens in a time of serious problems, let's make sure everybody understands where we both are coming from.  I already lobbied in Tallahassee for more owner-friendly laws for community associations while you were still in High School.

Now, barely out of college, you are a Florida House Representative, courtesy of your father, Senator Dan Gaetz, who bought you the seat with his connections and influence. Or do you honestly believe that the folks from The Kentucky Derby would give a kid barely out of law school $500 for a campaign to run for Florida House Representative? That's just one example showing how you amassed $478,815.30 in the campaign funds for the special election last year. The "donors" nearly fell over each other to please your father. Looking through the list of your "donors," I found it amazing that a college kid with no professional work under his belt can "loan" his campaign more than $100,000? Most folks who just passed the BAR exam have a hard time making ends meet, trying to pay off their student loans. 

You have more or less no life experience -- but you want to make decisions how we citizens are supposed to live. I can assure you, not everybody was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

As well, it was interesting to read in your bio on the website of the law firm you are officially working for that you "served as Legislative Aide to the Speaker-Designate of the Florida House of Representatives." Conveniently, you forgot to mention the name of the "Speaker-Designate." Let's make sure everybody knows that it was Ray Sansom, who was as well your predecessor in the district you now "represent." Please GOOGLE the name in case you are not "fully" informed about my reasons for mentioning it.

Believe me, I had been a lot more pleasant and respectful in the very first years of asking legislators for improved laws for community associations in Tallahassee  -- while you still went to school. I have begged and pleaded with many good legislators, but after learning what is really going on behind closed doors in Tallahassee I have lost a lot of this respect. I have been to places like the "Governor's Club" [Members Only] and have seen what is going on in these places. I have sat at tables where agreements were made between candidates and lobbyists to support campaigns -- in exchange for future support once in office. And I have seen how the Republican Party in the last few years pushed legislators out of Tallahassee, legislators that were unwilling to vote for anti-citizen bills. I have voted all my life Republican -- but believe me, my experience in Tallahassee was an eye-opener! 

I can understand that you don't want to hear what owners living in community associations have to say -- and you don’t want to read the horror stories that force good families out of their homes.   Anti-owner laws passed by the Florida legislature caused these dreadful conditions that devastated Florida's citizens. 

Your dad, Senator Dan Gaetz, in 2010 co-sponsored S1196 -- the worst anti-owner bill that passed in the last ten years. The bill was dubbed the THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION  ATTORNEY RELIEF ACT! Did your father have you in mind when sponsoring the bill?

The bill was pushed by the law firm of Becker & Poliakoff, another "donor" to your campaign. According to documents in my possession, your law firm, Keefe, Anchors, Gordon & Moyle in Fort Walton Beach, is practicing as well what I call "HIGHWAY ROBBERY" -- meaning demanding legal fees without being the prevailing party -- without even having been to court [FS 720.305]. In your district there are enough community associations with serious problems -- often caused by bad legislation. But most of the owners living in these associations didn't donate to your campaign.

Believe me, I understand that you don't like my kind of advocacy. Like I said: Truth hurts! 

Since polite requests are ignored by the Florida legislators -- if not accompanied by huge checks -- I'm trying to spread the truth and facts.  I hope that there are still some honest legislators in Tallahassee and that they empathize with the plight of the citizens they are supposed to represent.  And maybe some legislators will start to realize that the fact that retirees no longer want to move to the former Sunshine State is caused by Florida's lack of enforcing its own laws and by allowing owners that live in community associations to be treated worse than serfs -- courtesy of the Florida legislature!

I fully understand that in Tallahassee we have legislators that would rather see citizens kiss their "ring" than to criticize them. But that is the big difference in attitude we see nowadays. In former times honest legislators served their constituents. Today we have too many legislators who think that being a legislator is an easy way to make a fast "buck."

One of the last things left to us citizens is our opinion -- no big campaign checks required. But you should always remember (see your predecessor): "The bigger they are, the harder they fall!"

By the way, thank you for finally "unsubscribing" by using the SafeUnsubscribe button. Unsubscribing is one way to block out the facts. But wearing blinders doesn't solve problems! 

With a little more life experience and a little less arrogance you could have used the unsubscribe button supplied on the e-mail form in the first place and avoided this unpleasant discussion. But I give you that in your defense: At your age you still have a lot to learn!

Regards,

Jan Bergemann, President
Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.