Dale Holness and Mike Gelin.
By Tom Lauder
Elberg Mike Gelin wants to be the next mayor of Tamarac, so why did he need Dale Holness’ help passing city ordinances?
At last week’s poorly attended Holness For Congress campaign kickoff in Plantation, Dale Holness thanked his “good friend” Elberg Mike Gelin for showing up (late) to endorse his second campaign for the CD 20 seat.
Holness said Gelin “worked to put many of the things we have built-in Broward County into practice.” The former Broward County Commissioner said he and Gelin “collaborated over time.”
Elberg Mike Gelin called Dale Holness an “excellent leader” and his “mentor.” Gelin said Holness gave his “support in getting ordinances passed in Tamarac to benefit the minority community,” such as a “disparity study to help women-owned small businesses and black-owned businesses” and making Juneteenth a paid city holiday.
Just one question: Why was Dale Holness interfering in Tamarac politics at all?
While serving as a Broward County Commissioner, Dale Holness represented the residents of District 9. Holness’ district was comprised of parts of Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Oakland Park, Plantation, and Sunrise.
Dale Holness did not represent Tamarac residents.
But as REDBROWARD exposed over the last year, Team Holness tried to control all facets of Tamarac government. Both Gelin and fellow Commissioner Marlon Bolton (D-Clown) are close allies of Dale Holness.
Former interim City Attorney Hans Ottinot recently represented Holness in an ethics matter in Tallahassee.
Dale Holness’ commission aide, Anthony Bonamy, operates the fake news Tamarac Post website, which regularly attacks opponents of Gelin and Bolton.
“THEY SPEND A LOT OF MONEY”
Curiously, Elberg Mike Gelin brought up his failed “disparity study” plan at the Holness event. In late February, Mayor Michelle Gomez and Tamarac Commissioners rejected Gelin’s $300,000 disparity study.
REDBROWARD exposed how Gelin’s wife, Shaheewa Jarret Gelin, pushed for a costly disparity study to help her fledgling Black Chamber of Commerce on a podcast hosted by Ann Marie Sorrell, a relative of Dale Holness. Ms. Sorrell was one of the consultants seeking $300,000 from Tamarac taxpayers.
Sorrell was probably listening when Mrs. Gelin told her that “[Tamarac] spend[s] a lot of money!”
Dale Holness does not care about Tamarac taxpayers. Team Holness needs Tamarac votes because parts of the city lie within Congressional District CD 20. Last November, Holness was defeated by Sheila Cherfilus McCormick. Holness needs Gelin and Bolton’s help fooling Tamarac voters to pick him this August.
Do Tamarac voters really want a Holness puppet-like Elberg Mike Gelin as mayor?
Take a peek over at Lauderhill. Before getting elected as County Commissioner, Dale Holness served on the Lauderhill Commission.
Holness will use Gelin and Bolton to remake Tamarac. Do Tamarac residents want the Dale Holness makeover?
Originally reprinted with permission from RedBroward.com.
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