With Sen. Barack Obama poised to trounce Sen. John McCain in Broward County with a record margin of victory, Democratic Candidate for Sheriff Scott Israel should cruise through Tuesday’s election. But lingering questions remain about Israel which might tilt the race.
Twice convicted felon and bail bondsman Wayne D. Collins, Jr. has contributed $1,000 to Scott Israel’s campaign and a total of $40,500 to The Common Sense Coalition, an ECO supporting Scott Israel, through Universal Bond, Inc. and Universal Surety Corporation, two companies for which he is the registered agent. Universal Bond, Inc. gave The Common Sense Coalition $17,500 on Aug. 5 and another $8,000 on Oct. 8. Universal Surety Corporation contributed $15,000 to the group on Oct. 8, as well. The same ECO received $1,000 from Israel’s campaign manager, Judith Stern, on Feb. 7 and $5,000 from Judith Stern Consulting, Inc. on Aug. 19.
The Miami New Times reported on June 17, 2004, that “technically, Collins shouldn’t be allowed to work as a bail bondsman. Florida law prohibits convicted felons from obtaining the required state license.” A search of the state corporations database shows that Universal Bond, Inc. was administratively dissolved at the time of its first contribution to the ECO, when it was not qualified to do business in the state of Florida. It has since been reinstated.
In 1986, Collins was convicted of armed robbery in a fur heist. That same year, Collins was arrested in a hit-and-run incident in which he attempted to bribe the victim into recanting, as reported by the Providence Journal. Just a year later, he was arrested for torching a business. He was cleared by the police. His felony charges were expunged in Rhode Island in violation of state law.
The Providence Journal wrote that Collins “managed to erase his criminal record and obtain a gun permit and a bail bondsman’s license with help from friends in law enforcement.” The Providence Journal provides more detail on Collins’ questionable relationship with police here.
In his application for an insurance license in the state of Florida, Collins wrote that he had never been convicted of a felony, which is false. Since receiving his license, Collins has been accused of extortion and intimidation, and has been alleged to threaten individuals for large sums of money under the premise that they would be arrested or killed if they did not cooperate, according to the Miami New Times.
Miami Herald writer Amy Sherman knew about Collins’ record as a felon and refused to print it. Sherman posted a blog on Saturday afternoon about a criminal’s $500 contribution to Republican candidate Al Lamberti. Israel’s campaign was sending out robocalls on the subject by 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, which suggests they knew the story was coming. Is Amy Sherman playing on Israel’s team? And where does the Herald keep finding unethical reporters?
Meanwhile, Israel is surrounded by the Jenne crowd. Stern is Jenne’s former campaign manager. Tallahassee lobbyist Todd Wilder, the chairman of The Common Sense Coalition, is Jenne’s former Chief of Staff. Jenne is fundraising for Israel. Jenne, who resigned as Sheriff 13 months ago and admitted to charges of corruption, will continue to run the Sheriff’s office.
Ignoring most people’s advice, the Israel campaign has wasted funds lately attacking infamous GOP consultant Roger Stone, when Israel has no name identification and without any proof that Stone has been involved in the campaign.
“Here’s proof I’m not involved,” said Stone, when reached for comment in Washington, D.C. “If I was, a candidate with Israel’s vulnerabilities would lose.”
In the 80s, Israel was the subject of 10 citizens complaints for the use of excessive force, use of unnecessary force, use of deadly force, false arrest, and theft. Five of these complaints are gone from Ft. Lauderdale Police Internal Affairs files.
Rumors that the details of Israel’s theft investigation would break soon have been spreading across Broward County for months. It now appears likely that the theft story will break before the election.
As a police officer, Scott Israel was caught shoplifting from the Galleria Mall. The theft story was quashed at Police HQ and the “witness” was pressured to drop his story so that Israel could avoid prosectuon.
During a “Meet the Candidates” segment on NBC Channel 6, Israel was asked about the allegations of theft. Israel was caught off guard and stuttered his way through his answer, which did not appear believable:
I’ve never heard, I’ve never been… There’s no allegation of theft.
The video is painful to watch.
Furthermore, many believe that the $40,000 Israel lent to his campaign following the primary was not his money. If true, this would be a felony and could lead to indictment after the election. Subpoenaed bank records will prove this felony. Some Republicans are preparing a lawsuit to be filed the day after the election.
“If Scott Israel wins, I doubt he will fill out the term,” said one Ft. Lauderdale lawyer. “His critics will be on him like a cheap suit.”
