WMG Volume 7 • Issue 26 December 17, 2020
Wilton Manors Gazette FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE
COMMUNITY
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Wilton Manors to Join Amicus Brief Defending Bans on Conversion Therapy
Former Candidates Must Spend Unused Campaign Cash
By John McDonald
Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
Wilton Manors intends to keep its ban on conversion therapy. Commissioners voted unanimously last week to join the City of Miami Beach and other Florida municipalities in a legal battle to keep the local bans on conversion therapy in place. Commissioner Gary Resnick brought up the issue near the end of Tuesday evening’s commission meeting. Resnick said he was approached by SAVE to sign an amicus brief asking for a rehearing of the ordinance that bans licensed medical providers from practicing conversion therapy on a child. City attorney Kerry Ezrol said there would be no cost to the city to join the amicus brief and that Miami Beach attorney Rob Rosenwald would take the lead in the case. “We have joined in other amicus brief situations with him where they do the work, we have a limited involvement and
it’s worked very smoothly,” Ezrol said. On Nov. 20 a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled Boca Raton and Palm Beach County’s bans on conversion therapy were unconstitutional. The panel ruled the bans violated the First Amendment’s right to free speech. On Friday Palm Beach County and Boca Raton officially challenged the court’s ruling. The petition is calling for an en banc review, which means all 12 judges of the 11th Circuit would hear the case. Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Góngora called the decision legally and morally wrong. “There is no First Amendment right to practice junk science on LGBT minors,” Góngora said, adding the decision “should be reversed before anyone else is harmed by this scientifically rejected practice.” WMG
Some will be donated to charities, local community projects By John McDonald There are post election decisions to be made. Candidates from the 2020 Wilton Manors municipal election have until February to file their final campaign treasurer report. City Clerk Faith Lombardo said candidates must show how they dispersed surplus funds in their termination report, per state rules. Candidates can use any remaining money to pay staff, loans, debt, close offices, purchase thank you advertising or donate to charities. The termination report is due 75 days after the election. According to the most recent campaign treasurer reports ending Oct. 29 all Wilton Manors candidates were running profitable campaigns. Former Commissioner Julie Carson had $8,999.99 in her campaign account for Mayor. Carson said she is donating all of her surplus funds to charity and has already given to Equality Florida and the Pride Center. “I am committed to donating to the Sculptures on the Drive project; and probably the balance to organizations based in helping Wilton Manors prosper,” Carson said, adding she has about $800 left with “no plans this week for another campaign.” Newly elected Mayor Scott Newton is showing a balance of $4,768.40 in his last campaign treasurer report and challenger Josie Smith Malave had $413.99 on hand. In the commission race, newly
Newly elected Mayor Scott Newton being sworn in. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
elected Commissioner Mike Bracchi had $4,435.58 followed by Doug Blevins $3,730.65, newly elected Commissioner Chris Caputo $2,535.77, Jason Basilico $2,390.69, Joe Sansome $2,147.60 and Juan Melecio $43.08. Bracchi said he had yet to make a decision where his surplus funds would go, while Blevins said he is giving his remaining campaign balance to the Wilton Drive Improvement District’s tree project. “I’ve got about $2,000 left and it will go to the Drive’s tree project,” Blevins said. “I also plan on running for office again.” Blevins, a realtor and vice chairman of the WDID, came in third in the six person commission race, receiving 2,230 votes for nearly 20 percent of the vote. WMG
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