John Sims, Cooper City Commissioner - THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT!

My Rants & Raves

WHY JOHN SIMS DESERVED YOUR VOTE

For the first time in the history of our city and through its democracy, we have the opportunity to make our local government truly representative. John Sims is uniquely suited to make this opportunity a reality. Through the use of modern communication and collaborative technologies, the public can now have a voice equal to paid lobbyists who see our elected officials almost every day. Unfortunately, the majority of your representation not only lacks the ability to implement these changes, but the will to do so as well. They retain office through a system which depends on keeping the general public uninformed and cynical towards politics with a 'closed door' policy. Enabling the resident's voice to focus on our toughest problems will eliminate apathy towards our local municipal government. Implementing transparency in our representation will ensure that public interest comes before private. This change started by electing John Sims.

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I have never been through this type of life experience before...the lies, the attacks, the rhetoric, the back-stabbing, all for what? What do people have to gain other than serious kickbacks for what they have done? I accept it. People have every right to explore the positives and negatives about me. It's true for all candidates. We have all done things right, and wrong. That is what the democratic electoral process is all about, and you've got to come to peace with it, that it does involve scrutiny, attack, opportunity to explain what you're talking about and the chance, ultimately, to change things for the better. I am not naive about the pounding I can expect to take, not after many years as a gladiator in the bloody coliseum of government. My every foible, rage and dysfunction have already been exposed by the ruthless incumbents and the media-tabloids, in end-of-the-world fonts. My conclusion after this is that I am confident I can survive and be a true leader. I believe I can change things for the betterment of society and our residents. Nobody believed I could win. But, I did! My secret of success is that I refuse to accept failure. I believe there are sensible, common sense things that I can do, with your support, to make government once again be a functioning, problem-solving organization. We're in an era where we need leadership. There will be issues where we disagree, but...we won't have a litmus test. I transcend that. Fortunately, everything is happening and moving much faster than I expected...

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In retrospect… Its been a real experience running for Cooper City Commissioner.

In the last few months, I have made many new friends and have met many people who do care about our City and are concerned about the direction Cooper City has been taking lately.

I am not a Politician and never intended to run for office , but I ran because I too am concerned about the future direction of our great City. I am concerned when a sitting Commissioner says he can't trust the people he works with and who won't work with me for the good of the community. He forgets...its not about who he trusts, its about who trusts him and who he works for.

I am concerned when I see four commissioners and our Mayor voting in virtual lock step 5 to 0 on just about every single issue, irregardless of what their constituents want. They say things like 'this is what I want to do' but forget that its not about their wants, its about what the people they represent want.

I am concerned when I see our elected officials who have been in office almost three years and according to the records (I have reviewed) have never sponsored a single original piece of positive legislation.

I am concerned when I see our civil rights stealthily encroached upon and directly attacked under the veil of selective code enforcement and the guise of protecting property values or lives.

I am concerned when I see our utility rates going up while the Garbage pail police confiscate my third garbage pail, (incidentally which was issued by the City).

I am concerned when I see a administration who wants to turn our entire City into an extension of a big giant Home Owner's Association, and possibly their next ordinance will dictate what color to paint your house, or what flowers you are allowed to plant, or what car you can drive.

I am concerned when I get a call from the ice cream lady who was just told by the City she can’t play music on her ice cream truck anymore.

I am concerned when the local Barber is told his barber pole is not allowed under the city code, but if he pays the permit fee, which will cost $400, he can have it, yet his basic rights are being violated. He doesn't need 'permission' to make a living.

I am concerned when I see the recent passage of an unlawful ordinance that gives our administration the right to take away your car, guns, your personal property, and whatever else they want at their whim with 'optional' reimbursement. An administration who has unlawfully given themselves police power just like Hitler and Stalin did.

I am concerned when I see certain administrators violating state law and ethics laws, using their public position to directly sway votes, spread lies and engage in character assassination, and their supporters also violating law upon which the authorities won't act.

Finally, I am concerned when I see that this administration lost site of the great values this country was founded on and what their purpose is; that of the people.

So why did I run for office?

Simply put…I will not, and we together, cannot allow this city and its administrators to take away our Civil Rights by stealthy encroachment and our Freedom of Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as granted by the Constitution of the United States and the Fourteenth Amendment, which they have sworn to uphold, under the frivolous guise of 'valid municipal purpose.'

Thank you for your support!

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"Respect for religion must be reestablished. Public debt should be reduced. The arrogance of public officials must be curtailed. Assistance to foreign lands must be stopped or we shall bankrupt ourselves. The people should be forced to work and not depend on government for subsistence." - Cicero, 60 B.C.

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Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.

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"All that is required for evil to triumph is for a few good men to do nothing."

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"Ability may take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there"