By: Al Zucaro

The rhetorical question I must ask today is “When is a local election like an ‘all in’ bet at the Poker table? when the local politicians are foolish enough to stand up for and bet their reputations, their judgments, and their futures on a untested candidate against the instincts, the will and the sensibilities of the people the elected officials are duty bound to represent.

People generally get the government they deserve!

Boca Raton voters have taken a great step forward with this clear and unambiguous election day outcome. Tuesday’s election result is a rebuke to the Mayor, the three joining council members and the developer community for their unprecedented negative campaign tactics in which they engaged to defeat a sitting elected colleague who’s voice and vote they simply do not like.

It is not to be said that individuals, elected or otherwise, cannot express their support for a candidate, any candidate. But it is to be said that to participate in a coordinated and well funded attack on a candidate’s character with innuendo and misleading propaganda while using the full weight of their elected office is, in this writer’s opinion, immoral and unethical. To have engaged in this effort and to have so distorted the record and misrepresented the facts is unconscionable. Such egregious activity does and will have consequences both now, with the loss of the public’s confidence, and, in future agenda items and votes yet to be taken on behalf of the people.

Elections do have consequences!

Consequences that will play themselves out over the next 24 months when these same elected officials will have to face the voting public and answer for their activities in this 2012 election cycle.

Three Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Seven voters in Boca Raton loudly rejected the efforts to denigrate Councilman Majhess’ public service record.

Three Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Seven voters have now echoed a no confidence message on the judgment and integrity of four members of this city’s sitting elected body.

Three Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Seven voters have sent back the following message: Agree of disagree with Councilman Majhess’ positions on the issues and/or his technique on the dais but do not engage in another character assault to his person, to his profession and to us the public.

That type of negative electioneering has now been soundly rejected by the voting public and all I can say is thank God for the wisdom and insight of the people of this “great” city, Boca Raton.