STEVE GELLER vs. THE FACTS

Steve Geller: "A History of Sleaze"
- Retired Sun-Sentinel reporter Buddy Nevins
BrowardBeat.com (7/1/10)

When it comes to making up allegations against Gunzburger,
Geller "is the boy who cried wolf."
- New Times (7/21/10)

The Verified FACTS About the Plastic Lumber Contracts:

JUST THE FACTS. SOURCED. PROVEN. VERIFIABLE.

• Sue’s late husband Gerry was the co-founder, a co-owner and the CEO of a Broward-based plastic recycling company named BTW Industries, Inc. (“BTW”). Source: Florida Division of Corporations.
  
• BTW was a local start-up company, incorporated in 1990, which created factory jobs for Broward residents.
  
• BTW made plastic “lumber” (a wood-substitute product) by melting and compressing plastics reclaimed from curbside recycling from throughout Broward. This ensured Broward’s used plastic drink jugs and bottles were recycled into quality products used in local parks. Before recycling companies like BTW came along, these discarded non-biodegradable plastic waste products were dumped in landfills where they will linger for thousands of years.
  
• BTW’s lumber was used to construct sturdy walkways at Anne Kolb Nature Center (pictured), West Lake Park, and other parks; park benches; car parking stops; and other products which are still in use today – and which will likely remain in use without needing replacement for another 50-100 years.
  
• BTW's product was also used -- an remains in use -- throughout Florida, starting in 1990. The aviary walkway at the Metro-Dade Zoo in South Dade was constructed from BTW's plastic lumber -- and was one of the only parts of the zoo to emerge undamaged when Hurricane Andrew directly struck the area in August 1992 (note: this was before Sue's first election to the Broward Commission). BTW's producs are also still in use today in various parks throughout Florida.
  
• The recycled plastic product was environmentally-friendly, saved trees (wooden lumber), and was the most cost-effective product for Broward’s taxpayers.
  
• BTW participated in a competitive bidding process with Broward County, in which the contract was simply awarded to the lowest qualifying bidder in a sealed-bid process. This is the most cost-effective procurement process for taxpayers because it ensures products are competitively acquired by government on the open market at the cheapest price possible. Source: Sun-Sentinel, 2/21/99, and official Broward County procurement records.
  
• BTW was the low bidder awarded its first contract from Broward County in 1992, before Sue was ever elected to the County Commission. Sue obviously played no role in awarding this $103,483 County contract as she was not yet a County Commissioner. Source: Official Broward County Commission Minutes.
  
• Sue asked for and received an official opinion from the Florida Ethics Commission (FEC) in 1994. FEC Deputy Executive Director Phil Claypool issued a written advisory opinion that BTW could lawfully and ethically bid on future Broward County contracts under the competitive, sealed-bid process so long as Sue abstained from voting on the contract and played no role in the procurement process. Source: Sun-Sentinel, 2/21/99.
  
• As a Commissioner, Sue NEVER – repeat: NEVER – voted on any BTW contracts. Source: Official Broward County Commission Minutes, 7/8/97 and 8/22/00.
  
• As a Commissioner, Sue NEVER played ANY role in the County procurement process on any recycled plastic contracts. Source: Official Broward County Commission records.
  
• As a Commissioner, Sue NEVER directly nor indirectly discussed BTW’s bids with any County staff members.
  
• After Sue was on the Commission, a rival company (ARP) submitted a lower sealed bid than BTW in 1995. As a result, ARP won the competitive sealed-bid contract for the plastic lumber services in 1995. In 1997, BTW was once again the low bidder over ARP, and BTW was thus awarded the plastic lumber contract. BTW’s sealed bid in 1997 of $664,812 was significantly cheaper than the next lowest bid. The County’s competitively bid contracts with BTW cumulatively saved taxpayers over $300,000 versus the higher prices submitted by the next lowest competitor. Source: Official Broward County Commission Minutes (1992 and 1997) and Sun-Sentinel, 2/21/99.
  
• In 2000 – after Gerry and his partners sold the company – BTW was once again the low bidder by a significant amount of money, and was awarded a $232,181 contract. Source: Official Broward County Commission Minutes, 8/22/00.
  
• The 2000 Broward Parks Bond -- approved overwhelmingly by Broward's voters on the November 2000 ballot -- permanently preserved over 1,400 acres of Broward land as new parks and provided for enhancements to existing Broward parks. But the parks bond did NOT guarantee or grant any contracts to BTW. And, in fact, BTW got ZERO contracts (not one penny!) from any purchases as part of the parks bond projects. Additionally, Sue's May 2000 commission vote to place the parks bond issue on the ballot took place AFTER Gerry sold the company.
  
• Gerry and his partners sold the company to a New York-based company in early 2000 at an overall value loss to Gerry and the other BTW investors. Gerry also ceased serving as a BTW corporate officer once the company was sold and the merger paperwork was eventually completed months after the sale. Gerry continued to sporadically work part-time as an independent consultant for the new owners, until he retired in 2003. Gerry also retained less than 5% interest in the new entity, which eventually went out of business around 2006.

The Verified FACTS About the Jobs of Sue's Family:

JUST THE FACTS. SOURCED. PROVEN. VERIFIABLE.

• Sue’s son has NEVER worked for Broward County. Not ever. A 23-year attorney, over the years her son Ron has been an Assistant Florida Attorney General, an Assistant Public Defender, COO/General Counsel of a dot-com corporation in the DC area, a legal sole practitioner, a litigation partner in a Top-100 national law firm, a website publisher, a congressional aide on Capitol Hill, and General Counsel to Property Appraiser Lori Parriish (note: entirely independent of the County Commission). But he never worked for Broward County. Source: Official employment records of Broward County.
  
• Sue’s middle daughter has NEVER worked for Broward County. Not ever. Her daughter Cindy has lived and worked continuously in New York State since years before Sue was ever elected to the County Commission. Source: Official Records of Broward County.
  
• Sue’s youngest daughter Judy has NEVER worked for Broward County. Not ever. Over the past two decades, Judy worked in the juvenile justice and corrections system for many years, holding professional positions with the Florida Department of Children & Families, the State of Rhode Island Department of Corrections, and the Sheriff's Office. But she never worked for Broward County. Source: Official Records of Broward County.
  
• Sue's son-in-law did work for Broward County for a period of time in the 1990s, but -- key point -- that was BEFORE the marriage. Source: Official Records of Broward County; Official Marriage Records, Province of Ontario, Canada.
  

Have questions? Please call Sue at home at 954.923.0803.

Sue Gunzburger Campaign, 803 N. Southlake Drive, Hollywood, Florida 33019 | 954.923.0803
Contact our campaign.