Looks like Mr Perry has done a complete flip-flop since the Town Shores candidates' forum last month where he spoke of the glow-in-the-dark manatees in the Bayou.

Dan Liedtke at the Candidates forum, smeared the volunteer efforts of the City of Gulfport and the Gulfport Neighbors by referring to the help 96 people gave to one of Gulfports residents as a "Media event." A self righteous remark in my opinion.
This from a privileged person who does absolutely no volunteer work in this community. I see nothing regards that comment here on Patch this morning.

Ms Roberts, you'll find the same attackers in any forum you research from the Gulfport Patch to Facebook and Hudson and Kelley will always be leading the 'pack'. 'They' are determined to undermine the best candidate (Mr. Liedtke) Gulfport has had 'running' in many years.
Interestingly enough none of these same people or forums mention Mr. Hastings VERY INTERESING ADMISSION OF HIS OWN PROBLEMS LAST EVENING....but maybe we haven't heard the last of this issue either.

Mr. Liedtke broke his promise to answer this question.
=======================================
Gulfport Watchdogs Looking forward to this response as we've been waiting since 1/11

From: Daniel Liedtke - Candidate for Gulfport City Council <Dan@GulfportSpirit.com>
Subject: RE: Question re: Revenue Generation
To: "Gulfport Watchdogs" <gulfportwatchdogs@...yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, January 12, 2012, 8:24 AM

Great Question!

Look for my answer in the next forum at the Hickman Theater.

Thank You,

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Question re: Revenue Generation
From: Gulfport Watchdogs <gulfportwatchdogs@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, January 11, 2012 8:51 pm
To: dan@gulfportspirit.com

Mr. Liedtke - re: your comment: "However, if we start looking now at ways to increase revenue from existing assets and start looking now for new streams of revenue, then maybe in two to four years we can start to bring property taxes back down,"

Question: A very valuable City asset is the land under the Gulfport Lions Club building for which the Lions Club pays next to nothing to lease. There are obvious potential opportunities for significant generation of revenue there. If elected, would you be willing to approach the Lions Club to negotiate a purchase of their building in order to capitalize on the opportunites that may be available with that property?

Thanks,

Ms. Roberts - You are correct Liedtke did not mention the Gulfport Neighbors by name. However, there has only been one recent volunteer event with "televison camera" coverage. Why would any candidate disparage the work of almost 100 people from all around Tampa Bay who opened their hearts and extended their hands to help a neighbor in need?
========================================================
Mr. Ed - newsflash-- Mr. Hastings' interesting admission was not a revelation. It came out two years ago and apparently it didn't bother you then or weren't you paying attention? If Mr. Liedtke is the best candidate one would think he would know the definitiion of "public art" and have educated himself on the "enterprise funds". Interesting that he didn't bring up recycling again as a way to raise revenue and bring the city in the black. Last as to his innuendo about Sunshine Law violation by the current council, Mr. Liedtke might view some council meetings from years gone by and watch how those councils made swift decisions and shoved thru any number of matters including the appointment of an interim city attorney.

And there she is with more of her vitriolic and hateful statements towards anyone who might disagree with her agenda(s). You are well exposed now, Ms. Tober...there are now a group of very nice, concerned Gulfportians who keep in-touch and let each other know when your 'posts' have again inflicted insult and injury to well meaning citizens. I am not the least bit intimidated by you and will continue to support candidates and issues I sincerely believe are best for the 'city'. Peace to you....

Ohhh small town politics. This thread is hilarious!

The article is very interesting, though. This series has been really useful in helping someone like me, who is REALLY not mired in the ins and outs local election make a decision at the voting booth. Personally, I'm for the candidates who have enough vision to see how beneficial the mooring field could be. But one thing that nobody is bringing up is a budget for marketing. How do we expect boats to come here if we don't also focus on marketing Gulfport as a cruiser's destination? We can't stay a "hidden gem" forever.

New police dispatch is working better than before and saving us a $300,000 per year. Seems a waste of time to fight that battle again. What about all the air pollution here? How many tickets have the police given for smoking tailpipes?

I really like the way Mr Hastings takes positions that are easy to see. He supports the mooring field and the liveaboards. The in depth enviromental issues of Clam Bayou Mr Perry mentioned are oviously are a daunting and valid problem. although I can't see how the problems from several generations ago are ever going to be addressed under the present economy. Mr Perry's comments on that seemed to downplay the importance of the general clean-up efforts that My Hastings has been instrumental in. He helped form the volunteer groups that have certainly been appreciated. I have seen with my own eyes how the clean-up projects not only make a difference..but they also set a fine example. Doing a litter clean-up project in Clam Bayou is not your normal one. For a litter clean-up..it is a daunting task in itself. It does not clean up buried lead, but it sure make things look nicer. Things like this will gain stregth and support and become better and better. Anything good that is going on in Gulfport right now ..Mr hastings is right there in the middle of it. It is easy for anyone to see that. His intentions are excellent and his positions are clear.

The video from last night's forum is now online. Courtesy of the City of Gulfport. Here is the link: http://www.mygulfport.us/City_Meetings/Videos/2012/020612Candidates.html

I attended the Candidates Forum Last night in Gulfport at the Catherine Hickman Theater
Here we had a chance to hear what the candidates will do for if elected to their wards seat as Council Person.
The Ward One challenger Dan Liedtke, is walking contradiction to himself. He has stated the obvious of our town, and I can only guess he thinks that he can reinvent the wheel.
His platform is of past issues that were costing our town hundreds of thousands of dollars every year and in my opinion, had gross overages due to lack of supervision. His vision to get monies into the Cities coffers seem have nothing to do with putting monies into the city coffers. Lets bad mouth the Mooring Field as once set up it will repay itself and make money, yet in the same breath let’s spend hundreds of thousand of dollars on a miss managed dispatch that can not provide the safety and service the current Sheriffs Department Dispatch Services provides.
Another thing I believe is important to know about before he speaks. Is how he contradicted the Police Chief in revenues generated from the red light cameras? He also spoke as an idiot and stated the 50% LESS ACCIDENTS THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS HAVE PRODUCED in not acceptable reason to have them….?

When asked if he attended the South 49 Car Show over the weekend, Liedtke sat up and leaned up very close to the microphone and stated (quite proudly) that yes he did attend, and explained his car to the audience. This was an event that was staffed by VOLUNTEERS. Brought to you by the same people you insulted on stage this night, many of them were in attendance as you spoke.
His arrogance and ignorance were on the stage for the entire world to see last night. Yet he found it necessary to belittle the efforts of our City, our citizens and our City Council.

We also heard that none of our City Council or the Challengers had felony arrest on their records… Now based on the attendance at the forum, I could probably guess who sent that lame question in. But the fact is the fact. D. Hastings has a ticket for Marijuana, A TICKET, a misdemeanor for something that is legal 18 states of the Union, with more states to come. She should of remembered that that question was asked by the Taylor camp last year and was answered the same. I think anyone (or group) who follows the Ian philosophy of campaign tactics is doomed…Just Saying

Mr. Liedtke touted the Flag, Our Service Men (while forgetting our Service Women and Veterans) and God as the way we will find fiscal responsibility here in Gulfport. As a veteran I felt dirty with that used, in the context of his answer. All that did was give the Gabber (The FishWrapper) a chance to give inaccurate sound bites of the forum, but very little substance in the knowledge of working for my City of Gulfport.

I'm new around here..but since this is Florida..news of someone that has had an incident concerning weed does not bother or surprise me or effect (affect?) my support for Mr Hastings. I mean that candidly. If anything, at least we now know he is Presidential material. Maybe he is running for the wrong office?

Jennifer- excellent point regarding marketing!! A huge blackhole in the city operations. Unfortunately I think it has also become a "nice-to-have" that we can't afford right now. The same thing for a Grant Researcher / Writer. To me, these fall under "need to spend money to make money" . I suspect the mere mention of spending money for such though will bring about the everpresent, can't let go response of ..."couldn't afford dispatch, but....".

Jennifer, to be clear, there will be no Cruisers allowed in the mooring field, only non-power sailboats if there is such a thing. Also keep in mind that the area is very shallow so the boat will need a shallow draft. (that's why the original field was placed to the west in front of the beach, it's deeper there) A shallow draft on a sailboat is a very small boat so the area may get some local sailboat activity, from local clubs, but we will hardly need to start a promotional campaign to attract local sailors. I don't know what the attraction will be for Live-aboards in Gulfport, there are no onshore services. The bayou needs to be cleaned and anyone who actually looks into the issue in depth comes away wondering why not?

More laughs gotten from the other west coast!

Anyone who could post information like the above is lower than anything I could denote.

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