Santoro fires salvo against Gelber; hit or miss?

Republican Dean Santoro fired off a missive against Democrat Dan Gelber in the District 35 race for the state Senate today, accusing him of representing "clients that do business or have issues that affect them before the state legislature.''

In the e-mail to undisclosed recipients, he said that while this is "not necessarily illegal...we must ask ourselves, is it ethical?"

One problem, Gelber says, he's never represented any clients before state agencies. To comply with state law, Gelber said he lists all the state agencies before which other members of his firm, Akerman Senterfitt, have represented clients.

Gelber, who was first elected to the House in 2000, called Santoro's accusation "a little slimy and less than honest'' and said "it is an absolute lie to suggest I am profiting off my legislative service.''

"I don't represent clients before state agencies,'' Gelber said. "Mr. Santoro ought to know that all legislators -- both Democrat and Republican -- do not appear before state agencies but are required to disclose if other members of their firm are involved in such representations."

Santoro is a commodities trader and former computer business owner who moved to Miami three years ago. He sees it simply: "I don't believe he should be working for a firm that represents any clients before the state.''

If that standard is broadly applied to any professional whose business represents someone who does business with a state agency, it could disqualify many in the legislature -- including current House Speaker Marco Rubio, former speaker Allan Bense and, at one time, Charlie Crist. "Not me,'' he said. "I'm a regular guy.''

Santoro also attempts to get Gelber on the defensive over his net worth, which rose from $450,000 in 2000 to $1.2 million in 2007. Santoro does not mention that Gelber's Miami Beach home tripled in value over that period during the real estate boom.

Gelber was not amused. "If Mr. Santoro wants to debate issues or any of my votes, let's have at it,'' he said. "If all he wants to do is sling mud, then he ought to reconsider why he seeks public office.''

Comments

[ChrisinMiami]

I don't get it. Dean was a college professor for 10 years. Doesn't that count for mention? Why don't we talk about who is more qualified for office?

If Gelber wants to complain about mudslinging why doesn't he give a legitamate comment about Dean's accusation. Instead Gelber whines and complains. But there is an honest question here.

How does Gelber who is supposedly a lawyer the other half of the year when he is not in Tallahassee actually gain so much in net worth from year to year?

[chris]

Doesnt it all seem a little fishy that while the U.S. is suffering in a recession and more so in this state that Gelber's net worth tripled?

I think Santoro does raise some important questions, and as Chrisinmiami mentioned, why doesnt Mr. Gelber defend himself from Santoro's accusations?

I could care less if they are a Dem. or Rep., anytime a legislators firm represents a state agency, I will always be suspicious of special favors. I mean these are people we elect to make sure things are done fairly and instead their firms are hired by these agencies to make sure if they get caught doing something illegal, one of our elected officials is going to find a loophole to defend them.

[Sam]

I really like this Dean Santoro guy... His policies make a lot of sense.

[yogi berra]

thats funny. i didn't hear anything about any policies.

[Miles]

I would hardly consider this slinging mud, hes asking a question most voters would like to hear the answer to.

Politicians shouldn't make decisions unless they are able to provide a reasonable explanation for - and apparently Gelber has none in this case.

[Political Watchdog]

Here we have career politician Gelber bemoaning being called out on ethics charges (which he doesn't dispute) by a new face in politics (Santoro). Can someone explain why Gelber shouldn't at least take a break from feeding at pork-barrel politics? Change might do him good!

[TR]

Um, the chances of a Republican getting elected in this district are somewhere south of bupkus. And the GOP has no one to blame but themselves -- after all, they drew the district lines.

Gelber could spend the rest of the election cycle touring with Miley Cyrus -- he'd still be the next senator from district 35.

[Eric]

Gelber is corrupt establishment personified. Another lawyer is exactly NOT what this state needs in office right now.

[Edward]

Dean Santoro is a Ron Paul Republican and like Ron Paul he's got my trust and my vote. Gelber sure sounds like the status quo.

[Annie Oakley]

Give me a break! This is pure mud-slinging. Surely there are many, many votes that one could question Gelber on! Come on- Gelber is an uber-Democrat! Let's have a real debate on that instead of implying that Gelber is being unethical for practicing law at a big law firm.

[Meh...]

Why is Santoro endorsed by Lincoln and Mario Diaz Balart? That alone makes me shudder, and become VERY suspicious of the whole campaign. Anyone who trumps themselves as a 'Ron Paul' Republican has no business associating with NeoCon filth like the Diaz-Balarts.

[charlie]

Meh, Dean is also endorsed by the Florida RLC and Julio Robaina. Look at Julio's record and what the florida rlc stands for, and its pretty easy to see that dean is supported by a variety of individuals and groups. I think its very important to ask, "what dan gelber has done for the state of florida?". On his own website he states his major accomplisment for education in the years he spent in the florida house, that he authored a bill making the official start of public schools no earlier then late august. Hooray for education! what a difference that makes in our mess of an education system.

[Roger]

While I am excited to see the Herald give mention to Dean Santoro, this leaves me with more questions than answers. I hope to read more about Dean Santoro's policies and views than political in fighting that will not bring forward the change our local government desperately needs.

[marcus]

i checked out dan gelber's record and i am not too impressed with him as a career politician. i mean seriously, as a law maker, he shouldn't waste his energy in trying to legistlate a law so his daughters could get hanna montana tickets.

his take on property tax reform is cursory at best. he wants to shift the cost of public education entirely on the state instead of county or by district by taking it away from property taxes. this is just another way of shuffling coconuts. this is not true reform.

his approach to the education problem is to throw more money as a way to "solve" the problem. how will this solve the problem? and where will the money come from?

gelber had his shot as a legistlature and the best type of laws that he put forth on the floor is honoring people, events, and other countries. i mean, come on....if this guy is going to fix the issues, he should have had his boxing gloves since 2000.

i'll give santoro a shot.

[jamesnasium]

So Gelber has been in office for 8 years and he's crying because someone questioned items on his financial disclosures? Wahhhh, he's slinging mud.. wahhhh, Santoro is not playing fair, wahhhhh... gimme a break!!! is this Gelber for real? maybe he should consider why he's in politics if he can't answer some simple questions on his finances. I looked on santoro's website and I for one would like to know why Gelber gets paid 255,000 per year when he ain;t even at his job fulltime... oh yeah, because he weilds BIG influence as the house minority leader. We're tired of the bull. Tell gelber to grow a sack or go home

[crcg]

I don't know Gelber or Santoro and don't live in the district. I do know that by reputation, Gelber is probably the smartest person in the Legislature who also happens to be a first rate attorney. If we had a lot more like him, the Legislature would be a respected institution again.

Rather than asking about members who belong to large law firms who represent entities before state agencies, the question that should be asked involves Legislators who are actually on the payroll of public and private agencies who depend on the legislature for state funding. That is the real ethical problem that the media ignores.

[Eric Wall]

Dean has a valid point. What does Gelber have to hide? The voters have the right to know if there is a conflict of interest.

[nicky walters]

I've talked to Dean a few times and he is very down to earth and cares about lower taxes and freedom. He has integrity, something we could use.

[Likelywin]

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[sickntired]

Corruption=politician
Our country has no honest politicians left