Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen
Friday, October 9, 2009
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Commissioner Di Gennaro says he'll run again
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com

Monroe County Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro announced Thursday he will seek another term as the Middle Keys representative.

Di Gennaro, a Republican from Key Colony Beach, wants to continue his work to secure much-needed wastewater grant funding, resolve the debate about illegal downstairs enclosures and work on other community issues that have not been resolved yet, he said.

"I want to continue working on our outstanding issues and help bring closure to these issues," Di Gennaro said. "I now have the experience and knowledge of what this county needs. I want to continue to work with the municipalities to accomplish our wastewater work and other issues facing the Keys."

Di Gennaro, 62, has many connections in the state capital of Tallahassee. He has maintained a close working relationship with Gov. Charlie Crist and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto. Di Gennaro's relationship with Barreto and Crist was instrumental in the Florida Keys obtaining state grant funding for the Vandenberg artificial reef project, project organizers have said. Di Gennaro's relationship with the late state House Rep. Stan Mayfield helped the Keys secure a promise from the state for $200 million for wastewater upgrade projects, which the Legislature promised but has not yet allocated, Di Gennaro said. Di Gennaro helped put together the bond legislation for the $200 million.

Di Gennaro previously was associated with what critics called the "Gang of Three," a County Commission voting bloc that included Dixie Spehar and Sonny McCoy, who were voted out of office last year.

His relationship with the other commissioners since has become more harmonious, with Di Gennaro often voting on the side of Mayor George Neugent, with whom Di Gennaro previously had been at odds. Di Gennaro said the relationships between the county and Keys cities is also stronger.

"I have worked hard to build those strong relationships with Tallahassee," Di Gennaro said. "I want to keep those relationships for the people of Monroe County."

Di Gennaro, who ran unopposed in 2006, faces opposition in the Aug. 24 primary from former County Commissioner David Rice to represent Layton, Key Colony Beach and parts of Islamorada.

Rice left the County Commission to run for a state House seat and lost.

tohara@keysnews.com

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I'm voting for Mario cause he's a smart man....

Submitted on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 4:43pm
He beat the system whether you like it or not whether you think he bought the other guys out or not, he's brilliant. Other idiots campaign for months talk a lot of garbage kiss a lot of butts and then do nothing when they're elected (kind of like what Neugent and Rice do). Mario's my man all the way.

OK mario nice comment!

Submitted on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 10:42pm by hope and change
Wow self marketing genius!

Smart People

Submitted on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 8:43am
There are hundred of thousands of "smart" people that are in jail or at least convicted and disgraced (Randy).

Mario's

Submitted on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 1:09pm
not....stupid logic again.

Then, you'll be a big fan of the Mafia! I suggest you move to

Submitted on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 9:38pm by *.*
NY. You know? The area where Mario came from. Smart? No, he strong-armed and pushed his way in. Technically it was legal but when it comes to honesty, he's clearly learned his lessons from the mafia. Morally bankrupt, criminally active and on-the-take constantly.

So everyone

Submitted on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 4:45pm
that came from NY is in the Mafia, or has ties to the Mafia? That is beyond stupid. Mario's morals have never been questioned, he's never been linked to any criminal activity, and has more than enough money not to be on the take. Or is everyone that does something you don't agree with a criminal?

Morals? who cares about questioning his morals!

Submitted on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 10:41pm by hope and change
WE question why he wanted to build casino hotel type resorts at the airports. Funny how he likes the Vegas connection in his thinking. His ideas never represented the tax payer issues. Now he is a proponent of illegal underneath enclosures. He knew all the time that FEMA would stand its ground. What IS he above FEMA???? Smoke and mirrors! Mirror mirror on the wall who should be county commish after all???? JOHN DICK DATS WHO!!!! DA MIRROR HAS SPOKEN.

Unlike some

Submitted on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 6:46pm
Mario works in the sunlight. He was asked by a Constituent to bring a proposal in front of the Commission for a vote. Rather than refuse, Mario brought it forward knowing it would not succeed, but felt his job was to do what was asked. I guess you want each Commissioner to make decisions in the dark so the public won't know what is being asked. Sounds like the New Gang of Three.

Bravo

Submitted on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 9:51pm
well put....you must be one of few with sense in this now pseudo paradise….This place is full of rednecks…..well worse than Rednecks but that the only word that comes to mind at this moment…..Someone give me some help!!!!!

Inbrednecks??? All those

Submitted on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 2:08pm by *
Inbrednecks??? All those Conch's tend to talk similarly...lotta dis and dat and talkin' 'bout nuttin'

Mario YES - Neugent and Rice NO

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 11:10pm
I will vote for Mario. Neugent is tied to Rice's hip and can't make a decision without Rice telling him what to do. What has Neugent or Rice ever done for the County other than take advantage or do bubba favors? Nothing except more lawsuits - remember Neugent ensured that his friends (Putneys) on No Name Key would have a "private, exclusive" estate without any neighbors and the Galleon Bay's lawsuit has been on-going for seven years and soon the taxpayers will pay multi-million dollars when the court determines the liabilites plus attorneys' fees for this favor for a friend despite the wishes of the majority of residents on No Name Key. Don't you think the County could have used that money for better things like wastewater or lower taxes? It's time for the county to stop using the key deer, marsh rabbit and indigo snake for every excuse to screw the residents of Big Pine Key and No Name Key. It is time to put residents first and stop stealing private property and taking land off the tax rolls before the county is totally broke. Stop making ludicious excuses before taxpayers move out and leave the bubba to screw each other and fight over the scraps.

Neugent YES - Mario NO

Submitted on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 8:53am
When was the last time you attended a Commission meeting? There is time to take Monroe County back, start by showing up at the next Commission meeting in Key West. Nugent will do his job is the rest of us show up and show him that we care about what goes on in this County.

Don't count Mario out

Submitted on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 8:40am
I was talking to another voter in the Keys who is very concerned with Monroe County Government. Mario came in under a cloud and immediately got attached to the "Gang of Three". In the last 2 years he has shown himself to be independent and committed to repairing mistakes made by previous commissions. Including the ones Rice was on. Our votes will be for Mario. We can't afford more lawsuits, or a re-tread that thinks the County voters "owe" him the position. BTW just for the record; Mario is against large developments in the Keys. He will however bring up any project brought to him for a vote by the commission because he understands he isn't the voice of the total commission. Like some on there believe.

Residents Need to Learn their Math

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 10:56am
It is really sad that some of us residents have forgotten how to do our math, whether in our personal finances, or in regards to how much it costs to maintain Monroe County. Everyone wants a freebie, from no taxes, to free disposal of their generated waste, but they don't want to contribute towards paying for the costs. Monroe County has grown to be a real community, and with that comes certain fiscal responsibilities that we citizens must help our elected officials meet. We must also live by certain regulations that are laid out by the State not the County. If you don't want to live in a community then move back to the back woods of Georgia or Montana, where you can still burn your trash and bury the stuff excreted via your bodily functions. Neugent may not be the best mayor in the world, but he's the best we've got right now. All you folks complaining, since you can do it better, I'm looking forward to seeing your face on a campaign poster next election season.

Dont worry we know what you have been charging us to live here!

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 4:49pm by hope and change
We just want the money spent to take care of the county not make your money interest developer friends rich. No casino hotels at the airports. No buying water front properties with tax money so the developers can get control! Make this county a place for other than the filthy rich to live!.

U need to Go Mario

Submitted on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 7:38am
Mario, you creep you need to move back to New Jersey. YOur attitute is better suited there. What about your connections in Tallahassee, did you do some envelope passing in the mens room?

Spoken

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 6:54pm
like a true "I got Miner" Nazi.

Typical childish Joe the Plumber response

Submitted on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 8:34am
Understandable that with the incumbent's execrable record, the respondent's only recourse is to spew out a word like Nazi to label an as-yet-unannounced opponent. This childishly is supposed to switch attention from their candidate's misdeeds and justify his reelection. Reminds me of a parrot mindlessly uttering words that have no applicability or a school kid who overheard a four-letter word and then keeps repeating it because he gets attention from grown-ups. Like Joe the Plumber, some adults never grow up. The very reason we got the Gang of Three.

Thanks for the commentary

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 1:01pm
George

Thanks for the commentary

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 7:32pm
The truth hurts and all you can do is blame "George." You don't deserve to live here. If you stay here I hope to see your face on one of those campaign signs.

John DIck For county commission

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 10:15am
JOHN DICK FOR COUNTY COMMISSION! END THE CORRUPTION!

Thank you Mrs. Dick

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 12:44pm
.

YOU ARE WELCOME MR. ACEVEDO!

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 9:54pm by hope and change
JOHN DICK FOR COUNTY COMMISSION END THE CORRUPTION!

SUNSHINE DICK

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 8:47am
Just what we need another County Commissioner that doesn't think the Sunshine Law applies to him.

No but your boy Randy thought he could steal everything!

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 4:42pm by hope and change
Typical response from the losers who still support and worship Randy Acevedo! JOHN DICK FOR COUNTY COMMISSION HE WILL END CORRUPTION!

Typical reply

Submitted on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 6:48pm
If you disagree with some people on this board you're immediately a blind follower of Randy Acevedo. Only proving they can't back their own statement.

Mr. DeGenero, take your

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 12:10am
Mr. DeGenero, take your connections and shove em.

He has never received a

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 12:07am
He has never received a SINGLE vote before, NOT ONE. I think that I will move to his district so that I announce my running against him so that he can buy me off like happened with John Bartus. (OK, I'll add allegedly so that you can post this Citizen)

I know already who the Monrovian idiot voters will vote for....

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 10:49am
It would be Rice....That pick would make the commission a quintet of idiots….Murphy,Neugent,Carruters,Wigington and Rice…..The first order of busuness would be to change the pledge of allegiance to the Soviet Union national anthem.

A mindless Russ Limbaugh/Bill O'Reilly robot

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 12:35pm
What utter drivel -- switch channels -- you either been watching way too much Fox News or listening mindlessly to Russ Limbaugh (proof that bald-faced lying can be a lucrative profession). Were you asleep when Mario and his Gang of Three were in power?? Using pathetic bait-and-switch rhetoric to draw attention from the real issue - Mario's horrendous record -- is an insult to voters. Rice or virtually anyone else would be a huge improvement.

You must be one of those

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 8:09pm
Neugenites. You must fall a sleep at the wheel also....10 years a county commissioner and he hasn't done squat. At least the Gang of three tried to refresh the economy around here. You Neugenites want to run everyone off and by the way it’s working…They’re leaving in groves…Keep paying those inflated taxes Mr. Wizard.

Posting from Mario

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 8:45am
This original posting most be from Mario, doesn't he know that it is not nice to talk about your co-workers, or call them names? You're going down brother!!!!

I don't think Mario ever reads

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 10:25am
this crap...

Mario reads this crap! They all read this crap!

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 5:28pm
This is how these "public officials" gauge what's happening in the county. It is not scientific, but its the best they can do. If you don't believe me just look back at all the issues that the environmentalists did not agree with. They saturated the blog with comments and threats, all the politicos started shaking in their pants and then voted in favor of the environmentalists.

No, he doesn't .

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 10:02am by *.*
Perhaps he has someone read it to him. It is very important for you people to know your candidates! Learn their education background. Learn their BASIC skills or lack there of.

Of course, we know Mario was never elected to begin with. He didn't earn one vote. He "thugged" his way onto the BOCC.

That's the stupidest thing I've heard yet!!!

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 1:54pm
Soviet Union? Huh?

You're the stupid one

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 5:04pm
Read the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan and see if it don't come close to the comunist manifesto. Old Karl Marks would be proud.

First of all, there IS no Soviet Union...

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 5:42pm
Second of all, the Comp Plan has NOTHING in common with the "comunist (sic) manifesto". Third of all, it's Marx, not Marks. Why don't you cite the specific portions of the Comp Plan that you believe resemble the communist manifesto and stop making semi-literate nonsensical statements? You've probably never read either, and you're parroting someone who told you that planning is a bad thing. (And it's "doesn't", not "don't".)

Mr. Wizard

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 9:17am
Read Goal 105 in the comp plan...Pure Marx stuff....Thanks for the the Grammar lesson

Not quite the Soviet Union

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 12:57pm
In the Soviet Union if they take your land you can't sue. In Monroe County the lawsuits keep piling up and will as long as the "New Gang of Three" is in power.

If the choice is Mario or Rice

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 9:43am
My vote will go to Mario. We need to get rid of George, not elect a George clone to the dias like Rice.

Don't Jump So Fast to Get Rid of George

Submitted on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 11:08pm
Believe me, the only thing keeping these other fools from taking your house, bulldozing it and handing the property over to the developers is George. Mario will sell you out in a minute. George still cares, as do Sylvia, Kim and Heather.

Yeah

Submitted on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 9:18am
and your checks in the mail

It's Over

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 9:29am
I've personally seen you stumble into action, many times I've overheard you talk candidly (thinking no one can hear) and I've met and talked about you with some of your so-called close friends and associates. Mario, go home and retire. Your family needs you more than we do.

We know he's challenged when it comes to reading and writing

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 8:46am by *.*
but it appears he's challenged when it comes to LOGIC as well. Fine. He'll join the other crooks (Spehar, McCoy and his fat hood ornament, McPherson) in voter-mandated retirement. Go away, Mario. Don't you see no one wants you?

Let's get a fresh face

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 8:42am
I have heard a new comer is considering running from Marathon, we can only hope he throws his hat in the ring. Mario came to office under a Cloud and has left a storm. With all the shady deals that have gone on it is time for change and not Rice either. New blood is needed, someone who will reduce taxes, help the environment and provide true leadership. Mario is a Bully just like McPherson(s)and the other Bullies. Remember Cay Club? Mario needs to go.

Mario

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 8:41am
is the only one on the Commission working for the property rights of individuals in the Keys. If he goes our cost for legal services to defend the indefensible taking of land will skyrocket. The old "Gang of Three" people tie Mario to is gone, the "New Gang of Three" will cost us much more than they ever did.

Roomies, at last....

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 8:21am
Crooks & Schnooks usually wind up together and hopefully Mario, Morgan, Randy, and Dixie can all share a cell together. The Keys truly are a haven for spineless snakes and dirtbags.

Mario,so glad to hear you

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 7:17am by 123
Mario,so glad to hear you will be wasting alot of money to run again. We can't wait to see your contributors list. But be real clear about this, this county is over the corruption you represent (please see what happened to the other two gang of three and your protege Morgan). You will get no more than 20% of the vote no matter what you spend or who you buy. Too bad the whole state doesn't know about you and your close association with the governor or you'd be taking him down too. Enjoy your soon to be retirement.

DiGennaro v. Rice

Submitted on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 6:35am

Do only special interests run candidates?

This is hardly much of a choice

We know what a waste of skin DiGennaro has been and Rice is tied up with Whoran, Esq. and his own driving-school scam

For a change, I wish we could get some people running in the interest public service instead of self service

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