Sally lSwartz
A couple of old guys in goofy golf outfits star in a cartoon postcard slamming Jupiter Island and Hobe Sound residents. The card appears in Martin County mailboxes, financed by growth industry contributors to the Future Political Action Committee.
It’s an entertaining kickoff to the election season. With just two months until the Aug. 14 primary, when many local races are decided, the great divide in Martin County widens. Slow growth vs. pro-growth. Protective growth plan vs. “progress” with no rules.
The Guardians’ TV ads are upbeat. They show traffic and high rises from crowded South Florida counties, then pan to peaceful views of boats and bridges and birds and flowers. (See the ads here.)
The Guardians, whose members and advisers include Jupiter Islanders, also are urging residents to write state agencies reviewing the Extreme Water Sports Park, still a hot issue. They want to keep pressure on commissioners to reverse their approval of the park at a July 10 meeting.
Commissioners Patrick Hayes, Doug Smith and Ed Ciampi voted to change the growth plan to allow the park on western farmlands. That opens the door for future approval of other developments proposed west of Hobe Sound — such as the 8,300 houses and 6 million square feet of commercial space in Hobe Grove and Harmony.
The Guardians make it easy for people to e-mail state officials and commissioners at www.SaveMartinNow.com.
The cartoon postcard from the Future PAC pokes fun at Jupiter Island and Hobe Sound residents, showing two men on a golf course with a boat named “Guardian” in the background. The caddy’s bag reads “Preserve Martin County,” a group of Hobe Sound businessmen and residents who want commissioners to stick with the growth plan. The group opposes the water park and other developments far outside the urban boundary.
“I don’t know why anyone needs a cable wake park,” one gent in the cartoon tells the other. “Why don’t they just use their yacht?”
The card charges that Martin commission candidates Anne Scott, John Maddox, Henry Copeland and Tom Fullman, who all support Martin’s growth plan, “want you to sacrifice your lifestyle and livelihood to protect the elite from any inconvenience — real or imagined.”
The cartoon is cute but leaves out some vital information.
Contributors to Future PAC over the last two years include Becker Groves and Becker Holdings, original owners of Hobe Grove; the law firm where Hobe Grove’s lawyer Jack Carmody works, Dan Carmody, and Harmony Ranch.
Others contributors include land holding firms, contractors, engineers, realtors, airport businesses, construction firm Morganti, and water park promoter and former Hobe Grove representative Tom McNicholas’ public relations firm.
More donors will be revealed in the next campaign expense reports, due in July.
The postcard made Preserve Martin’s Harold Jenkins chuckle. “ It confirms our belief this is not just about a water park. It’s great (the Future PAC) is acknowledging that our little group is a force to be reckoned with.
“But it’s a cheap shot at PMC, grouping us in with Jupiter Island.” Preserve Martin, Mr. Jenkins adds, doesn’t always agree with Islanders or with the Guardians.
“We are business people. We are not an anti-growth organization. We want and understand the need for economic growth. But follow the rules that are in place.”
Preserve Martin “obviously is a threat to those who assert ‘quality of life’ but really are thinking ‘profits,’” PMC member Bob Critton said. “PMC, as distinct from Future PAC, has no financial interest that they are trying to exploit.”
It’s official. The election season has begun.
Sally Swartz is a former member of The Post Editorial Board. Her e-mail address is sdswartz42@comcast.net