BREVARD GOOD OLE BOYS

And why is she spending so much time, energy and money on the Wechsler-Altman contest for State Representative District 30?? She isn’t even a candidate!

Busick became an activist 14 years ago, during an era when politics in Brevard were so convoluted ---- so Machiavellian –--- that citizens around the County rallied and protested whatever way they could ---- determined to regain control over their arrogant, elitist County Commissioners.

Their deceit and duplicity so incensed her; she took a year off from her family business to attend Commission meetings, research County records and newspaper clippings, and put together a whistle blowing book called Brevard Good Ole Boys. It sold 25,000 copies in 4 months. Former Commissioner Thad Altman, was one of the main characters. This was his Board! Two years after the book was released he ran for Supervisor of Elections and was handily defeated by a new comer to politics.

Now Mr. Altman is running against Bruce Wechsler for the Florida House Seat 30. He apparently believes that the voters by now have forgotten his former misdeeds. But Busick has not forgotten.

Her book contains a clear record of Mr. Altman’s votes and activities. He threatened to sue her when the book first came out, but never did. The issues she discussed are too well documented by public records.

The following are some techniques to easily find Mr. Altman’s votes and activities in the book:

Mr. Altman voted to remove Brevard’s 10% tax cap on court and correctional costs. When questioned he responded quote, "I do not need to answer or be examined here by a member of the public. My voting record speaks for itself." (Chapter 13 To Cap or Not To Cap)

Two years earlier June 1989, they had passed an ordinance which banned use of property taxes to lease-purchase equipment worth no more than $5 million. This was so noncontroversial no one came to the Public Hearing. Yet Commissioners right away dispatched it for approval from a bond validation court.

They never used the original ordinance for its alleged purpose. As soon as the court OK’ed it they set an emergency meeting and changed the terms Ok’ed by the Court. The amended ordinance now made property taxes available for lease-purchase of high cost capital projects. They then immediately let the contract for the lease-purchase of the Government Center buildings.

When taxpayers demanded their constitutionally guaranteed referendum on the project, Commissioners insisted that what they did had been approved by the Court and no referendum was required or granted!

The so called emergency was the Comptroller’s belief that interest rates might increase soon and cost taxpayers a lot of money! Labeling the meeting "emergency" evaded the requirement that public hearings be advertised. An "emergency" is what a Board of County Commissioners says it is, according to state law. (Chapter 3 Every Lease-Purchase has a Black Lining.)

Mr. Altman pressed for a new Courthouse in Viera, EVEN THOUGH he must have known the asbestos scare that precitpited the closing of the Titusville courthouse was triggered by a phony air quality test. (Chapter 12, The Courthouse: A Fall From Grace)

Thad Altman was a County Commissioner from 1984-1992. From 1981 to 1991 the County’s General Property Tax went from $23.4 million to $74.8 million, a 220% increase. Special Assessments went from $15, 213 to $999,232, a whopping 6,468%. (Chapter 7, A Taxpayer and His Money are Soon Parted.)

In 1989 while Thad Altman was a County Commissioner, the Commission approved a plan for a County Golf Course where the county would pay $257,160 for land and give the developer title to the land the next day. He used the land to help finance an adjacent housing development. The County got back the wettest land as a golf course that continues to be a tax burden. A later board put it up for sale but there were no bidders. Plus the developer of the golf course was selected without competitive bidding. Mr. Altman stated, "I left it in the hands of the county attorneys to make sure all that was followed up. (Chapter 19, The Grass is Always Greener When the County Pays For It)

From 1989-1992 Thad Altman’s travel expenses of $12,351 exceeded all the other commissioners during that same time period. Another commissioner only had $300 in expenses. (Chapter 29, Finding a Receipt in a Haystack)

"Two of Brevard’s most outspoken critics of County government were muffled last week by Chairman Thad Altman when they tried to speak at a commission meeting"…wrote Allen Rose of the Orlando Sentinel. On the agenda was hiring a Washington D.C. lobbyist. Chairman Altman did not allow one person to speak even though he followed the correct speaking guidelines. And had another person ejected because they questioned Altman for not following established procedures. (Chapter 26, Freedom… But Speech.)

Chairman Thad Altman on his own changed established speaking rules that govern public speaking. Brevard County Policy #BCC-44 clearly states that vote of the entire Board is required to revise this speaking policy. (Chapter 26, Freedom…But Speech)

While supplies last, Busick will make FREE copies of her book Brevard Good Ole Boys available to District 30 registered voters. To obtain a free copy of the book all you have to do is present your voter registration card and be registered to vote in district 30. Books are available at the following businesses or call