South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 43

LOCAL Sunday, August 13, 2000 5B Sun-Sentinel, South Florida Annexation seen as big issue in House race DISTRICT 93 HOUSE CF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATES House District 90 BELINDA KEISER Personal: 42, married to Art one child, resident of Parkland for 1 1 years; Broward resident for 1 8 years Education: Bachelor's degree in communications, Florida State University, in business administration, Nova University, 1991 Civic: Executive director of Broward Lawyers Care and National Health Screening Council; Commission on the Status of Women; boards of directors, Girl Scouts of Broward County and Broward Homebound; member, Leadership Broward -Foundation; appointee to the i Florida Bar's 17th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee and former legislative chair for the Workforce Development Board and Welfare to Work for Broward County -Political: None Professional: Vice president of Community Development of Keiser College Web site: www.belindakeiser.com paid for a company to conduct an illegal "push poll," where workers posing as telephone survey-takers try to smear an opponent. Keiser denied her poll was illegal. But she. did say 124 people were "asked questions regarding your contaminating employees with deadly diseases, your disregard for the religious belief of Orthodox Jews by losing a family members' body parts." Weissman also recently revealed that Keiser gave a $1,000 political donation to then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1996. She said she made the contribution in "the hope that he might accept an audience with someone who has spent her life trying to improve education." And she countered that Weissman was director of SCI a funeral home owner, in 1996 when it contributed 1 ,000 to Gingrich and $250 to the Republican Party of Florida.

Weissman said he had nothing to do with the company's donation in 1996. "And I'm not the one who brought this to light until she started this obnoxious telephone poll." suffered a double leg amputation because of a vascular disorder. Cohen's husband took the legs to the funeral home in 1986 so they could eventually be buried with his wife. But when she died in 1993, the chapel could not find one of the legs. Weissman, managing partner at the time, said they may have made a mistake, but meant no harm.

Weissman said he has the endorsement of Cohen's daughter, who "knew I was trying to do the right thing." "We do support him," Dresin confirmed. She cited Weissman's support of trial attorneys and declined to elaborate further. The race features some old-fashioned mudslinging. "She says she's an educator, I'm an undertaker;" Weissman says. "Well, I don't know if she ever taught anyone." Keiser said that was nonsense, said credits herself with helping to expanding her husband's college campuses across the state.

Although not blaming Weissman, Keiser is also upset about a flyer that recently circulated in the Highlands area that claimed a vote for her meant forced annexation into Pompano Beach. Both candidates have said they support a referendum so residents can choose where they want to live. And Weissman claims Keiser Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at or 954-356-4557. Jr lek -i! in MARX WEISSMAN Personal: 51, married to Diane, four children, resident of Parkland for 9 years; resident of Broward for 27 years Education: Associate of arts degree, Miami-Dade Community College, 1972; Bachelor's degree in administrative studies, Nova University, 1986 Civic: Vice chairman, Florida League of Cities environmental quality policy committee; financial secretary, B'nai B'rith; member, Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach chambers of commerce-member, Parkland, Palm-Aire, Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek Democratic clubs; member, Sierra Club; life member, Habilitation Center for the Handicapped, Deerfield Beach Auxiliary; past president, Jewish Funeral Directors of America; past deputy grand chancellor, Knights of Pythias; past president, Temple Beth Israel in Sunrise Political: Elected to Parkland City Commission in 1996.

Re-elected in 1998 Professional: Realtor for Re-Max Partners in Coral Springs. Former managing general partner of funeral homes and cemeteries Website: www.voteweissman2000.com Villas, HOME Rediscover the Florida Lifestyle You Love! DISTRICT 90 Continued from page 1B ning," he said. "Whoever wins that race will need to be able to, as a freshman Democrat, make an im- pression and participate in the Democratic caucus, but also work effectively with the new leader- ship." Although both candidates have an extensive list of endorsements, Keiser is so far the leader in political contributions. She has raised 154,000 to date, including $50,000 from her own funds. Weissman has raised $90,000 that includes $30,000 of his own money.

I Keiser reports spending more than $141,000 on campaign materi- al, while Weissman said he has about $40,000. Reiser's work in her husband's school includes fund raising, media relations and special-event planning. She has worked with hospitals to arrange student internships. Although she has never been elected to political office, she said she has substantial experience working with legislators as an activist on issues including health care and education. She said her campaigning often involves 16-hour days, which include candidate forums and breakfasts with voters.

"What I want to do is what people care about," she said. "They care about will they be safe and can they afford prescription drugs. "My direct work in creating legislation on a state level, the experience of driving a bill through both Republican and Democratic sides of the Legislature, also gives my candidacy an edge," she said in a written statement. "Finally, the broad base of my support from legislators, congressmen, community leaders and community activists demonstrates that I will be able to address a diverse set of interests more effectively than my opponent." Weissman, another energetic campaigner, also touts the idea of affordable prescription drugs for seniors and public safety. "The top priorities of the residents of my district will be my top priorities," he said in a written statement.

"This is the opportune time to invest in our future by increasing funding for education, health care, crime prevention and job training." Weissman last month announced his resignation, effective Nov. 8, from the Parkland City Commission to run for the state ISSUES AMD RESPONSES How should the state Improve health care? Belinda Keiser: "My first priority will be to expand the program so that more seniors are eligible to participate and to increase the subsidy currently provided under the Patient Affordability Act for seniors. Currently the program provides an J80 subsidy to the most needy of seniors, who make between $1 2,000 and 14,000 a year. By walking door to door, so many seniors have shared their story with me that their prescriptions can cost them $3,000 to $5,000 a year. I want to work toward a prescription drug benefit as well as making prescription drugs more 'affordable." Mark Weissman: "We need to make sure that we approach affordable and quality health care for all of our residents.

I would propose we examine states like Wisconsin and Hawaii, where they have been very successful in providing almost universal health care for their residents without bankrupting the state." What edge do you have over your opponents? Keiser: "My professional background and my community activism and my legislative experience over the last 22 years make me the more-qualified candidate who can hit the ground funning, who can accomplish what the residents of my district need and to serve our state effectively." Weissman: "Having served in elected office, having had success In business, having been a proven cbnsensus builder and not having any special Interest ties gives me the clear advantage in this race." What is the greatest Issue facing public schools? Keiser: "The greatest Issue is funding. I believe our state ranks 37th out of the 50 states In terms of total funding for education. And that is quite serious. I believe we need to fund PALM BEACH COUNTY seat. He is a businessman who sold his six funeral homes and two cemeteries to a national chain.

"I did not enter elective office until I had sold my business because I feel strongly that all conflicts of interest, whether real or perceived, must be avoided," he said. "My opponent has served on boards that both directly and indirectly benefit her business. This type of situation only serves to perpetuate the public's lack of confidence in government." Weissman has had problems with his funeral homes, for which Keiser has taken him to task in her campaign materials. When Keiser uses the term "botched funerals," Weissman said he assumes she is referring to a 1989 lawsuit stemming from a damaged casket that exposed the deceased person's foot. The case was settled.

"It was nothing done intentionally," Weissman said. "We're in a very sensitive business." He noted that he was not personally responsible for the incident. In 1991 one of Weissman's employees, who was an embalmer for Menorah, claimed he contracted hepatitis from a body he was preparing and sued, The settlement was not disclosed. Although Reiser's campaign material claimed there were "countless lawsuits from employees for contaminating them with deadly diseases," that was the only such case, Weissman said. Another attack on Weissman's prof ession has actually backfired on Keiser, because the family now says Weissman wasn't personally responsible and even endorses him.

In 1997 Marilyn Dresin won a 1.25 million lawsuit against Menorah Gardens and Funeral Chapels for emotional distress after she claimed that the funeral home violated Jewish law requiring the burial of an intact body. Dresin's mother, Molly Cohen, education fully I am against the voucher program because it takes critical dollars away from public schools that are needed to provide the equipment, the resources needed for our children. And finally, to recruit and keep qualified teachers in our classrooms." Weissman: "Classroom overcrowding. We need to build classrooms; we need to hire the teachers that are required. We have to pay and hire the necessary teachers to attract the best and the brightest to work with our children.

We need to match their skills, the teachers' skills, with the needs of the students. We need to provide the necessary technology, i.e. a computer at the desk of every child beginning in kindergarten. We need to provide meaningful preschool and after-school programs." ATTEUTIOIJ THAT NEED REPLACEMENT WOOWS Homeowners in the tri-county area will be given the opportunity to have these hi-inipact, high energy efficient and burglar resistant windows installed in their homes at a VERY LOW COST, as a replacement for old unprotected windows. WE MAKE HURRICANE SHUTTERS Hi-impact windows resist winds of approximately 250 MPH.

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