Atkins Loses Temper after Being Snubbed by Realtors
Citizens for Better Government, L.L.C. was forwarded the angry email below, sent by Lloyd “Buddy” Atkins, candidate for District #4 Commissioner, to the Lake-Sumter Board of Realtors. In this email, Atkins chastises the board after being snubbed for their endorsement. The Realtors Board endorsed NPA candidate, Wolfgang Halbig, for the District #4 seat instead of endorsing any Republican. Atkins, who has been a realtor in Lake County for 33 years, personally felt the sting from a group that should have been in his corner. In his email, Atkins attempts to intimidate the Realtors Board to change their decision.
The most bizarre part of Atkins’ email is that he blames his non-endorsement on candidate, Leslie Campione, who wasn’t endorsed either. Campione isn’t a member of the Realtors Board, nor did she have a vote on this recommendation. Atkins then denounces Campione for being a lawyer and claims she has conflicts of interest. During three candidate forums, Campione told Atkins that she’s a lawyer who serves groups in all areas, and that she would no longer handle cases which come before the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. Why this is even a topic of Atkins’ rant to the Board of Realtors is perplexing.
After the last debate, a voter came forward and lamented that Atkins’ slogan of “Who’s Your Buddy?” didn’t really represent his personality. She said it should be “Who’s your Bully?”, because it seems that Atkins would do anything to get his way. The letter he sent to the Board of Realtors supports her claim. Our group understands why Atkins would be upset, considering his years of experience, but this email exposes troubling character flaws of anger and overreacting. Strong leaders don’t lash out like Atkins does in this email, and they certainly don’t blame others for their failures.
Board of Realtors
The article below is from a local internet blog.
Please read it and consider the issue.
Do we make RPAC donations to help defeat our members?
If I were to win the Republican Primary then would the board donate to my opponent?
The entire purpose of the board Governmental Affairs Committee is to promote and elect representatives from our industry.
What were they thinking. What is the “real reason” the board did not endorse me?
Would it help our industry to have a member on the LCC? Of course it would.
I believe they did not endorse me because it will help Campione. Do you really want a lawyer with conflict of interest issues to represent your industry?
You are a member of this board, please let me know your thoughts on this matter.
Buddy Atkins
Atkins Realty
Mount Dora
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IT SOUNDS LIKE THE REALTOR BOARD DONE A GREAT JOB AND CHOSE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR TRUTH AND FIGHT ORGANIZED CORRUTION.
Wolfgang Halbig was the Risk Manager for the Lake County School District until June 30, 2009, when he was terminated by Superintendent Susan Moxley. This 63 year old, very affable, education security expert believes he saw firsthand the underbelly of Lake County’s political cronyism and intimidation machine. .
Halbig believes his termination from the Lake County School District was politically motivated by current County Commissioner Jimmy Conner who twisted arms to get his friend insurance work at the district. Halbig tells a story that, if true, needs a much brighter light shined upon it. According to Halbig, the school district formed a committee of department heads to review the insurance programs for the district. After thorough investigations of the current plans, the committee determined that long-time insurance provider, Brown and Brown, was not offering the best program.
According to Halbig, Brown and Brown representative, Scott Hindman, was very emphatic that the school district would not change plans despite the more expensive costs and reduced district advantages. Halbig said that Hindman told him, “It ain’t gonna happen – I’ve already got three votes.” Halbig contends that Hindman contacted Jimmy Conner at his home, as well as other school board members, to promote his plan, and despite the third place ranking of the Brown and Brown plan, Jimmy Conner at the board meeting strong-armed the district to retain the program. He believes it was a sham orchestrated by Conner in conjunction with other school board members.
According to Halbig, the final nail came in his work coffin when he found out the district was being grossly overcharged by Brown and Brown on worker compensation premiums. He contends Scott Hindman with Brown and Brown was going to charge the district $3.4 million to remain in the program, and after Hindman found out they were bidding the program out, he immediately dropped it by $1 million.
The most troubling aspect was his meeting with School Board Member Larry Metz.. Halbig contends that he told Metz of the overcharges and provided him information supporting it. Halbig said Carol MacLeod, CFO of the Lake County School District, warned him that if he pursued this change to save money he would be fired; Halbig relayed his concern to Metz. Halbig said, “Metz did not have enough courage to stand up against the insurance company and other board members, and there was a cowardliness in his voice.” After the battle regarding the workers compensation program, and despite being offered a tentative contract extension in April, Halbig was terminated in June. Halbig claims his record with over 30 years in the education system is spotless with positive reviews, and that he had never been terminated before
Halbig believes the toxicity of his situation is prevalent throughout the county with cronyism and favoritism for a chosen group
As a boy, Halbig became a naturalized American citizen from Germany. He served in the military during the Vietnam era training pilots and was then later a Florida State Trooper in Miami. He is a former football player who has been a head football coach as well as head coach in many other sports. Over the last 20 years, Halbig has developed programs in the field of school safety and risk management for schools, which have been recognized nationally. He first came to Lake County Schools in 1995 when he was brought in to establish a safety program after an on campus shooting. He is currently an Education Safety and Risk Consultant who has been working with 6,000 educators across the country for the United States Justice Department.
What a crying shame “your bully” signed on to support and protect the continued culture of corruption of Lake County’s power brokers and his own union can see right through him! That’s enough to upset anybody. When you can’t even get your on peers to support you how can you expect the strangers too? I wonder if “this bully” is any relations to “Alan Hays”? they sure act just alike! I wonder what the other commissioners would do if they had this bully and Conner on the board together. Two nutz would be two too many!
As the Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee of RALSC, of which the Candidate Screening Committees were a subcommittee, it is my opportunity to respond to a recent letter received by many members of our Association from Buddy Atkins, Realtor® and candidate for District 4 Lake County Commissioner.
It is important for all to understand the directives and the parameters under which the Screening Committees operate.
There were two Screening Committees formed by the Governmental Affairs Committee – one to screen County and State office candidates for Lake County and one for Sumter County. It is the policy of our Association not to screen local races. Each committee screens races relevant to their County and the committees combine to screen State races that encompass both candidates.
Participation on the Screening Committee was on a volunteer basis. Chairs of each committee were appointed by me from members of the 2010 Governmental Affairs Committee of RALSC. These Chairs then sought volunteers from our membership. Some were called and some called the Association to volunteer. No political party affiliations were ever sought, nor were they considered, discussed or relevant. Some volunteers were disallowed because they were involved in local political office, and it is felt in that instance that they might have a vested interest in any given outcome. The optimum sought was a minimum of 5 members or a maximum of 10 members for each committee.
Once committees were selected, all members and Chairs participated in training at the Association building where they learned the processes and expectations from Jack Greacen, Florida Realtors® Political Representative. It is vital to understand that one of the key directives to each member was that when conducting the process, members were representing our 1400+ RALSC Realtors®, and there was no place nor consideration of personal feelings or political viewpoints. Each was to make their consideration based solely upon benefit to our Realtor® membership and protection of private property rights.
Following that training, but prior to the screenings, each committee met to formulate a list of control questions that would be asked of each candidate for that office or duty. There was a different set of questions for Lake County Commissioner, Lake County School Board candidates, Sumter County School Board candidates, Water Authority candidates and State Candidates (House Senate). There were five different sets of questions in all. All questions were designed to gauge the depth of knowledge of the candidate about the job they sought, as well as how their viewpoints impact Realtor® issues and/or private property rights. The blank control questionnaires are on file in the Association office, and they are available to anyone who might wish to view them. If there is sufficient interest, they can be posted on the RALSC website.
The screenings were held over a several day period in July, based upon the time needed to interview all the candidates. Lake County screening spanned 6 days, and Sumter County took 2 days. All Realtor® members were invited to sit in so that they could see and hear what the panel was seeing and hearing. No one was privy to the committee’s discussion or their individual votes, nor will that ever be disclosed apart from my reconfirmation that on each committee vote, majority ruled.
Screenings were conducted identically in format for each candidate. Candidates arrived separately, and none were privy to another’s interview. Upon entering the room, the candidate was greeted by the Chair and introduced to the screeners. The Chair then outlined the format of the interview which was as follows: Each candidate was given five minutes to introduce themselves and share any information they wished. Please note that each candidate was given the opportunity to pre-submit an information form which all screeners had, as well. After that introduction, the Chair then asked the control questions. Fifteen minutes were given for that process, and each candidate received all the questions in the same order. Following the control questions, the screeners were allowed to ask any clarification or other questions they had. Five minutes was allowed for this in total. To close, the candidate was allowed two minutes to wrap up and leave the screeners with any last thoughts. The timing was done by the RALSC CEO who was the only person allowed in the room besides the screeners, candidate or Realtor® members who had requested to audit. The screeners then took a few minutes to share any observations or opinions they had privately, as well as take a short break prior to the next interview.
When all interviews for any given office had been completed, discussion was held by the screeners sharing their observations in a private executive session. Three choices were made – who to recommend to the membership to vote for, were they to receive funding and if so, how much. The maximum allowable is $500 each from 2 Political Action Committees of the Florida Realtors® (State level). It is important to note that our process only allowed for ONE choice per office, not per political party affiliation or for primary and/or general election. This guideline is a State policy mandate. I would add that for any specific race, if a particular screener had an affiliation or close personal connection, that screener recused themselves from discussion, sharing and voting on that race.
As Governmental Affairs Chair, I also participated in the screening process in both counties, so please understand that I have first-hand experience and knowledge that the process I describe is factual. It is unfortunate that a dozen or so Realtors® who volunteered and gave countless hours of their time to conduct fair and impartial processes to benefit all members are being rewarded for their effort with criticism from one of their peers. In truth, 4 RALSC Realtors® were screened for 3 different offices. One was recommended and three were not.
The screeners met in good faith and conducted an impartial process without personal or professional hidden agendas. We should all thank them for their willingness to serve us in that manner.
Hopefully this explanation of our process and what transpired will serve to clarify any questions. While we understand Mr. Atkins’ disappointment in not receiving our recommendation and support, we are confident in the veracity and integrity of the process and its execution. We stand firmly and proudly in its support.
Sincerely,
Debbie McGinnis
2010 Governmental Affairs Chair
2011 President
I am not an Atkins supporter but I will say this is typical of how this site sensationalizes anything that will help their chosen campione. That letter was not that big of a deal.
Mr “Bully” is friends with the sheriff Borders! Maybe he can get sheriff Borders to call Mr John Cherry and get him a special deal to check into Lifestream and get his nerves calmed down! No real estate market is bad! Then he signs on with the power brokers in Tavares with his nose up their butts! I can hear him now telling the powers he had the Realtor union in his pocket! No wonder he’s “spazing” theire’s a lot of pressure put on a feller that makes a deal with the devil!
Buddy! This pressure tatics don’t work with people not under the auspices of the Tavares power brokers with their jobs and benefits and other promises they make! The old saying is politics makes strange bedfellows! Even if you were to win, which you won’t, you would never be able to do everythings these “supporters” demand! Way too much corruption for an ole country boy like you! These are things heart attacks are made of! Too bad it took you 33 years to find out how the system works!