Like facts, Campaign Treasurers Reports are inconvenient things.

During the recent North Miami Beach City Council election, a fraud using the pseudonym “Laura Smith” initiated a smear campaign against one of Phyllis Smith’s opponents, which may have engineered his loss and triggered a runoff between Phyllis and Michael Joseph.  This fraud, aided and abetted by Phyllis’ daughter, Susie Smith, attacked by website, unsolicited email blasts and Twitter stalking.

As is typical in elections, smear campaigns are exactly that.  They are designed to smear the reputations of the opposition, whether true or not.  It is said that perception is reality.

Regular readers of this column know that I did not endorse any candidate in that particular race.  I decided to stay neutral until the runoff, which was a given.  Despite my Switzerland stance, the fraud “Laura Smith” dragged me into the fray.  The fraud made up an entirely fictional account about North Miami Beach Mayor George Vallejo and attempted to include me in “her” conspiracy theory.

What anyone says or writes about politicians or political candidates is fair game, as long as they have their facts straight.  I do the same thing, but I make damn sure I know what I’m talking about before I slam someone.  I investigate thoroughly and I base my opinions on the truth.

Here’s the thing.

I don’t give a rat’s ass what “Laura Smith” said about the Mayor.

I don’t give a rat’s ass what “Laura Smith” said about Phyllis Smith’s opponent.

What does matter is that “Laura Smith” told lies about ME!

What does matter is that “Laura Smith” attempted to ruin MY reputation!

Big.  Freaking.  Mistake.

This “Laura Smith” was merely an invention of three individuals who were paid to get Phyllis Smith re-elected at any cost, regardless of the consequences, under the guise of “caring about the community.”

This “Laura Smith” is a fraud, based on lies, all fabricated for political purposes.

Unfortunately for “Laura Smith,” and no surprise to those who know that I am relentless, I have uncovered the fraud.

Oh, honey, he will wish I hadn’t.

First, I sniffed out a tip…

During my relentless investigation into who the real “Laura Smith” might be, I received a tip that one of the culprits is Mark Weithorn, a candidate for Miami Beach Commission Group 5.

Oh, dear.  He shouldn’t have done that.

Right, Myron?

Of course, I followed that tip, and what I uncovered only confirmed my tipster’s suspicions.

I followed the paper trail…

As posted on the North Miami Beach city website, Political Action Committees must be registered if they are involved in city council elections.  The Electioneering Communications Organization (ECO) “Common Sense” registered in this last election.  That name rang a bell, and I quickly realized that this is the same ECO that engineered the North Bay Village election last November, and which is the ECO utilized by none other than Randall “Prince of Darkness” Hilliard and “Strip Club” Mitch Edelstein.

I already knew that Mitch Edelstein was involved in the campaigns of both Phyllis Smith and her slate-mate Frantz Pierre, but until “Common Sense” registered its Campaign Treasurers Report with North Miami Beach, I didn’t realize that Hilliard had made an appearance.  Yeah, that plot thickened!

Then I followed the money trail…

As of the April 30, 2015 reporting period, the ECO “Common Sense” had one contributor.

A search of Sunbiz.org revealed that the President and Registered Agent of Showcase Websites, Inc. is none other than #DirtyPolitician Mark Weithorn!

This is the same Mark Weithorn who is married to sitting Miami Beach Commissioner Deede Weithorn, who I’m told is one of Phyllis Smith’s BFFs.

Dude, that was really too easy.

Now the fun really begins…

The biggest donation to “Common Sense” this year was from another Electioneering Communications Organization called “A Better Miami Beach.”   This is an organization that was formed on May 10, 2013 by Tallahassee attorney Mark Heron, who also is the registered agent for Hilliard and Edelstein’s “Common Sense.”  It was also disbanded on February 27, 2015, and on February 28, 2015 it donated all its funds in the amount of $10,013.75 to “Common Sense.”

The other two donations to “Common Sense” came from Webster Leon, a private investigator in Tallahassee ($2,100.00), and ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, Inc., out of Orlando ($2,500.00).

Two expenditures are listed on the “Common Sense” report on February 28, 2015 – $1,780.00 to Printing & Labels, Inc. in Sunrise, and a $50.00 wire transfer fee to SunTrust Bank in Tallahassee.

As you can imagine, I will be keeping tabs on “Common Sense” from now until November 3, 2015, the date of Miami Beach’s City Commission Election.

I will also be keeping tabs on the Campaign Treasurer’s Reports filed by Mark Weithorn on the City of Miami Beach website.

And, of course, I will be keeping tabs on the candidate himself, Mark Weithorn, who was already investigated and fined $3,000.00 by the Florida Elections Commission in 2013 for filing fraudulent financial disclosures, as reported by the Miami New Times on July 8, 2013.

That wasn’t the first time Mark Weithorn was smacked for #DirtyPolitician tricks.

On August 2, 2012, the New Times also dug up his problems with tax evasion, claiming that Weithorn “is the kind of candidate all too easily destroyed by public court records.”

My kind of candidate!

As I said before, I couldn’t care less what people like Mitch Edelstein, Randall Hilliard and Mark Weithorn say about elected officials or those running for office.  All’s fair in love, war and politics.

Their big mistake was dragging my name through the mud.

When I point a finger at someone, I make damn sure to back up my accusations with information published among the public records.  I stake my reputation as a dirt digger on actual facts and irrefutable proof.

You can disagree with my opinions.  You can curse at me, call me names and burn me in effigy if you want.  I could care less.  I got my big girl panties on, and I still sleep at night.  Your opinion of me is none of my business.

But, if you twist my words, dispute my facts or attack my reputation, be prepared for an onslaught of retaliation like you’ve never seen before.

Mark Weithorn made a fatal campaign mistake by messing with the wrong bitch.

Yeah, this is gonna be big fun. 😆

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”