Politics
HD 100: Joe Gibbons Has Financial Edge But Faces Democratic Primary Threat
Around the State
Sheldon Lisbon and Rep. Joe Gibbons | Credit: myfloridahouse.gov
First elected to the Florida House in 2006 to represent parts of Broward County, after serving on the Hallandale Beach City Commission, Gibbons spent the last two years as part of the Democratic leadership, serving as minority leader pro tempore under House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders of Key West. But when Gibbons attempted to move up the party ladder, the Democratic caucus turned to incoming House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston of Plantation instead. Gibbons also serves as the ranking Democrat on the Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
As he runs for a fourth term, Gibbons is now looking to represent parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties in HD 100. He faces a major opponent in Sheldon Lisbon, a bookstore owner and teacher who served on the Surfside City Commission. Lisbon garnered national media attention when he ripped into the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for insisting his plea for the “Jewish community” to back him instead of Gibbons was divisive. Lisbon, the son of Holocaust survivors, apologized earlier this month for his comments about the ADL.
Gibbons has reeled in some impressive endorsements, including Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), the Broward County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and Equality Florida. But Lisbon has also garnered endorsements, such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
As the primary reaches its final weeks, Gibbons has the advantage in funds on hand. As of July 20, he had raised more than $61,500 -- including about $36,750 since April 1 -- and kept most of it in the bank, spending less than $21,900 with more than $20,000 spent since July 7.
Lisbon entered the race in late May and had raised more than $13,500 by July 20. He has relied on more than $21,000 he has loaned the campaign. While he has spent more than Gibbons, he has kept little on hand. By July 20, Lisbon had spent almost $33,000, leaving around $1,500 in the bank for the final weeks before the primary.
Whoever emerges with the Democratic nomination will be heading to Tallahassee. The Republicans and minor parties are not running any candidates for this House seat.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
Comments (2)
We are having a good laugh in Silver Spring over the news that Shelly Lisbon is running for the Florida State legislature. For the people that know him and had to put up with the pompous, self-centered, nasty, cheating and very excitable Shelly Lisbon, we say “Good Luck”. We hope the people in Florida are not so dumb as to elect him. Just so you know what you are getting into with this guy, here are some facts that Shelly would not like known.
Businessman, Taxes and Jobs – Ask Shelly why his employees were paid off the books. No employee social security or employer taxes were paid by his business. He and his wife liked using undocumented cleaning women because they gave you no back talk and you did not have to their pay taxes. Also ask Shelly if he was a full time teacher for 36 years when did he have the time to run a business? We suppose his type of teaching gives you a lot of free time!
Senior Citizens – Just look at how Shelly treated his mother-in-law. When she started to show signs of Alzheimer disease, he placed her in a nursing home. He sold her co-op and cleaned out her bank accounts, which is how Shelly got the money to buy his Co-op in Miami. He was so greedy that his wife’s brother took Shelly to court over this
Jewish Community – Shelly only cares about his specific form of Orthodox Judaism and no other. To him Reform and Conservative Judaism are not real religions. He never has or will ever attend services in a Reform Temple or Conservative synagogue. To him, they are pagan temples attended by non believers. He feels the same about Sephardic Jews and their synagogues.
Intermarriage and race - Shelly gave a speech at his granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah to his “friends” and family about how intermarriage will be the downfall of society. He said that intermarriage produced many “problems”. He is a firm believer that people should only marry their “own kind”. We who know him are not surprised that Shelly called the Anti-Defamation League “a despicable organization”.
Educator - Shelly taught social studies to minority students in Washington DC. We can not repeat what he said about his students over the years, only that the NAACP and the Democratic Party would not be very happy.
Very Short Fuse - There were big smiles when Shelly left Silver Spring. By that time he had major fights with the Rabbi, president and most of the members of his synagogue. Shelly felt he was never wrong and his only form of compromise was to have things to be his way – or else! His temper and arguments with people were legendary. Suffice to say, anyone who disagreed with him was considered to be stupid, ignorant and useless.
Good luck, Florida!
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