Anti-Social

Mayoral Primary: Fausto Gomez

July 01, 2022 Tony Winton & Thom Mozloom Season 5 Episode 11
Anti-Social
Mayoral Primary: Fausto Gomez
Show Notes Transcript

FAUSTO GOMEZ is a former lobbyist who once had the Village of Key Biscayne as a client. Now, he wants to be its mayor. We ask him about the big questions facing the Island Paradise.
The primary is Aug. 23, but mail ballots are going out July 21.

Important deadlines

The deadline to register to vote for the Key Biscayne Mayoral Primary is July 25th

REGISTER TO VOTE HERE https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home


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Subscribe to the Key Biscayne Independent today

Thom Mozloom:

She'sagain and again

Unknown:

and again will always be my friend

Tony Winton:

Live from Key Biscayne, Florida. This is Anti-Social, the radio show and podcast where if we're just a little bit lucky, we separate fact from our too-often fictional social media feeds. I'm Tony Winton.

Thom Mozloom:

I'm Thom Mozloom. Tony, did you just say you hope we get lucky?

Tony Winton:

You bet.

Thom Mozloom:

Can we say that on the air?

Tony Winton:

I think we can say it every week

Thom Mozloom:

Holy smokes. Wow. This has turned into some kind of radio show. So have we seen topics? Or are we still talking about politics?

Tony Winton:

I think politics involves a lot of luck. Don't you?

Thom Mozloom:

Well, I know there's a lot of people getting lucky, but I'm not sure we can talk about it. Anyway. We've got a big show with this is a series of shows that we've done, where we're, we're bringing on the mayoral candidates,

Tony Winton:

Indeed, and we have an unusual primary on August 23. Ballots will be going out and really just a very short period of time to overseas voters. They're going out in about eight days, I believe. 20. Yeah. And then the, the the, if you live overseas, you'll be getting one of those. And then if you're domestic, it'll go out on July 20. So really just the election, I always tell people, when is the election starting Well, in the election starting July 20. That that's what that's how fast it's gonna happen.

Thom Mozloom:

It reminds me an old joke, though. There's an old joke. It says a former mayor, a former commissioner and a former lobbyist walk into a bar. Okay, stop me if you've heard this one.

Tony Winton:

I don't know.

Thom Mozloom:

Well, we have the former lobbyist here. Yeah. Fausto Gomez, thank you for coming in. We appreciate you being here.

Fausto Gomez:

Thank you, Thom. Thank you, Tony. Thanks for the invitation. Let me put a

Thom Mozloom:

Current lobbyist - you're not former yet?

Fausto Gomez:

I'm former. I was very, very proud to be a lobbyist. But let me tell you something. You mischaracterized us, because the election has two former lobbyists. My cell phone Mr. Rasco .

Thom Mozloom:

Oh, right. Right. I forgot.

Fausto Gomez:

So you guys always basically sort of leave that out? And then obviously, we have a former council member?

Thom Mozloom:

That's correct.

Tony Winton:

That's correct. A former member of council.

Thom Mozloom:

Lots of formers, trying to be a current, I like it.

Fausto Gomez:

Well, you need to turn the page on leadership. I've never served in public office, I bring new ideas to Key Biscayne. So let's go at it.

Thom Mozloom:

All right, Tony. You want to lead off?

Tony Winton:

Well, we have a long list of questions.

Thom Mozloom:

But the topic at the top of the list, though, is the one that I think certainly there's the most money behind and that's resiliency.

Tony Winton:

Right. And we've asked all the other candidates this. And you have the benefit of having heard, heard their questions and answers.

Thom Mozloom:

He doesn't listen to our show.

Tony Winton:

And I will point out to our listeners, that that's all that stuff is still on our website, just click on KBindependent.org and you can find both of those interviews and you'll have this one as well. And as well as a transcript, we're going to provide transcripts of all of those interviews and you can you know, have that too.

Thom Mozloom:

Oh, that's huge. Yeah. Will we post it on? Where will those transcript transcript show up?

Tony Winton:

When you follow the link to our to our partner buzz feed, and it shows up as a tab on on your on the podcast.

Thom Mozloom:

Alright, so shout out to my friend Henry Grau. He's a former roommate of mine. He's been busting my chops for about 20 years since I've been on radio and TV. He's deaf. And they always ask how come there's no transcripts? So Henry,

Tony Winton:

there is in fact a trend.

Thom Mozloom:

Henry, I'm sending you transcripts to this show. I hope you're listening.

Tony Winton:

So we'll start off with this big ballot question that's going to be on the on the ballot for voters along not not in August, but in November, there'll be asked to vote on a number of charter changes. The constitution of Key Biscayne. And among those changes are doubling the debt cap, currently at 1%. And another provision that would allow voters to go even beyond that if it passed. And I want to ask with this, the administration talking about as much as $250 million over probably 15 to 20 years of expenditures, the thinking being that the current debt cap will be exceeded. And so that's that is why the council unanimously went ahead and put this on the ballot. What is your view on that?

Fausto Gomez:

Well, let's let's begin from the beginning. So this started with $100 million bond issue two years ago.

Thom Mozloom:

Yep.

Fausto Gomez:

Essentially, at that time, obviously, it was a very contentious debate in this community. The 100 million dollar bond issue passed. I will say that I voted for the 100 million dollar bond issue not because I agreed with the marketing of it because we everybody who had to sort of two fingers or a forehead as Javier Soto says at the county commission, realized that there were no projects. And so therefore, the argument that interest rates are low, etc, etc. Obviously, two years later, the interest rates are not low. But the important thing about 100 million dollar bond issue was it signaled to our potential partners at the federal and state level that we're going to fund our projects or help fund our projects, that there was corresponding commitment from Key Biscayne for the percentage necessary as matching dollars. So that's where this began. Now we go to the doubling of the debt cap from 1% to 2%. I really think it's premature. It is very premature. There. Again, let's look at what we're having right now. There are no projects on the table. The only project that we're discussing today is the K-8 stormwater issue.

Thom Mozloom:

Sure, but sea level is rising faster than your

Fausto Gomez:

No. debt cap.

Thom Mozloom:

That's a problem.

Fausto Gomez:

What let me let me finish well, let me finish my response.

Tony Winton:

There's about, the current the budget that's in front of it that's going in front of Council --we'll get to the budget question in a moment-- does, in fact, call for the first first projects would be funded by the bond, but not until they get to a little bit larger amount.

Fausto Gomez:

Essentially, I think that we're talking about$5 million, or something like that.

Tony Winton:

Yeah.

Fausto Gomez:

Okay. So essentially, the first project that everybody is calling the resiliency project or sustainability project, whatever you want to call it. Okay, is the K-8, project for stormwater? Let me tell you something that projects like minimum five years old, I remember, as a former lobbyist for Key Biscayne, getting money for that project. I'm sure that's in the bank somewhere waiting. So let's, let's talk about what reality is. Reality is that we have a problem with sustainability and reliability. The issue is that the whole panoply of projects that are out there probably exceed our financial capacity, notwithstanding whether you double, triple or quadruple, and

Thom Mozloom:

that's fair, okay.

Fausto Gomez:

And so therefore, we are looking at this wrong, we're part of a larger ecosystem, which is regional and national, Key Biscayne could not take care of its problems by itself. We need to have the appropriate resources available to match federal dollars, state dollars, whatever resources are coming down, but we cannot handle it by ourselves and trying to handle it by ourselves, I think is a mistake.

Thom Mozloom:

But those federal, federal and state dollars are all always hinged to what you're willing to spend. It's skin in the game. Aren't they all like matching dollars? Or pseudo matching dollar

Fausto Gomez:

Thom? So

Tony Winton:

60/40 in the case of the Army Corps?

Fausto Gomez:

65/35

Tony Winton:

Yeah.

Fausto Gomez:

So what did I, what did I start by saying, Thom?

Thom Mozloom:

I don't know, I wasn't paying attention.

Fausto Gomez:

I started. I started by saying,

Thom Mozloom:

I got you.

Fausto Gomez:

I started by saying Why 100 million dollar I voted for., because that showed the commitment to have matching funds.

Tony Winton:

I was gonna say, what is, how are you voting on the question is my question? on this thing. Because you're a voter, how are you going to vote?

Fausto Gomez:

I told you, I think it's premature.

Tony Winton:

So you're gonna vote no?

Fausto Gomez:

I will vote no.

Thom Mozloom:

You think there's a time? When's the next chance you'll have to raise that debt cap?

Fausto Gomez:

Whenever the council decides to put an item on the ballot? To change the charter?

Thom Mozloom:

So it will sync up with some election at some point?

Fausto Gomez:

Absolutely. General.

Tony Winton:

Usually, it's a general election. I gotcha. I got so so

Fausto Gomez:

under state law, it has to be general election. Yeah.

Tony Winton:

So that's it. What about some of these other issues that are on the ballot? You've got the so they're both -- there are two issues. There's the debt cap doubling, and then the other one that lets voters decide to go beyond the current 1%? Would you vote no on both of them?

Fausto Gomez:

I have, I default to democracy. So I default to democracy. On any issue, that I think the both the voice of the voters needs to be heard and needs to be respected. I think there's the frankly, I think there has been enough lack of respect to the voters of Key Biscayne on issues that I wanted to enter into If you'd allow me to sure that essentially, that's my default position, more democracy is good. It's not bad.

Tony Winton:

Okay. So, "no" on doubling, "yes" on it's possible to exceed 1% If you get approval from the voters?

Fausto Gomez:

"No" on doubling.

Tony Winton:

Yeah.

Fausto Gomez:

because it is pre mature.

Tony Winton:

I understand

Fausto Gomez:

Hold on. I am not against it. I think it is premature right now. Let me tell you what, what that why it is very important. And I think you need to understand this and I hopefully the the our listeners understand that.

Tony Winton:

You still didn't answer my question.

Fausto Gomez:

Well, I'm answering your question.

Tony Winton:

Not really. It's not really I asked you, how you, on this, you told me you were voting no on the on the first one. How are you voting on the second?

Thom Mozloom:

Don't make me break up the clinch boys Tony. Keep it above the belt.

Tony Winton:

Explain your reasoning, sir, as much as you like, but it was a direct question. Are you in favor or opposed to the second?

Fausto Gomez:

Would you let me answer the question.

Tony Winton:

Absolutely.

Fausto Gomez:

Or do you want to take all the time?

Tony Winton:

if you want to give an answer.

Fausto Gomez:

Okay.

Unknown:

If you want to take a look,

Tony Winton:

Because we're not going to let people spin..

Thom Mozloom:

All right, all right

Fausto Gomez:

put the music on, we're going to take all the time.

Tony Winton:

We can do that.

Fausto Gomez:

Okay, whatever you wish, if you let me answer the question.

Thom Mozloom:

Go ahead and answer the question,

Fausto Gomez:

okay, why doubling of the debt cap, I believe is premature and why it is important. Number one, we did the 100 million bond issue, which I supported. Number two, there are no projects at this moment ready to spend money on. Okay, number three, we're going to go we have to go back to the voters for additional resources. AECOM looks at stormwater as a $250 million issue. The question is do you poison the well, by going back to the voters for bond, doubling debt cap and other things? Without really knowing what is the actual cost of the projects? We have a significant issue of sustainability.

Tony Winton:

Why is it poisoning the well?

Fausto Gomez:

Because the more what

Tony Winton:

I don't understand what do you mean "poison the well?"

Thom Mozloom:

Because you have

Tony Winton:

No, No. Would you let our guest answer the question.

Thom Mozloom:

Are you going to debate both of us today?

Tony Winton:

No I'm trying to

Thom Mozloom:

I'm usually not in this situation. I was just trying to let you it seems like you it seems like it's thought Yeah, it seems like it's hot. I've sat on the sidelines. I thought I'd chime in and see if we could smooth some waters. But But no, go ahead

Tony Winton:

I'm trying to get an answer to a question. And I still don't know your answer to the question about whether you're in favor or against letting voters you shouldn't be lean towards it. But you're not really sure ?

Fausto Gomez:

No, no, don't put words in my mouth.

Tony Winton:

Okay,

Fausto Gomez:

one of the things I'm going to ask you to do is to not put words in my mouth

Tony Winton:

I'd just like an answer, and then we can keep going

Fausto Gomez:

Well, let's keep going.

Tony Winton:

We have a 35 minute preamble explaining what you already explained. And I'd like to know what you're going to answer.

Fausto Gomez:

Tony, Tell me, let me answer, right. I'm hopefully a guest on your show

Tony Winton:

you are and I want, we have a lot of other things to ask. So get an answer. And let's go.

Fausto Gomez:

So I'll answer in my point in my fashion, not in your fashion very simply this. Why do you poison the well, by going to the voters asking for more opportunities to raise resources without basically having a tangible project that they can touch? Then you create distrust in government.

Tony Winton:

Why does it create distrust?

Fausto Gomez:

Oh Tony. Please Thom. Frankly,

Thom Mozloom:

I raised my hand that time to see if I could get into the conversation. Otherwise, go for a walk. Sure. So when when we do campaigns, Tony, what we try to do is we try to bite off as big of a piece of the Apple as possible. Because if you go back too many times to the voters and ask them for more money, more money, more money. They stop voting, yes.

Tony Winton:

Okay.

Thom Mozloom:

So it's important to get as much as you can at one point at a time without having to go back to another ballot initiative and the next ballot, so more money.

Tony Winton:

So when this was on the ballot two years ago, and the council decided not to raise the debt cap then, because that was this was a 2020 decision. It was in front of the council to do two things it was to approve the GO - the borrowing, which is a separate question from the actual limitation on borrowing. There are two separate issues. So the question is, what was your position back then? I told you I was in favor of the 100 million dollar bond issue. And what about raising the debt cap back then? Because that would have been the same time. You don't want to go back more than once. I'm hearing the argument is, we don't want to ask them too many times. So was it better to do it back then? Was that a mistake the council made?

Fausto Gomez:

I believe raising the debt cap then and now is premature.

Tony Winton:

Okay. And we don't have an answer on the second question.

Fausto Gomez:

Yeah. I forgot. Frankly. What's your second question?

Tony Winton:

The second question, is there two debt cap questions? The first one is just flat out doubling it.

Fausto Gomez:

And I told you, I think that's premature.

Tony Winton:

And you said that's premature. And that's your position. And you can because it's whatever two bites of the apple or whatever, poisoned well, or whatever, whatever it is, I forgot. The second one is the that they're allowing the voters to decide to waive essentially the debt cap. If they if there's

Fausto Gomez:

if the voters decide to waive the debt cap. I my default position is I like democracy. If the voters decide that's what they want to do. I will support that.

Tony Winton:

So the answer was"yes" to question two?

Fausto Gomez:

I said, let the voters decide, yes.

Thom Mozloom:

Yes,

Tony Winton:

Good I'm satisfied. Thank you.

Thom Mozloom:

Yes,

Tony Winton:

That took a long time.

Fausto Gomez:

My God. That did take a long time.

Tony Winton:

Well...

Thom Mozloom:

what else? Tony, what would you like to ask next?

Tony Winton:

We have a lot of questions here.

Fausto Gomez:

Go ahead.

Tony Winton:

Yeah. The other last the other controversial item, might be controversial, it has in the past, is zoning changes. There's a. This community was torn asunder at one point about the Sonesta hotel. And there was a grassroots effort, I guess you could say that put in this unusual restriction in Key Biscayne village charter that basically requires a referendum every time there's a density change.

Fausto Gomez:

It's not that unusual. There's other cities that have it

Tony Winton:

pretty unusual, but here, it's impossible without a referendum. That proposal is to have a supermajority, allow the council by a supermajority, be allowed to make these changes. What's your take on that?

Fausto Gomez:

Frankly, that one, I will punt because I really haven't studied as well and I don't want to take a position without really studying it. Fair enough?

Thom Mozloom:

Fair enough

Tony Winton:

OK

Thom Mozloom:

Okay, they're talking about the millage? Yep,

Fausto Gomez:

Whatever you like.

Thom Mozloom:

Okay, so where are we now? What was your latest? You were looking at

Tony Winton:

The breaking news on millage is that the Property Appraiser just released the updated numbers. They had an estimate that came out in June and on July 1, that's today, they came out with the new numbers. And that number is that Key Biscayne's tax base, its taxable property value, went up 10%. That's $9.1 billion for our island. And that has an effect on the way calculations are made for the budget. So in one way, one way of looking at it is is that the, the amount that the village would have to in quote, increase, the millage rate has just dropped because the tax base has gone up.

Thom Mozloom:

Correct. So what where do you think that millage rates going to land ultimately?

Tony Winton:

Well, we know that the manager put together an estimate of where the list of projects there was a strategic planning session with members of the council a few weeks ago. And based on that, and the input that he has gotten, the staff put together a budget that called for, at the time about a 13% increase over an increase based on not just what they're asking for, but also the increase in the millage rate

Thom Mozloom:

The county is at about 12. Right? That's right.

Tony Winton:

Yeah, just about 12. Right.

Thom Mozloom:

So just to hedge over what the county average is, where are you standing on that budget?

Fausto Gomez:

I spoke in front of the council the other day, I told them, I am not in favor of a 13% budget increase. Now let's understand what we're what we're really doing here. Every manager in every city, in the first budget hearing presents blue sky. This is this is your this is my

Thom Mozloom:

It's the negotiation. Start high.

Fausto Gomez:

You got it

Tony Winton:

try not to cut too much out,

Fausto Gomez:

Right. So that's blue sky. 13% is blue sky. That's not more it's going to be then the council basically takes a look and prioritizes and starts basically saying where are we going to invest? Let me just where are we going to cut it? We're going to cut and we're not cutting actual services. We're simply cutting increase in services. Okay. Okay. So I, I'm on record, I told the council I am against a 13%.

Thom Mozloom:

So instead of instead of instead of running for mayor, you're running for czar. I've given you the red pen, what are you cutting? And long pause.

Fausto Gomez:

No, listen, I think issues through Okay, sure. No, I got I think I think thinking is very important. So you can have the sort of politician is going to

Thom Mozloom:

I wouldn't know about.

Fausto Gomez:

the 13% budget increase is not cutting current services. basically looking at increases in the budget. Okay, and that 13% is adding on to our base,

Thom Mozloom:

you've got the red pen, what do you what do you give a smaller increase Where are your priorities?

Tony Winton:

I'm going to sit back and let you try and press an answer on this question.

Thom Mozloom:

I got it, he's dancing

Tony Winton:

because I didn't I didn't go too well. He's dancing a lot.

Fausto Gomez:

Let me give you a perfect example. We had the we had an IT program for for$60,000 that was presented for to regulate to regulate the Airbnb rentals.

Thom Mozloom:

Right got it.

Fausto Gomez:

Okay, because the state has preempted municipalities.

Thom Mozloom:

Sure. Yeah.

Fausto Gomez:

Okay. And so therefore the Village is looking to spend $60,000 on an IT program. The State gave an exemption to the village of Key Biscayne. Key Biscayne does not have a preemption from the state. So why are we spending $60,000 on an IT program? Because we have a state preemption when Key Biscayne is not preempted. That's a perfect example right there.

Thom Mozloom:

Sure. Maybe the citizens of Key Biscayne would like to preempt Airbnb usage?

Fausto Gomez:

Well, frankly, it is regulated by the village of Key Biscayne. Right. And their preemption was that the that cities could not preempt cities could not regulate

Thom Mozloom:

Is that your big, that's where I would cut the most? Or are there other areas?

Fausto Gomez:

No that is simply an example of items in the budget that are unnecessary. And when you start looking at items like that, and you start building up is when you get to 13%.

Thom Mozloom:

Got it. As you campaign. Are you going to make it public where you would stand on this budget when the budget comes out. Would you have already

Fausto Gomez:

I have already made it public? I was the only candidate who stood up in front of council and talked about the budget.

Tony Winton:

What What number are you looking for?

Fausto Gomez:

We need to fund it appropriately, but not excessively. Okay. So the question is, it is impossible for you to ask a question today. What number essential you're looking for? I would love to I would love to maintain the current rate that we have intact

Tony Winton:

the current millage rate?

Fausto Gomez:

the current millage rate,

Tony Winton:

okay, right. So, just doing that is a 10% increase.

Fausto Gomez:

just doing that would bring in $2.2 million extra Yeah. Okay. But you can maintain the current millage rate, okay. And then you can sort of prioritize that $2.2 million. Okay. And what are the needs for Key Biscayne? I heard for example, the ASK club stand up there and asked for additional dollars. That's a good that's a good allocation of dollars, we should also go to the state to the state and get money for the ASK club. Okay, I heard a group of mothers talk about disabled adults and disabled children, that they have no services on Key Biscayne. I believe that's important. That to me is an issue close to my heart.

Tony Winton:

And that's one criticism of that budget process is that these are small little items $10,000, $60,000 The Council spends an immense amount of time debating a minuscule portion of the budget and rarely sinks its teeth into the big drivers of costs,

Fausto Gomez:

Tony, that happens everyhere.

Tony Winton:

If I may?

Fausto Gomez:

sure

Tony Winton:

yeah, so. So that would be police and fire, the labor costs, which are what, two thirds of the budget?

Fausto Gomez:

police and fire, it's 50% of the 36 million

Tony Winton:

and then you have the other staff

Fausto Gomez:

right. So essentially, in the contracts for police and fire are capped

Tony Winton:

this year, they are 4%. And they had to step increases. So it's actually supposed to come about 8.

Fausto Gomez:

And then you look at how you build the 13% you build in there. For example, the trash folks want over 10% Increase the gardeners, the landscaping folks want a significant increase. So your and all that was just put into the budget, you need to look at things like that and say, what is the appropriate number? And how are we going to cut? Right?

Thom Mozloom:

Well, I think rather than number because it's ethereal to most voters is what level of service needs more investing? And what level of service of what what things that you're servicing the community are, are maybe over budget or over servicing. Do you have any ideas?

Fausto Gomez:

Sure, I'll tell you one service that I think that the council that the council is building is not providing, and I call it my street by street program. We're looking to invest in infrastructure, but essentially, we're not taking care of our current infrastructure. Okay. You walk in any street and believe me, I've walked streets, I've been knocking on doors, I'm gonna listen to residents. They are concerned about the condition of their sidewalks are concerned about the condition of the streets. They're concerned about how the community looks infrastructure wise. Okay. I think we need to invest to make sure that our current infrastructure is pristine. And the best in Miami Dade County. We're not we're not doing that. And frankly, nobody's even taking a look at that.

Thom Mozloom:

Interesting. All right. The other thing on the on the on the ballot, one of the charter questions, we like to call the Tony Winton amendment.

Fausto Gomez:

Is this when he ran for office? No, no, no, no, he had no he spoke into the charter amendment about open government transparency and meetings. I don't know if you've read that or not Give me more transparency,

Thom Mozloom:

more transparency?

Fausto Gomez:

Absolutely.

Thom Mozloom:

See you guys could agree on stuff. I told you. The divide is not that great. told you the divide is not that great.

Tony Winton:

I will say this for everyone, to understand. Brevity is the soul of wit.

Thom Mozloom:

After this conversation, I hesitate to talk to you about and ask questions about civility or decorum. But I'm going to I'm going to wade into it. It's sort of one of the things that this show started about. We started talking two years ago on the air about mostly because the temperature was so hot in politics, not just generally across the nation, but also right here in Key Biscayne things turned into people standing on corners and yelling things through bull horns. And

Fausto Gomez:

That's crazy

Thom Mozloom:

getting on WhatsApp chats and saying horrible things. And you know, how is that? How is how is the veteran presence going to bring the temperature down a notch, bring civility back and run meetings? And yes,

Fausto Gomez:

Well listen, we're the luckiest most fortunate folks in the world to live in Key Biscayne. Frankly our issues are miniscule as compared to other municipalities and other and other areas. We should not have the divisions that we have. And it is unfortunate that we do now how to address that. You basically we have an issue that I call, "get me the mayor," Right now, the majority of folks on Key Biscayne, you call Village Hall, nobody picks up the phone, you leave a message. You know you've won a prize, if you get a call back, you call a council member or Commissioner. If you're part of a group, you get a call back. If not, you're stuck out there. So I'm going to sit at Village Hall, one day a week, one full day and anybody from Key Biscayne can come and talk to me about anything. And we're going to try to listen to them and try to solve their issues. How do you start addressing Civility by by essentially opening the doors, letting the sunshine in letting the transparency and letting folks realize that they have a voice?

Thom Mozloom:

Well, you know what I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to step on your initiative because I'm gonna solve it ahead of time. We're going to take a break right after the break. I'm going to give out Mayor Davey's cell phone number on the air and everybody could just call him whatever they have a problem right and I can with you Mayor Davey? All right, we'll be back[MUSIC] And we are back. You're listening to antisocial on WSQF Key Biscayne blink radio 94.5 FM. I'm Thom Mozloom. I'm Tony Winton. And in studio with us today is Fausto Gomez mayoral candidate. And he has given us our time. Thank you for being here. No, thank you for the invitation. Listen, the first half of the show was all about politics and government that are in good governance and what your what your things are. But there's a lot of stuff that are going on right now. There is no doubt that you know about government that you know about government, and you know, how the government works.

Fausto Gomez:

I do. And I know how to make it work for us.

Thom Mozloom:

But the questions that we've asked other people, and it's been opened up, it was opened up by candidate Rasco, who, who said this in an interview, he said that our community deserves ethical effective leadership with an eye towards the future. Now, you know, this is going to come up because you've been around elections your entire life. So the question isn't whether or not you know, government and know how to do government. There's questions about your methods. You've had an ethical complaint, address it here.

Fausto Gomez:

No, actually, actually, you're wrong.

Thom Mozloom:

Oh, I am.

Fausto Gomez:

Yeah. I've actually had three

Thom Mozloom:

He wears it like a badge of honor.

Fausto Gomez:

I do. I do.

Thom Mozloom:

Like you know, I don't know about. Talk about it and how that looks.

Fausto Gomez:

I agree with candidate Rasco, we do need ethical, transparent government on Key Biscayne. Let me tell you something. So go to my website, everything is listed right on my website, I don't hide anything. I'm the most transparent person in the world. I have been negotiating hundreds of millions of dollars at the highest level of government. Let me tell you something that happens. Those people that loose those negotiations, tried to do everything, to besmirch the person they lost to. I've had three complaints filed against me. And I'll talk about one complaint, which I love that complaint, which perhaps Mr. Rasco did not speak about it.

Thom Mozloom:

No, when I asked him about he didn't he didn't bring anything up. He actually stuck into his own lane and didn't talk about anybody else not

Fausto Gomez:

so let me let me finish. So all three complaints were dismissed. All three, I have never been sanctioned. I've never been fined. I've never have been found guilty of anything. All three complaints were dismissed. Compare that my record of 38 years lobbying in Tallahassee at the highest levels of government, to unfortunately, what happened with two of our current council members who had complaint filed against them, they were found to have violated certain laws and they were fined. So my question is, and I will work please go to my website Faustovoteformayor.com. And you will see everything listed right there open. And as Tony likes transparent, that is you can't be more transparent than that.

Thom Mozloom:

What was the resolution on the MDX thing? There was talk about you getting banned from lobbying for three years? Was that withdrawn?

Fausto Gomez:

withdrawn.

Thom Mozloom:

Was that the is that Bovo who put that up?

Fausto Gomez:

Correct.

Thom Mozloom:

And that was the MDX conflict of interest thing, right?

Fausto Gomez:

while they. Read the letter, that's what Bovo alleged nobody else alleged that. That was withdrawn.

Thom Mozloom:

No, there was a full report with the ethics complaint.

Fausto Gomez:

which this full report,

Thom Mozloom:

it's online.

Fausto Gomez:

Yeah, of course, go read my letter in response to it. Let me just tell you this, and I'm gonna really listen, I'm here to talk about the future, not the past, if you want to look at

Thom Mozloom:

Well, the reason why I brought it up on the marketing guy, right, so let me know, you know, somebody's gonna send out a mailer,

Fausto Gomez:

of course,

Thom Mozloom:

and it's gonna have you know, you can't trust Fausto and because of XY and Z. And so I figured this is your opportunity to get it on the table before somebody else talks.

Fausto Gomez:

Let me turn my opportunity, go to my website faustoformayor.com All the complaints are listed there. The resolutions are listed there. Their responses are listed. Everything is listed there.

Thom Mozloom:

Alright, as you do that, though, did you learn anything through that? Is it all just hey, these are my political rivals? Or were there anything that you learn from those complaints that makes you better to serve a community now as a public servant, as opposed to raising questions and trade off? That guy is just trying to hide stuff?

Fausto Gomez:

Listen, everybody learns from every experience, both positive and negative.

Thom Mozloom:

Okay.

Fausto Gomez:

I obviously nobody likes to have a complaint filed against them. I'm sure the two council members who were fined here on Key Biscayne didn't like the fact that complaints were filed against them when they were found. They were found to have violated certain laws. Okay. I just think they're ethical people. They continue serving and I believe they continue serving our community. Well, okay. So now at the same time, I had complaints filed against me. They were basically not found to, for me to violated anything. And at the same time, we're focusing on this issue. Let's focus on issues. Let's focus on the future go to faustoformayor.com. It's all there. I'm fully transparent.

Tony Winton:

I have some other, We have just a little time left and then some of the things have come up about what would a Fausto Gomez administration look like?

Fausto Gomez:

Right First, first of all, it's not a Fausto Gomez administration. I'm one of seven.

Tony Winton:

The leadership of the mayor.

Fausto Gomez:

I'm one of seven.

Tony Winton:

Right. The question, our first question I have is you are reported to have said that you would want to have Ignacio Segurola as your vice mayor, is that true?

Fausto Gomez:

I don't know where that came from. I've never talked about it.

Tony Winton:

It came from a member of our board of directors who was there when you said it.

Fausto Gomez:

Well, let me let me have the name of the board of directors. I do. I do think I do think that Ignacio should have been named vice mayor. I understand. He's the only council member who was not named vice mayor. Okay. And it's not a question that Segurola is a friend or not a friend or an enemy or not an enemy. I think you talked about the question about civility. You talked a question about bringing the community together? What a best gesture to make sure that everybody gets a chance to be vice mayor.

Tony Winton:

He was on the condominium President's Council. And you were an officer. I don't know, if you're still, Are you still an officer of that organization?

Fausto Gomez:

I am the president of the organization.

Tony Winton:

And Louisa Conway was also a board member, of that organization, what's your relationship?

Fausto Gomez:

Prior to my presidency.

Tony Winton:

What's your relationship with her?

Fausto Gomez:

She is supporting me, just like everybody, and I take everybody's support. If you want to support me, Tony, I'll even take your support,

Tony Winton:

I'm just asking. But the question is why? Why do you why do you think he should have been vice mayor? Is this because he was left out?

Fausto Gomez:

Yeah, I think listen, if we're talking about bringing the community together, which Thom raised, okay, that is a gesture to make sure that everybody gets an opportunity to serve as Vice Mayor. Now, one individual served for two terms as Vice Mayor. I understand that the only person I may be wrong that did not serve as Vice Mayor was Segurola. OK, If that's the case,

Tony Winton:

Council Member Lauredo.

Fausto Gomez:

Okay. That's good. So Lauredo, and Segurola are the only ones that didn't serve as vice mayor.

Tony Winton:

In this administration that I'm aware of, yeah.

Fausto Gomez:

Okay. Point taken.

Thom Mozloom:

I don't understand why it's important to serve as Vice Mayor.

Fausto Gomez:

I mean, I mean, it really isn't. It really isn't. But I think it's a gesture, to bring civility and try to bring the community together.

Thom Mozloom:

Are there any other things? So? I mean, really, we've come to the 90-second closing argument

Fausto Gomez:

Tony, and why did you bring up Louisa Conway? I have people like Carlos Dela Cruz supporting me. So the question is, why don't you bring him up?

Tony Winton:

I was asking you about members of the condominium Presidents Council

Fausto Gomez:

prior prior to my serving as president.

Tony Winton:

Right, earlier on this program, you said that you were supporting the bond vote in 2020.

Fausto Gomez:

Yes

Tony Winton:

Ms. Conway did not. Miss Conway in fact, helped organize the the opposition to it. So I'm asking it's a fair question. What is your relationship with Ms, Conway if you have one still. And you answered.

Fausto Gomez:

She's a supporter of mine.

Thom Mozloom:

Oftentimes a candidate is defined by their supporters and on Key Biscayne, even though you don't have political parties, per se, there are certainly party-esque divisions and ideology. And you know, she sort of is one of the louder voices on one side of that debate, as is Commissioner Segurola..

Fausto Gomez:

Let me tell you something. Anybody who wants to support me is buying into me. I'm not buying into them. That is crucial. That is crucial. Okay, I'm not taking the contribution to this campaign. I am unbought and unbossed. I am my own man. Okay, if you want to support me, support me.

Thom Mozloom:

That only works on Key Biscayne

Fausto Gomez:

Well. Its' true

Thom Mozloom:

I'm Sorry. All right. 90 seconds, Fausto. It's your closing argument. Why you, why now?

Fausto Gomez:

I'm Fausto Gomez. Listen, you've heard, I think, a vigorous exchange of opinions here, which I enjoy. I think it's healthy for democracy. It's healthy for people again, I look forward to your support. Because I bring new ideas. I bring a level of knowledge that none of my other candidates have. I bring a level of context that they don't have. Key Biscayne is looking at significant issues, external threats rather than internal. Okay, I know how to bridge communities. I know how to handle external threats on our behalf. I look forward to your support. Fausto Gomez for mayor, secure our future. Thank you.

Thom Mozloom:

Alright, with that PSA out of the way, when did we start taking political ads Tony?

Tony Winton:

I don't know, maybe we should.

Thom Mozloom:

We'll be back after this break.

Fausto Gomez:

So how much is an ad? [MUSIC]

Thom Mozloom:

And we are back on Anti-Social. This is 94.5 FM WSQF Blink Badio Key Biscayne

Tony Winton:

You have to say The blink radio. That's real.

Thom Mozloom:

Is it the blink? Is it the

Tony Winton:

I don't know. I have to ask Manny? .

Thom Mozloom:

Manny, call my cell. We need to know is it blink or "the" blink?

Tony Winton:

I think it's just blink. You know what he told me? Why?

Thom Mozloom:

Because you drive past it and drive your Blink studio. That's awesome. So what's in the news?

Tony Winton:

You think? Theres something?

Thom Mozloom:

Kind of a slow news week Tony. I really haven't. I really don't know a little bit strange. If you ask me what's in my social media feed? It's on fire. My phone blew up. What?

Tony Winton:

Here's my question. Do you think he grabbed for the steering wheel or not?

Thom Mozloom:

No.

Tony Winton:

You don't think so? No? You don't think there's video?

Thom Mozloom:

Well, I saw the video.

Tony Winton:

I think there's from video inside inside the Beast. You don't think so? Now? I don't think the Secret Service has video in there. No, I think you'd think they would ask a question without knowing the answer?

Thom Mozloom:

Yes.

Tony Winton:

Really?

Thom Mozloom:

Yes. Okay. You give them too much credit. No, I think I think from what I saw the video it looked like he was yelling at the driver. But I didn't look it looks like to me his hand was on the seat.

Tony Winton:

Yeah, but you saw you saw the pool camera shot. You know, completely guys completely zoomed in from like this tinted window whenever.

Thom Mozloom:

Yeah, yeah. I'm not buying it. Not by me. Listen, that's not a defense. Don't get me wrong. You know how I feel.

Tony Winton:

The witness. Of course, Ms. Hutchinson didn't say that she'd seen it. She said someone told her that it happened. Yeah.

Thom Mozloom:

That's called hearsay. Right? Oh, this just in breaking news. Titi. Titi. Titi. Titi. TITI TITI? Manny. It's blink radio. Key Biscayne.

Tony Winton:

No, "the".

Thom Mozloom:

no. "the"

Tony Winton:

Thank you, Manny.

Thom Mozloom:

Thank you, mann.y I appreciate it. We should have Manny on pretty soon. Manny to the rescue yet again. Yes. And he hasn't thrown me off the air in months. So I'm really grateful.

Tony Winton:

No, but he does text you a lot during the show.

Thom Mozloom:

Well, he's the boss. he owns the place to do it every once it's it's a public service. The man lets us sit on the air and goof off for an hour every week. Yeah, he deserves a little love. All right. No, I mean, the J six hearings. If, you know, I tweeted out and I got a healthy response because I was sort of sick of watching them. And I said, you know just every time I turn them on to proof that the sequel is never as good as the original. This is like impeachment hearing V. 3.0. And you're putting witnesses on that. It's they're giving hearsay testimony, you'd never be able to do that anywhere else. And it just seems well if they don't get it.

Tony Winton:

There are a lot of exceptions to the hearsay rule. People say that alot, and they don't understand it.

Thom Mozloom:

if they don't say that a lot of they don't. And if they do not get a criminal referral out of this, then it's going to be a lot of money and a lot of time and an abject failure. That is my thing. As it has it's

Tony Winton:

do you think it has moved any polling at all?

Thom Mozloom:

I've seen polls, that nothing. I mean, it's not an issue. It's not because because the audience, the side of the audience.

Tony Winton:

I think it's moved up for DeSantis, though.

Thom Mozloom:

Yes, that's what Yes, yes. The down ballot races. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, if anything, it's galvanized Republicans and Republican candidates. They're doing better in polls than we expected. And the Democrats are fighting because you know what, quite frankly, the J. The J six hearings are getting in the way of messaging that people actually care about. Tell me what you're going to do about the economy. Tell me what you're going to do about inflation. Tell me about you're going to do about foreign wars and conflict and nukes.

Tony Winton:

But I guess like I was, let me be specific - the potential battle or expected battle between DeSantis and Trump for president. Yeah, seems to have lessened increased his prospects for Governor DeSantis and decrease them for President Trump.

Thom Mozloom:

I don't know. That anyone really expected Trump that run again, to be honest with you.

Tony Winton:

Well, he's certainly putting together quite a machine to do it he's blustering, but I think he's looking to be a kingmaker not the king this time. I think he I think I don't think he ever wanted to be president in the first place. Just wanted to have a podium and and And a coup, apparently.

Thom Mozloom:

Well, I wouldn't call it a coup coos don't start with Hey, hold my beer.

Tony Winton:

We don't always agree as you know very well.

Thom Mozloom:

What else you got going on? That's my one. That one in the Supreme Court, of course, and that could take a whole show and probably should No, no, no, I'm not. I've been I was on C span talking about this week. And I you know, it was it's just talked out on I'm talking about all these rulings.

Tony Winton:

Yeah, I mean, we have it. We were talking pre show, and we will do a show on it. But I mean, we are clearly in the Alito court or the Thomas court that we

Thom Mozloom:

it's not the Roberts Court. It's definitely not the Roberts but

Tony Winton:

the direction of American law has absolutely made a I don't know how many degree The only question is, how many degrees? Is it a 90 degree turn? Is it 180 degree turn?

Thom Mozloom:

Yeah, what it is, if you're aware, if you're one of those voters in 2016, who said, you know, I don't really like Donald Trump, but I'm voting for him because of the Supreme Court.This is your week. This is the week you are this is the week your vote paid off. What's going on on Key Biscayne? Any, anything anything on the independent that we should be aware of?

Tony Winton:

Yeah, we have actually a lot. We have a lot of stories that we haven't gotten to this week, because, as you know, we're still assembling our staff are we have hired our first reporter, she hasn't started yet. So we're lining up we have the election we just mentioned earlier, we'll be updating the budget. Follow up now that the property appraisers come up with the new rate that will probably cause some changes. And you know, just as that one more time, you know, everyone sees an eye popping number 13%. But the way that the system is constructed is it almost forces a municipality to start high and work down? Because going the other direction means you have to do a very expensive and embarrassing mailing to the entire community says oops, we goofed. We have to raise your taxes even more.

Thom Mozloom:

You mean like two bites at the apple, Tony something like Oh, yeah. Oh, this way. Thanks for coming around to my point of view, I appreciate it. Well, it took two segments, but you got here.

Tony Winton:

Yeah, they it's, it's it was it's not really too because the first one isn't done by the village. The first one was done by the is acquired by the State, Property Appraiser. I'm just teasing you. Yeah. So so but anyway, that's probably going to that'll be one of our factors. We have a good education story we're working on and we're also going to try and take a deep dive into some new demographic information about Key Biscayne that's really fascinating. So we want to these are all kinds of things in the hopper.

Thom Mozloom:

How did the Theo do last week in my as my fill

Tony Winton:

Theo? he was great

Thom Mozloom:

He's awesome. I love that kid. Yeah, I love that good. All right, well, let's do it. I got Tony. We didn't we didn't do happy hour. No.

Tony Winton:

Why didn't we do happier because we're in a church we're in a church and I felt guilty Well, we do have speaking of the church we do have something to announce oh my gosh, yeah. We have the debate we have that we're going to have it in person community forum or candidate forum how we want to call it I don't people get sometimes they get fancy but the word debate and it will be here at Crossbridge church on August 9th. So and we are hosting you and i Yes, we are we are and will have we will have we have more some details of the format but it will be here who approve that at crossbridge. And I You did!

Thom Mozloom:

. Oh that's right. That's right. Clear just Aug nine. That's right. Somebody said hey, we could do it we could moderate you and meet Tony and I said yeah, that's a good idea was like drinking I don't know maybe that was it. That was after a terrible idea.

Tony Winton:

So anyway, August 9 is a date mark your calendar August 9 I guess it'll probably be an hour to 90 minute program maybe

Thom Mozloom:

it depends it depends on you and found you and fails to get into it it'll be two hours well no because it'll be time block time limits but my an egg timer and we have the egg timer.

Tony Winton:

I prefer you know, kind of the Jeopardy Can we do that?

Thom Mozloom:

Do do have sit here

Tony Winton:

one of the Sounders in here but anyway yeah, we can do that. So maybe it's night All right,

Thom Mozloom:

August 9 I'm looking forward to it it'll be fun night. All right, well, that about wraps it up. Listen if you guys if you guys found this valuable and you find these types of in depth conversations, please go to Kbi.org and hit the donate button it doesn't come free and it doesn't come easy. Only I'm easy on this show. Everything else costs money and is difficult. So for anti social, I'm Thom Mozloom

Tony Winton:

I"m tony Winton

Thom Mozloom:

please be safe everybody always be my friend. Of the bear sandflies you turn back the next day