Article Courtesy of The Broward Beat By Buddy Nevins Published October 20, 2013 He’s the candidate to beat. Mark Bogen wants to parley a big bankroll, two decades as a newspaper columnist and a Rolodex stuffed with contacts in Broward’s sprawling condo communities into a seat on the County Commission. A Democrat, Bogen is the only candidate so far to replace term-limited Kristin Jacobs in Northeast Broward’s District 2. Bogen’s resume is tailored made for a political win:
There are some negatives.
He’s not perfect, but who is? I don’t think these blemishes are campaign killers. Of course, something else always may surface between now and next August. Here are two telling points: The court awarded custody of the children to Bogen and he has a spotless record from the Florida Bar. Bogen, 55, explains his decision to run like this: “I’ve always wanted to do public service. I do a lot of pro-bono work as a lawyer and I wanted to do more. I’m at a stage in my life and career that I can devote more time to the community.” What could be particularly appealing to voters looking for a change is that Bogen is a political outsider. He is not part of the web of lobbyists and insiders who hold sway over the Government Center. Bogen’s only connection to the old Democratic machine is his campaign management — Barbara Miller and Amy Rose. Rose doesn’t lobby at the commission. Miller, who did most of her work at the School Board, hasn’t been an active lobbyist for years. Bogen is a serious candidate who may just be the next County Commissioner from Northeast Broward. Right now, he’s the candidate to beat. |