Michael Gottlieb can make a difference
State Rep. Katie Edwards-Walpole’s decision not to seek re-election has resulted in a free-for-all in the District 98 Democratic primary race. Five candidates are vying for the nomination. None of them has held public office before, and the lack of political track records makes the choice of whom to vote for all the more difficult.
Yet a choice must be made, and the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board believes Michael Gottlieb would do the best job representing the district. The 49-year-old attorney who lives in Davie is articulate and energetic. He possesses a solid grasp of the issues that most concern Democratic primary voters.
His specialty is criminal defense, so he sees the impact of gun violence up close. He advocates a ban of the military-style “assault” rifles of the type used in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre, and expanded background checks for the purchase of both guns and ammunition.
He also understands the impact of mental illness on gun violence, and uses mental incapacity as a mitigating defense for some of his clients. Gottlieb wants the state to act more aggressively in identifying people prone to violence and to keep them from obtaining firearms. He also wants expanded treatment for Florida’s mentally ill.
Gottlieb favors legalization of recreational marijuana. With the legalization of medical marijuana, different forms of the substance will become available and lead to an even bigger black market. Better to regulate and tax recreational marijuana, he says, than to keep it illegal and drive it further underground.
He has been criticized for some of the unsavory characters he defends, but he’s passionate about the work he does. Under the American legal system, everyone accused of a crime deserves a competent and aggressive defense, he argues. He’s right, and attacks criticizing him for doing his job are without merit.
Gottlieb apparently is quite adept at pleading the case that he has the best chance of winning the primary. He’s captured the endorsements of many of the more influential political figures in the area, and organizations, including the Florida AFL-CIO, police, firefighter and teacher groups.
Of the remaining candidates, Andrew Dolberg is the most articulate and informed. He’s been endorsed by the Dolphin Democrats and Florida Young Democrats. Yet, at just 25, the young entrepreneur, who owns an educational resources company, could use some more seasoning. We would urge him to get more active in civic and political affairs, and perhaps seek election to local office before again setting his sights on the Legislature. Dolberg lives in Plantation.
Also running are: Daniel J. Stallone, 60, a Davie Police Code Compliance official who lives in Davie; Stephen Korka, 37, a musician and resident of Davie who owns an entertainment booking service and other small businesses; and Elaine Geller, 62, of Plantation, who lists her occupation as a “marijuana activist/lobbyist.” All are well-meaning and public-spirited.
District 98 includes Davie, Sunrise, Plantation and Weston. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Joseph Anthony Cruz in the November general election.
Editor’s note: Many of you have received your absentee ballots for the Aug. 28 primary and are eager to see our assessment of the choices. We remain busy researching and interviewing the candidates. We will publish our