Divorced couple now political opponents
Forman facing Forman for top county position
A prize fight election is brewing at the Broward County Courthouse between two high-profile exes who previously battled through a sordid divorce and allegations of mental incompetence in county courtrooms last year.
It’s Forman vs. Forman in the title bout, with control of courthouse operations at stake.
Brenda Forman, the camera-shy reigning clerk of courts, is being challenged by her predecessor and 16-year veteran of the office, ex-hubby Howard Forman.
He filed papers to run Monday with the Supervisor of Elections Office. He says he has no animosity toward his wife of four years, who tried to gain control of his money by
claiming he had signs of early onset dementia.
A judge didn’t see Forman suffering any mental incapacity and ruled his ex-wife had filed the claim in bad faith, a finding that is currently under review.
“I don’t have any hard feelings about that at all,” said Forman, whose divorce was finalized the same week as the judge’s ruling a year ago. “I’m over it.”
Brenda Forman declined to comment.
Making a comeback
Howard Forman, 73, said he’s getting back into politics because, despite his age and retirement, he still has something to offer to Broward voters. Prior to winning the clerk’s job, he had been a state senator, county commissioner and Hallandale Beach city commissioner.
“I feel very youthful at this point of my life,” said Forman, who retired in 2016 to give his then-wife a chance to run for the office he’d held since winning the 2000 election. “I tried retirement, and it was interesting. I kept busy. That was my biggest challenge.”
He said he is sure he will run into his ex-wife at candidate forums and he expects the encounters to be cordial.
“My concern is making sure the clerk’s office runs efficiently and has a purpose,” he said. “I think there can be some improvements.”
Brenda Forman, 60, filed her campaign papers in November. She has raised $1,400, according to her latest campaign report.
The clerk of courts oversees hundreds of employees who provide support to 90 judges. Included in the office’s duties are the filing of court proceedings, marriage licenses, collection of court fees and passport applications. The clerk is elected countywide and serves a four-year term. The current salary is $178,865.
Brenda Forman recently made headlines for filing a Florida Bar complaint and a stalking complaint against an attorney who repeatedly tried to take her picture in courthouse hallways.
In her complaints, she said the attorney, Bill Gelin, put her in fear of her life. After she dropped the stalking complaint, Gelin approached the Broward State Attorney’s Office to discuss the possibility of criminal charges. No action has been taken.
Without a criminal case, the political implications would be long forgotten by the time the election comes around, political consultant Michael Ahearn said.
An unusual election
For the Formans, their marriage was the third for each of them: a white Jewish man and a black Christian woman 12 years younger. Both are registered Democrats.
Brenda Forman, who had only worked for a few years in minor positions at the courthouse, acknowledged at her swearingin ceremony in 2017 that she had ridden the Forman name to victory.
Political activists were hard-pressed to come up with another instance of two exes facing off in an election.
Mitch Ceasar, the former longtime chairman of the Broward Democratic Party who lost the clerk race to Brenda Forman in 2016, let out a chuckle when told of Howard Forman’s decision. He said he was only mildly surprised.
“As a kid, I grew up watching ‘Family Feud’ on TV. Even in Broward, I didn’t think that was going to convert to a political race,” Ceasar said.
The news shocked Public Defender Howard Finkelstein, but he welcomed Howard Forman’s entrance into the race because he said the clerk’s office isn’t being run well.
“In light of so much going on in politics today, I think it’s ironic that sometimes the answer is, you do need an old white guy,” Finkelstein said. “The clerk’s office needs something, that’s for sure. I would think Howard knows how to make the office run.”
Ahearn, who typically works with Broward judicial candidates, said Brenda Forman would be a virtual lock for re-election under normal circumstances, and he predicted a 2020 victory for her.
On name recognition, Ahearn said, the current clerk ties with her ex-husband. “Beyond the tie, she’s a woman on the ballot in a year where it will be good to be a woman on the ballot in Broward County.”
He also said her ex-husband gave her more than his name when he married her, retired and endorsed her as his replacement.
“He gave her his clout. She has the office. She’s the incumbent, and incumbents win 90 percent of the time,” Ahearn said.
Other candidates
The Formans aren’t the only ones planning to run for the job.
A third Democrat seeking the position. Michael E. Francis of Weston, submitted his papers to the Supervisor of Elections Office in October and has reported raising $580 so far. Former circuit judge Paul Blackman is expected to enter the race.
Finkelstein said the two Formans on the ballot may cancel each other out, leading to another candidate winning.
Both Ceasar and Finkelstein said they have seen Howard Forman several times in the past year and don’t think allegations that he’s become feeble-minded are true.
“It’s very clear to me that any allegations about him not being mentally competent are completely fabricated,” Finkelstein said. “He’s the same Howard he’s always been.”