Sheriff Al and the Dolphin Democrat

The Odd Couple: Sheriff Al and The Dolphin Democrat
By Bob Norman, Wed., Jan. 26 2011 @ 3:53PM Comments (24)
Categories: Broward Politics
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Republican Sheriff Al Lamberti and Michael Albetta, the head of the influential Dolphin Democrats, always seemed an odd couple.


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Albetta with 'Sex and the City' star Cynthia Nixon at an Obama event
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Despite their party differences, Albetta, who has played a big role in Broward's gay political circles for years, campaigned tirelessly for Lamberti during his race in 2008, introducing him to countless Democrats and touting him everywhere he goes as a superb sheriff.
Albetta's recent trotting of Lamberti out to various Democratic clubs in the county has also caused controversy among hardline party people, say sources. Expect more of the same in 2012.

What isn't mentioned at the political events is the fact that once Lamberti landed his appointment as sheriff, BSO began buying hundreds of police vehicles from Maroone Ford, where Albetta works as a manager. Just this past December BSO awarded another contract for 77 vehicles -- standard Crown Victorias, new Ford Tauruses, and Explorers -- to be purchased by BSO from Maroone this year. Albetta said that in total BSO buys between 100 and 200 cars a year from Maroone.

Some observers say it's a clear example of an unsavory political quid pro quo. The idea is that in exchange for the BSO car business, Albetta crosses political lines to put his political connections to work for the sheriff across the heavily Democratic county.

After receiving numerous complaints about the relationship from sources, I gave Albetta a call today to get his explanation.

"People say the sheriff bribes Michael Albetta with vehicles -- get out of here," he told me. "That's laughable. It's public information that it's a bidding process. BSO goes through the Florida sheriff's bidding process. We have been successful in bidding through that process, but you don't just get it, you have to go through the bidding process. It's the law. No one gives you something for nothing."

Albetta said that prior to Lamberti's appointment he tried to get BSO business for Maroone from former Sheriff Ken Jenne. But the process didn't work out so well then. The reason: Jenne, he said, was loyal to Duval Ford in Jacksonville for purchasing police cars.

"When the economy got bad I myself started exploring governmental bidding and that's where it all happened," explained Albetta. "I even asked back in the days of Ken Jenne. How about the fact that Jenne was spending broward tax dollars in

Duval County? You print that, Bob. Under Jenne, I asked him for his business a long time ago. I said, 'How do I earn your business?' You're buying cars from Duval County and it's a disgrace. I never got a proper answer."

Albetta said that after Jenne was hit with federal criminal charges and then-Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Lamberti to the position, he met the new sheriff at an awards ceremony and the two men struck up a conversation.


Lamberti
?"We shook hands and started talking and he said to me, 'You're Michael Albetta who works at Maroone Ford.' He says to me, 'I'm amazed why my agency is buying cars from Duval County.' I said, 'Now you're talking.' He said, 'I'll be getting back with you' He said there is public bidding if you're a licensed company, which we are, and I said, 'Imagine that. I've been asking about that.'"
It wasn't long before Maroone started winning the bids. "Sheriff Lamberti said, 'This is nonsense, I want to keep Broward business in Broward.' Everything is legit across the board. This is nothing that you have to belong to a club or you have to know somebody."

Albetta says that the burgeoning business his dealership does with BSO has nothing to do with his unflagging across-the-aisle support for the sheriff in the political spectrum.

"The reason why I'm backing him is that he has done more for the GLBT community as anyone,": said Albetta. "He is one of the few law enforcement officers who has listened to our needs. He made sure that he helped pass a hate crimes bill for the homeless. The homeless man that was killed [Norris Gaynor in 2006], are you ready, he was a black veteran homeless gay. He's very attentive to GLBT rights and that's why I back Sheriff Lamberti. Give me a Democrat? Give me a Republican? No, give me a ****ing cop.

"I'm indebted to him for his leadership and stealth when it comes to the GLBT community. He's always meeting with rabbis, with the black community, he's just a wonderful human being what he does. He goes to speak at the [African-American Research Library & Cultural Center]. He doesn't go to the glitz, he goes to the hood."

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Here are the facts when a police car is bought from Duvall ford it comes to the BSO and is ready to go right on the road, striping, light bars and equipment. When Lamberti buys the cars from Maronne they come in plain so yes there is a savings but only for a short time. Once the car comes in PLAIN, it has to get lights, striping and equipment. It goes to a place in Margate and gets the lights, striping and equipment from a guy named Adam Black another friend of Lambertis who has by the way received no bid contracts for striping, lights and equipment. When you add up the cost of the striping , lights, and equipment it costs the taxpayers more money at the end than if they would have gotten the car from Duvall Ford. So the tax payer gets ripped off and Lamberti gets the benefit of having Albetta take him around the county to the democrats. So I ask YOU the taxpayer is there a problem? What happened to Albettas democratic oath, to some of us that means something. As far as Jenne goes and Albetta talking about him, Jenne did look into buying cars from Maronne, Rick Case etc..., but none of them could compete with Duvall Ford and the price and the fact the car came to Broward ready to go. I know because I worked a Fleet Services and I KNOW. Hey Bob ask Albetta about Adam Black, better yet ask Lamberti about Adam Black, another of Lamberti"s friends who has gotten no bid contracts.
What I have posted is true and with a couple of public records checks and checking with your sources you will see.

the purchase of cop cars is a bid process and there is little chance to give the business to Maroone unless they are the low bid. UNLESS someone inside BSO tips off Maroone on what bid is required to win. It happens believe me!!!

In the end the dealership makes very little money on the fleet sale of police cars. On averrage the dealership makes $100-250 per car. It's not big money. In addition there is merit to keeping money in Broward County vs doing business with Duval

HOWEVER the real money is in servicing those police cars. BSO send all the warranty service busines to Maroone. They also send alot of non-warranty work to Maroone. I know dealers that have offered better service and lower pricing but Maroone somehow keeps the service business.. Go figure!!!!. BSO COULD SAVE MONEY BUT THE SHERIFF PAYS MORE TO "THANK" A FELLOW POLITICAL HACK.......