Deerfield-News.com-Deerfield Beach, FL- These posts are facts and or opinions of Chaz Stevens, a longtime Deerfield Beach resident and activist.
The Colonel Sanders of Deerfield Beach Politics
By Chaz Stevens
Fifty years in this town and I’ve watched more public corruption than Netflix crime docs could cover. Three commissioners booted. One jailed. A pastor who thought “thou shalt not steal” was more of a suggestion. Welcome back to Deerfield Beach, where ethics go to die in committee.
I’m Chaz Stevens — the guy who keeps receipts. I’ve spent decades demonstrating how viewpoint discrimination works in the real world, and that starts within holding the government’s feet to the constitutional fire. Around here, that makes me public enemy #1 and the janitor cleaning up everyone else’s mess.
PS I’ve been shot at, dog poisoned, sued, doxed, defamed, you name it. Well, I’ve not been arrested for being drunk and naked at the CVE pool (hey there Caryl Berner!).
The Hall of Shame
Steve Gonot: Stole four grand from his campaign. Would’ve gotten away with it if I hadn’t been sitting in the courtroom taking notes. He did a year and a day — not because the system worked, but because I refused to look away.
Sylvia Poitier: Ran a family-and-friends racket through CHODO housing grants. The feds called it “mishandling funds.” I call it theft with paperwork. Friends, she was jacked up with felony complaints, but Satz took a pass.
Pastor Anthony Davis: Lifted fifty K in DOJ money meant for kids. When I asked why he didn’t do time, an agent told me, “If it’s under $85,000, we let it slide.” Translation: there’s a federal coupon code for corruption.
Al Capellini: Voted himself a payday and walked because the prosecutor forgot to submit the meeting agenda into evidence. He later tried to run again — until I told him if he filed, I’d make his life a living hell. He disappeared faster than campaign promises after election day.
Enter Joe Miller — the Friendly Ghost of City Hall
Joe’s a nice guy. His sons are really wonderful people. The man who works on my house? Salt of the earth.
But Joe on the dais? He brings the same energy as a parking meter — always present, never moving the needle, and somehow still costing the taxpayers.
Joe’s how old — we better switch the years to Celsius to make it more palatable.
A few days ago, a campaign door hanger showed up at my place. Big grin, red-white-and-blue fireworks, and the slogan “Let’s Celebrate Patriotism Together.” Cute. Until you flip it over and realize it’s missing the legally required campaign disclaimer.
That’s not patriotism, Joe. That’s political kindergarten. You want to manage a $300-million budget but can’t remember to add the fine print?
Mulligans and Mercedes
Turns out Joe also botched his campaign account paperwork. Same clown show Al Capellini pulled. I gave him a mulligan on the missing disclaimer — everyone deserves one free screw-up. But two mulligans in, we’re not talking mistakes; we’re talking muscle memory.
You can’t preach civic pride while fumbling the civic basics. You want the keys to City Hall, but you don’t know which door opens the checking account.
Update — He Finally Heard Me
Word is Joe finally opened his campaign account. Good. Progress. Maybe he’s reading this — hi Joe.
Now listen close: tighten your shit up, or expected future boots of mine up your tailpipe.
I don’t want Dan Herz to win. The guy’s a human ethics violation with a business card. But if you keep bungling the easy stuff, you’re going to hand him the election gift-wrapped in Comic Sans.
Hire someone. A pro. Aaron Nevins, whoever — just not your cousin with Canva. You’ve got fifteen months. Spend the money. Run like you mean it. Stop screwing around.
The Moral of the Flag
Patriotism isn’t yard signs and slogans. It’s competence. It’s doing the small stuff right before the voters trust you with the big stuff.
Deerfield deserves better than comic-book campaigns and clerical errors.
Get your act together, Joe. Because I’m not the opposition — I’m the accountability department.
And business, my friend, is booming.
— Chaz
Chaz Stevens, M.S., CLE Faculty, Non-Lawyer, Non-Provider
Founder, Equitas
Member ABA, APA, NASW, NFHI
