Is Bogen the Man to Beat?
When asked about Mark Bogen running for Broward County Commissioner in 2014, one veteran political observer said, "Bogen is the man to beat. He has spent little and has shown he can raise real money outside the downtown crowd." Of course, that's one person's opinion, which cannot be taken as fact. You have to ask yourself, "Is Bogen really the man to beat?"
At first glance, the answer to that question would be "no." Political insider Lisa Aronson is also running for County Commissioner, creating quite the race for Bogen to fight through. How can he combat her experience in the community? It would have to be through his knowledge of the true needs of the voters.
Mark Bogen has been a condo and homeowner association lawyer for the past 30 years. He works day in and day out with people who actually live in Broward County. Unlike Aronson who mainly knows about her fellow politicians, Bogen understands the voters and what their core concerns are. This may give him the advantage in the election.
There is one more candidate to keep in mind – Charlotte Rodstrom. She is a former Fort Lauderdale Commissioner, who has lost her last two races. Rodstrom does not appear to have the support that Bogen or Aronson have at the moment, but a lot could change before the upcoming election. Bogen will have to do all in his power to convince voters he is the man for the job.
Bogen has written for 20 years a weekly column for the Sun-Sentinel, and he frequently speaks at homeowner association meetings to brief them on new laws. He has hosted a radio show when he is not spending time with his family. Bogen may not have decades of political work to fall back on, but perhaps that will work in his favor. Voters may favor someone new who is not a politician. He'll remained focused on his community, not the politicians who run it.
Bogen has already proven that he can gain support from the voters because of his highly successful fundraising campaign. He managed to raise over $38,000 on top of the $110,000 he contributed from his personal account. It takes more than money to win an election, but Bogen is willing to put in an effort to make a difference in Broward County. He just needs a chance to prove himself.
Is Bogen the man to beat? Possibly. We will have to see what time does for this condo lawyer turned political candidate.
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