Esteemed members of our community, thank you for this opportunity to share these moments with you and discuss the future of our beloved Surfside. It is truly an honor to be here as your candidate, and I am grateful for your time and attention. Before we delve into the present and the future, I want to take a moment to reflect on the past, to a time when I was a child growing up in Surfside in the 1960s. My parents chose this community for its safety, its proximity to the beach, and the vibrant community center pool that became the heartbeat of our neighborhood. I remember learning to swim, the festive events, the fireworks, and the camaraderie with our neighbors, all the elements that make life in South Florida truly special. Surfside, in those days, was a place of simplicity and warmth. I have memories of Santa Claus handing out toys by the pool, of family rides at night to marvel at holiday decorations after lighting our Chanukah menorah. We lived on Emerson off of Surfside Boulevard, near where the child star of Flipper lived, as well as the owners of Epicure. Back then, Surfside was a different place, a place where different cultures were embraced, where children played together on quiet streets, rode bicycles to the beach, and built memories that last a lifetime. I recall my upbringing, the synagogue we walked to every Saturday, and the close-knit community that shaped who I am today. My parents, Anne and Leo Paul, were pillars of this community. My mother, a woman of valor and Levi descendant with the voice of an Angel, and served as the youngest Sisterhood President at Rabbi Weberman’s Shul. My father, a CPA, worked as the Town auditor, and together, they instilled Jewish identity and Torah values in their children. I am forever grateful for their legacy. Surfside has evolved since those days, now a destination for kosher restaurants, home to several synagogues and a new Surf Club. It has become a melting pot of cultures, a testament to the inclusivity that defines our community. I lived and worked in New York City for a portion of my life, yet I always knew I had a home in Surfside. I returned to be with my parents in their final years and decided to run for office, driven by a profound love for the community they cherished, a community now mine to protect and nurture. As we consider our future, let us acknowledge the real issues that demand our attention. My experience and understanding of neighborhood issues, especially the challenges faced by condominium buildings, uniquely position me to contribute to our community's growth. I must address the divisive narrative that has surfaced, the dangerous labeling of neighbors as anti-Semitic. This false narrative goes against the very principles we hold dear. As it is written in the Ten Commandments, "Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Let us rise above such divisions and remember the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe: "To be kind is more important than to be right; what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens." In the upcoming election, I urge you to vote for authentic, compassionate leadership. Together we can shape the future of Surfside to one that honors our shared history, embraces our diversity, and addresses the challenges we face as a united community. Elect me to serve as your commissioner, to ensure that Surfside continues to thrive as a place we all proudly call home.

Thank you for your support!

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