Prosecutors typically don't cite reporters as a source when they've built a criminal case, and today's indictment of Broward County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin is no different. So here's a little footnote.
Today's charges would likely have never happened if not for this March 2005 article by New Times columnist Bob Norman.
The piece details questionable spending by the town of Southwest Ranches, especially in the hiring of Wasserman-Rubin's husband, Richard Rubin. Here's an excerpt from that piece:
From the town's early days, the man behind the grants has been Poliakoff chum Richard Rubin, whom the Ranches hired to secure government money for its land-buying bonanza. Rubin had a bit of an advantage, since he's married to Diana Wasserman-Rubin, who won a seat on the Broward Commission shortly before her husband took the job.
Of course, this is far from the first indictment of a politician after reporting by our own Bob Norman. There's Hollywood City Commissioner Keith Wasserstrom, Broward School Board member Beverly Gallagher, Deerfield Beach Mayor Al Capellini, and the recently resigned Circuit Judge Ana Gardiner. To name a few of the recent ones.
A commenter on this blog item over at The Daily Pulp yesterday about Wasserman-Rubin said it well:
Pulp, I always read but don't usually comment -- today I just have to say thank you. I sincerely believe these crooks would not be held accountable if not for your blog.
Keep shining a light on the disgusting crooks that run this county and our cities, elected and otherwise.
You the man.
