“Retiring” and “Ron Book” are words that never appear in the same sentence. It’s time that they did.
Ronald Lee Book made his name in South Florida as a powerhouse lobbyist. Every year, he prowls the halls of the Florida Capitol working on behalf of those who pay him well. Very, very well. How do we know? He lives in very nice house in Plantation, up in Broward County.
And he has a Lamborghini. Or at least he had one. In February 2019, the Florida Highway Patrol responded to an accident on I-595 near Nob Hill Road. Book was driving a Lamborghini which was involved in an accident where it was damaged on the front left side. Book was given three roadside sobriety tests and then booked on charges of DUI, DUI with property damage, and refusing to take a breathalyzer test.
Who are the clients whose generosity allows Book to enjoy this kind of lifestyle? We don’t know all of them, but we do know the 91 clients that he disclosed prior to this year’s Florida legislative session. They include companies like 7-11, Coca-Cola, 1-800-Contacts, and AutoNation. They also include charities like Casa Familia, Inc., Miami Project/Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, and his daughter’s charity for abused children, Lauren’s Kids. Then there are the counties, Miami-Dade, Broward, Seminole, and Brevard. He lobbies for Miami-Dade Public Schools, Jackson Health System, and the University of Miami.
He represents a conglomeration of cities and towns, such as Aventura, Bal Harbour, Cooper City, Coral Gables, Dania Beach, Davie, Doral, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers Beach, Lauderdale Lakes, Marathon, Marco Island, Margate, Miami Beach, Miramar, North Bay Village, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Palm Bay, Sunrise, and Tamarac.
It’s no wonder that Ron needed a Lamborghini. He needed a fast car to meet up with clients spread all over the state.
Ron even represents The Geo Group, Inc., which has a contract with Florida to run private prisons, a rock quarry in north Miami-Dade County whose blasting jars the nerves and foundations of the folks in Miami Lakes and Miramar.
There is no question that Ron is a busy guy. But is he too busy to head up the Homeless Trust here in Miami-Dade?
Out of 80k registrants in Florida only 1 was responsible for Lauren’s abuse and her father shouldn’t of used that to harm those who had nothing to do with it. It’s easier to blame others than take responsibility for your inactions and no matter the harm the bills have become laws doesn’t make the guilt go away. Same goes for John Walsh.
The problem is that at one time Ron Book and his wife put money ahead of their responsibility to their daughter, thus they hired a nanny who abused Lauren. Now they are trying to make it up by trying to destroy the lives and families of as many individuals as they can. Books seem to be blinded by their failure to accept responsibility. I wrote a similar commentary to Senator Book but received no response…not surprising.
He got off with $921 in fees? That’s chump change for him. Then again, this is the state where someone booked on murder charges has a bond half the size of someone with no contact CP possession.
This man has single handedly lobbied for lawmakers to dramatically increase and make all kinds of laws that punish sex offenders. Mind you , not all sex offenses are violent, and touching crimes. You could urinate in public and end up with a sex offense, or you and your spouse messing around on a beach, maybe touching, or a little under the blanket sex.. but if someone complains and your found guilty.. sex offense , life registry , your life destroyed.
I watched the documentary called Untouchable http://www.untouchablefilm.com/film/ password is: screener1221
I understand why the man has so much bottled up hatred. His daughter was sexually abused by a nanny. He is pissed because he didnt even know what was going on. Afterwards he lobbies and gets lawmakers to pass laws so harsh that sex offenders couldnt even live in their homes any more because it was too close to parks or schools , or anything. Basically all sex offenders in Miami Dade became homeless. Their whole lives destroyed even more because of this man. They have been punished, they did their time. They paid their debt to society, but no , people like this guy want to be vindictive and pass hate and judgement on every sex offender out there because he didnt see his daughter being abused.
What he doesnt realize is.. Its not sex offenders you have to worry about. Most sex offenders dont reoffend, especially if it is a non violent crime. The people you need to worry about, are the people who are closest to you that are a danger to your kids. Your best friend, your neighbor, your aunts or uncles, step dads, grandpa grandma.. those people are more likely to commit a sex offense , than a sex offender would again.
So he should be focusing on awareness, and teaching young kids how to say no and to tell a grown up. Instead he is on some crusade to kill off sex offenders. This man has so much power down there in Florida. He is the one also resposible for getting mandatory 50 year sentence for some kind of sex offense.. I forget what it is. This dude is scary.
Book is now apparently filing a motion, via Zoom, on June 29, to disallow the sobriety tests during testimony. I thought his trial date was the 26th? Apparently, anyone can watch the online motion via Zoom.
Book drove drunk resulting in a crash and he refused sobriety tests. Southeast Florida needs to grow a set and pull the plug on his lobbing days. Which Is why I have no desire to talk the attorney about the out of state challenge because it’s rigged.
I can think of a “gated community” Ron Book can retire to, and he can take his daughter with him.
Derek, Good one! In fact I do believe he has investment into some of these ‘gated communities’.
While I can think of several other words I would prefer to hear in the same sentence with Ron’s name in it although “retire” would be just fine!
I think that he can spend his golden years basking in the knowledge that he destroyed and/or assisted in the destruction of countless lives under the proven lie of “protecting children”!
What a wonderful human being Ron Book must be. Doing so much good in his life and all…
Pity for Lauren that he wasn’t this fanatical in his choice of nanny but the registry didn’t exist then (as there was no logical reason then or now for it) – oh but remember that the person who abused Lauren was not listed on any registry. Perhaps she would not be the hate filled zealot that she became!
Of course, that incident did turned into a golden goose and the gift that just keeps on giving for this father and daughter duo so I am sure that he wouldn’t change a thing!
Lauren Book reminds me of Valuca Salt from Willy Wonka: “I want a golden goose; I want the whole world give it to me. If you don’t give me the things I am after I’m going to scream. I don’t care how I want it now. “
I hope that one day Lauren B. wakes up and realizes that she was abandoned by Ron B. in her youth and now she is being used by him in the halls of government in Tallahassee. He’s a ‘user’ and she is a willing ‘tool’.
Ron Book doesn’t need to retire, he needs to take ownership of his DUI charge and face the consequences a just society has put in place to deter individuals from driving recklessly on our nation’s roads.
Following his case, a series of continuances has allowed him to kick the can far down the road, perhaps hoping he might be able to walk away from it while escaping the notice of the public.
We still see the can, Ron – you can’t hide your trash forever. You’ve hurt too many people for that to happen.
I suggest members continue to follow his case. Can FAC post the link again?
https://www.browardclerk.org/Web2
Search for Case Number: 19005520MU10A
Thanks FAC!
Unfu¢king believable! He has dragged this case on for 15 months and it’s only a fu¢king misdemeanor, not a felony! How the fu¢k is that possible?
Latest update:
06/23/2020 Jury Trial Hearing Time: 9:30 AM
Judicial Officer(s):Levy – MP, Jill K.
Location: Room 6170
I recommend as many people as possible to show up as “character witnesses!”
It is not only time for Book to retire, it’s past high time for him to stand in front of a judge and the public to answer for his DUI charge. A DUI driver stands a much better chance of doing permanent damage to a person than the damage a registered citizen might do. It’s time for Book to be held accountable.
He should be barred from driving for life with the motto: “Because you might do it again” like he thinks of people with sexual offenses. Use his own words against him. This idiot could have killed someone. Maybe even a child in another car. He’s a threat to public safety. Give him a taste of his own medicine; no alcohol and no drivers license for LIFE.
it’s not a matter of “if” but WHEN!
You got that right. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. He needs a taste of his own medicine.