This just-sent press release tells us of an honor for Fort Lauderdale Commissioner and Broward County Commission candidate Carlton Moore:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10, 2008 Contact: Gerri Washington

Commissioner Moore Receives National Recognition for Leadership

Fort Lauderdale, Florida- July 10, 2008 –.The prestigious National Forum of Black Public Administrators has awarded Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Carlton B. Moore, of District 3, its National Leadership Award for 2008.

... This year the NFBPA has chosen the Fort Lauderdale native Moore for distinguishing himself as a local leader worthy of national recognition.

"I am humbled by the fact that my peers from across the country have chosen to recognize the great work we are doing here in Fort Lauderdale, " Commissioner Moore said. "This award represents the hard work of many people in Fort Lauderdale from community groups to city staff, it is an honor we can all take pride in."

The NFBPA has called Moore "a champion for his constituents" and credits Moore with "transforming poor neglected neighborhoods into better places to live". According to the nomination letter, Moore has been at the "forefront of economic opportunity, improved infrastructure and affordable housing". The NFBPA stated that Commissioner Moore has impressed "all by his grasp of issues" and "there are few city improvements in the last two decades that have not been forged by Commissioner Moore".

Commissioner Moore will be traveling to Washington DC today to attend the NFBPA ceremony, where he will be recognized as a transformative figure, in the company of governors, and congressional representatives.

Let's see, by "transforming poor neglected communities into better places to live," they are at least in part referring to the code enforcement sweep he spearheaded in the Sistrunk area (called the "Neighborhood Enhancement Action Team," or NEAT). It was so great that it inspired a class-action lawsuit by the Legal Aid Society of Broward County claiming that it was unfair, unlawful, "mean-spirited." From the suit: "The city selected this area to accomplish its subterfuge to gentrify the neighborhood for redevelopment by developers working with the city, resulting in a `stealing of property.'"

He's certainly championed certain people -- like developer Pamela Adams and his employer, insurance broker Jim McKinley, whom Moore represents before local governments. And, like all great leaders, he's adept at skirting the press during controversies (and there's often controversy around Moore, like last year when he got busted for driving on a suspended license).

Congratulations Carlton, keep up the great work.