Chances are, people reading this will agree that it’s impossible to run a successful political campaign without money.

It’s also not controversial to assert why money is so darn important. Simply put, candidates need to print material, hire staff, advertise on radio, tv or social media, among other things.

But state that the public should get simple, direct information about money that flows into campaigns, or indirectly into political action committees, and you invite either indifference or a debate.

Of course, the landmark 2019 Supreme Court ruling, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, has played a major role in how money and politics mix. According to the Brennan Center for Justice: “But perhaps the most significant outcomes of Citizens United have been the creation of super PACs, which empower the wealthiest donors, and the expansion of dark money through shadowy nonprofits that don’t disclose their donors.”

So, the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision is clearly important. But there are other issues that matter, too. Even on the local level. Even in the election of a mayor who basically makes a part-time salary to serve the people of Hollywood, Fl.

And I learned this during the recent race for mayor in the South Florida city that hugs the Atlantic Ocean. The two-term incumbent, Josh Levy, was seeking a third and final four-year term. He won on Nov. 5, accumulating more than 53% of the votes cast. More than 150,000 people live in Hollywood.

Involved in a local race for the first time, I sent my mayor an email days before the election. I asked him why he needed at least a few hundred thousand dollars in direct campaign donations and contributions to a pro-Levy PAC, A Bright Future for Hollywood.

Now, this was Josh’s reply, on Oct. 30, at 3:08 pm: “Steve, reaching 70,000 voters through the mail is incredibly expensive with the cost of printing and postage. Each candidate does their best to raise as many contributions as possible for the same goal.

“To save on the cost and connect with voters, I also spent many many weeks walking al our neighborhoods to share literature at 18,000 homes, door-to-door, and speaking with residents everywhere I can.”

I was glad that he sent me something, anything, even though he didn’t mention that a pro-Levy ad ran on Morning Joe, a nationally televised cable show on MSNBC. I also took the opportunity to send Mayor Levy some follow up questions, at 4:22 pm, on the same day.

My main question mentioned a donation that Dexa Financials LLC made to the pro-Levy PAC, A Bright Future for Hollywood.

At 9:09 pm, also on Oct. 30, Josh responded. But his tone was much different. In part, he wrote: “All you do is try to hurt me in order to help the candidate you are working for. You act like you’re this open-minded person pondering questions. In truth, you are deliberately attacking me in an effort to tarnish my reputation with our residents. Enough is enough. I won’t be responding to you ever again.”

Now, to be clear, the Hollywood mayor cited a different reason for his assertion that I’m trying to hurt him. But the timing and the context of his second email on the same day meant Josh didn’t plan to give me information about the business that donated $50,000 to a pro-Levy PAC in the closing weeks of the race.

Believe me, I get it. My mayor won’t communicate with me again.

Fortunately, though, as a resident and taxpayer of Hollywood, I have the right to ask questions about our government and elections. Equally true, as a U.S. citizen, I have a right to speak freely and to petition my government on issues that matter to me.

So, what follows are details I’d love Mayor Levy and other Hollywood leaders address. For starters, Dexa Financials LLC donated $50,000 to a pro-Levy PAC. That’s a big chunk of change. And that’s why I went to SunBiz to learn basic information about Dexa. Only Dexa isn’t registered with SunBiz, as I believe LLCs are required to do under Florida law. Can someone please explain?

Now, this insight prompted me to keep digging. Eventually, with the help of other concerned South Florida residents, I published what we learned at Next Door.

And those findings are a web of confusion, with basic questions still not answered. But I’m hoping our mayor, or other City of Hollywood officials, can come forward to give the public more information. For example, an extremely successful business, BH Group, claims the same exact address and Penthouse as Dexa Financials LLC. What does this mean? What are the business implications of real estate and financial businesses sharing apparently “overlapping” addresses?

Based on this, a crack Hollywood resident looked up who owned the Aventura, Fl., building that houses BH Group and Dexa Financials LLC. It seems the owner traces back to the address for Related Group, in Miami-Dade County. What, if anything, does this tell us?

However, despite my question about the apparent address link, I can tell readers this: The address link is noteworthy because Related Group is working with Hollywood leaders to try to construct a mixed-use building on city-owned land and property on the south side of Hollywood Beach. An aging library and community center and park land occupy the space now.

So, part of the plan, approved by Mayor Levy and the city commission majority, despite fierce local resistance, involves putting up to a 30-story condo tower on top of the lower structure. The proposal also calls for Related Group to remake the library and community center.

Still unsure of who or what Dexa Financials LLC is, I spoke with a friend who is an attorney. She told me to check online with the state of Delaware, where many LLCs register because of more protective laws.

Touchdown! I found Dexa Financials LLC registered half way up the East Coast from the South Florida address Dexa lists in campaign donation reports. But I’ve got another basic question: Dexa is apparently registered in Delaware. Does it also have to register at SunBiz in Florida?

I also resorted to an online search to learn about the lure of Delaware. One glaring lesson, LLCs only have to make public the name of the registered agent. In this case it’s Business Filings Inc. So I sent this email to the registered agent for Dexa Financials LLC. I’ll update my article if I hear back from Business Filings Inc., or learn more about Dexa Financials LLC.

Here is my email to Business Filings Inc.:

“Hello,

“Delaware state records indicate Business Filings Inc. is the registered agent for Dexa Financials LLC.

“So, I’m contacting you because I live in Hollywood, Fl. And a campaign donation report in Florida shows that Dexa Financials LLC, of Aventura, Fl, recently gave $50,000 to the A Bright Future for Hollywood PAC.

“As a concerned citizen of Hollywood, and Florida, I sought more information. But it’s hard to find. For example, I didn’t find an online website for Dexa Financials LLC. And I checked with SunBiz, only to learn that Dexa Financials LLC did not register as an LLC in Florida, as I understood was required by Florida law.

“However, after speaking with an attorney friend, I found Dexa Financials LLC registered in Delaware. And the sparse information available on the Delaware website indicates that Business Filings Incorporated is the registered agent for Dexa Financials LLC.

“So, can you please forward this email to Dexa Financials LLC. I’d like to learn more about the company.”

As you can see, I’ve got questions, lots of questions. But our laws and political practices seem designed to frustrate voters who care. That’s not criminal or maybe even unethical. But it fails my common sense smell test.

In short, something stinks here. My neighbors and I shouldn’t have to keep putting our noses into public records to learn basic information about Dexa Financials LLC. Will someone please clear the air?