Classy Moment From Mark Sharpe

Mark Sharpe goes against his natural conservative leanings to vote to repeal the 2005 policy that prohibits recognition of gay pride by Hillsborough County. Sharpe isn't about to go out and promote gay pride. He does feel quite emotional about "singling out a group" in a very negative public way.

Last week, Sharpe tearfully told the crowd that he was late to the commission meeting because he'd been at school with his son, who was being given the American Legion Award. His voice broke as he described telling his son, "When you make a mistake, you correct it yourself." After a long pause, he expressed his regret for having voted for the policy in the first place.

"We made a mistake, and I am just glad that I'm here today to be able to correct that mistake. ... I'm supporting the motion to repeal what we-- the vote that took place in 2005."

Sharpe get receive scorn from the tea party and Christian Right base of the Republican Party. It is nice to see a politician show political courage.

Terry Kemple Off of the Diversity Council

Via Stogie: This gave me a laugh when I read it on his blog. Hillsborough County commissioners Al Higginbotham and Ken Hagan are shocked that Christian Right activist Terry Kemple was disqualified from the new diversity council. The National Diversity Council disqualified Kemple after he sent an email to supporters disparaging the county's new diversity council for being used to promote homosexuality. Apparently, Kemple fails to understand that the whole point of a diversity council is to not discriminate against people.

“Whether you like Kemple or not, they had no criteria for excluding him,” said Commissioner Al Higginbotham. “I have great trouble with that.”

Actually, there is a good reason not to appoint Kemple to the diversity council. Kemple has a history of being anti-gay, believes evolution is fantasy, has shown racist tendencies towards Muslims and is a silly man.

This is the man that Higginbotham and Hagan feel to they need to back to appeal to the base. Kemple race for the Hillsborough County school board and lost badly. Kemple once held a press conference that was attended by no one. Kemple is an embarrassment. For a guy that is supposed to be the most powerful Christian Right activist in Tampa, you would think he would have more than 167 followers. sOmehow I am not surprised that more people don't want to read tweets like this.

I did

— Terry Kemple (@Terry_Kemple) December 3, 2012

Terry Kemple is the Wile E. Coyote of Tampa political activists.

Hillsborough County Commission Makes Good Start Against Gun Violence

Commissioner Kevin Beckner got the Hillsborough County Commission to animously approve a $150,000 spending measure to to create a committee to stop gun violence.

Commissioner Les Miller and had a vote on finding out if the county was allowed to implement gun background checks. Commissioner Mark Sharpe was the only member to vote against Miller's proposal. P>

The makeup gun violence study group.

The violence committee approved Wednesday will consist of community stakeholders, Commissioner Beckner and a professional facilitator.

It is unknown what the Hillsborough County Commission will do or is allowed to under law. However, this is a rather surprising development from a mostly Republican commission.

Hillsborough County Commission Fails on Domestic Registry

The Hillsborough County Commission voted against a domestic registry for same sex couples. The domestic registry would have allowed straight and gay unmarried partners to have hospital visitation rights and involvement in financial decisions.

The board voted 4-3 against creating a Domestic Partnership Registry for Hillsborough County.

Commissioners Victor Crist, Ken Hagan, Al Higginbothom and Sandra Murman voted against the motion. Commissioners Les Miller, Kevin Beckner and Mark Sharpe voted in favor.

Republican Mark Sharpe put the domestic registry up for a vote. Sharpe deserves praise for bucking his party on this issue. The four nay votes were all cast by Republicans. This was a chance for the commission to lead on gay rights. Once again the commission pandered to conservative intolerance.

Electric Car Stations Coming to Tampa

The Hillsborough County Commission approved the building of ten commercial electric car charging stations in the county. Commissioner Mark Sharpe explained that it will help boost businesses.

"We've got a number of Tampa Bay businesses that are going to be investing in electric cars and selling them, but they want to make sure that before they start selling electric cars, we've got the stations in place. The people that buy the cars want to know that there's accessibility to stations, so it requires everyone working together," said Sharpe. "This is a great opportunity for the business community to benefit."

The environment will also benefit.

Kevin White Indicted

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White has been indicted. White accepted bribes of $10,000 in cash, steak dinners and a 2003 Lincoln Navigator. White received 10 charges, including bribery and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

George Hondrellis was indicted for paying bribes to White. Hondrellis used the bribes to White to secure a spot for his towing company in the rotation. White was the chairman of the Public Transportation Commissioner at the time. Hondrellis also bribed White's father with money and the Lincoln Navigator.

Read more »

Fire Renee Lee

The Hillsborough County Commission needs to fire County Attorney Renee Lee. She has repeatedly proven herself to be undeserving of serving in government. Lee was investigated for potential criminal wrongdoing when she awarded former County Administrator Pat Bean. Pay increases as to be approved by commission members. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated Lee and Bean. Criminal charges were not filed. However, the report is seriously damaging to Lee's reputation.

Lee's pay raise

”February 26, 2007

The accountant for Lee, Kathy Taylor noticed Williams signature where Jim

Norman would normally sign, indicating BOCC approval of Lee’s salary increase.

Taylor does not say anything to anyone but Novak and they both remark in an

email correspondence, this date and, in part, “oh well.” Novak advised she made

the remark because Lee was always “pushing the financial envelope” regarding

salary, outside counsel expenses and spending issues in the County Attorney’s

Office. Taylor and Novak advised they did not feel ‘it was their place’ to say

anything. Both later acknowledged a fear of Lee’s position and influential power.

Norman was suppose to be the person that was suppose to approve of the pay increase. It gets more bizarre. Lee gave herself an award.

Lee sent the following email to Bean and Hill subject titled “Extra Mile Award”:

After attending the Budget kick off meeting this morning Beth (Novak) reminded

me that a provision in my contract allows me to receive the award…see page 10,

Section E. Hillsborough agrees to make available to the attorney such other

benefits that are not specifically covered by this agreement as they now exist,

and may be amended from time to time, for other employees of Hillsborough. . .

Thank you for the award. FDLE Special Agents interviewed Novak who did not

remember “reminding” Lee about a “provision in her contract” and found the

content of this email unusual as Novak had no prior legal training or experience.

32. Michelle Sekouri, Executive Assistant to the County Administrator followed Bean

into Bean’s office on an unrelated matter, after a meeting at which Lee was not

present. Sekouri was present when Hill walked into Bean’s office holding up a

piece of paper and asked Bean, ‘Did you see this?’ Sekouri testified Bean

advised she had not seen what Sekouri believed to be the aforementioned email

from Lee, dated February 02, 2007 subject titled,” Extra Mile Award.” Sekouri

testified Hill advised Bean that Lee wanted the one percent salary increase. Bean

was surprised at this news. Bean and Hill then engaged in discussion regarding

Bean and Garrity’s eligibility for the award. Bean advised Hill to get with the

human resources department in order to resolve the matter. Sekouri testified she

recalled details regarding the event because she could not forget the look of

surprise on Bean’s face.

Read more »

Terry Kemple on Human Relations Board

How the hell did anti-gay clown Terry Kemple get voted onto the Hillsborough County Human Relations Board? Kemple was voted on the board by a 5 to 2 vote. Hillsborough County Commission placement Kemple of on the board shows the GOP pandering to the base. Kemple as no qualifications in promoting equality. Eemocrats Kevin Beckner and Les Miller were the dissenting votes.

The job of the Human Relations Board is to review complaints and promote equality. Kemple has made a career of accusing gay people of being sexual predators and attempting to pass off bogus Founding Fathers religious quotes as historical truth.

Nadine Smith of Equality Florida is urging the Commission to remove Kemple.

"Terry Kemple's presence on the Hillsborough County Human Relations Board creates an insurmountable obstacle to the fulfillment of it's stated purpose - encouraging equality among all people - and we strongly urge the commissioners to replace him with someone who believes in the state mission of the Board."

The REpublican members of the Commission are terrified of the base. They will appoint Kemple because they will do whatever is needed to prove they hate gay people more than their futre GOP primary opponents.

Meet Vin Marchetti

Via Stoogie: Hillsborough County commissioner Al Higginbotham used land use attorney Vin Marchetti. The latter has hosted a fundraiser for commissioner Ken Hagan. Creative Loafing detailed how Marchetti's (paid for) political ties to the BOCC allowed him to go around the Planning & Growth Management.

He encountered push back from county staff from the very beginning. He also knew that neighborhood residents were dead-set against it, so he had no citizen support. But things like that are only side issues to Marchetti. The Planning & Growth Management (PGM) planner assigned to the case, Susan Mariner, thought it was not compatible. She got shut out of the meetings as Marchetti dealt directly with PGM management. In the end, Mariner refused to sign off supporting it, so Marchetti got her boss to sign off. What he didn’t give enough credence to was the determination and energy of the neighborhood residents, led by Deborah Humphreys and Lynea D’Angelo. They contacted the press, ran extensive letter writing campaigns, held traffic rallies along Lithia Pinecrest, posted signs and made sure they filled county center to overflow capacity during the rezoning hearing and the BOCC land use meeting.

Marchetti thought he could rely on his Team Sprawl associates to bail him out of this difficult scenario. He made subtle threats to the commission that he’d see them in court if they didn’t approve it. He gave both the Zoning Hearing Master and the BOCC copies of case law. He lectured the ZHM that he can’t use “need” as a criteria for determining whether or not to recommend approval (because, obviously, there was no need and everyone knew it). One of his land use attorney friends even lectured the rezoning opponents just before the start of the hearing at county center, saying that if they didn’t agree to this rezoning, they would end up with Section 8 housing in their neighborhood.

So in effect, Marchetti relied on a number of tried and true tactics for winning – intimidation, escalation and political connection.

Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Al Higginbotham thought it would be a great idea if Marchetti interview potential members of the city-county planning commission. Short version: Higginbotham is letting Marchetti pick the people who would regulate land use issues. As if Marchetti did have enough sway over Hillsborough County government.

Jan Platt explains why Marchetti picking members of the city-county planning commission is a glaring conflict of interest.

"It's entirely inappropriate," said former county commissioner Jan Platt. "The law provides that the commissioner makes the appointment; it's not intended that developers -- a single developer or a committee -- makes recommendations to elected officials."

Jan Smith, former chair of the planning commission, agreed. She said choosing Marchetti to interview planning commission candidates shows Higginbotham is trying to "stack the deck in favor of development interests.

"It concerns me that you have someone who is such a well-known land-use attorney making recommendations to county commissioners as to who the planning commissioners should be," Smith said.

It is too much for Florida Republicans to even maintain the false pretense that they are not lackeys of developers. Republicans are just doing this in the open. This is what happens when Democrats can't win elections.

Jim Norman Officially Busted

Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman and Florida Senate District 12 candidate Jim Norman was forced to admit that longtime campaign contributor Ralph Hughes partially paid for a house that is in the name of Norman's wife. John Stanton, president of Hughes' company, Cast-Crete, told the St. Petersburg Times that after Hughes died in 2008, Shea Hughes called Stanton asking about a $500,000 expense given to Mearline Norman. Apparently, Hughes' living relatives were not happy with the financial transaction.

"The impression I had is that they wanted the money back," Stanton said.

Norman's attorney Frank Winkles confirmed to the Tampa Tribune that Hughes helped buy the Arkansas home for Mearline Norman.

"Mearline Norman made her own business investment with Ralph Hughes, a man who had been her friend, mentor and adviser for 20 years," Winkles said Friday. "She put over $100,000 of her own money and had hundreds of hours of work on the project."

Tampa attorney Paul Phillips filed an ethics complaint against Norman. Phillips correctly stated that Hughes helped pay for the home. The complaint was dropped for legal matters. Norman was asked at the time if Hughes paid for the house. Norman's answer was less than transparent.

"It's an investment my wife has. I have gone there, but it's not mine," said Norman, who is facing state Rep. Kevin Ambler in the Republican primary for the District 12 state Senate seat on Aug. 24.

So how did his wife come up with $435,000 to pay for the house? "It came with my wife's investors," he said, though he declined to name them. "I'm not getting into my wife's investment portfolio. That's my wife's interests."

Primary opponent Republican Kevin Ambler is legally fighting to have Norman disqualified from the general election. Mearline Norman gave a six-hour deposition in court. There will likely be an appeal by either Norman or Amber depending on who wins. All Norman has to do legally is run out the clock. After the general election it becomes a moot issue. The legally more pressing issue for Norman is the deposition obtained by Amber's legal team can be used by the FBI. Several media outlets have reported that Norman is being investigated for his alleged financial ties to Hughes. Norman failed to disclose the Arkansas house and two boats. Mearline Norman is not employed. Norman and his attorney have failed to explain how she could buy a home.

Below is a local ABC Action News story on Norman.



I miss the 2008 Obama year of "chamge" and "hope." It seems almost every Florida political candidate I write about has an ethics or corruption scandal. I hear people tell me to hold my nose and vote for the lesser evil. I'm getting rather tired of the smell. The Florida political system is corrupt and needs reform. Being a partisan cheerleader and pretending there isn't a serious problem will make matters worse.

Republican blogger Chris Ingram expressed distain by refusing to endorse any candidate in the any of the big three candidates in the U.S. Senate. (Ingram endorsed no chance in hell Libertarian Alex Snitker.) Ingram also shockingly endorsed Loranne Ausley over Jeff Atwater for CFO. I agree with Ingram on almost nothing in terms of policy. I do think bloggers on the Left and Right should be calling attention to dirty politicians.

Media is has become more corporate. The Tampa Tribune's former sports editor Tom McEwen used the publication to further the profits of himself and his business friends. Nevermind, if he tied a few lies about the Tampa Bay Lightning's financial troubles in order to secure a tax subsidized arena. Blog ads and blogosphere talent being recruited into the landscape is changing the internet landscape. My fear is there will be more Tom McEwens and fewer Thomas Paines.

Valerie Goddard Lit Drop

Hillsborough County Commission candidate will have a Lit Drop this Saturday. The cxampaign is looking for volunteers. Check the Facebook event page for contact information.

Date: July 31, 2010

Time Saturday · 9:30am - 6:00pm

Location: MEETING SPOT AT 9:30 AM: Three Coins Diner in District 3
7410 North Nebraska Avenue
Tampa, FL

Candidates At Tiger Bay Lunch

The Tiger Bay Club of Tampa has invited all Hillsborough County Commission candidates to appear at a July 30, 2010 lunch. The event will be at the Performing Arts Center and is open to the public. Saint Petersblog 2.0 has more information.

The meeting will be held at Maestro’s at the Performing Arts Center. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. lunch at 12 noon. Members $25; guests $30.

Valerie H. Goddard

Valerie Goddard is running for Hillsborough County Commission district 3. The seat is currently held by the ethically compromised Kevin White. This is a great opportunity to get White out of the seat. Check out Goddard's Facebook page for more information.

Calling All Women - It's Time to "Chat It Up" for Candidate Valerie Goddard

Date: Saturday, July 24, 2010
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Location: The Sanctuary Urban Creative Office Suites in Historic Tampa Heights
Street: 502 E. Ross Avenue
City/Town: Tampa, FL


BRUNCH FUNDRAISER for Candidate Valerie H. Goddard

Date: Saturday, July 31, 2010
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Home of Julie Williamson in Seminole Heights
Street: 5207 N. Seminole Avenue
City/Town: Tampa, FL


Weekly Lit Dropping for Team Goddard

Date: Saturday, July 17, 2010
Time: 9:30am - 2:00pm
Location: Locations Will Be Advertised Each Week - THIS WEEK: THREE COINS DINER
Street: 7410 North Nebraska Avenue
City/Town: Tampa, FL

Valerie Goddard Running for District 3

Valerie Goddard is running for the Hillsborough County Commission District 3 seat. Kevin White is the incumbant and I would love to see him lose. You can meet Goddard this Saturday.

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010
Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Location:Meet at Hess Gas Station on Corner of Florida Avenue and Linebaugh
Street:10001 Florida Avenue
City/Town: Tampa, FL

Update: the Goddard campaign left this comment.

Hi from the Goddard campaign.... we are meeting at at that location to canvass the neighborhood..

We will not be there from 9:30 to 3:30. We will be meeting at 10:00 to go door to door until 3:30.

Quote of the Day

"Nice quote: 'Never trust the bureaucracy to get it right.' From the book 'Lessons in Disaster': McGeorge Bundy - p. 96."

Mark Sharpe, Hillsborough County Commissioner.

Mr. Commissioner, did the HCC get it right when they voted to pay the legal bills of Commissioner Kevin White's sexual harassment suit. White lost the case.

More Homeless in Tent City

The poor economy is adding more homeless people to the Pinellas County tent city.

Pinellas Hope, the tent city run by Catholic Charities here since December 2007, has been largely for the chronically homeless, some of whom suffer from mental illness or struggle with drugs or alcohol.

About 20% of its 240 residents became homeless recently because of the economic downturn, says Frank Murphy, president of Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg.

"We're seeing a change in the population. … We're seeing a lot more that are just plain losing their jobs and their homes," says Sheila Lopez, chief operating officer of the charity. "A lot are either job-ready or working but have lost their home because they were laid off, or their apartment, and now can't go to work because they're not shaven, they're not clean, they're living in a car, or they're living on the street."

Catholic Charities has run into resistance in attempts to build a tent city in Hillsborough County. The proposed site is near East Lake Park. Residents expessed their xenophobia before the townhall meeting with Catholic Charities.

"We've asked them, 'Why this location?'" said East Lake Park resident Joanne O'Brien.

O'Brien said residents have seen more homeless people in the area since the charity declared its intentions, including some sleeping in a lot behind her house.

O'Brien has been against the plan to build the tent city since January of this year. She does have a soft spot for stray cats.

"I keep them inside because creatures living outside have a dramatically shortened life span," she says.

Indeed.

The Impact Fees Tax Shift

Florida Sen Mike Bennett is sponsoring SB 630. The bill is designed to favor the development industry. Florida is second in the country in foreclosures. It is no coincidence the real estate industry is Bennett's top campaign contributors. New development would drive down the already unstable real estate market and forced the public to pay for new roads and sewage. Infrastructure costs will not go away. The expenses will be shifted away from developers. Welcome to Florida's tax shift game.

The last thing needed is the construction of new homes. A Miami Herald and CBS study found it will take years to sell current empty homes. This study was done before the recession.

CBS and the Miami Herald collaborated to report that at the current sales pace, it would take nearly three years to sell all the condominiums on the market. For single-family houses, it would take almost two years. Meanwhile the U.S. dollar is plummeting to record lows.

The text from Bennett's bill.

An act relating to impact fees; providing for a 3-year moratorium on the imposition or collection of impact fees by a county or municipality; providing for future expiration of the moratorium; providing an effective date.

The Hillsborough County Commission is using the recession has an excuse to waive impact fees. The county is experiencing a 20-month backlog of homes. Smart Growth activist Mariella Smith wrote, "Incredibly, four of the seven commissioners — Jim Norman, Ken Hagan, Kevin White & Al Higginbotham — see the solution to our housing glut as MORE housing." And many Florida pols would rather have you pay the impact costs than developers.

The Wolves Are Out to Get Kevin Beckner

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner asked the commission to study if same-sex benefits would be more cost efficient. In 2004, The commission voted 4 to 3 against same-sex benefits for county employees.

"I see this as (leading) to gay marriage next," said Commissioner Jim Norman. "This is not going to be San Francisco east. That's the way I see it."

The 2004 vote against same-sex benefits was led by Ronda Storms. Commissioner Pat Frank (D) accused Storms was using the issue to her Frank with conservative voters. This past November, Hillsborough County resident David Caton is collecting signatures to put a state ban on same-sex benefits. Caton is targeting Beckner in his crusade.

In addition to passage of Amendment 2, Caton said he probably would not be pursuing the matter at this time if not for the election of openly gay County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who won office Nov. 4. He cited strong turnout at Beckner's swearing-in Tuesday as evidence that his supporters will press him to pursue a gay-rights agenda.

"I think the heavy turnout for his swearing-in was more than just friendship; it was a politically motivated event," Caton said.

Caton would be persuing the matter, regardless of Beckner. Caton attacked Tampa's nude strip clubs. Caton attempted to prevent a local airing of Saving Private Ryan. Caton's reasoning was military men, in time of war, do not use profanity.

I never heard my dad use the “f” word. I neverheard his World War II buddies use the “f” word. Therefore, Spielberg’s prolific use of the “f”word in Saving Private Ryan does notaccurately represent the service of many menwho I personally know.

Caton lost a lawsuit from bogus claims against Clear Channel.

One of the sponsors, a man who owned a Ford dealership, and Clear Channel sued Caton in February 2001. They won in a heartbeat. An Orange County judge issued a temporary injunction against him.

The judge declared that Caton's First Amendment rights were outweighed by those of the businessman and Clear Channel. He ruled that Caton's claims about pornography were false and defamatory; that the fliers put the lives and property of Caton's targets in danger; and that Clear Channel's business relationships were also damaged. He called Caton's actions extortion.

The judge could not have issued a more sweeping ruling. Caton's lawyers told him it meant he couldn't lobby any of Clear Channel's sponsors anyhow, anywhere, about anything. Caton appealed. He lost.

Brian Blair and Terry Kemple have joined the attack against Beckner.

Blair email.

From: Brian Blair
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009

Subject: Fw: New County Commissioner tries “stealth attack”! Please read and act - THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT!

Do you think with $250,000 in campaign donations we should have mentioned he [Beckner} was an Activist on several G.L.B.T. Boards and that a large percentage of his campaign donations came from out of State? I want to personally appoligize to all that suported me! May God Sincerely Bless you in 2009!

Brian

Is Blair shocked the openly gay Beckner would support same-sex benefits? Blair's comment that Michael Jackson was a white man is more surprising.

Kemple email.

From:
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009
To: CIC
Subject: New County Commissioner tries “stealth attack”! Please read and act - THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT!

Community Issues Council - Your help is urgently needed again!

This urgent message is short - please read it and act on it!

THEN FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK WHO CARES ABOUT FAMILY VALUES!

Almost before sitting in his new furniture Commissioner Beckner is trying to undermine the conservative values that prevail in Hillsborough County. In an apparent attempt to sneak in a radical change to employee policy in the county he placed an item on the agenda for next week’s agenda at 4:00 on Friday (this afternoon). One could easily surmise that he did this, with the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and the Presidential inauguration coming up on Monday and Tuesday, in the hopes that there would be no chance to mobilize any opposition.

That’s exactly the reason that it’s so important to have teams like Community Issues Council prepared to jump into the fray at a moment’s notice!

Mr. Beckner wants us to foot the bill for health care for “domestic partners” of county employees. Since Equality Florida endorsed him as an “out” homosexual and since he brags about having been with his “partner” for 9 years, one might be led to assume that he wants us to pay for health benefits for this other man!

This is absurd on 2 key points (these points can be used for your emails to the Commissioners):

1. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of the people in Hillsborough County just voted to keep marraige, and the benefits associated with marriage, between one man and one woman. This seems to me to be nothing more than a back door attempt to establish those benefits through his office as County Commissioner.

2. It’s bad judgment, at a time of budgetary crisis like this, to even suggest that money be spent investigating this issue. It becomes absolutely ludicrous when you take into account the possible presupposed result. If the recommendation comes back yes it means the proposal would be made that tax money be used to pay for health benefits for unmarried partners - whether they be heterosexual or homosexual.

THIS CAN’T BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN!

Please contact all 3 county wide commissioners - Norman, Beckner , and Sharpe - and your commissioner from your district and let them know that you don’t want this to go any further.

Contact information

District 1 Rose Ferlita 272-5470 ferlitar@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 2 Ken Hagan 272-5452 hagank@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 3 Kevin White 272-5720 whitek@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 4 Al Higginbotham 272-5740 higginbothama@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 5 Jim Norman 272-5725 normanj@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 6 Kevin Beckner 272-5730 becknerk@hillsboroughcounty.org
——————————————————————————————————————
District 7 Mark Sharpe 272-5735 sharpem@hillsboroughcounty.org

LET’S SHOW COMMISSIONER BECKNER THAT THIS ISN’T CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!

Together we can make a difference!

God bless you!
Terry

Blair lost badly to Beckner and Kemple once held an anti-gay marriage press conference attended by no one. Kemple filed an appeal that helped a Valrico Bikini Bar open. The problem was Kemple was trying to shut the establishment down forever.

Bikini bar lawyer Luke Lirot: “Had Mr. Kemple not filed his appeal, the true flaws would have been more difficult to prove. In essence he assisted us.”

Caton, Blair and Kemple are not smart people. What they have going for them is they refuse to shut up and fearmongering. Beckner is going to have to work hard to keep these wolves at bay.

Affordable Housing Office Scandal

The Hillsbororough County Commission requested the County Internal Performance Auditor investigate why the Affordable Housing Office lost $2 million in grant money. The CIPA released it's report.

Based on our review and analysis, the County’s affordable housing assistance programs have historically been plagued with unprincipled management and business practices. Many of the problems date back before 2003. The very nature and demonstrated susceptibility of housing assistance programs nationwide to misappropriation, corruption and greed requires that County Administration establish effective controls and oversight. It is imperative that specific controls be installed and enforced that provide assurances that dignity and integrity prevail with all housing programs; grant funds are adequately safeguarded; and business practices are authentic, legitimate, and transparent.

Hillsbough County ranks 516 out of 54 in national HOME funding. This is due to years of mismanagement and poor oversight. The AHO had a "laissez-faire" attitude about committing matching funds. Things were so bad that the AHO couldn't keep up with it's bookkeeping records. The kicker is the corruption.

Beginning in 2001 the Community Improvement Department (CID), the housing agency at that time, began a cycle of failing to commit all HOME grant funds. To prevent immediate losses of grant funds that had accumulated during their tenure, it appears that former County housing managers entered speculative or bogus projects in the Federal tracking and reporting system in 2004, 2005 and 2006, committing grant funds that set idle and unused because the projects never materialized. This practice is unauthorized and went undetected by HUD for several years. When these projects were identified and removed from the Federal tracking and reporting system in June 2007 it put the County’s housing program out of compliance with HUD requirements for timely commitment.

The AHO is under investagation by U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill. The report shows former AHO director Howie Carroll was involved in corruption. The AHO received $16 million last year. Carroll used part of the money for Little Manatee Housing Corporation and Rainbow/Oasis Apartments. Little Manatee Housing Corporation and Little Manatee Housing Corporation did not qualify for funding.

Additionally, HUD-Jacksonville, during a September 2007 monitoring review, determined that a County’s affordable housing project, Rainbow/Oasis, was out of compliance with Federal requirements. In September 2006 the County removed the lien requirement on the owner of the project and allowed the sale of the project to accommodate non-eligible tenancy. The funds were previously committed by the County’s housing agency in 1997, paid for, in part, with County HOME grant funds. The rehabilitation project was completed in February 2001. HUD requirements prohibit the sale of federally-funded housing projects before the expiration of the affordability designation period, in this case 10 years, or until the year 2011. As a result of this ineligibility, the amount of HUD’s participation in the project ($731,511) was uncommitted and is included in the current shortfall. HUD did not require repayment of these funds as it did in the case of Little Manatee but a different financial/reimbursement arrangement was made to account for the funds. This event is discussed in greater detail on page 75 of this report.

The renovation of Rainbow/Oasis was completed in 2001. Yet, it was still receiving federal funding. The county was forced to pay back $200,000 for Little Manatee. This is a major story. I hope the media gives the provides coverage.

Meet the New Supervisor of Elections

Via Kenneth Quinnell: Phyllis Busansky is the newly elected Hillsborough County Super of Elections.

“I’m absolutely thrilled," Busansky said from her home Thursday night. "I ran on restoring confidence in this office and that’s what we’ve done.” When asked what she planned to do her first day in office, she said, "I have no idea. Until two minutes ago I wasn’t at all sure I was going to win.”

"You may not have seen the last of Buddy Johnson," said the current office holder.

My hunch is seeing Johnson, in the political arena, will be as rare as Elvis sightings.

In related news: Kathy Castor asked Attorney General Michael Mukasey to investigate Johnson's handling of the election.

"The problems I witnessed firsthand and supervisor's inability to count the votes in a timely manner have shaken the public's confidence in fair elections," she wrote.

Even if Johnson won his race, it is hard to envision a scenario that would allow Johnson to keep his job. Johnson could not be found on the night of the election. That doesn't instill confidence.