Ray Sansom: Man of Values Part II

I wrote a post called "Ray Sansom: Man of Values." I noted that Sansom's professed religious values didn't match his actions. The charges against Sansom have been dropped. Sansom immediately lays it on thick with his Christian spiel.

"God has sustained us," Sansom said after the case was dismissed. "We held strong with his grace."

Perhaps Sansom can explain how inserting a secret earmark to get a $110,000-a-year job was following the gospel. In return for the job, Samson gave Northwest Florida State College $750,000 in start up funds. Jay Odom, a longtime campaign contributor to Sansom, got a remodeled hanger.
Sansom did another secret earmark to Xe Services, formerly known as Blackwater. The legislation would allow Xe to run privatized prisons in Florida. Fortunately, the legislation died.

The job Sansom received was was no-bid. Former Northwest Florida State College president Bob Richburg kept the meeting closed to the public. Richburg did not hold the meeting at NWFSC, instead at Florida State University. Florida Sunshine laws requires that the meeting for job opening, involving anelected official, have the minutes recorded. Richburg waited ten mouths to post the minutes.

Sansom spent $173,000 of the nonprofit Republican Party of Florida money, on lavish meals and tuxedo rentals. Sansom's crwedit card spending spree hardly follows the Christ parable of the Good Sararitan. Especial when Sansom his not spending someone else's money.

In my two years of covering Sansom, I haven't seen him do one thing that wasn't too his personnal benefit. Sansom's faith is no different than Jimmy Swagart or Jim Bakker professing a love of Jesus after publicly being caught in a scandal. If Sansom wants to make me believe he is a Christian then he can start by professing his ethical lapses. I doubt Sansom's values are strong enough for that kind of candor.

Ray Sansom Indicted

Gov. Charlie Crist blew off criticism of former House Speaker Ray Sansom's ethical lapses. Sansom was forced to stepped down as House Speaker because of several related scandals. House Republicans showed their support by giving Sansom a standing ovation. Conserrvative pundit Joe Scarborough called the GOP response a "moral crisis." A grand jury today indicted Sansom and Northwest Florida State College president Bob Richburg. Both have been charged with the third degree crime of official misconduct. They must surrender to authorities. That means there will soon be a booking picture of Sansom on the internet.

"We believe that Speaker-designate Ray Sansom because of his friendship and political contributions violated the trust that the citizens of Florida should expect from its elected representatives," the grand jury report said.

Sansom secured $6 million of taxpayer dollars for Jay Odom's hanger. Odom has a long history of financially contributing to Sansom's campaigns. Sansom, Odom, and Richburg publicly denied discussing the hanger project. The St. Petersburg Times reported the three discussed the hanger in several emails. Sansom got a $110,000-a-year job at Northwest Florida State College, the same day he became House Speaker. Richburg got the school funding at a time of budget cuts. Odom got a pimped out hanger deck to park his private planes.

On news of the indictment: Crist said, "That's distressing to hear." Really Governor? Where was your dismay when the Sansom allegations first surfaced?

When asked whether he'd be willing to investigate, Gov. Charlie Crist said, "Who asked me to do that?"

"Karen Thurman," replied Tampa Tribune reporter Catherine Dolinski.

"Yeah, next question," Crist said.

Why did Attorney General tell Panhandle resident he had no jurisdiction to investigate Sansom? When the St. Petersburg Times published McCollum's email the Attorney General suddenly realized he did have jurisdiction. It must have been a light bulb over the head moments.

It is hypocritical for Crist to now be distressed about Sansom. Republicans that gave a standing ovation to Sansom have no credibility to denounce Sansom's actions. I spent time on this blog bashing Gary Siplin and Rod Blagojevich. I don't need trolls and conservative bloggers giving me a fucking lecture about being fair and balanced. Ideology is one thing. Corruption is illegal. There is no grey area. What part of breaking the law do people not understand?

After the Bill Clinton impreachment, Democrats learned to stay away from radioactive pols. Republicans start a fucking defense fund (spare me Marty Peretz being a Dem) for Lewis "Scooter" Libby. The insanity of defending Libby's indefensible outing of Valerie Plame is symptomatic of what is wrong with the GOP.

The Ray Sansom Scandals

Ray Sansom faces two ethics complaints from David Plyer and Susan Smith. The State Commission on Ethics ruled Plyers' complaint was "legally sufficient." Leon County State Attorney Willie Meggs will have a grand jury hear the ethics complaints.

Democrats quickly abandoned William Jefferson and Rod Blagojevich. The GOP operates differently. Sansom's position as Florida House Speaker caused Republicans to circle the wagons. Gov. Charlie Crist blew off a question to investigate Sansom. Attorney General Bill McCollum told a Panhandle resident he did not have the jurisdiction to investigate. After the St. Petersburg Times reported McCollum's email, the Attorney General suddenly put his investigative powers into action.



Columnist Howard Troxler breaks down the Sanson scandals.

To keep track, let's divide the "things to investigate" list about House Speaker Ray Sansom into three categories:

The Job.

The Meeting.

The Building.

I would add the possible violation of Florida's Sunshine laws.

Q. Does the Sunshine Law apply to the Legislature?
A. Florida's Constitution provides that meetings of the Legislature be open and noticed except those specifically exempted by the Legislature or specifically closed by the Constitution. Each house is responsible through its rules of procedures for interpreting, implementing and enforcing these provisions. Information on the rules governing openness in the Legislature can be obtained from the respective houses.

Q. Does the Sunshine Law applies to members-elect?
A. Members-elect of public boards or commissions are covered by the Sunshine law immediately upon their election to public off ice.

Q. What qualifies as a meeting?
A. The Sunshine law applies to all discussions or deliberations as well as the formal action taken by a board or commission. The law, in essence, is applicable to any gathering, whether formal or casual, of two or more members of the same board or commission to discuss some matter on which foreseeable action will be taken by the public board or commission. There is no requirement that a quorum be present for a meeting to be covered under the law.

Northwest Florida State College president Bob Richburg kept the meeting to hire Sansom closed to the public. The law requires minutes of the meeting be submitted for public record. Richburg waited 10 months to file the minutes. Richburg still hasn't explained why the meeting was held at Florida State University.

On the political side: how long can the Republican Party of Florida have their legislative spokesman mired in scandal. Sansom is toast. Keeping Sansom around hurts the state and gives Democrats an easy target. Is that what Florida Republicans want?

Update: Sansom has hired defense attorney Peter Antonacci.

Quote of the Day

"Well if you would have told me today that if you take this job no matter how pure your intentions, no matter clear or transparent that you, I believe that you and, and even if you could tell people and they would believe you that your intentions are clear and you knew all this would happen, you would have taken the job and I would have said No. And here's the reason why...I didnt do anything wrong."

Ray Sansom, explaining that knowing what he knows now, he wouldn't take the Northwest Florida State College job because he "didn't do anything wrong."

This will go down as one of the most staggeringly stupid quotes of the year.

More On Ethics Complaint Against Ray Sansom

Susan Smith filed an ethics complaint against Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom. The complaint charges Sansom with damaging the integrity and conduct befitting of his office.

Sansom’s Violations of House Rules 15.1 and 15.2

Speaker Ray Sansom's relationship with Northwest Florida State College and the official actions he took on behalf of the College before being given a $110,000 part-time job with the school have clearly damaged the integrity of the Florida House and “the honor of the lawmaking body.” Personally, my respect for the Florida House has been greatly diminished by Speaker Sansom’s actions. At least 18 newspapers across Florida, including every major newspaper, have criticized or outright called on Sansom to resign. Based on these facts, Sansom has allegedly violated House Rules 15.1 and 15.2. Included with this complaint is a list of the relevant newspaper editorials and columns.

House Rules:

15.1—Legislative Ethics and Official Conduct Legislative office is a trust to be performed with integrity in the public interest. A member is respectful of the confidence placed in the member by the other members and by the people. By personal example and by admonition to colleagues whose behavior may threaten the honor of the lawmaking body, the member shall watchfully guard the responsibility of office and the responsibilities and duties placed on the member by the House. To this end, each member shall be accountable to the House for violations of this rule or any provision of the House Code of Conduct contained in Rules 15.1–15.7.

15.2—The Integrity of the House
A member shall respect and comply with the law and shall perform at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and independence of the House and of the Legislature. Each member shall perform at all times in a manner that promotes a professional environment in the House, which shall be free from unlawful employment discrimination.

In the complaint, Sansom is charge with using his position of influence peddling and his employment with Northwest State College influencing his legislative decision-making. Sanson is also charged with using his elected power in a corrupt manner.

Sansom’s Violations of House Rules 15.3(a), 15.4 and 15.5

In taking the $110,000 part-time job at Northwest Florida State College, Speaker Ray Sansom not only damaged the honor of the Florida House, but also created the appearance of improper influence by the College over the budget process. As reported by the St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau, Sansom delivered more than $34 million to the College in previous years, including over $25 million when Sansom was responsible for writing the budget. Shortly after delivering this money to the school, Sansom was offered this unadvertised job. Additionally, Sansom allegedly funneled more than $6million to build an airplane hangar for his friend and donor Jay Odom. In emails obtained by the Times/Herald between College President Bob Richburg and Sansom, Richburg asked Sansom to thank officials at the college for "taking responsibility" for the airport building. These facts demand that the Florida House investigate Sansom's relationship with the College, which seems to violate House Rules 15.3(a) and 15.4. Adding to the appearance of impropriety, according to the Palm Beach Post, Sansom used official resources in applying for the job, faxing his application from the Speaker's Office in violation of rule 15.5. A copy of that application is included with this complaint. Additionally, below is a list of the relevant newspaper articles that detail the allegedly improper relationship between Sansom and Northwest Florida State College.

House Rules:

15.3—Improper Influence; Solicitation of Campaign Contributions
(a) A member may not accept anything that reasonably may be construed to improperly influence the member's official act, decision, or vote

15.4—Ethics; Conflicting Employment
A member shall: (a) Scrupulously comply with the requirements of all laws related to the ethics of public officers. (b) Not allow personal employment to impair the member's independence of judgment in the exercise of official duties. (c) Not directly or indirectly receive or agree to receive any compensation for any services rendered or to be rendered either by the member or any other person when such activity is in substantial conflict with the duties of a member of the House.

15.5—Use of Official Position
A member may not corruptly use or attempt to use the member's official position in a manner contrary to the trust or authority placed in the member, either by the public or by other members, for the purpose of securing a special privilege, benefit, or exemption for the member or for others.

Smith was interviewed by The Buzz.

"He has embarrassed the Florida Legislature," Smith said an interview. She alleges Sansom violated, among other things, a House ethic rules that states legislative office, "is a trust to be performed with integrity in the public interest."

The complaint will go to the Rules & Calendar Council. Where it will most likely die. The Chair Bill Galvano and Vice Chair Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff are bothe Republicans. Neither want to get on Sanson's bad side.

Sansom Quits Northwest Florida State College

Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom resigned from his $110,000-a-year job at Northwest Florida State College.

"This has not been an easy decision for me to make," Sansom said, reading from a prepared statement at the outset of a two-week special session to cut $2.3-billion from the budget. "I accepted my position at the college with pure intentions and for good reasons."

It should have been an easy decision. Sanson should have put his responsibility as Florida Speaker above a outragiously paid part-time position. What exactly was Sansom's intentions? Conservative pundit Joe Scarborough pointed out: "(Sansom) tacked on an additional $25 million for his future employer and funded a program that would pay his salary." Sansom created his own position and was hired the day he became Speaker. If Sansom feels misunderstood then he should explain why in greater details. Otherwise, Sansom's statements doesn't pass the laugh test.

I have questions about how does Florida benefit from $6 million spent to make a hanger hurricane-proof. Sanson's loyal campaign contributor Jay Odom will use the hanger to park his person aircraft. The City of Destin turned down Odom and insurance companies didn't want to provide coverage, because of the coastal location. That didn't stop Odom and Sanson from pitching the hanger as a hurricane shelter. I really like to know what Sansom felt was his intentions behind this project. I will never know since Sanson will not do a Q and A with the media. Fellow Gop state legislators greeted Sansom's public statement of resigning from NFSC as "statesmanlike" and with applause. That is a telltale sign the Republican Party of Florida is in trouble. FDP Chairwoman Karen Thurman has noticed the Party's silence on Sansom.

"While Sansom's ethical lapse is glaring, Floridians should be especially disappointed in Governor Charlie Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum, and other Republican leaders, who have done nothing to end the corrosive corruption that has been festering in the Republican Party. Because they don't have the courage to stand up and root out corruption in their party, the Florida Democratic Party will continue aggressively holding the Republicans accountable for their corrupt and out-of-touch ways."

Heat On Ray Sansom

Florida Democratic Party Chairperson Karen Thurman asked U.S. Attorney Thomas F. Kirwin to investigate House Speaker Ray Sansom.

December 18, 2008
Thomas F. Kirwin
Acting United States Attorney
Northern District of Florida
111 N. Adams Street, 4th Floor Tallahassee, FL 32301

Dear Mr. Kirwin,

I write today to respectfully request a full investigation into a case of alleged public corruption involving Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom.

On the same day that Ray Sansom was sworn in as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Northwest Florida State College announced that Sansom was hired for a part-time, $110,000 per year job. As the St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau and other media outlets throughout Florida began investigating, we learned that before taking this job, Sansom delivered more than $25 million to the college and pushed legislation to allow the school to offer 4 year degrees.

The Times/Herald reported that more than $6 million of the money he delivered to the college was to build a hanger at the Destin Airport, on land controlled by Sansom's friend and major donor Jay Odom. Despite being funded by taxpayer dollars, this hanger would be used by Odom most of the time to store his jets according to the Times/Herald, citing documents and Odom's airport operations manager. On December 14, 2008 the Times/Herald reported that they obtained emails between NFSC President Bob Richburg and Sansom, where “Richburg suggested that when they all were together, Sansom should thank the board for "accepting responsibility" for an emergency training center at Destin Airport,” further suggesting that the airport building was to be used by Odom.

Additionally, the Palm Beach Post uncovered the fact that Sansom used his government office to fax in his job application to the college as well.

On December 9th, I called on Governor Charlie Crist to "immediately order the appropriate law enforcement agencies to investigate this matter to clear the ethics cloud around Sansom caused by the appearance of quid-pro-quo corruption." Rather than ordering an investigation, Crist simply said, "Next question," while continuing to defend Ray Sansom. Therefore, I take the extraordinary step today of requesting an investigation of this matter by federal law enforcement authorities.

Sincerely,

Karen L. Thurman
Chair, Florida Democratic Party

Television pundit and fellow Republican Joe Scarborough compared Sansom to indicted Gov. Rod Bladojevich. Scarborough does not believe Sansom got the $110,000-a-year Northwest State College job on merit.

Northwest Florida State College asked for $1 million in appropriations last year. Sansom decided that wasn't enough.

He tacked on an additional $25 million for his future employer and funded a program that would pay his salary.

President Bob Richburg was so impressed by the chairman's work ethic that he gave his college's political ally a $110,000-a-year job without telling a soul.

Can you believe that the same college who benefited so handsomely from Sansom's chairmanship would award him the six-figure job without advertising the position?

What a coincidence!

Sanson cancelled a meeting with Lawton "Bud" Chiles III, in order to avoid media questions.

"The Speaker’s Office has advised me that you requested the opportunity to attend a meeting we had scheduled today with members of the Lawton Chiles family," an aide to Galvano just e-mailed the Sentinel.

"At my recommendation, we are rescheduling the meeting for a future date. Once we are closer to making final budget decisions on the 2008-09 fiscal year spending reductions, the meeting will be more productive. I’ve contacted Ed Chiles, who is a constituent of mine, and made him aware of the need to reschedule. This email is For Your Information. Thank you."

Fortunately for Sansom, Charlie Crist still supports the Speaker.

Application Gate

It is highly unethical for elected officials to conduct outside business on state time. That is exactly what Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom did.

House Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin, sought an $110,000 per-year job at Northwest Florida State College by faxing in his application from his state office, this public document shows.

His communications director acknowledged that it was “not appropriate” for a lawmaker to use his public office to conduct private business, but explained the move as an “innocent mistake.”

Sanson is blaming a staffer for sending out the application. That doesn't pass the B.S. test. The job was never advertised and Sansom was hired the same day the application was submitted. The media needs to ask how did Sansom know about the job and why didn't the board of trustees seek other candidates? The Sansom application was late and didn't show up on the public notice of the school meeting agenda.

This avoidance of public scrutiny has been seen before from Sansom. The Speaker failed to put in a Community Budget Issue Request for Jay Odom's hanger. That means there is no record of a public budget request. Sansom got the funding by earmarking it for school construction projects. Sansom is going out of his way to avoid transparency. It makes me wish the the feds investigate the Speaker. This nonsense has gone on too long.

Update: Sansom gave this jaw-dropping quote to AP.

"I believe that after years in office people would know that I would not do anything to get something funded for a job or to better myself. I believe in what we're doing."

Most "people" can't name their Congressional represntative. How can they possibly know Sansom can be trusted. Sansom needs to answer questions about how he got NFW State College job and themoney he earmarked for the hanger. He has done neither.

Ray Sansom's Hanger Project

The St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald report on Florida House speaker Ray Sansom's budgeted tax to land owned by Jay Odom. In 2007, Odom attempted to build hurricane proof metal hangers at Destin Aiport. Destin's city manager Kelvin Espada never visited the facility to talk with Odom about his plan to build a hurricane shelter and training facility. Interestingly, Sansom Northwest Florida College bio mentions his negotiating for emergency training facilities. The Destin city council voted to allow Odom to request the funds.

According to NWF State College president Bob Richburg, Sansom's new position as vice president will have expanded responsibilities that will include oversight of the college foundation and also the development of agreements with local governments for training related to the college's new Community Services Complex and other endeavors.

The city of Destin wasn't interested in Odom's project. Insurance companies didn't want to sell coverage to the hanger deck. Odom managed to get $6 million in state funding. Sansom was the Senate budget chairman in 2007. Sansom denies there was quid pro quo.

"It doesn't benefit him at all," Sansom said in an interview at the Capitol. "He wasn't involved with me. I worked with the college."

However, the St. Petersburg Times reports Sansom, Odom and Northwest State College president Bob Richburg discussed the project in emails. What makes the deal more suspicious is Sansom never put in a Community Budget Issue Request. That means the budget request can't be found online. Odom told The Times the hanger would not be used for his planes. Airport operation manager Bill Blackford said the hanger would be used for Odom's planes. Odom is Blackburn's employer. That makes Blackburn a very reliable source. The hanger is now an official project of the college.

Richburg defended the money, calling the project a ``wonderful opportunity.''

Odom leases a half acre to the school for $1 dollar and receives a remodeled hanger deck. Richburg's college got $750,000 in start up funds and a cheap land lease. Sansom received $110,000-a-year job from Richburg and campaign contribions from Odom. It was a wonderful opportunity. Unless, you are a taxpayer.

Karen Thurman Demands Ray Sansom Step Down

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman demanded incoming House Speaker Ray Sansom step down.

"The appearance of impropriety is too great for Ray Sansom to remain as speaker and keep his job with Northwest Florida State College," Thurman said in a statement. "Therefore, it is only appropriate for him to resign from one."

Sansom pushed legislation that gave Northwest Florida State College $250,000 of "start up funds." Sansom met with NFSC President Richburg and agreed on another $750,000 of satate funding. The Palm Beach Post reports $7.5 million funding for construction was approved during Sansom's tenure as budget chairman. Samson was hired to a $110,000 job the same day he became House Speaker.

Side note: Sansom's job as NFSC vice president for development and planning pays $25,000 more than the last person to hold the position.

Ray Sansom

Ray Sansom was hired to a $110,000-a-year job at Northwest Florida State College, the same day he became Florida House speaker. Before becoming speaker, Sansom steered $200,000 to the school's leadership institute. The job of vice president of development and planning was never advertised. Sansom was the only candidate offered the job.

New documents reveal an additional $750,000 of start up funds Sansom budgeted for the community college. Florida State College President Bob Richburg sat in a meeting with Sansom to make the budget requests. You will not be shocked to learn that Richburg hired Sansom.

Richburg made his best attempt at spin.

Richburg called Sansom a "very effective legislator" who brought the college millions in funding but denied the job was payback. “His appointment to this college had nothing to do with securing these projects. These projects were in the pipeline."

Yes, these projects were in the pipeline. That is the problem.