Gary Siplin Is A Lucky Guy

Sen. Gary Siplin went in front of the State Commission of Ethics for allegedly threatening to have a female law enforcement officer fired. Brenda Averill pulled Siplin over for driving down a closed road. The ethics charge was later dropped. Siplin was later convicted of third degree grand theft. The conviction was later overturned. Siplin had another ethics complaint filed against. Siplin once again comes out on the winning side.

The commission had previously found in 2009 that Siplin had abused his power as state senator by attempting to go around a barricade and gain access to a parking space by mentioning his status as state senator, reports the News Service of Florida. But the Fifth District Court of Appeal found earlier this year that there was no evidence to suggest Siplin had abused his power as state senator. The commission then was required to go along with the appeals court decision and issued a final order that said Siplin’s behavior “did not rise to the legal definition of acting corruptly,” and did not violate state law. “It’s over, it’s done, finally,” said attorney Mark Herron, who represented Siplin at the Florida Commission on Ethics hearing Friday. Herron said Siplin was entitled to use the parking space through a special permit.

It is good to be Gary Siplin.

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 »

Does Rick Scott Have a Blind Trust

Columnist Stephen Goldstein sent me a tweet. Goldstein has asked Gov. Rick Scott's office for the fourth time, if the governor has set up a blind trust. Goldstein has still not received a response.

Update: For the fourth time in over a month, I asked Gov. Scott's office if his vast financial holdings had been placed in a blind trust - if yes, the trustee's name; if no, if and when there would be a trust and who would manage it. I still have not received an answer.

But surely, all Floridians need to know if there any conflicts of interest from the governor's public policy decisions, especially in light of his tainted past.

For example: Does he still personally control his $62 million share in Solantic urgent care walk-in centers, his single largest investment - and is his opposition to Obama's health reform a way of protecting or increasing its value? As CEO, Scott might have thought he could stonewall such a question, but Gov. Scott owes the public an answer!

Scott's stake in Solantic in not managed by a blind trust. Scott's wife now manages the governor's Solantioc assets. Frances Scott can not be considered a neutral third party.

The problem is Scott's family still financial benefits on health care decisions as governor. For instance: Scott signed an executive order having state employees randomly drug tested. Scott supports legislation making mandatory for welfare recipients to be drug tested. Solantic provides drug testing as a service.

Another question is what did Scott's transition team lawyers, Enu Mainigi, James Fuller, and Richard Coates discuss with the Florida Commission on Ethics. There are no records of the meeting that took place on Dec. 7, 10 and 16.

Mainigi is an old friend of Scott. She has defended money launderers, and security fraud. Fuller worked on the Clintons tax returns. Fuller has represented accused tax criminals. Richard Coates has represented former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom. Why is Scott having white collar criminal lawyers visit the ethics commission? These attorneys usually don't appear unless the client thinks he is about to be indicted.

The question remains if Scott has a blind trust? Judging by his stonewalling and the legal team he has put togeter; I am skeptical.

Exactly what transpired between Mainigi, Fuller, Coates and the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Does Scott talk to his wife about business matters relating to Solantic? I don't see how it is not possible.

Haridopolos Admonished

The State Commission of Ethics found that Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos failed to properly list several financial assets of over $1,000.

Haridopolos omitted income he made as a professor at the University of Florida in 2006. He also failed to list a property and mortgage on a 2005 disclosure form.

Haridopolos took exception with the Commission of Ethics valuing his home at $1,025,000. The home was purchased in 2008. Haridopolos told the commission the value of the house went up because he and his wife remodeled.

Haridopolos is the founder MJH Consulting Company. Haridopolos is the only employee of the company. Haridopolos claims that the company advises of media and advertising. Many corporations are more than willing to hire a future senate president as a political favor.

Haridopolos was required to list any corporation that pays over 10 percent of MJH Consulting Company's revenue. The commission found Haridopolos failed to properly claim Marketshare Systems' payments. The commission did not find any political contributions from Marketshare Systems to Haridopolos. I checked Follow the Money and found no contributions from the company or its CEO Mark Salmon. Perhaps Salmon didn't need to give a campaign contribution. Marketshare Systems was a source of income to Haridopolos' consulting firm from 2007 to 2008.

Read more »

Mike Haridopolos Stands By Jim Norman

It is nice to see Florida Senate Republicans stand up against corruption by appointing Jim Norman as the chair of the Administrative Procedures Committee. Who is more qualified to chair a committee in charge of oversight on government decisions than a State Senator under an FBI investigation.

Sen. Mike Haridopolos made the decision to reward Norman with the chairmanship. Haridopolos. The State Commission of Ethics' report found that Haridopolos failed to properly disclose assets. The Commission found "sufficient evidence to order a public hearing." the report found that Haridopolos is the only employee and corporate officer for MJH Consulting Company. It is a bogus for-profit company Haridopolos uses to charge corporations for consulting fees Haridopolos claims he advises companies on advistising and marketing. Haridopolos has no background in marketing and advertising. The MJH Consulting Company is a legal way corporations can pay off a state senator. It is little wonder why Haridopolos failed to list it as a second form of income on his financial disclosure.

Norman was forced to admit that Ralph Hughes gave $500,000 to buy Norman and his wife a Arkansas home. The relatives of the late Hughes want their money back. The Florida Democratic Democratic Party in their wisdom decided not to run opponents against Haridopolos and Norman. And Democrats wonder why Republicans have super-majorities in the Florida legislature.

Ethics Report on Mike Haridopolos

Incoming Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos failed to properly lists assets on his financial disclosure form. Political candidates and office holders must make their earnings and assets public. Haridopolos failed to properly list the value of his home and mortgage. Haridopolos actually claims the value his higher because of renovations.

Haridopolos failed to disclose property and mortage on a 2005 CE form. In 2004, Haridopolos did not list an automobile worth $20,000. In 2006, income from a job at the University of Florida was not listed.

I'm going through this now. This is a mess and it appears the State Commission of Ethics will do a further investigation into Haridopolos finances. Below is the State Commission of Ethics report. I will update this post after I dig deeper into the report.

Haridopolos_ROI(2)

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.