Valentino guilty of Sunshine violation

State attorney Bill Eddins has found that Pensacola City Councilman Sam Hall and Escambia County Commissioner did not violate Florida Sunshine laws at a meeting in April of this year. Commissioner Valentino, however, did violate Sunshine laws by withholding public records requested by Perdido Key residents. Mr. Valentino will appear in court on August 27; he faces a $500 maximum fine.

Commissioner Valentino refutes the charge, releasing the following statement:

I am pleased the State Attorney’s Office found no crime was committed regarding the production of records at the request of a local lawyer who was representing the group who opposed economic development on Perdido Key. As for the allegation that a civil infraction occurred, I strongly dispute that allegation. There is factually no evidence and factually no truth that I withheld any public record.

We suppose Commissioner Valentino is of the opinion, then, that withholding certain records for more than two months, until follow-up requests are made and legal action threatened, is a perfectly acceptable response to a public records request. We do not, and nor does the State Attorney, and nor will the Courts, we hope.

Links

• Rick’s Blog: “Hall not guilty, Valentino guilty”
• Pensacola News Journal: “Valentino charged with public records violation”