Archive for the ‘Ray Sansom’ Category
Former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom resigned his office this evening, a day before the House was set to convene an special hearing to investigate alleged ethics violations by the Destin Republican.
Rep. Sansom has spent more than a year under fire for his dealings with Northwest Florida State College. Allegations of impropriety arose when Rep. Sansom accepted a high-paying job at the college on the same day he was sworn in as House Speaker in November 2008. Although Rep. Sansom resigned the job and later his position as Speaker…
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State Attorney Willie Meggs has charged former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom (R-Destin) with two counts of grand theft in connection with Rep. Sansom’s plan to funnel $6 million of public money to a Destin airport building intended for a private developer’s use.
Mr. Meggs filed similar charges against the developer, Jay Odom, and filed conspiracy to commit grand theft charges against Dr. Bob Richburg, the former president of Northwest Florida State College, who was involved…
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Circuit Judge Terry Lewis today dismissed official misconduct charges against Rep. Ray Sansom (R-Destin), developer Jay Odom, and former Northwest Florida State College president Bob Richburg. Perjury charges against Rep. Sansom and Dr. Richburg stand.
Judge Lewis wrote:
“It is natural to want to punish those involved; but not every wrongful conduct is a crime. Sometimes the remedy for such conduct…”
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A few items I wanted to highlight today:
Ray Sansom court hearing coverage. The St. Petersburg Times liveblogged yesterday’s court hearing in the Ray Sansom case. Rep. Sansom, the disgraced former Florida House speaker, faces charges of official misconduct and perjury. Both his attorney and the attorney for Sansom contributor and cohort Jay Odom were in court yesterday to argue that charges be dropped. The judge in the case has said he should have a decision by September 9…
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A few items from the past few days that I wanted to highlight:
Sansom spent $173,000 on RPOF credit card. Disgraced, scandal-ridden Rep. Ray Sansom (R-Destin) has made liberal use of his Republican Party of Florida-issued credit card, according to the St. Petersburg Times:
“Ousted House Speaker Ray Sansom racked up about $173,000 on his Republican Party of Florida issued American Express Card, spending liberally…”
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A few items I wanted to highlight today:
Viewpoint: Sunshine ruling was incorrect. Charles Fairchild pens a well-reasoned viewpoint for the News Journal concerning the pending Keesler v. CMPA litigation. He’s right on. Regardless of anyone’s feelings on the Maritime Park, I would hope we can all recognise the significance of this case on Sunshine law. Progressive Pensacola is confident the Keesler ruling will be overturned on appeal — but if it is not, then you as a citizen will have no right to be heard at meetings…
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The Northwest Florida Daily News, Ray Sansom’s hometown newspaper, ran an editorial today urging him to resign:
“Sansom has a right to his day in court. But he also has an obligation to all the voters who put so much trust in him — trust that he has lost.
The Ray Sansom I wrote so glowingly about back in 2007 should do the right thing now.
Ray Sansom should resign from the Florida House and allow his constituents in Northwest Florida…”
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The St. Petersburg Times has published more incrimating emails between Bob Richburg and Ray Sansom. Both Mr. Richburg, former president of Northwest Florida State College, and Rep. Sansom, former Florida House Speaker, are under indictment for perjury and official misconduct in connection with a plot to build an airplane hangar.
In the latest emails published by the Times, Mr. Richburg writes to Mr. Sansom: “Jay [Odom] is positive and motivated. He and I both agree that you are the kingpin in this whole operation and that the three of us need to meet to work the plan.”
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Former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom, who is under indictment for official misconduct and perjury, is apparently hard up for cash now that he doesn’t have a cushy six-figure quid pro quo job. His brother Randall Sansom, a CPA in Gulf Breeze, is soliciting donations for the “Ray Sansom Legal Defense Trust.”
In a letter asking for contributions, Randall Sansom claims his brother’s indictment was “politcally motivated” and estimates that a legal defense will cost $100,000…
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The trustees of Northwest Florida State College voted this morning to fire college president Dr. Bob Richburg, who is presently under indictment for official misconduct and perjury in conjunction with an ongoing scandal involving former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom (R-Destin), who is also under indictment.
The St. Petersburg Times political blog The Buzz recaps the vote:
The vote was 4 to 3.
“We have to turn this ship another direction,” …
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Former Speaker of the Florida House Ray Sansom (R-Destin) has been indicted by a Leon County grand jury on charges of official misconduct, a third-degree felony.
Northwest Florida State College president Dr. Bob Richburg, the other central figure in the Sansom scandals, has also been indicted for official misconduct as well as perjury.
Gannett’s Bill Cotterell fills us in:
“State Attorney Willie Meggs said the official-misconduct felony charges involve $6 million in state money for an airport hangar…”
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Pensacola Beach Blog: “Evidence of Bad Intent”
The Pensacola Beach Blog has an excellent post up recapping former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom’s ongoing troubles…
Diane Mack updates
South Palafox Street is now two-way, but one thing I’ve bemoaned is the mandated right turn at Garden. Councilwoman Mack indicates that it may only be temporary…
Greg Evers gets cute
State Rep. Greg Evers injected a little political incorrectness into a meeting this morning…
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A few items I wanted to highlight today:
South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
“Plane truth: Jeff Kottkamp’s trips home are costly for taxpayers”
“Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp and his moustache have cost Florida taxypayers $425,000 for 365 flights on state planes during his first two years in office…”
St. Petersburg Times:
“Three-step program to prevent Ray Sansom-type scandals in Florida”
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First off: Apologies for the lack of regular posting the last few days. It’s been a slow news week, and I’ve been busy anyway. We’ll be out tonight with the rest of the this week’s “The coming week in City government” series.
Rick’s Blog: “Richburg/Sansom meeting not public”
This story is certainly newsworthy, but Rick beat me to it. Turns out that the meeting between the board of trustees of Northwest Florida State College and State Rep. Ray Sansom last year was in pretty clear violation of Florida Sunshine Laws. Specifically, the meeting was held in a private room. That’s a big no-no. Busted!
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Rep. Larry Cretul is the new House Republican leader. So much for Rep. Ray Sansom’s “temporary recusal”idea. The Buzz has the details:
“The House Republican caucus just voted to install Rep. Larry Cretul as the new leader, effectively stripping Ray Sansom from his job as Speaker. Cretul is expected to become the permanent Speaker on March 3, when the full 120-member House begins the 60-day regular session.”
The folks at the St. Petersburg Times were even kind enough to get us some audio…
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Looks like Florida State Rep. Ray Sansom’s plan to temporarily vacate the House Speakership, and perhaps reclaim it later, is a bust.
In a letter to acting Speaker Larry Cretul (R-Ocala), House Rules Chairman Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) has interpreted House rules to require the election of a new Speaker:
“In an abundance of caution and in order to ensure certainty and avoid any further ambiguity, I recommend that nominations be taken and that the House formally elect a Speaker on March 3, 2009, the first day of regular session…”
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As you know, Florida House Rep. Ray Sansom announced Friday that he would “recuse” himself temporarily from the Speakership of the Florida House, apparently with the intention of reassuming the Speakership should investigations into his ethically troubled behaviour suddenly vanish.
The problem? That might not be legal.
Florida House Rule 2.5 states in part:
“The Speaker pro tempore shall exercise the duties, powers, and prerogatives of the Speaker in the event of the Speaker’s death, illness, removal, or inability to act, until the Speaker’s successor is elected.”
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Embattled Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom has stepped down as Speaker of the Florida House. The St. Petersburg Times’ political blog The Buzz was first to report several hours ago that he was likely to step down, and Rep. Sansom has now issued a statement to that effect.
According to The Buzz, Rep. Larry Cretul (R-Ocala) will take over at least temporarily.
Update: Sansom has released a statement:
“Effective immediately, I have decided to recuse myself from the exercise of my duties as Speaker of the House of Representatives…”
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Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has apparently wrapped up his investigation into the much-discussed meeting between Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom and the board of trustees of Northwest Florida State College last March.
This is the meeting which was advertised in the Northwest Florida Daily News, a newspaper published 150 miles from where the meeting was held in Tallahassee. This is the meeting about which NFSC president Dr. Bob Richburg emailed then-Rep. Sansom, “It’s probably the only way we can do it in privacy but with a public notice here,” to which Mr. Sansom replied, “That would be great!! We can get a private room on the 6th floor at FSU.”
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A grand jury impaneled by State Attorney Willie Meggs has decided there is cause to investigate Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom’s dealings with Northwest Florida State College:
“From this point on, we’ll be calling witnesses,” Meggs said. “I don’t know what we’re going to find until we look. We will get the people who have this information and present it to the grand jury.”
He declined to say what he told the jurors but said he would now begin to collect information — e-mails, public records and other witness statements — surrounding Sansom getting the $110,000 job at Northwest Florida State College…
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Less than one month into his term as Speaker of the Florida House, Ray Sansom is a failure.
Right now, Speaker Sansom faces assaults from multiple fronts. His transgressions are so stark and clear that it seems increasingly unlikely he will escape unscathed — but let’s say he does. Maybe Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum won’t turn anything up. Maybe when State Attorney Willie Meggs convenes a grand jury tomorrow, they won’t bite. Maybe the complaint before the state Ethics Commission won’t go anywhere.
Maybe — but even then, even if Mr. Sansom manages to escape prosecution…
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A few things I wanted to highlight today:
Pensacola News Journal:
“Sansom to speak at prayer event”
St. Petersburg Times:
“For it’s one, two, three Sansom scandals”
Miami Herald:
“Money flows in when you hire right lawmaker”
Megan Pratt:
“Outcome of our first full meeting”
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Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom has retained a criminal defense attorney to represent him in whatever may arise from any state or federal investigations into his cloudy ethical behaviour.
According to the St. Petersburg Times, Speaker Sansom retained Peter Antonacci of the Tallahassee of Gray Robinson two weeks ago.
Speaker Sansom has already hired an ethics attorney, Richard Coates, to advise him regarding a complaint filed against him with the state Ethics Commission…
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Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom has rarely spoken publicly since the scandal over his quid pro quo college job blew up. He’s been refusing interviews and ducking out via backdoors to avoid the media.
In the past few days, though, Speaker Sansom finally spoke, in a series of interviews with Florida newspapers. While he tried to avoid talking about the scandal, focusing on tax issues, he did make a few comments that made me giggle.
He told the Orlando Sentinel that he “will never understand the controversy.” He remains resolute in denying that anything ethically questionable occurred…
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Things continue to look bad for ethically troubled Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom.
Last week, Northwest Florida State College president Bob Richburg emailed state senator Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) an unusual document — which he called a “Record of Legislative Update Summary” — which briefly recounted the events of the March 24, 2008 meeting of Mr. Richburg, the college’s board of trustees, and Speaker Sansom.
This is the meeting about which Mr. Richburg emailed Speaker Sansom expressing a desire to circumvent Florida Sunshine laws by having the meeting in Tallahassee…
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This morning, the Pensacola News Journal reprinted a statement from embattled Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom. The statement appeared originally in the Northwest Florida Daily News earlier this week. In the statement, the Speaker continues to defend his actions; he continues to refuse to apologise for those actions; and he continues to insinuate that those who question his actions are purely politically motivated or are stupid and misinformed:
“I fully respect any person’s right to hold an opinion on my decision to work at [Northwest Florida State College], but fairness demands that such opinions be informed by the facts…”
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More bad news for Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom today.
State Attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit Willie Meggs announced today that he would present complaints over Speaker Sansom’s questionable dealings to a Leon County grand jury on January 26.
The St. Petersburg Times reports:
Once the Grand Jury is empaneled on Jan. 26, Meggs will give the complaints to jurors, leave the room and let them decide whether it should be investigated…
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Even after resigning from his cushy, quid pro quo college job, Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom is still under fire for his perceived improprieties and it’s not — just from the other side of the aisle.
Tallahassee Republican Ray Bellamy has spent $6,000 of his own money to take out several ads in the Tallahassee Democrat calling on Governor Charlie Crist to investigate “the ethical and possibly criminal violations that may have occured.”
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Embattled Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom has resigned from his job at Northwest Florida State College, in an attempt to end the weeks-long controversy over his acceptance of the position. The $110,000K/year job, which was not publicly advertised and offered only to Speaker Sansom, was widely seen as a “quid pro quo” reward for Sansom’s [...]
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Today, I want to highlight a local editorial on the Port of Pensacola, and several editorials from state papers concerning embattled Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom:
Pensacola News Journal:
“Journal’s editorial on the port was light on the facts”
Ship pilot Brian F. McGee counters the PNJ’s Port-critical editorial last month, charging the PNJ with not presenting the [...]
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The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom has retained an attorney to defend him from anything that may rise from his ongoing scandal, including an official complaint that was filed yesterday with the Florida Commission on Ethics. Coates specialises in ethics cases; he previously defended former Florida CFO Tom Gallagher [...]
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A few miscellaneous things I want to highlight today:
Mark O’Brien: “Bar patrol, no daring, a safe bet”
The PNJ’s Mark O’Brien offers up some O’pinions, at least one of which is right on the money:
Decades ago, leaders nixed plans to extend North Ninth Avenue through vacant land to Interstate 10. Now, homes cover the property and [...]
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Alex Leary of the St. Petersburg Times reports that Northwest Florida State College president Bob Richburg sent several “shopping lists” of desired funding to State Rep. Ray Sansom (R-Destin), who, as we all know, is now both the Speaker of the Florida House, and an employee of the college, at the same time.
The emails are remarkable. [...]
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Earlier today, Florida Democratic Party chair Karen Thurman wrote acting U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirwin, asking him to investigate Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom (R-Destin) for public corruption.
Attachments
The letter (pdf)
SackSansom.com
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Northwest Florida State College, the institution for which Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom nabbed $35 million in the last two years, and which rewarded him for his efforts with a six-figure administration job, is back at the table asking for seconds.
The college wants $13.2 million this time around. The Florida Department of Education is recommending [...]
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Former U.S. Congressman from Pensacola turned MSNBC TV host Joe Scarborough slammed Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom in his PNJ column today:
It is maddening to see what power does to some men. Sansom has been in political hot water from the day he was named speaker of the House. That also was, coincidentally, the day Sansom announced [...]
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Alex Leary of the St. Petersburg Times continues his excellent reporting on the Ray Sansom story. The level of coordination between Sansom and Bob Richburg, president of what is now Northwest Florida State College, leave one wondering if Sansom was working for his constituents or for the college. In one email exchange, Richburg asks Sansom [...]
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A few area posts I want to highlight today:
Rick Outzen: “Holley retires, comes back in Jan.”
As Rick reports, Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley will “retire” for the month of December before starting her next term of office on January 6. Doing so will allow her to collect her state pension and salary at the [...]
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Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman issued a statement today, calling on Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom to resign from either his cushy new job at Northwest Florida State College, or from the Legislature:
The appearance of impropriety is too great for Ray Sansom to as remain Speaker and keep his job with the Northwest Florida [...]
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The morning, Governor Charlie Crist, commenting on Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom and his new job, said, “He seems qualified for the job.”
I like that, Charlie. You’re not saying that he IS qualified for the job, just that he SEEMS qualified for the job. That way you’re being nice while not investing yourself too much. [...]
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I haven’t said much about Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom and his sweetheart $110K/year job at Northwest Florida State College, an institution for which he’s helped secure more than $25 million in funding. Other area bloggers, Rick Outzen in particular, have taken the lead.
But it’s not just Rick talking anymore. The big state papers are [...]
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