Tell Florida Rep. Sam Garrison to WITHDRAW his law firm as our County Attorney.

The Issue

St. Johns County has NEVER BEFORE hired a County Attorney to share  with three other counties and many other clients.  We want an independent, dedicated, full time, in-house attorney like we've always had -- who is 100% committed to our county, not an attorney who is juggling other counties and refuses to disclose who his corporate clients are.

Richard Komando was first named "Interim" county attorney a year ago by four developer-funded commissioners (two of whom we voted out). Just recently, Mr. Komando and his Clay County law firm, Bradley, Garrison & Komando (BGK) were named our permanent County Attorney by Commissioners Whitehurst, Arnold and Murphy (with Taylor and Joseph opposing). Residents strongly opposed this selection.

9 more reasons to sign this petition:

1. Mr. Komando's household campaign donations show he is not "apolitical" as a County Attorney should be: $2,000 went to two developer-funded commissioners* (Whitehurst and Alaimo); and none went to the slow-the-growth commissioners while he was our attorney. Such bias is unacceptable for a County Attorney that works for commissioners. 

2. In an unprecedented move, Mr. Komando assisted outgoing commissioners with a new county ordinance that would tie the hands of the incoming, slow-the-growth commissioners by requiring a super majority of four votes to remove our pro-developer county administrator.**   Clearly, the ordinance was passed to usurp power from our newly-elected commissioners and to protect the pro-developer county administrator's $300,000/yr. job.**  We've now permanently hired the attorney who made that happen.

3. Mr. Komando is handling a 22-count indictment of criminals accused of federal fraud while being our County Attorney. He's simply too busy with other clients. We need, and can afford our own County Attorney; we have the highest household median income in the state.  Only smaller counties with much lower revenue should be sharing law firms to serve as their County Attorney. 

4. We have enough lawsuits without adding more, as we fear Mr. Komando may have already set us up for with his questionable "investigation" of sexual harassment and retaliation complaints at the county. The complainant (one of two alleged victims) was reportedly put on administrative leave for two months at taxpayer expense, not told why, then fired, and was never interviewed by the "investigator" selected by Mr. Komando. The reasons given seem inadequate, and the handling of the investigation may prove costly to taxpayers if we're sued.  

5. Mr. Komando has shown his bias towards developers by allowing developer-funded Commissioner Sarah Arnold to vote remotely during a county commission meeting that she attended from her vacation!  This is not allowed by county rule (without an emergency). Mr. Komando's special treatment of Arnold enabled her to vote on numerous developer issues including her vote against a popular tree ordinance.

6. As Atlantic Beach City Attorney, Mr. Komando gave "bad advice" that made the news in 2015. Mistakes can happen, but Mr. Komando continues to give questionable advice, as we've seen in St. Johns County. 

7.  Mr. Komando threatened a lawsuit against all five elected Supervisors of St. Johns Soil and Water Conservation District (2/23/22 email.) He did this on his BGK law firm email account, and appeared to be representing developer interests, given the nature and context of his demands.

8. A highly qualified, well-regarded, former St. Johns County attorney (for eight years) was passed over. Many considered him the obvious choice for our full-time, in-house County Attorney. Not a Clay County attorney.

9.  Former State Senator ROBERT MILNER BRADLEY, JR., name a partner in the BGK law firm, which  we hired to be our County Attorney, owns a large lobbying firm whose clients include a major developer. Isn't that a potential conflict even if it's not his law client? 

Rep. Garrison, please withdraw your firm so we can hire a full-time, dedicated County Attorney like the other 24 largest counties in Florida employ.  No county of our size and resources should be sharing a law firm with other client for the critical  position of County Attorney.  Even your own Clay County has its own dedicated County Attorney. Thank you for considering our very valid concerns. 

Friends, please sign and widely share this petition with other residents, and let our voices be heard.  No need to donate when asked by Change.org.  Signing and sharing is more effective.

 

*St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections, 2024 Candidate Reports

**$300,000+ per year includes benefits