On May 23, 2025, I wrote the Honorable John Emmett Campbell, Leon County State's Attorney, and asked him to investigate the Guana land swap proposal. The Florida Grand Juror Handbook explains, ""The grand jury in addition to the duty of formally indicting those charged with crime has the further important duty of making investigations on its own initiative, which it will report as a "presentment." This duty permits investigation of how public officials are conducting their offices and discharging their public trusts. The grand jury may investigate as to whether public institutions are being properly administered and conducted. It has the power to inspect those institutions and, if necessary, may call before the grand jury those in charge of the operations of public institutions as well as any other person who has information and can testify concerning them. If the grand jury finds that an unlawful, improper, or corrupt condition exists, it may recommend a remedy."
To:
Honorable John Emmett Campbell, Second Circuit State's Attorney
Honorable Eddie Evans, General Counsel,
Honorable Owen Boyd McCaul, General Counsel
State's Attorney, Second Judicial District
301 South Monroe, Suite 475
Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1861
Dear Messrs. Campbell, Evans & McCaul:
1. Please investigate the Guana land swap proposal. On May 22, 2025, I wrote to FDLE and FDEP Inspector General. No response. No telephone call. No acknowedgement. See below.
2. The Guana land swap proposal may violate one or more Florida criminal laws.
3. I hereby refer my complaint about the Guana land swap to your office as the elected State's Attorney for the Second Judicial District, and to the Leon County Grand Jury for its consideration of a presentment.
4. Would your office please be so kind as to investigate and to present witnesses and evidence to the Leon County Grand Jury about the proposed Guana land swap? See, e.g., F.S. 838.022 (Official misconduct)
5. Please ask the Leon County Grand Jury to consider a presentment, which might include recommendations to change FDEP processes, procedures, laws and organization to prevent a recurrence.
6. The Florida Grand Jury Handbook states in pertinent part,
"The grand jury in addition to the duty of formally indicting those charged with crime has the further important duty of making investigations on its own initiative, which it will report as a "presentment." This duty permits investigation of how public officials are conducting their offices and discharging their public trusts. The grand jury may investigate as to whether public institutions are being properly administered and conducted. It has the power to inspect those institutions and, if necessary, may call before the grand jury those in charge of the operations of public institutions as well as any other person who has information and can testify concerning them. If the grand jury finds that an unlawful, improper, or corrupt condition exists, it may recommend a remedy.
With kindest regards, I am,Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
www.edslavin.com
(904) 377-4998
To:
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Executive Investigations &
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Inspector General
Good afternoon:
1. Would you please be so kind as to initiate a civil, criminal and administrative investigation of the Guana land swap proposal? Please have FDLE and FDEP OIG Special Agents call me to discuss today.
2. Please investigate the organizations, individuals, corporations, lawyers and FDEP staff who empowered this outrageous proposal.
3. Please make recommendations for legislative changes to prevent future recurrences.
4. Please take sworn witness statements from everyone who touched this land swap proposal. We have a Right to Know. It's our land. Never again.
5. Please investigate the current FDEP Ombudsman, Mr. JOHN CALHOUN, and FDEP's maladroit call center.
6. Despite my repeated requests, Respondent Ombudsman JOHN CALHOUN apparently never did anything to get a more suitable room for the May 21, 2025 hearing. FDEP was insouciant.
7. Hundreds of people from St. Johns County were planning to attend, with busloads planning to leave Guana at 5 AM, The May 21, 2025 meeting was slated for Room 137 in the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Building.
8. The FDEP Ombudsman call center hung up the phone when I asked for a better room, stating that there would be "overflow rooms." Click.
9. I requested that FDEP arrange for an auditorium.
10. One of our former County Commissioners. Isaac Henry Dean, suggested that the Florida Governor and Cabinet Room would have adequate seating for some 250 people.
11. But it appears that FDEP was willing to cram everyone into a small room and would not communicate about it.
12. Respondent FDEP's Ombudsman JOHN CALHOUN never called me back, despite repeated urgent communications. As my late friend David Thundershield Queen said, does DEP still stand for "Don't Expect Protection?" You tell me.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am, Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
(904) 377-4998
Meet the Ombudsman
John Calhoun, Office of Ombudsman and Public Services
John Calhoun serves as DEP's ombudsman and oversees the Office of Public Services. Mr. Calhoun’s prior experience with state government includes management of the Florida Customer Contact Center in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, implementation of the Business New Hire Reporting Program and management of the Central Locate Investigations Unit for the Florida Department of Revenue.
Mr. Calhoun served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years and retired as a chief petty officer. His last assignment was as senior enlisted leader for the Naval Office of Information (NAVINFO) and Public Affairs supporting commander, Naval Forces Europe, Africa and Sixth Fleet. Additional assignments included deployments with Provincial Reconstruction Team, Baghdad (Iraq), Fifth Fleet Headquarters (Bahrain) and Commander Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ). His military awards include Navy Commendation, Army Commendation, Operation Iraqi Freedom, GWOT Expeditionary, Overseas Service, Sea Service, Meritorious Service and Battle E.
2 comments:
Investigate someone merely speaking about how they'd like to do something? Where are people's rights in all that? Wouldn't that be punishing speech and thought to some degree? Perhaps I'm missing some details. How is intention to do something period probable cause to believe a crime has been committed?
One of the smart Republicans cooked up the entire thing and it will benefit the FGOP when all is said and done. The deal going through would have been the worst outcome in that it would have only benefited a smaller group of Republicans.
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