Thursday, June 12, 2025

MOSQUITO CONTROL DICTATOR/DIRECTOR XUE OBSTRUCTS & OVERRULES INDEPENDENT AUDITOR SELECTON PROCESS

Controversial Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County (AMCD) Director Dr. "RUDY" XUE is paid $202,000/year to run a small but important public health organization with fifty (50) employees. AMCD spent $4.5 million on a mosquito museum with 41% cost overruns.  Director?Dictator "RUDY"XUE eschews the independent auditor process required by state law and AMCD resolution.  I admire our heroic former AMCD Commissioner Martha Gleason, who resigned in protest of XUE's mismanagement.  AMCD Director/Dictator "RUDY" XUE has sought to obstruct and interfere with legal requirements for an independent auditor election process. This is some of the evidence that the Inspector General of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will be asked to consider in a criminal, civil and administrative investigation under F.S. 570.092 and F.S. 20.055 if AMCD continues to show contempt for the Rule of Law and our Right to Know: 




On Friday, June 6, 2025 at 09:11:33 PM EDT, Martha Gleason <marthagl62@gmail.com> wrote:


Dear Ms. Hodges, 

 I am retracting my previous email. I am distancing myself from this entire situation. The RFP was developed by a previously non-existent auditor selection committee, as I know from my time on the board. The staff of the organization being audited were heavily involved in creating and issuing the RFP before the current board members were appointed to the auditor selection committee. These board members lack both financial and procurement backgrounds, and at least two were responsible for the overspending at the museum. 

 Instead of offering a small stipend to attract qualified individuals to oversee the process, or even attempting to follow the law by advertising the position county-wide, AMCD once again chose to maintain control by appointing their compliant board members to the committee. 

I will defer to Mr. Slavin to continue advocating on this matter. I am recusing myself and remain hopeful that the state or the county's citizens will eventually hold the management and elected officials of this district accountable. Should a forensic audit be conducted, I am confident that any instances of fraud, waste, and abuse will be exposed. It is only a matter of time, and I trust that a new Board will one day have the courage to address these issues effectively.

Respectfully, 
Martha Gleason 
St. Johns County Taxpayer

On Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM Hodges, Lawsikia <lhodges@sgrlaw.com> wrote:
Hi Commissioner Gleason,

First, I hope you and your family are doing well! 

You are incorrect as to the District waiving anything regarding the Auditor Selection Committee via email. You are certainly free to draw your own conclusions regarding District matters, but you may want to watch the meeting videotape from the last regular District board meeting for further clarity on this topic. To my knowledge, the videos of prior regular District board meetings are available online for public viewing.

In any event, have a great weekend. I hope to see you, as well as many other members of the public, at the District’s scheduled noticed meetings next week.

Thanks so much,

Lawsikia 

Sent from my iPhone


Lawsikia J. Hodges
Counsel
p | 904-598-6140
f | 904-598-6240
e | lhodges@sgrlaw.com
50 N. Laura Street | Suite 2600 | Jacksonville, FL 32202
www.sgrlaw.com
    
On Jun 6, 2025, at 5:38 PM, Martha Gleason <marthagl62@gmail.com> wrote:



CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello Ms. Hodges and Dr. Xue, 

I received these documents from Mr. Ed Slavin. Am I reading correctly that the District waived membership on the Independent Auditor Selection committee via email and not at a properly noticed Board meeting? Also, am I to understand that AMCD staff has been intimately involved with the Independent Auditor Selection committee? 

 I have addressed my concerns to the Auditor General and in his response, he stated that what was provided in absence of being informed of the existing resolution was the minimum requirement. He further informed me that local governments, including the District, could strengthen those requirements. I will be discussing this issue with legal counsel to see what recourse, as a citizen, I have. I will also attempt to get other citizens to sign on to this as well as involve local media. 

This deception and misuse of taxpayer funds must end! 

Resoectfully,
Martha Gleason 

 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Subject: Fw: URGENT F.S. 119 & 119.0701 REQUEST to FLORIDA AUDITOR GENERAL, ANASTASIA MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY and GAMBRELL, SMITH & RUSSELL RE: AUDITOR SELECTION
To: Martha Gleason <marthagl62@gmail.com>


fyi

Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
(904) 377-4998


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Dr. Whitney Qualls <wqualls@amcdfl.org>
To: 'Ed Slavin' <easlavin@aol.com>
Sent: Friday, June 6, 2025 at 09:55:53 AM EDT
Subject: FW: URGENT F.S. 119 & 119.0701 REQUEST to FLORIDA AUDITOR GENERAL, ANASTASIA MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY and GAMBRELL, SMITH & RUSSELL RE: AUDITOR SELECTION

Please find records responsive to your request attached. 

 

    

From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com> 
Sent: Thursday, June 5, 2025 7:12 PM
To: Dr. Whitney Qualls <wqualls@amcdfl.org>; Dr. Rui-De Xue <rxue@amcdfl.org>; Hodges, Lawsikia <lhodges@sgrlaw.com>; Forte, Stephen <SFORTE@sgrlaw.com>; Russell, Linda G. <lrussell@sgrlaw.com>; Bean, Daniel <dbean@sgrlaw.com>; lrussell@sgr.com
Cc: Trish Becker <tbecker@amcdfl.org>; Gayle Gardner <ggardner@amcdfl.org>; ginaleblanc492@yahoo.com; ginaamcd@bellsouth.net; timothyjen@me.com; R.J. Larizza <larizzar@sao7.org>; pat.gleason@myfloridalegal.com; Bryan Shorstein <shorsteinb@sao7.org>; Benjamin Rich <richb@sao7.org>; Robert Hardwick <sheriff@sjso.org>; Waste & Abuse - Shared Fraud <fwa@stjohnsclerk.com>; bpatty@stjohnsclerk.com; voakes@votesjc.com; Eddie Creamer <eddie@sjcpa.us>; taxcollector@sjcfl.us; Nicholas Weilhammer <nicholas.weilhammer@myfloridalegal.com>; tom.leek@myfloridasenate.com; Shorty Robbins <shorty.robbins@myfloridahouse.gov>; Kim Kendall <kim.kendall@myfloridahouse.gov>; sam.greco@myfloridahouse.gov; Judson Sapp <judson.sapp@myfloridahouse.gov>; Judson Sapp <judson.sapp@flhouse.gov>; Commissioner Krista Joseph <bcc4kjoseph@sjcfl.us>; bcc5ataylor@sjcfl.us; bcc3cmurphy@sjcfl.us; Commissioner Christian Whitehurst <bcc1cwhitehurst@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Sarah Arnold <bcc2sarnold@sjcfl.us>; Rich Komando <rkomando@sjcfl.us>; Joy Andrews <jqandrews@sjcfl.us>; Kealey West <kwest@sjcfl.us>; Lex Taylor III <ltaylor@sjcfl.us>; Brad Bradley <bbradley@sjcfl.us>; Betty Dixon <bdixon@sjcfl.us>; SJC Public Affairs <sjcpublicaffairs@sjcfl.us>; jdunn@sjcfl.us; Thomas Filloramo <tfilloramo@sjcfl.us>; Greg Caldwell <gcaldwell@sjcfl.us>; rmauch@sjcfl.us; Mike Roberson <mroberson@sjcfl.us>; Wayne Larson <wlarson@sjcfl.us>; Nancy Sikes-Kline <nsikeskline@citystaug.com>; Barbara Blonder <bblonder@citystaug.com>; jdepreter@citystaug.com; Cynthia Garris <cgarris@citystaug.com>; jspringfield@citystaug.com; David Birchim <dbirchim@citystaug.com>; Isabelle Lopez <ilopez@citystaug.com>; Comm Rumrell <comdrumrell@cityofsab.org>; Comm George <comugeorge@cityofsab.org>; Comm Samora <comdsamora@cityofsab.org>; Beth Sweeny <combsweeny@cityofsab.org>; Comm Morgan <comvmorgan@cityofsab.org>; Max Royle <mroyle@cityofsab.org>; Jeremiah Blocker <jeremiah@dhclawyers.com>; aschindler@wjct.org; Noah Hertz <noah@jaxtoday.org>; noah@jacksonvilletoday.org; Khalil Maycock <kmaycock@wjxt.com>; First Coast Connect Newsletter <firstcoastconnect@wjct.org>; News4JAX <news4jax@newsletters.news4jax.com>; Inside Climate News David Sassoon <memberships@insideclimatenews.org>; newstips@news4jax.com; kfluker@orlandosentinel.com; smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com; insight@orlandosentinel.com; lori.rozsa@washpost.com; sauls@nytimes.com; waltbog@nytimes.com
Subject: URGENT F.S. 119 & 119.0701 REQUEST to FLORIDA AUDITOR GENERAL, ANASTASIA MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY and GAMBRELL, SMITH & RUSSELL RE: AUDITOR SELECTION

 

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

 

Dear AMCD Director Dr. Xue, Dr. Qualls, Ms. Hodges, Messrs. Bean, Russell and Forte, AMCD Chair Becker, and AMCD Commissioners Mazzotta, Gardner, LeBlanc and Burton: Records responsive to your request attached.

1. Would you please be so kind as to send me on the morning of June 6, 2025 the documents evidencing Ms. Hodges and other Smith, Gambrell and Russell LP lawyers'  advice to AMCD on Auditor Selection Committee? 

2. Please provide any and all documents in which our current AMCD Attorney,  Ms. Lawsikia Hodges and the law firm of Gambrell, Smith & Russell, LP ever advised and/or approved Dr. Xue's contestation that the AMCD Board  can ignore the legally binding Independent Auditor Selection Committee and process that was voted on and  unanimously approved by the AMCD Board in February.   Records responsive to your request attached. 

3. Regardless of the shallow opinion that you received from the Auditor General's office, that opinion was given in the absence of providing the Auditor General critical knowledge formation, such as the existing resolution and process that had already been reviewed and approved not only by the Board but also by the attorneys for the  District.  Not a records request.

4. Please provide this information to me on June 6, 2025, as all decisions made to date are illegal and ultra vires. 

5. Please place the June 2, 2025 meeting video on AMCD's YouTube channel, instanter, and kindly share it with Ms. Hodges, the law firm of Gambrell, Smith & Russell, P.A., with the Auditor General and with Ms. Patricia R. Gleason, Florida Attorney General's Special Counsel for Open Government.  The video is available for you to pick up on a flash drive at AMCD M-F 7:30-4:30. 

6. Please place all responsive documents in the agenda packet for the June 12, 2025 meetings of the Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County.  

Thank you.

With kindest regards, I am, 

Sincerely yours,

Ed Slavin 

Box 3084

St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084

(904) 377-4998

 


Virus-free.www.avg.com
All government correspondence is subject to the public records law.
I’m free all day - so we can meet after your meeting if you like. 
Sent from my iPhone


Lawsikia J. Hodges
Counsel
p | 904-598-6140
f | 904-598-6240
e | lhodges@sgrlaw.com
50 N. Laura Street | Suite 2600 | Jacksonville, FL 32202
www.sgrlaw.com
    
On May 6, 2025, at 1:34 PM, Richard Weaver <rweaver@amcdfl.org> wrote:



CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

I am available tomorrow. I will be meeting with a HVAC contractor sometime between 9 and 10, but I may be able to get someone else to do the walk through.

 

Richard Weaver

Anastasia Mosquito Control District

120 EOC Drive

St. Augustine FL 32092

All government correspondence is subject to the public records law

Direct line: 904-484-7333

Main line: 904-471-3107 ex 333

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: rweaver@amcdfl.org

 

From: Hodges, Lawsikia <lhodges@sgrlaw.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 1:23 PM
To: Richard Weaver <rweaver@amcdfl.org>; rxue@amcdfl.org
Cc: TBecker4AMCD@protonmail.com; tbecker@amcdfl.org
Subject: RE: RFP for Auditing Firms

 

Richard – What is your availability tomorrow? Can we meet in the morning?

 

Lawsikia

 

J.

 

Hodges

Counsel

p

 | 

904-598-6140

f

 | 

904-598-6240

e

 | 

lhodges@sgrlaw.com

50 N. Laura Street | Suite 2600 | Jacksonville, FL 32202

www.sgrlaw.com

<image001.jpg>

    

From: Hodges, Lawsikia <lhodges@sgrlaw.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 8:23 AM
To: Richard Weaver <rweaver@amcdfl.org>; rxue@amcdfl.org
Cc: TBecker4AMCD@protonmail.com; tbecker@amcdfl.org
Subject: RE: RFP for Auditing Firms

 

Richard – Sounds great.  I may have some availability today. How long will you be in the office today, until 2 pm?

 

Lawsikia

 

J.

 

Hodges

Counsel

p

 | 

904-598-6140

f

 | 

904-598-6240

e

 | 

lhodges@sgrlaw.com

50 N. Laura Street 

Posted by at

2 comments:

Pete said...

Marked urgent but isn't... sent to the spam folder. Can't believe you emailed Komando after the defamation and libelous content. Should be returned with cease and desist order. That ought to be a good start to the litigation.

11:06 AM
Ed Slavin said...

Off topic. Overbearing. Arrogant anonymouse "Pete"spews threats and falsehood, threatening libel actions prohibited by Florida law and Supreme Court precedent. Pettifogging "Pete" is in no position to give me orders or to commit tortious interference with my First and Ninth Amendment rights. "Pete" sounds like a privileged corporate lawyer. Self-important, threatening termagant. Is "Pete" RICHARD CHRISTIAN KOMANDO's partner? Do ask. Do tell. Who is "Pete?"

8:23 AM

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