Visiting Aviles Mayor PILAR VARELA Under Spanish Corruption Investigation, EL COMERCIO Reports

University of Florida/Colonial Quarter (operated by PAT CROCE) knelled February 25, 2013: "While Hollywood stars grace the red carpet this evening for the Oscars, we were honored this weekend to be paid a visit by Avilés mayor Pilar Varela Díaz (center)--the first woman to hold this office in Avilés, Spain--and (then) St. Augustine mayor Joe Boles (right)."

Mayor PILAR VARELA DIAZ (center) with ex-Mayor JOSEPH LESTER BOLES, Jr. of St. Augustine, Florida
(City of St. Augustine website)


PILAR VARELA, the visiting Mayor (Alcadesa) of St. Augustine's "sister city," Aviles, Spain is reportedly under investigation by Spanish police for corruption, including bribery, fraud, influence-pedding and money-laundering.
Yesterday's EL COMERCIO newspaper reports that Aviles Mayor VARELA is among more than thirty (30) Asturias politicians under investigation for their 2009-2013 trips to Madrid and Barcelona that were paid by and relationships with AQUAGEST, a Spanish water company that is a government contractor.
Read the story here. Alcadesa VARELA is here this week for the Menendez Noche de Gala on February 28, honoring the 496th birthday of Pedro Menendez de Aviles. This afternoon (February 26) at 2PM, she joins St. Augustine officials for her presentation of a gift model of the San Pelayo (Pedro Menendez' ship) and a joint proclamation of St. Augustine and Aviles as Compassionate Cities.
VARELA became Mayor in June 2007, at which point St. Augustine Mayor JOSEPH LESTER BOLES, JR. reportedly spent $70 to send her a dozens red carnations.
City managers and elected officials have been spent tens of thousands of dollars gallivanting to Spain for "cultural exchange" during BOLES' years as Mayor, 2006-2014.
One such trip was halted in 2010 when the Holland & Knight law firm represented eighteen of us and raised concerns about Sunshine violations in our officials "conducting business" in Spain.
City officials have discussed attracting business to St. Augustine from Spain, and the U.S. Spain Business Council is said to be meeting here this year, with a possible visit by the new King and Queen of Spain.
City officials have also discussed spending $5 million to replace all City water meters.
Open Records requests on VARELA, AQUAGEST, water meters and cultural exchanges was filed earlier today.
Stay tuned.