Sheriff DAVID SHOAR Must Resign. Reforms Needed. Now.
By Ed Slavin
St. Johns County is mired in corruption.
Don't take my word for it; read the nearly 7000-word investigation in The New York Times. A three-time Pulitzer Prize winner exhaustively documented the apparent obstruction of justice by Sheriff David Bernard Shoar, who has refused for four years to give an interview to Walt Bogdanich.
The good people of St. Johns County must insist that Sheriff Shoar resign. Thataway, Sheriff Shoar can focus on his legal troubles, allowing the Governor to name an interim sheriff to serve until the next election. Let the healing begin.
Everyone in St. Johns County feels the shame and stigma of Shoar's perfidious retaliatory campaign directed against Special Agent Rusty Rodgers. Shoar has brought dishonor to St. Augustine and to St. Johns County.
Shoar is as phony a politician as ever made a chair squeak. His unsworn budget testimony before County Commissioners June 20th was a stumbling bumbling mess of rambling rhetoric. Asked simple factual and numerical questions, Sheriff Shoar did not know the answers. He yelled to the back of the room to his underlings, who yelled back to him. How uncouth, gauche and louche.
Shoar insulted the Michelle O'Connell family last year, stating in a middle-of-the-night press release that they had "molested" Michelle O'Connell's body by having it exhumed, discovering her jaw was broken.
Shoar is unfit to hold public office.
The Times also exposed maladroit Medical Examiner Predrag Bulic, whose office missed the broken jaw, failing to include it in its report, failing to do its job. Dr. Bulic oddly believes that guns recoil forward, inventing "junk science" contradicted by measurements, falsely claiming Michelle O'Connell committed suicide (as she was moving out) by shooting twice, sticking the gun in her tongue and pulling the trigger, claiming that the gunsight injured her eyelid. Malarkey!
Our St. Johns County Attorney, Patrick Francis McCormack, is defending this malfeasant physician in a Florida Medical Examiner Commission license proceeding. Meanwhile County Administrator Michael David Wanchick secretively signed paperwork recommending Bulic's reappointment.
St. Johns County is corrupt -- we knew that. But who knew that our local Sheriff would coverup a homicide, while committing obstruction of justice, seeking to prosecute and incarcerate an honest lawman and get him fired?
Until local governments adopt meaningful reforms, we'll all remain embarrassed.
We need an Inspector General to audit and investigate waste, fraud, abuse, misfeasance, malfeasance and nonfeasance in local governments.
We need an Ombuds to help citizens navigate bureaucracies.
We need lobbyist disclosure, as in civilized cities/counties -- unregistered lobbyists run rampant.
We need a County ethics ordinance stronger than our bare-bones state ethics law (more loophole than law).
We must require disclosure of every investor in every LLC seeking zoning favors -- otherwise how can we know if Commissioners have conflicts of interest?
Why so many undocumented Commissioner "ex parte" meetings with developers -- how about body cameras for Commissioners, as well as law enforcement officers?
We need a welcoming spirit in our government offices. There is no longer anyone on the first floor of St. Augustine City Hall to welcome and direct citizens to offices upstairs. Why?
There's now a sign in our County Administration Building, ordering records requesters to e-mail, instead of visiting offices and requesting records. This appears to violate our Florida Sunshine Law.
Got questions for Commissioners? Questions are forbidden/discouraged. Unconstitutional!
Fake "civility" rules are abused to chill and gavel free speech. Unconstitutional!
Residents get three minutes to speak, while fat cat developers and their mouthpieces drone on and on, without allowing cross-examination by residents. Why?
Citizens deserve respect, for a change. We need healing and transparency. Now!
Ask questions. Demand answers. Expect democracy.
--------
THAT'S WHAT THE RECORD REFUSED TO PRINT.
--------
THAT'S WHAT THE RECORD REFUSED TO PRINT.
The New York Times slogan is "All The News That's Fit to Print."
The Record's slogan must be "will developers approve of it?
Poltroonish pusillanimous developer-enabling, crook-supporting, Trump-endorsing St. Augustine Record Fishing and Opinion Editor Jim Sutton is afraid of SHERIFF DAVID SHOAR. Be not afraid. Obstruction of justice is corruption. We need thorough local reforms. Now.
"RUN THAT BABY" -- Jason Robards as Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee in "All the President's Men"
Jim Sutton is no Ben Bradlee. Read the fishy Fishing and Opinion Editor's latest sophistry:
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin
To: jim.sutton
Cc: derek.may; tony.bernados ; craig.richardson ; sheldon.gardner ; stuart.korfhage ; jared.keever ; jake.martin
Sent: Wed, Jun 28, 2017 4:38 pm
Subject: Re: REVISED DRAFT Ed Slavin column (600 words)
From: Ed Slavin
To: jim.sutton
Cc: derek.may
Sent: Wed, Jun 28, 2017 4:38 pm
Subject: Re: REVISED DRAFT Ed Slavin column (600 words)
Dear Jim:
1. Is this a case of "Mrs. Grundyism" on your part? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs_Grundy
1. Is this a case of "Mrs. Grundyism" on your part? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs_Grundy
2. The Supreme Court of the United States makes libel law, not Sheriff Shoar.
I expect better from you -- not an unreasonable facsimile of "Hoppy" Tebeault.
3. I am prepared to address your concerns.
4. Please call me today to discuss.
With kindest regards, I am,
 | ||||
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: derek.may <derek.may@morris.com>; tony.bernados <tony.bernados@staugustine.com>
Cc: jim.sutton <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>; craig.richardson <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>; sheldon.gardner <sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com>; stuart.korfhage <stuart.korfhage@staugustine.com>; jared.keever <jared.keever@staugustine.com>; jake.martin <jake.martin@staugustine.com>
Sent: Wed, Jun 28, 2017 4:22 pm
Subject: Fwd: REVISED DRAFT Ed Slavin column (600 words)
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: derek.may <derek.may@morris.com>; tony.bernados <tony.bernados@staugustine.com>
Cc: jim.sutton <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>; craig.richardson <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>; sheldon.gardner <sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com>; stuart.korfhage <stuart.korfhage@staugustine.com>; jared.keever <jared.keever@staugustine.com>; jake.martin <jake.martin@staugustine.com>
Sent: Wed, Jun 28, 2017 4:22 pm
Subject: Fwd: REVISED DRAFT Ed Slavin column (600 words)
Dear Messrs. Bernados and May:
Will you please call me to discuss this today?
Will you please call me to discuss this today?
Thank you!
With kindest regards, I am,
| ||||
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: jim.sutton <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>
Cc: george.gabel <george.gabel@hklaw.com>; derek.may <derek.may@morris.com>; craig.richardson <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>; tony.bernados <tony.bernados@staugustine.com>; sheldon.gardner <sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com>; jared.keever <jared.keever@staugustine.com>; jake.martin <jake.martin@staugustine.com>; stuart.korfhage <stuart.korfhage@staugustine.com>
Sent: Wed, Jun 28, 2017 3:50 pm
Subject: Re: REVISED DRAFT Ed Slavin column (600 words)
2. You are wrong.
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: jim.sutton <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>
Cc: george.gabel <george.gabel@hklaw.com>; derek.may <derek.may@morris.com>; craig.richardson <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>; tony.bernados <tony.bernados@staugustine.com>; sheldon.gardner <sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com>; jared.keever <jared.keever@staugustine.com>; jake.martin <jake.martin@staugustine.com>; stuart.korfhage <stuart.korfhage@staugustine.com>
Sent: Wed, Jun 28, 2017 3:50 pm
Subject: Re: REVISED DRAFT Ed Slavin column (600 words)
Dear Jim:
1. What do you mean by that?2. You are wrong.
3. The conclusion is accurate. We in the reality-based community who read the 2013 and 2017 New York Times article know that what I say is true.
4. I asked for your suggestions last week. You did not respond. Why?
5. New York Times v. Sullivan governs. There is no libel. Having been sued by a corrupt Sheriff on the morning of my first law school exam (Torts) and having watched him arrested and imprisoned, I know. Sheriff Dennis O. Trotter not only went to federal prison, but he and his co-felon bail bondsmen paid me a five figure settlement of my federal civil rights claim.
6. There is no libel here, Jim, only facts and my statement of opinion based on 40+ years of experience.
7. Please ask your lawyer, George Gabel of Holland & Knight, who ably represented eighteen (18) of us on Open Records and Sunshine issues with the City of St. Augustine.
8. I think you may have a possible conflict of interest on anything re: Sheriff Shoar. Do you need to ask me why I think that?
9. Please call me to discuss this draft column and kindly mark it up, line by line on anything you question before we talk.
10. The facts and time are both on our side.
11. As LBJ said to Congress after Selma, "We SHALL overcome!"
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
| ||||
-----Original Message-----
From: Sutton, Jim <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>
To: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Jun 28, 2017 3:29 pm
Subject: Re: REVISED DRAFT column (600 words)
Dear Jim:
Will this run Sunday?
From: Sutton, Jim <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>
To: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Jun 28, 2017 3:29 pm
Subject: Re: REVISED DRAFT column (600 words)
Ed,
I won't publish this because your charges against Shoar are over the top. I'm not sure the newspaper couldn't get sued for printing your allegations. I don't mind running your stuff, but this one goes over legal line. And I think you know it.
Jim
Jim Sutton
Opinion Page Editor
The St. Augustine Record
904-819-3487
*Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.
— Oscar Ameringer
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:25:26 -0400
To: "jim.sutton@staugustine.com" <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>
Cc: <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>, <jared.keever@staugustine.com>, <jake.martin@staugustine.com>
Subject: Re: REVISED DRAFT column (600 words)
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:25:26 -0400
To: "jim.sutton@staugustine.com" <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>
Cc: <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>, <jared.keever@staugustine.com>, <jake.martin@staugustine.com>
Subject: Re: REVISED DRAFT column (600 words)
Will this run Sunday?
Thank you for all that you do for our community.
With kindest regards, I am,
| ||||
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: jim.sutton <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>
Cc: craig.richardson <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>; jared.keever <jared.keever@staugustine.com>; jake.martin <jake.martin@staugustine.com>
Sent: Thu, Jun 22, 2017 11:35 am
Subject: REVISED DRAFT column (600 words)
St. Johns County is mired in corruption.
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: jim.sutton <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>
Cc: craig.richardson <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>; jared.keever <jared.keever@staugustine.com>; jake.martin <jake.martin@staugustine.com>
Sent: Thu, Jun 22, 2017 11:35 am
Subject: REVISED DRAFT column (600 words)
St. Johns County is mired in corruption.
Don't take my word for it; read the nearly 7000-word investigation in The New York Times. A three-time Pulitzer Prize winner exhaustively documented the apparent obstruction of justice by Sheriff David Bernard Shoar, who has refused for four years to give an interview to Walt Bogdanich.
The good people of St. Johns County must insist that Sheriff Shoar resign. Thataway, Sheriff Shoar can focus on his legal troubles, allowing the Governor to name an interim sheriff to serve until the next election. Let the healing begin.
Everyone in St. Johns County feels the shame and stigma of Shoar's perfidious retaliatory campaign directed against Special Agent Rusty Rodgers. Shoar has brought dishonor to St. Augustine and to St. Johns County.
Shoar is as phony a politician as ever made a chair squeak. His unsworn budget testimony before County Commissioners June 20th was a stumbling bumbling mess of rambling rhetoric. Asked simple factual and numerical questions, Sheriff Shoar did not know the answers. He yelled to the back of the room to his underlings, who yelled back to him. How uncouth, gauche and louche.
Shoar insulted the Michelle O'Connell family last year, stating in a middle-of-the-night press release that they had "molested" Michelle O'Connell's body by having it exhumed, discovering her jaw was broken.
Shoar is unfit to hold public office.
The Times also exposed maladroit Medical Examiner Predrag Bulic, whose office missed the broken jaw, failing to include it in its report, failing to do its job. Dr. Bulic oddly believes that guns recoil forward, inventing "junk science" contradicted by measurements, falsely claiming Michelle O'Connell committed suicide (as she was moving out) by shooting twice, sticking the gun in her tongue and pulling the trigger, claiming that the gunsight injured her eyelid. Malarkey!
Our St. Johns County Attorney, Patrick Francis McCormack, is defending this malfeasant physician in a Florida Medical Examiner Commission license proceeding. Meanwhile County Administrator Michael David Wanchick secretively signed paperwork recommending Bulic's reappointment.
St. Johns County is corrupt -- we knew that. But who knew that our local Sheriff would coverup a homicide, while committing obstruction of justice, seeking to prosecute and incarcerate an honest lawman and get him fired?
Until local governments adopt meaningful reforms, we'll all remain embarrassed.
We need an Inspector General to audit and investigate waste, fraud, abuse, misfeasance, malfeasance and nonfeasance in local governments.
We need an Ombuds to help citizens navigate bureaucracies.
We need lobbyist disclosure, as in civilized cities/counties -- unregistered lobbyists run rampant.
We need a County ethics ordinance stronger than our bare-bones state ethics law (more loophole than law).
We must require disclosure of every investor in every LLC seeking zoning favors -- otherwise how can we know if Commissioners have conflicts of interest?
Why so many undocumented Commissioner "ex parte" meetings with developers -- how about body cameras for Commissioners, as well as law enforcement officers?
We need a welcoming spirit in our government offices. There is no longer anyone on the first floor of St. Augustine City Hall to welcome and direct citizens to offices upstairs. Why?
There's now a sign in our County Administration Building, ordering records requesters to e-mail, instead of visiting offices and requesting records. This appears to violate our Florida Sunshine Law.
Got questions for Commissioners? Questions are forbidden/discouraged. Unconstitutional!
Fake "civility" rules are abused to chill and gavel free speech. Unconstitutional!
Residents get three minutes to speak, while fat cat developers and their mouthpieces drone on and on, without allowing cross-examination by residents. Why?
Citizens deserve respect, for a change. We need healing and transparency. Now!
Ask questions. Demand answers. Expect democracy.
With kindest regards, I am,
| ||||
Great editorial Ed!
ReplyDeleteRegarding this (in your response to Jim Sutton's refusal to publish your letter}; "8. I think you may have a possible conflict of interest on anything re: Sheriff Shoar. Do you need to ask me why I think that?"
I'll tell you why I think that Ed, in one word! Collusion!
The Saint Augustine Wreckit is the Chamber Pots lies of omission mouth piece that enabled Pig Tourism to hijack the now scam 'rule of law' to take over and decimate the city. A Jim Crow scam rule of law that DAVID BERNARD SHOAR was willingly, knowingly and immorally enforcing on a daily basis.
http://saintaugdog.com/sadissues/issue1/1page13sad.html