TAINTED MONEY? T'AINT ENOUGH in Sheriff's Race?

American Sheriff races were traditionally funded in part by bootleggers, bail bondsmen, dog tracks, gamblers, drug dealers and now "developers," those dodgy, sneaky secretive corporate perpetrators of what Robert Kennedy called "willful, heedless destruction of natural beauty and pleasures."  Sheriff David Shoar once told a League of Women Voters meeting that developers were "nice people."

I've seen developers corrupt St. Johns County politics since 1999.  That dawg won't hunt, Sheriff.

The long list of contributors to St. Johns County Sheriff campaigns illustrates the cancer of money in politics.






























St. Augustine Beach Police Chief Robert Hardwick has announced a long list of endorsers, including some of the top coverup artists responsible for the coverup of the Michelle O'Connell homicide, including Joel Bolante, Matthew Cline, et al.

While presenting himself as a reformer:

• Hardwick has accepted campaign money from government contractors, including the Sheriff's office and County lobbyist, THOMAS MARTIN FIORENTINO.
• Hardwick accepts campaign money and endorsements from SABPD and SJSO employees. 
• Hardwick has accepted campaign money from gambling interests.
• Hardwick has accepted campaign money from felony criminal suspects.  Case in point:  RICHARD BURTT O'BRIEN, disgraced former St. Augustine Beach Mayor, who abruptly quit last year amidst a felony investigation by SABPD, since referred to the St. Johns County Sheriff's office.

On June 20, 2020, Hardwick accepted two $500 checks from O'BRIEN and his wife, LAUREN RINGHAVER.

I have repeatedly asked Hardwick about the contributions and have not received a response.  When he took the FIORENTINO check last year, I asked him before a St. Augustine Beach City Commission meeting.  He looked sick and said he could not discuss it "while in uniform."  He never got back to me.

When I wrote and asked him about the O'BRIEN $1000, no substantive response.

If Hardwick is ethical, he should honor my respectful request to return the tainted money and request an independent forensic audit.

Otherwise, is the slogan of the Rob Hardwick campaign, "The only problem with tainted money is, "taint enough?"

Does being Robert Hardwick mean "never having to say you're sorry?"

Is Robert Hardwick turning out to be David Shoar 2.0, or is he a qualified lawman?

Color Hardwick other-directed by Sheriff SHOAR and his bagmen/funders?

You tell me.

In a deposition reported by The New York Times, Hardwick said of local law enforcement's mishandling of the Michelle O'Connell case, "we're all tainted."

Dodgy conflicted developer, County and Sheriff lobbyist THOMAS MARTIN FIORENTINO -- early Hardwick campaign contributor and "bundler."