Update: See perseverating "Pete" denunciation of "you people." Developers and their devious defenders hate it that sentient people have voted out developer-funded candidates, again and again and again. See comments below,
Just in case there's any doubt that our county is controlled by developers, my opinion piece was deleted so fast after Florida Politics emailed me the live link to it, I never even saw it online. That's how closely developer interests are scrutinizing what we say and do, and using their power to stop us. I wasn't even given an opportunity to edit the piece - they took the whole thing down with no explanation. The contract for Mr. Komando's law firm to be our county attorney will be discussed and voted on on Tuesday. It's not too late to say "no" to handing power over to developers. Contact your commissioners and come to the meeting Tuesday (it should come up after lunch) at 500 San Sebastian View in St. Augustine.
Below is an abbreviated version of what was deleted from Florida Politics last week:
ST. JOHNS COUNTY ATTORNEY CHOICE LEADS TO CONTROVERSY OVER CONFLICTS AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE
A major political battle is being waged in St. Johns County over the "apolitical" position of county attorney. Richard Komando was installed as "interim county attorney" a year ago, yet residents only learned in March that the county had in fact hired his entire law firm, Bradley, Garrison and Komando (BGK), as our Interim County Attorney. One of the partners, State Rep. Samuel Garrison, is 2026-27 Florida House Speaker-designate, and he is central to the current controversy.
For context, Mr. Komando was hand-picked for the $15,000/mo. position without a search, by four developer-supported commissioners in the wake of their censure of the lone "slow-the-growth" commissioner, Krista Joseph, and their attempted criminal prosecution of her - a Gold Star mom. (Joseph was elected in 2022 when St. Johns was the fastest growing county in the state). Her supposed crime was stating on the dais that "there is hope" for those who are sick of overdevelopment, referencing the 2024 primary, months away. She ended up having to file a federal lawsuit to protect her first amendment rights and to stay out of jail. She won.
After Mr. Komando took over as County Attorney, his household donated the maximum of $1,000 each to two of those four censuring Commissioners (Christian Whitehurst and Roy Alaimo), and gave zero dollars to Joseph or the slow-the-growth candidates. So much for the county attorney remaining "apolitical." Mr. Komando only recently disclosed that he also represents Baker, Putnam and Bradford counties plus two other government entities and an unknown number of private clients. One of those clients became known when a March 20th news report revealed that Mr. Komando is attorney to two roofers convicted in federal court of hiring illegal alien workers and cheating the government out of $23 million.
Residents of St. Johns County believe their $1.5+ billion-budget county deserves its own lawyer, and they should not have to share their lawyer with neighboring counties, criminals and other clients. And they said so at the March 25th meeting where Mr. Komando's firm was selected in a 3-2 vote, despite 100% of public commenters opposing, and emails to commissioners similarly representing the "vote no" opinion.
Two votes for Mr. Komando and his firm, BGK, were by Commissioners Sarah Arnold and Christian Whitehurst who have received or benefitted from hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds from developers, builders and their PACs. The two votes opposing Mr. Komando and his firm were by Chair Krista Joseph and Commissioner Ann Taylor who have received no funding from the development community and who ran on a platform to slow the growth. The tie-breaker, Commissioner Clay Murphy, also ran on a platform to slow the growth, but his votes since the election have been split. As he described his struggle over the decision March 25th, he stated that the firm's "influence" played a role in his decision. He said, "I think that members of Mr. Komando's ... group or firm, I think could help us bring home the bacon. I think that's something that we really have to think about."
A whispering campaign had been circulating, suggesting that St. Johns County commissioners would be making a major mistake if Mr. Komando was not chosen as county attorney, given that his law partner is the future House Speaker. According to the rumor, a "no" vote would result in financial retaliation by the speaker, and a "yes" vote would bring the county financial rewards; this is not to say Mr. Komando's firm was responsible for these tactics. But the potential for such manipulations exists as long as Rep. Garrison's firm seeks a contract with a County government prior to serving as Speaker. He is also Chair of the House Rules and Ethics Committee.
Residents are unhappy not only with the specter of having a county attorney who is unwilling to commit to the job, full time, in house, with no other clients, but they are also unhappy with decisions that Mr. Komando has made. As an example, Mr. Komando selected a law firm that routinely defends the county in employee matters rather than an independent firm to investigate sexual harassment and retaliation allegations at the county. The firm's predictable conclusion was that the matter was handled correctly. (One of the alleged victims reportedly remains on administrative leave for nearly two months at taxpayers' expense, given no reason why, and no hint as to when or if she'll be asked back.)
St. Johns County has five attorneys on staff, and a law firm is not the right choice for the sixth. Residents want one County Attorney who will be 100% committed to that job and no other. We deserve political neutrality in our county attorney, with no conflicts and no hint of an unethical quid pro quo arrangement that could backfire.
16 comments:
The county consists of a judical system, legislative body, and executive. There is no "developer autocracy" or "developer shadow government." You don't like who SJC elects for the commission, take it up with thousands of people. Not one person seated in the commission is a developer or taking payments from a developer to do a certain something. I see you've stopped short of defamation and libel when it comes to that just so you can continue to ramble on at the meetings.
Bible in one hand, (book that mentions stoning gay people,) rainbow flag in the other hand. That's about as mentally disordered and dissonant as I can think of. Seek medication and treatment.
"Gov. DeSantis defends wife Casey amid scrutiny over $10M payment to Hope Florida Foundation." - NewsJax
Why does Pete put words and phrases in quotes as if he's quoting the column that says none of those things? Maybe because he's a consummate liar. Pete, please provide proof and evidence that "Not one seated commissioner is taking payments from a developer to do a certain something." You must be psychic to know that. An atheist psychic - imagine that!
There's no proof or evidence that they're personally profiting from development..so until you provide that proof and evidence..it is you people who are the liars. I don't have to disprove something that doesn't contain proof or evidence to begin with. That's logical fallacy, burden of proof fallacy, and you people make arguments from ignorance. Lord help anyone who has to suffer you irrational people. You people think your fantasies are reality so you need medication.
Read about the etiology of the trite trope and post by "Pete," whining about "you people"
"Fast slang" explains it. You People
Copy Phrase
Offensive
Normal
The term "You People" is a highly offensive slang term that has been used to refer to groups of people in a derogatory manner. It is often used as a way to generalize and stereotype individuals based on their race, ethnicity, religion, or other characteristics. This term has been used throughout history to oppress and discriminate against marginalized communities, and it continues to be used today by individuals who seek to promote hate and division.
When someone uses the term "You People," they are essentially saying that all members of a particular group are the same and should be treated as such. This type of thinking is not only harmful but also completely inaccurate. Every individual is unique and should be judged based on their own actions and character, rather than being lumped together with others based on superficial characteristics.
Those who use the term "You People" often do so to express their own prejudices and biases, which can lead to discrimination and mistreatment of entire groups of people. This type of language is unacceptable and has no place in a society that values equality and respect for all individuals.
It is important to recognize the harm caused by the use of this term and to actively work towards eliminating it from our vocabulary. We must strive to create a world where everyone is valued and respected, regardless of their background or identity. This means standing up against hate and discrimination in all its forms and promoting inclusivity and acceptance. Only then can we truly move towards a more just and equitable society.
"Why do you people always have to make everything about race?"
"Can you believe those you people? They're always causing trouble."
"You people are always looking for a handout, it's disgusting."
"I can't stand you people and your entitled attitudes."
"You people need to get your act together and stop being so damn lazy."
#losers
#nitwits
#
Yeah you too Slavin. You've not presented one piece of proof for your claims only taken conjecture as reality just because you think so... and publicly spreading manure.
Redundant rebarbative retromingent ridicule. You are wrong, Anonymous. "Pete" is a corporate shill too insecure to give his name. Pray for "Pete."
"Profiting from..." "taking payments from a developer...." all words that Lying Pete has put into our mouths that we never said. The only thing we have said - which is true - is that some commissioners are developer-funded. And they are. They could not have been elected without their developer funding. It's all over the SOE website and the financials on the PACs that send out the dirty, lying ads that get them elected.
I have nothing to do with any corporation. When? When will you go one day without making a bogus claim?
You're not understanding the point. You're complaining as if something illegal or unethical is happening and there's not. Without campaign finance reform, they can get contributions from whoever they please. You're taking it out on the candidates instead of other people who could be doing campaign finance reform but aren't. And those are most likely people that you vote for. I see a lot of misdirected anger here because someone isn't getting their way... and lotta bogus insinuations as well.
Again putting words in my mouth. I never said it was illegal. However, it is unethical when those donations obviously influence a commissioner's votes. When they receive tens of thousands of dollars from the Hutsons and their PACs and then they vote to approve a 5600-home development that will strain our county's infrastructure and burden taxpayers, that's unethical.
Crosby brought a stack of flyers up there and shook them at the commissioners as if appeal to emotion, a fallacy, was supposed to compel them to rethink their votes.
If it's a cause or candidate you support you'll probably overlook a donation to that certain candidate. Hopefully you protest for campaign finance reform regularly, and not just simply vote for other candidates who also receive campaign contributions and who also keep those people in mind when they do things. And hopefully you've never given money to someone's campaign either.
Oh please. Pete-zza Atheist News is conflicted up the a$$ with developers while he puts on a show of being a caring Democrat who hates rich people. He must think we're complete idiots. Those flyers were a demonstration of Whitehurst's hypocrisy -- his incessant whining about a couple of Facebook posts while he benefitted from $1.5M worth of lying attack advertising.
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