RANDY BRUNSON FLORIDA ELECTIONS COMMISSION CASE -- MOTION FILED TO DISQUALIFY BRUNSON'S LAWYER, MARK HERRON

Conflicted Tallahassee Powerlawyer MARK HERRON, Lawyer for Florida Democrats, Former Florida Ethics Commission Chair, Says "I CAN REPRESENT ANYONE I WANT," Wants to Represent St. Johns County Republican RANDY BRUNSON Before Florida Election Commission


RANDY BRUNSON, Airport Commission Member and Failed Republican Candidate for County Commission




BEFORE THE FLORIDA ELECTION COMMISSION

In re: RANDY BRUNSON

COMPLAINANT'S MOTION TO DISQUALIFY MARK HERRON

Complainant Ed Slavin respectfully moves for the Florida Election Commission to disqualify MARK HERRON as counsel for Respondent RANDY BRUNSON on the grounds of conflict of interest and appearance of impropriety.

1. Complainant is a member of the St. Johns County Democratic Committee (SJCDEC).

2. Respondent's lawyer, MARK HERRON, provided training for the St. Johns County DEC this year on election law.

3. MARK HERRON is the trusted lawyer for both the Florida and National Democratic Committees.

4. Respondent RANDY BRUNSON is a Republican who was running for County Commissioner in St. Johns County as a Republican.

5. The applicable Florida Bar Rule states in pertinent part:
Rule 4-1.7 Conflict of Interest: General rule
(a) Representing Adverse Interests.
A lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation of that client will be directly adverse to the interests of another client, unless:
(1) the lawyer reasonably believes the representation will not adversely affect the lawyer's responsibilities to and relationship with the other client; and
(2) each client consents after consultation.
(b) Duty to Avoid Limitation on Independent Professional Judgment.
A lawyer shall not represent a client if the lawyer's exercise of independent professional judgment in the representation of that client may be materially limited by the lawyer's responsibilities to another client or to a third person or by the lawyer's own interest, unless:
(1) the lawyer reasonably believes the representation will not be adversely affected; and
(2) the client consents after consultation.

6. It would violate Rule 4-1.7 for HERRON to represent both Democrats and Republicans before the FEC and in particular for HERRON to St. Johns County Republican RANDY BRUNSON against a Complaint made by an SJCDEC member, after HERRON provided training on election laws for SJCDEC earlier this year.

7. Complainant does not consent to HERRON's representation of BRUNSON.

8. Contacted by telephone after the notice of the hearing, HERRON refused to disqualify himself, stating, "I can represent anyone I want."

9. Such is not the case. See Rule 4-1.7, supra.

10. MARK HERRON knows the confidences of Democrats statewide and in St. Johns County, having even conducted training in St. Johns County. Yet MARK HERRON stated, "I can represent anyone I want." Compare Rule 4-1.7, supra.

11. Under Florida Bar Rule 4-1.10 and administrative precedents, the Florida Elections Commission is empowered to disqualify lawyers from representing respondents where conflicts of interest exist.

12. Democratic lawyer MARK HERRON's proposed representation of Republican RANDY BRUNSON before FEC "tempts dishonor." See, e.g., United States v. Mississippi Valley Generating Co., 364 U.S. 520, 548 (1961), citing Matthew 6:24 -- "no [person] can serve two masters," holding that laws and rules preventing conflicts of interest is aimed "not only at dishonor but at conduct that tempts dishonor."

13. FEC is empowered to order disqualification of MARK HERRON . See, e.g., Berkman v. Coast Guard Academy, 97-CAA-2&9 (United States Department of Labor District Chief Administrative Law Judge David W. DiNardi, April 9, 1997 Order Granting Complainant's Motion to Disqualify), where lawyer's conduct was at issue); Hasan v. Nuclear Power Services, 86-ERA-24 (Hon. Alfred Lindeman, September 25, 1986 Decision on Motions to Disqualify Respondents' Counsel, for Default Judgment, and For Sanctions). United States v. Mississippi Valley Generating Co., Matthew 6:24; Clinard v. Blackwood, 46 S.W. 3d 177 (Tenn. 2001); Goss Graphics Systems, Inc. v. Man Roland Druckmaschlinen Aktiengesellschaft, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 181000 (N.D. (N.D. Iowa 2000) (disqualifying Kirkland & Ellis); Asyst Tech. Inc. v. Empek, Inc., 962 F.Supp. 1241 (N.D. Cal. 1997)(disqualifying Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati); New Jersey Blue Cross/Blue Shield v. Phillip Morris, Inc., 53 F.Supp. 2d 338, 347 (E.D.N.Y 1999) (disqualifying Winston & Strawn); Islander East Rental Program v. Ferguson, 917 F.Supp. 504, 506 (S.D.Tex. 1996) (disqualifying Fulbright & Jaworski); Shadow Traffic Network v. Superior Court. 29 Cal Rptr. 2d 693 (Ct. App. 1994) (disqualifying Latham & Watkins); USFL v. NFL, 605 F. Supp. 1448, 1544 (S.D.N.Y. 1985)(disqualifying Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison).

14. Any doubts in the FEC members' minds should be resolved in favor of disqualification, to protect the public and Complainant from the confederacy of special interests represented by MARK HERRON's law firm and the "potential dishonor" of having MARK HERRON representing both Democrats and Republicans in contested actions before FEC. See, supra; see also Westinghouse Elec. Corp. v. Gulf Oil Corp. 588 F.2d 221, 225 (7th Cir. 1978); IBM v. Levin, 271, 283 (3d Cir. 1978); Hull v. Celanese Corp., 513 F.2d 568, 571 (2nd Cir. 1975); Cardinale v. Golinello, 42 N.Y.2d 288 (N.Y. App. 1977).

15. A motion to disqualify requires the FEC to balance the parties' rights. Ordinarily, a litigant should have a right to counsel of her choice. Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 53 (1932).

16. However, MARK HERRON's representation in this case presents the potential for divided lawyer loyalties, with the same lawyer who briefed St. Johns County Democrats on election law defending RANDY BRUNSON in a complaint filed by a member of the St. Johns County Democratic Committee. The purpose of ordering disqualification is to safeguard the FEC's integrity and avoid tainting litigation. See, e.g., USFL v. NFL, 605 F. Supp. 1448, 1544 (S.D.N.Y. 1985).

17. Continued misrepresentations by RANDY BRUNSON are likely to be promoted by his being represented by a former FEC Chair and lobbyist who represents the Florida Democratic Party and Democratic National Committee.

18. Continued representation could advance BRUNSON's concealment -- which has also embraced an apparently backdated lease -- and is contrary to our country's fundamental ideas of due process and fairness. See, e.g., Daniel Patrick Moynihan, SECRECY (1998). Disqualification is appropriate because the integrity of the adversarial process is at stake. Papanicolaou v. Chase Manhattan Bank, 720 F.Supp. 1080 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).

19. The representation of Respondent RANDY BRUNSON by MARK HERRON is troubling, and should be disapproved by the FEC, as MARK HERRON, a former FEC Chair apparently thinks he can represent "anyone [he] wants" to, e.g., both Republicans and Democrats at the same time before the same agency. See, e.g., Nicole G. Tell, "Representing Police Officers and Municipalities: A Conflict of Interest for Municipal Attorney in § 1983 Police Misconduct Suit," 65 Fordham L.R. 2825 (May 1997); R. David Donoghue, "Conflict of Interest: Concurrent Representation," 11 Geo. J. Legal Ethics 319 (Winter 1998); Debra Lynn Bassett, "Three's a Crowd: A Proposal to Abolish Joint Representation," 32 Rutgers L.J. 387 (Winter 2001).

20. MARK HERRON's role as a defense counsel violates the precept that "a [person] cannot serve two masters." See, e.g., United States v. Mississippi Valley Generating Co., 364 U.S. 520, 548 (1961), citing Matthew 6:24.

21. As the late Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson once said, "as scarce as truth is, the supply seems greater than the demand." There is no positive effect of MARK HERRON's representation of both Demcrats and Republicans like RANDY BRUNSON. He must not be placed in a position to give Democrats advice about RANDY BRUNSON's confidences, and it would be unseemly for Democrats to have a lawyer Democrats cannot trust.

22. FEC must end this "unfair game." Clinard v. Blackwood, supra, 46 S.W. 3d at 188. Disqualification cannot prejudice Respondent but will eliminate powerful forces arrayed against the people and protect the integrity of the lawyer-wtiness rule. See Berkman v. Coast Guard Academy. Granting this motion will help protect and defend the integrity of the FEC process and end Respondent's "unfair game. Clinard v. Blackwood, supra, 46 S.W. 3d at 188. Multiple representation of a union, officers and employees has been held to constitute a conflict of interest in civil litigation. See, e.g., Yablonski v. UMWA, 448 F.2d 1175 (D.C. Cir. 1971); Teamsters v. Hoffa, 242 F.Supp. 246 (D.D.C 1965); White v. Fosco, 599 F. Supp. 710 (D.D.C. 1984). In the criminal case of In re Grand Jury Proceedings, 428 F.Supp. 273 (E.D. Mich. 1976), the Court disqualified New Jersey lawyers William Buffalino, Sr. and William Buffalino, Jr. from their multiple representation of co-employees of a Teamster's local union being investigated in connection with the disappearance and suspected murder of former Teamsters Union President James Riddle Hoffa. The Michigan District Court was concerned that the truth about Hoffa's disappearance would be suppressed if defense lawyers could represent multiple witnesses with different interests before the Grand Jury.

23. Potential witnesses against RANDY BRUNSON may be chilled by by the knowledge of the conflicted defense by MARK HERRON, who represents Democrats. The Republican Chair of the St. Johns County Commission, THOMAS GLAIZE MANUEL, for which BRUNSON was a candidate, is currently under federal indictment for bribery. If HERRON is permitted to represent BRUNSON before FEC, would there be no limit to whom he could represent? Could he represent MANUEL?

24. One reason another defense lawyer candidly offered for such conflicted representation is "controlling" witnesses, including "employees." James J. Brosnahan & Carol S. Brosnahan, "Attorney's Ethical Conduct During Adversary Proceedings," 523 PLI/Litig. 225, 255 (1995).

25. In Dunton v. County of Suffolk, 729 F.2d 903, 908 (2d Cir. 1984), the Court held that conflicted representation of a county and its employee resulted in the lawyer failing to act as a zealous advocate for the employee. In Shadid v. Jackson, 527 F. Supp. 87 (E.D. Tex. 1981), Judge Justice disqualified a law firm from representing both a municipality and a policeman in a civil rights case, holding that even though they had both signed a waiver, that was not enough to excuse the conflict of interest in their multiple representation.

26. In the instant case, MARK HERRON says "I can represent anyone I want." His statement indicates an expectation of entitlement -- that FEC won't regulate his representation. This is troubling, especially since he formerly held the top position in FEC.

27. Conflicted defense teams were disqualified by the Courts in United States v. Flanagan, 679 F.2d 1072 (3d Cir. 1982), rev'd on other grounds 465 U.S. 259 (1984), even though the defendant police officers jointly consented to the multiple representation. In Pacific Dunlop Holdings v. Barosh, 22 F.3d 113 (7th Cir. 1994), the Court upheld disqualification of a law firm that failed to advise shareholders to question fraud, finding that the lawyers would be called as witnesses (while rejecting Rule 11 sanctions). Likewise, in McKenzie Constr. v. St. Croix Storage Corp., 961 F.Supp. 857 (D.V.I. 1997), the Court disqualified the court-appointed mediator from later representing one of the parties, rejecting arguments that she did not know anything that could be of value. In Worldspan, L.P. v. Sabre Holdings, 5 F.Supp. 2d 1356 (N.D. Ga. 1998), the Court disqualified a law firm and rejected its reliance upon a six-year old waiver letter as a basis to resist disqualification.

28. Screening (or "Chinese walls") is not adequate to protect against divided loyalties between concurrent clients). Westinghouse Elec. Corp. v. Kerr-McGee Corp., 580 F.2d 1311, 1321 (7th Cir. 1978). In Harsh v. Kwait, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 4636, as amended by 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 5889 (Ohio App., 8th Dist., Cuyahoga County, 2000), a law firm drafted an indemnity agreement that was at issue in a sexual harassment lawsuit against a dentist -- the law firm was disqualified. The Ohio Court of Appeals held, "There is no way to erect a "Chinese Wall' at counsel table." 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 5889. See also Palumbo v. Tele-Communications, Inc., 157 F.R.D. 129 (D.D.C. 1994)(Judge Stanley K. Sporkin); Harrison v. Fisons Corp., 819 F.Supp. 1039, 1041 (M.D. Fla. 1993). In Estate Theaters, Inc. v. Columbia Pictures Ind., 345 F.Supp. 93, 99 (S.D.N.Y. 1972), the Court held that no attorney should be allowed to enter a situation where s/he would be tempted to less-than-zealously represent one client's interests to benefit another.

29. FEC must call an end to Respondent's very "unfair game." Clinard v. Blackwood, supra, 46 S.W. 3d at 188; See Rule 4-1.7, supra.

30. Even if FEC approved the conflicted representation, attorney-client privilege may not apply to future controversies involving jointly represented clients. In re Grand Jury Subpoena Duces Tecum Dated November 18, 1974, 406 F.Supp. 391 (S.D.N.Y. 1975).

CONCLUSION

Complainant respectfully request that disqualification be ordered of MARK HERRON and his law firm.

Respectfully submitted



ED SLAVIN,. Complainant
P.O. Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
904-471-7023
904-471-9918 (fax)

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify this document was faxed to FEC (850-921-0783) and MARK HERRON (850-224-4359) on November 11, 2008.

Ed Slavin

Why do the heathen rage? (And why are Republicans wailing and gnashing their teeth throughout St. Johns County tonight?)

CHUCK NUSBAUM, UPON LEARNING THAT CONSERVATIVE WFOY-AM WANTS NO MORE OF HIS PHILISTINISM AND POTTYMOUTHERY ON OUR PUBLIC AIRWAVES IN ST. AUGUSTINE

ST. JOHNS COUNTY REPUBLICANS, UPON LEARNING THREE MORE DEMOCRATS WERE ELECTED TO LOCAL BOARDS

KKK MEMBERS AND PLAZABUMMER "ANONYMICE" UPON LEARNING WE HAVE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER

FLAGLER COLLEGE CHANCELLOR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM L. PROCTOR UPON LEARNING SKEETER KEY WAS DEFEATED, DENYING PROCTOR A 2ND SCHOOL BOARD VOTE

SARAH PALIN UPON LEARNING SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO MURDER CARIBOU FROM MARINE TWO (The Vice Presidential Helicopter)

Undervoting is the result of voters’ lack of information about their government

Undervoting is the result of voters’ lack of information about their government
(see below)

Neither democracy nor the free market system works without adequate information for decisionmakers.

The Florida-wide undervote phenomenon (see below) means that some candidates who would have benefitted from Obama’s coattails didn’t make it.

Chain Gang Journalism is the roof of great evils.

The Florida-wide undervote phenomenon is the foreseeable result of newspapers dumbing down coverage, reducing the number of stories and column inches devoted to political and government coverage. In turn, that’s the result of newspapers following the lead of GANNETT’S USA TODAY, producing prettier, shriekingly shallow surface journalism.

Who among us really knows what City Commission, County Commission or Mosquito Control or Airport Authority are doing if they don’t have the time to watch and if newspapers don’t report it?

When the St. Augustine Record barely covers even a hotly contested Congressional race – and didn’t even run a news article after the August 26, 2008 Democratic Primary reporting that Faye Armitage won with 72% of the vote (only putting the tally on the front page without saying it was a Primary) -- it’s difficult to fathom the Record’s editorial line lamenting undervoting and lack of information.l

When you have supercilious, sexist newspaper reporters and columnists for newspapers like the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the Orlando Sentinel and other large chain-owned newspapers, who won’t even report on tawdry Congressman JOHN L. MICA’s voting record and use sexist pejoratives (like “starry-eyed”) to describe Democrat Faye Armitage, is it any wonder that voters don’t have enough information.

We need more news and less fluff, more investigative reporting and less celebrity superficiality, more debate and less ass-kissing for the real estate speculators and lugubrious goobers who would destroy Florida for their rancid profits.

We shall overcome!

Editorial: Is undervoting a ballot trend?

Editorial: Is undervoting a ballot trend?



Publication Date: 11/07/08


St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Penny Halyburton said Wednesday that election reports show many voters skipped races on Tuesday's general election ballot.

The undervotes were so high, in our view, they likely changed the outcome of some races.

An undervote is when a voter leaves a race blank. There also were some overvotes but nothing compared to the thousands who just didn't vote in every race.

Was the ballot so long that voters just didn't vote it all?

In local races, for example:

* More than 36,000 voters ignored each of two Airport Authority races.

* More than 32,000 ignored each of three Mosquito Control District races.

* A total of 2,788 did not vote in the hotly contested District 5 School Board race where every vote will matter. The ballots counted Tuesday gave incumbent Carla Wright a three-vote margin over challenger and former principal, Lionel "Skeeter" Key. A recount adding in the results of some 136 provisional ballots will determine the winner today.

* The controversial home rule charter proposal got defeated, but 15,361 also did not vote on it.

* Some 9,371 ignored the conservation lands and transportation local option sales tax, also defeated.

Halyburton said voters may have skipped a race if they knew nothing about it.

Good thinking. "When in doubt, leave it out."

There were only 215 undervotes in the presidential race and that causes us to conclude that people came out to vote for a president. No one can be forced to vote any or all races. We're sure Halyburton has undervoting on her list of issues to try to resolve before the 2010 election season.

Does anyone want to tell us why they skipped a race or two? Is this a trend? Voter apathy?

Every election, some pundit asks, "What if they had an election and nobody came?"

Well?


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Editorial: Voters, elections office make us proud

Editorial: Voters, elections office make us proud



Publication Date: 11/06/08


Almost since the end of the 2006 general election, Supervisor of Elections Penny Halyburton and her staff were getting ready for Tuesday. It did not take a rocket scientist to know within the last year that this would be the general election of the century. The run up to the presidential election started in 2006.

Long before the 2008 election ended Tuesday, Halyburton already was moving on to the 2010 election. She takes note on each election so she and her staff can improve the next one. New voting machines will be coming in 2010, she said.

Halyburton had a record-breaking general election this year, as 80.3 percent of the county's 131,744 voters cast ballots. That's 105,776 voters. This turnout was slightly higher than the 2004 number of 79.02 percent. Halyburton had predicted 88 percent, and certainly she did everything she could to get there. Last weekend, when early voting was ending and absentee voting was winding down, more than 65,000 had voted. We thought she'd make 88 percent.

Given what we had though in turnout, we think the performance deserves recognition from the state, too. Her staff was always cheerful and pleasant no matter the question.

Few problems arose, but there was the usual slowdown at the very end of the count. Southeast Branch Library was the last one in at 11 p.m., about an hour behind the next-to-the-last. Southeast Library is a large precinct and had a large voter turnout. But when the last one came in, the final tally emerged quickly.

The good news is that St. Johns County's results, except for provisional ballots, are recorded. We could be Broward or Palm Beach, for example, where ballots were still being counted midday Wednesday.

In our case, that's only where the lead is thin: School Board District 5. Incumbent Carla W. Wright has a three-vote lead over challenger Lionel "Skeeter" Key Jr. Provisional ballots -- used to vote when there is a problem with a voter's registration or other voter-related issues -- number 146 in that race. Friday, we'll know who won because that is when the provisional ballots are counted. What a cliffhanger!

Meanwhile, we thank Halyburton, the elections office staff, poll workers, candidates and voters for Tuesday's record-breaking turnout. Elections cannot work without all of them.


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Letter: Glad Record didn't endorse in presidential race

Letter: Glad Record didn't endorse in presidential race



Michael H. Riley
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 11/06/08


Editor: Thank you for not endorsing a presidential candidate. I guess I'll keep my subscription.

Michael H. Riley

St. Augustine


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Letter: Suggests commission-appointed charter revision group

Letter: Suggests commission-appointed charter revision group



Richard Bowers
Ponte Vedra Beach
Publication Date: 11/06/08


Editor: St. Johns County's voters have spoken. The faux charter government that was forced on the voters was defeated Tuesday for the second time.

The newly configured County Commission has a chance to explore charter government correctly. The commission can form a broad-based charter review commission composed of appointees from all government entities countywide including the cities, the special districts, and the Airport Authority. Private organizations, from Rotary clubs to Chambers of Commerce, should also be invited to participate. They can take several years to look at governance countywide and come forward with a new and true charter. If the County Commission can spend $35,000 to promote this faux charter, it can find sufficient funds to staff a charter review commission with professional consultants.

There is sufficient time to make this an inclusive effort and require that all business be conducted under the Open Records and Sunshine laws of Florida.

A future charter commission should include those who were for and against this recent effort. There were some good points made by the pro-charter faction. There is no reason to believe that they did not have the best interests of the county. Of course, the anti-charter people did also.

The County Commission should combine their viewpoints and get the best thinking in the county, supplement it with professionals, and charge them to bring back a charter that is fair and reasonable to all citizens.

Charter per se is not the be all and end all of local government. It can enhance and improve the election process and the delivery of county services and determine, by consensus, exactly what the government should be doing.

Bring everyone together and move forward. We all have the county's best interests in our hearts and minds.

Richard Bowers

Ponte Vedra Beach


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Letter: Community needs to help restart Humane Society

Letter: Community needs to help restart Humane Society



Jayne Moon
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 11/07/08


Editor: Thank you for your recent article, "Shelter backer faults board," on Nov. 2, about the sad state of affairs at our beloved Humane Society and for correctly placing the responsibility where in belongs: on the director and the board. The director was way over her head in managing people and resources, and the board failed to ask critical questions or respond to the concerns of former board members, volunteers and the staff.

Our caring community absolutely supports the care of our animal friends.

During my service on the board I worked with other board members to improve the facility, raise funds, and support the mission of the organization but our dissatisfaction with the director fell on deaf ears to the former board president. Rusty Hall unfortunately inherited the continuing problems that were to continue because the director was never replaced.

Out of complete frustration many of us, along with many, many volunteers resigned. Philip Genovar and his family are right to feel betrayed by poor performance of the current director and some board members.

So what do we do now? Many people are willing to help. Im sure the county animal services staff would also help. Im ready to help, I have a list of people ready to help.

We need to convene a community forum with an objective facilitator to get us started. Perhaps our local United Way? Lets put all of our egos aside and remember the bottom line, humane care for the animals in our community.

Jayne Moon

St. Augustine


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Letter: Obama's election is good for America

Letter: Obama's election is good for America



Richard Konover, Republican, Vietnam Veteran
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 11/07/08


Editor: Tuesday, our beloved country changed direction. The voters chose "the new guy," I believe, because he made the better case that he has the ability to chart a course for positive change. I believe that Barack Obama will assemble a unique team of exceptional people to man his administration and to detail and execute his vision for America. In the formation of his team, he will be bipartisan and make his selections based on merit, accomplishment and vision. I believe, as president, he will speak to us truthfully, openly and often. In his victory speech, he stipulated he'll make mistakes as he begins to move the country forward and he will. He will also, I believe, admit to his mistakes and correct them.

Here is a man who is intelligent, visionary, knowledgeable, pragmatic, articulate and unafraid of challenge. We will find ourselves looking forward on all fronts to meet and successfully overcome the challenges of the 21st century.

Worried about his "lack of experience?" We are about to be led by a brilliant self-made man, who came from modest beginnings to be a community organizer, president of the Harvard Law Review, a professor of constitutional law, a state senator, a U.S. senator and the CEO of the most incredibly well-organized and successful election campaign, perhaps, in the history of our country.

As Obama said in his speech Tuesday night -- it won't be easy and it's up to us. Let us challenge him to be what he has promised and challenge ourselves to become engaged in moving America forward, supporting him when we think he is right and speaking up when we think he is wrong.

Richard Konover, Republican, Vietnam Veteran

St. Augustine


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ACCUSED BRIBEPAYING REPUBLICAN COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN THOMAS G. MANUEL GETS TRIAL DELAYED

Manuel requests trial delay -- Bribery indictment trial was to be Dec. 1

By RICHARD PRIOR
richard.prior@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 11/07/08


The attorney for suspended St. Johns County Commissioner Tom Manuel has asked that his trial be delayed from its scheduled Dec. 1 opening in the Jacksonville Division of the U.S. District Court.

Jacksonville attorney William Sheppard noted that the filing of an indictment was "recent," and "the quantity of discovery to be reviewed and understood is significant."

"The consequences of this case are extremely significant," Sheppard added.

Manuel, 63, was indicted Oct. 16 on two counts of bribery.

The federal indictment charges him with soliciting and accepting bribes of $10,000 in April and $50,000 in June. If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

"The quantity of legal work that remains to be done in order to properly advise the Defendant with respect to any decisions and to prepare for trial renders proceeding on the presently adopted schedule unreasonable," Sheppard wrote in his motion.

He said he had discussed a possible continuance with Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie H. Savell, who doesn't oppose the motion.

The court had not posted a response as of Thursday evening.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Howard T. Snyder granted two defense motions that reinforce a requirement for the prosecution to turn over audio and video recordings that allegedly support the bribery charges.

The prosecution will also confirm the names of confidential informants.

Manuel, who had been the commission's chairman, announced the morning of Oct. 17 that he was taking leave under the federal Family Medical Leave policy, citing health reasons.

Manuel had a heart transplant before he was elected in 2006 to a four-year term on the commission.

He also maintained his innocence and said he looked forward to clearing his name.

Gov. Charlie Crist suspended Manuel from office later that afternoon.

A spokesman for the governor said at that time that the suspension does not create a vacancy in the office.

"Typically, there's a suspension until we gather more facts and then have the case heard in court," the spokesman said. "We will not be appointing anyone to fill that seat right now."

A spokeswoman in the governor's press office said Thursday that there is "no time-line for the replacement of Tom Manuel."

"It is currently in review and they are accepting applications at this time," she said.


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PZA approves Hydro expansion to almost double usage

PZA approves Hydro expansion to almost double usage

Nearby residents bemoan nighttime noise, traffic

By PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 11/07/08


Members of St. Johns County Planning & Zoning Agency sympathize with residents living near Hydro Aluminum who complain about late-night noise by the company's aluminum casting plant.

But it didn't stop them on Thursday from recommending approval of a rezoning that nearly doubles industrial use there.

The vote to approve was 5-2, with PZA members David Wiles and Brad Nelson dissenting.

"The (residential) build out around it is incompatible," Wiles said.

Half of Hydro's 103 acres are vacant, so the company has a 20-year plan to add 85,000 square feet to its existing plant, 30,000 square feet of office space and then 40,000 more square feet of offices. The next phase will consist of 90,000 square feet of offices and 174,000 square feet of light industrial uses.

Its workforce would increase from 350 to 600 employees, adding much more traffic, neighbors said.

Land Planner Karen Taylor, speaking for Hydro, said the company first plans to increase the size of the casting plant, move the guard house, construct another paint building, add a shipping deck and add a warehouse.

"The changes will increase efficiency and help with production," Taylor said,

In addition, the company is considering exploring a solar facility to reduce energy costs, since Hydro is Florida Power's biggest customer north of the Interstate 4 corridor.

Taylor said details about this are sketchy still.

Mostly, however, the key issue was the company's noise and its compatibility with surrounding homes

Residents have complained for four or five years about loud crashing at the plant in the middle of the night -- when front-loaders drop scrap aluminum -- and annoying backing beeps from heavy equipment that also wake them up.

Some can't open windows or use rooms nearest the plant because of the noise.

Patricia Wood, a resident of Winding Creek condos, said, "Most of us don't have the luxury of a good night's sleep. Buffers are not working."

She said warnings about the plant were buried in the fine print of her home's purchase contract.

Jerry Zinn, president of the 3,300-member Homeowners Association, said 563 homes are within a half mile of the plant.

"And there are still 900-plus units still unbuilt," Zinn said.

Tom Phillips of the Tuscany development organized a group called CAN-IT, or Concerned About Noise In Tuscany.

"Violations of the county's noise ordinance happen every day," he said. "It is ill-advised to let them expand.

"We've been working with them five years, and it still needs significant noise abatement."

Retired code officer Jerry Del Gaizo told the PZA, "You're not there at 2 a.m.," he said. "They're not acting in good faith."

Hydro built most of a $2 million wall -- 6 feet wide, 15 feet high around the noisiest parts of the property -- to help with the noise problem. They're still adding to it.

Operations Manager Matt Dionne said they'll complete the wall, but said sounds carry farther at night and with the wind.

"We have seen a dramatic reduction of the noise level," he said. "We won't be able to eliminate the sound of crashing metal.

"I feel bad for the folks. I really do. We're going to try to continue to work at it."

After their defeat, Phillips said the residents will take their case to the County Commission.

"I think elected officials will be more attuned to the 6,000 voters in the Shores," he said.


Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/110708/news_1107_033.shtml

© The St. Augustine Record

EPA PRESS RELEASE: TEN CALIFORNIA WATER SYSTEMS FACING FINES FOR FAILING TO MONITOR E. COLI IN DRINKING WATER

For Immediate Release: November 6, 2008

Contact: Mary Simms, (415) 947-4270, simms.mary@epa.gov

TEN CALIFORNIA WATER SYSTEMS FACING FINES FOR FAILING TO MONITOR E. COLI IN DRINKING WATER

U.S. EPA could levy tens-of-thousands in fines daily for each violation

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered ten California public drinking water systems to monitor for Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the source water of their drinking water systems, or face penalties of up to $32,500 per day for each violation.

E. coli is a type of fecal coliform bacteria commonly found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and humans. The presence of E. coli in water is a strong indication of recent sewage or animal waste contamination.

“It is vital that drinking water systems develop their plans and sample promptly,” said Alexis Strauss, the Water Division director for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “This requirement protects the public from potentially harmful microorganisms in drinking water.”

The EPA’s orders require these public drinking water systems to develop monitoring plans and conduct pathogen monitoring, as required by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The monitoring plans are required of all public water systems that obtain their water from a surface source (such as a river, lake or a well that is under the influence of surface water) and are part of a year-long source water monitoring effort for E. coli, designed to prevent contaminated drinking water.

The EPA has issued orders to the following ten California public water systems:

• Markleeville Water Co., Alpine County

• Lake Alpine Recreation Area, Alpine County

• Cedar Crest Resort, Fresno County

• Panoche Water District, Fresno County

• PG&E Balch Camp, Fresno County

• San Andreas Farms, Fresno County

• Elk Creek Community service district, Glenn County

• Town of Scotia Company, Humboldt County

• Coffee Creek Ranch, Trinity County

• Riverview Acres Water Systems, Trinity County

The requirements are part of the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, which increases treatment requirements for water systems that have high levels of Cryptosporidium in their source water. Systems serving fewer than 10,000 people have the option of initially monitoring for E. coli in their source water, which may be an indicator of Cryptosporidium. If the E. coli levels are too high, the system is required to monitor for Cryptosporidium.

Consuming water with Cryptosporidium, a waterborne pathogen, can cause gastrointestinal illness which can be severe in people with weakened immune systems, such as infants or the elderly. It can be fatal to those with severely compromised immune systems, such as cancer and AIDS patients. This type of monitoring protects public health by reducing illness due to Cryptosporidium and other harmful microorganisms in drinking water.

Water systems with high levels of Cryptosporidium or which do not filter their water must provide additional protection, such as ultraviolet disinfection, and watershed control programs.

For more information please visit: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/lt2

###

Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL

Republicans Crying in Their Champagne Over Obama Victory in Florida

Voter Suppression in St. Johns County -- It is Time to Take A Bite Out of Criminal Civil Rights Violations

I was in Orlando last night for the Obama victory party, which was splendid, with Senator Bill Nelson and newly-elected Congressmen celebrating Florida's Democratic victory for Obama. The people were jubilant and the car horns were loud. Yes we can! I am prouder than ever to be an American.

Our Nation's wounds -- and our Nation's Oldest City's wounds -- will soon be healed thanks to the perspicacity and determination of millions of Americans resisting the fascist Bush-Cheney regime.

They couldn't steal Florida or Ohio this year, as in 2000 and 2004.

We have long memories in St. Augustine.

On Election Day 2000, police cruisers harassed voters at polling places, while a State Highway Patrolman ticketed a Camry with a Gore-Lieberman sticker for supposedly having hard-to-read license plates (with two light bulbs that had never drawn comment during the three years the owner had the car). Republicans stole Florida using every dirty trick in the book, including failure to count 27,000 votes in Jacksonville (20,000 African-Americans), with the Election Supervisor defrauding Democrats by saying there were "only a few uncounted votes," not releasing the information until it was too late to contest it under Florida law.

On Election Day 2004, Lincolnville Neighborhood Association President Peter Romano reported to then-Mayor George Gardner the untimely repaving of the Willie Gallimore Center parking lot. Mayor Gardner complained to St. Johns County officials. The obvious attempt to suppress minority turnout -- repaving a primarily African-American polling place on election day -- was stopped, thanks to Peter Romano and George Gardner.

Our city and county have a pattern of racially biased actions, including the city annexing all-white areas (but not the portions of West Augustine west of the railroad tracks) and our county making all commissioner races at large, while reducing the number of seats from seven to five, eliminating Moses "Coach Floyd"
and depriving County Commission of any African-American representation for ten (10) years, until Ken Bryan defeated RANDY BRUNSON.

In the Obama/Biden Administration, I look forward to action on my 2005 civil rights complaint against the City of St. Augustine and St. Johns County.

In 1989, the first Bush Administration followed my suggestion by suing the City of Memphis, Tennessee over similar annexation and at-large districts, resulting the election of an African-American as Mayor of Memphis (Willie Herenton). It was a transforming moment in the City where Dr. King was murdered.

Our civil rights laws will be enforced.

If that requires that the City of St. Augustine and St. Johns County be sued by the Obama Administration, then bring it on.

Let freedom ring!

FBI re: Federal Election Crimes

Election Crimes and the FBI
Federal Election Crimes

In democratic societies like the United States, the voting process is a means by which citizens hold their government accountable, conflicts are channeled into resolutions, and power transfers peacefully. Our system of representative government works only when honest ballots are not diluted by fraudulent ballots. When elections become corrupted, democracy becomes threatened.

The FBI has a limited role in ensuring fair and free elections in the United States. Election crimes become federal cases when:

The ballot includes one or more federal candidates;
The crime involves an election official abusing his duties;
The crime pertains to fraudulent voter registration;
Voters are not U.S. citizens.
Federal election crimes fall into three broad categories:

Campaign finance crimes
Voter/ballot fraud
Civil rights violations
Potential Federal Offenses

1. Campaign finance

A person gives more than $4,600 to a federal candidate (various limits apply for donations to and from committees and groups);
A donor asks a friend to give money to a federal candidate, promising to reimburse the friend; the friend makes the donation and the real donor reimburses him;
A corporation gives corporate money to a federal candidate;
A person who is neither a citizen nor a green card holder gives money to a federal, state, or local candidate.

2. Voter/ballot fraud

A voter intentionally gives false information when registering to vote;
A voter receives money or something of value in exchange for voting in a federal election or registering to vote;
Someone votes more than once in a federal election (e.g., someone mails in absentee ballots in the names of dead people);
An election official corrupts his or her office to benefit a candidate or party (e.g., lets unqualified voters cast ballots).

3. Civil rights violations

Someone threatens a voter with physical or economic harm unless the voter casts his ballot in a particular way;
Someone tries to prevent qualified voters from getting to the polls in a federal election;
A scheme exists to prevent minorities from voting.

What is NOT a federal election crime:

Giving voters a ride to the polls;
Offering voters a stamp to mail an absentee ballot;
Giving voters time off to vote;
Violating state campaign finance laws;
Distributing inaccurate campaign literature;
Campaigning too close to the polls;
Trying to convince an opponent to withdraw from a race.
If you think an election crime is occurring, call the election crimes coordinator at your local FBI office.

For more information on the FBI’s efforts to protect voting rights, see the Department of Justice Fact Sheet of October 31, 2008.

FBI Press Release: Former CEO Convicted in $2 Billion Health Care Fraud

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2008
CRM

(202) 514-2008

TDD (202) 514-1888

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

FORMER NATIONAL CENTURY FINANCIAL ENTERPRISES CEO CONVICTED OF CONSPIRACY, FRAUD, AND MONEY LAUNDERING

Fraud Cost Investors More Than $2 Billion




WASHINGTON —A federal jury today convicted Lance K. Poulsen, former president, owner and chief executive officer of National Century Financial Enterprises (NCFE) of conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory G. Lockhart for the Southern District of Ohio announced. The charges stemmed from a scheme to deceive investors about the financial health of NCFE that cost investors more than $2 billion. The company, which was based in Dublin, Ohio, was one of the largest healthcare finance companies in the United States until it filed for bankruptcy in November 2002.

The Columbus, Ohio, jury convicted Poulsen, 65, after a four-week trial on all 12 charged counts contained in a July 2007 superseding indictment, including one count of conspiracy, six counts of securities fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and three counts of concealment money laundering.

At trial, witnesses testified that Poulsen engaged in a scheme from 1995 until the collapse of the company to deceive investors and rating agencies about the financial health of NCFE and how investors’ money would be used. NCFE bought accounts receivable from healthcare providers using money NCFE obtained through the sale of asset-backed notes to institutional investors, including pension funds, insurance companies and churches.

Evidence at trial showed that NCFE misused investors’ money and made unsecured loans to health care providers, including those owned in whole or in part by Poulsen and other owners. Former employees testified that Poulsen and other NCFE executives covered up the fraud by lying to investors and ratings agencies. The government presented evidence that Poulsen and others created investor reports containing fabricated data, and moved money back and forth between programs, in order to make it appear that NCFE was in compliance with its own governing documents. Evidence showed that Poulsen knew the business model NCFE presented to the investing public differed drastically from the way NCFE did business within its own walls.

“Today’s conviction closes another chapter in the long effort to bring former NCFE executives to justice for deceiving investors,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division. “The Department will continue to hold accountable those corporate executives who misrepresent a company’s financial health and then leave the public to pick up the pieces.”

“Poulsen and others made millions of dollars in unsecured loans to companies they owned,” U.S. Attorney Lockhart said. “Their actions were designed to hide a financial house of cards from investors, eventually costing investors $2 billion.”

“The IRS, along with our law enforcement partners, will vigorously pursue corporate officers who victimize their investors and violate the public trust,” said Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Gonzalez. “Today's verdict demonstrates the government's determination to restore and ensure that trust.”

FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Keith L. Bennett stated, “The FBI notes that today's convictions are the culmination of a six year investigation which included the review of millions of pages of financial documents by federal investigators. The resolve of this cooperative effort demonstrates that the FBI and other law enforcement will not permit a few corporate executives to hijack our financial system for personal gain.”

The maximum penalty for each count of concealment money laundering, money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The securities fraud and conspiracy charges are each punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set.

Poulsen, the sixth NCFE executive convicted in connection with the fraud, has been in custody since he was arrested on Oct. 17, 2007, on charges of witness tampering. A jury convicted him of conspiracy, witness tampering and obstruction on March 26, 2008, and Poulsen was sentenced to ten years in prison on those charges.

On March 13, 2008, five former NCFE executives were found guilty for their roles in the scheme to defraud investors. Donald H. Ayers, of Fort Myers, Fla., an NCFE vice chairman, chief operating officer, director, and an owner of the company, was found guilty on charges of conspiracy, securities fraud, and money laundering. Rebecca S. Parrett, of Carefree, Ariz., an NCFE vice chairman, secretary, treasurer, director, and an owner of the company, was found guilty on charges of conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Randolph H. Speer, of Peachtree City, Ga., NCFE’s chief financial officer, was found guilty on charges of conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Roger S. Faulkenberry, of Dublin, Ohio, a senior executive responsible for raising money from investors, was found guilty on charges of conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. James E. Dierker, of Powell, Ohio, associate director of marketing and vice president of client development, was found guilty on charges of conspiracy and money laundering.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Squires of the Southern District of Ohio, Senior Litigation Counsel Kathleen McGovern and Trial Attorneys Leo Wise and N. Nathan Dimock of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, with assistance from Fraud Section Paralegal Specialist Sarah Marberg, FBI Agents Matt Daly, Ingrid Schmidt and Tad Morris, IRS Special Agents Greg Ruwe and Mark Bailey, U.S. Postal Inspector Dave Mooney and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Celeste Koszut.

TMZ -- Attempted Sabotage Foiled in Florida! -- Republicans Try to Steal Florida Election

Attempted Sabotage Foiled in Florida!
Posted Nov 4th 2008 12:00PM by TMZ Staff

So, check this out. Deerfield Beach, Fla. is one hour south of Palm Beach. Nearly 400 people were planted firmly in line at 6:15 this morning, waiting for the polls to open at 7:00 AM. There is one voting machine to accommodate all of them.

The area almost entirely African American. Many of the people never have voted before. One woman was 101 years old. She was wheeled into the polling place and on her way out she said that before she died, she wanted to vote for a black man.

Election monitors noticed a man in line who appeared to be a voter. Turns out he was a saboteur, telling people the Democrats were supposed to vote at a different location.

Some of the voters said they were robocalled last night. The message -- Democrats weren't supposed to vote until Wednesday.

UPDATE -- Election officials just delivered seven more voting machines.

ROGUE’S GALLERY, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, 2008

ROGUE’S GALLERY, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, 2008



ROGUE’S GALLERY, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, 2008


In St. Augustine, Florida, there’s a good-ole-boy network that doesn’t qualify as true good-ole-boys. True good-ole-boys like to hunt and fish. True good-ole-boys don’t pollute prime bass fishin’ spots, like our Old City Reservoir. True good-ole-boys don’t cut down bald eagle nest trees. True good-ole-boys don’t destroy prime wildlife habitat or an historic 1923 Donald Ross golf links that also serves as a rookery.

The St. Augustine, Florida misanthropes often violate Sunshine laws and Open Records laws. They rip off taxpayers together. They laugh all the way to their banks.

Dramatis Personae, counterclockwise, from the Boss of Bosses (our own sinister St. Augustine Boss Tweed from Central Casting):

WILLIAM B. HARRISS, St. Augustine City Manager, got St. Augustine fined twice by Florida Department of Environmental Protection during 2007 and 2008, first for depositing contaminated solid waste in the Old City Reservoir and then for water pollution from a shredded sewage effluent pipe leaking into our salt water marsh (with HARRISS briefing Commissioners in private, violating Sunshine laws). HARRISS has made it his mission in life to violate environmental, Open Records and Sunshine laws, the First Amendment and citizens’ civil rights and civil liberties. HARRISS is responsible for ruining the ambiance of St. George Street and the Plaza de la Constitucion by making art and music crimes, running buskers out of town. HARRISS refused to allow the Gay Pride group to fly Rainbow flags on our Bridge of Lions, resulting in a 2005 federal court order against the City for First Amendment violations. Harrassing citizens with impunity (and seeming immunity), WILLIAM B. HARRISS has not had one (1) performance appraisal since he was hired on April 13, 1998 in a Sunshine violation meeting where John Reardon’s suggestion of a national search and performance appraisal were roundly rejected, with Stepford Wife City Commissioner SUSAN BURK saying if we hired a city manager from outside the city, they might wish to use St. Augustine as a stepping stone to a job somewhere else someday.

ERROL JONES a/k/a ERRONEOUS JONES, HARRISS’ henchman and staunchest defender on the City of St. Augustine City Commission -, made the motion to send contaminated solid waste back to Lincolnville. JONES votes frequently for misbegotten projects of speculator/developers ROBERT MICHAEL GRAUBARD and CHESTER STOKES and other campaign contributors and influential citizens. Such developers were called “worse than any carpetbagger” by County Commission Chairman Ben Rich. ERRONEOUS JONES frequently insulted citizens asking questions about illegal dumping practices and has appeared at public meetings intoxicated (as he did at the June 2008 Lincolnville Neighborhood Assn. meeting, where he caterwauled. JONES has done nothing for the Lincolnville and West Augustine communities, empowering WILLIAM B. HARRISS to commit crimes of nature there, including illegal dumping in Old City Reservoir in West Augustine, longstanding pollution by sewage effluent pipe in Lincolnville, and plans to bring the contaminated solid waste from Old City Reservoir back to Lincolnville, halted because of community opposition led by Judith Seraphin, who is running against ERRONEOUS JONES for City Commissioner, Seat 1.. ERRONEOUS JONES has called Judith Seraphin a “carpetbagger,” while Judith Seraphin proudly says she’s a “Southerner by choice.”

WILLIAM PENCE, AKERMAN SENTERFITT corporate law firm environmental lawyer, who wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal and engineering fees to prevent criminal prosecution for environmental crimes. PENCE helped City of St. Augustine in unsuccessful coverup and effort to ship contaminated solid waste back to Lincolnville, the historic African-American community founded by freed slaves in 1866, which bears the brunt of the City of St. Augustine’s environmental racism.

DONALD CRICHLOW, City Commissioner and architect, who only recently started recusing himself from cases involving his clients.

JOSEPH LEROY BOLES, JR, Mayor of St. Augustine. A putative Democrat who supports Republicans like WILLIAM. L. PROCTOR. Short on substance, he bragged his sense of humor was his best qualification for office. Will we be laughing when the bills come due for WILLIAM B. HARRISS’ reign of error?

JAMES BRYANT, soon-to-be ex-County Commissioner, wisely decided not to run for re-election, the speculator/developers’ best friend on County Commission. BRYANT enjoyed exchanging favors with developers and never saw a tree-killer he didn’t want to hug.

CONGRESSMAN JOHN L. MICA, who refuses to discuss the proposed St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Highway, which is supported by his general election opponent, economist Faye Armitage. MICA.helped obtain $1.1 million federal grant for City’s misbegotten, money-losing, too-big $22 million White Elephant Parking Garage, which lacks any trolleys or other mass transportation component (city could have obtained 80% federal matching funds. MICA wrote $1.5 million for federal earmark for a tunnel to the Castillo de San Marco, admittedly without consulting the City of St. Augustine or any of its citizens. MICA empowers the City of St. Augustine in its resistance to reform and environmental protection. MICA has a zero rating three years in a row from the Disabled American Veterans, favors offshore oil drilling, and head-butted an ABC News cameraman who tired to ask him questions about his attending indicted former House Republican Leader TOM DELAY’s soiree at the Republican National Convention. MICA head-butt with his hairpiece, saying “my hair almost fell off.” Damon Runyonesque MICA even wears a pinky ring.

PIERRE THOMPSON, who on October 8, 2001 cut down a bald eagle nest tree and whose THOMPSON BROTHERS REAL ESTATE company pled guilty to Migratory Bird Treaty Act crimes earlier this year. In sharp and marked contrast, Florida Power & Light, cellular and regular telephone companies and other corporations preserve, protect and defend bald eagle nest trees. Philistine socialite PIERRE THOMPSON is the grandson of the founder of the St. Augustine Record and a friend of city and county commissioners. THOMPSONS built at least one ritzy subdivision a wetland, with thousands of tons of fill. THOMPSON’s longtime lawyers were the estimable former St. Augustine City Attorney GEOFFREY DOBSON and current City Attorney RONALD BROWN, who did not recuse himself from actions affecting THOMPSON’s interests. I am proud that I helped give our new U.S. Attorney’s office a spinal implant, after the statute of limitations was almost allowed to expire under U.S. Attorney Paul Perez. IF THOMPSON had cut down an eagle nest tree in the Eastern District of Texas, the Justice Department would have thrown the book at him and imprisoned him for violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and the Endangered Species Act. THOMPSON was also involved in tearing down two downtown African-American neighborhoods during 1964 (just before our City’s 400th Anniversary).

CHESTER STOKES, Jacksonville, Florida real estate speculator/developer campaign contributor to St. Augustine City Commissioner ERROL JONES a/k/a ERRONEOUS JONES, et al., CHESTER STOKES won St. Augustine City Commission annexation and zoning approval to destroy a 1923 Donald Ross golf links for speculative housing project (and then won city approval to treat the land as a “brownfield,” receiving over $1,000,000 in tax breaks, which the legislature never intended for destroying an historic golf course to build houses for the rich).

WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, Flagler College Chancellor and 20th District State Representative, who refuses to discuss the proposed St. Augustine National Historial Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Highway. PROCTOR is Republican lord of all he surveys in St. Augustine, paying the City the grand sum of $121,000/year for police services, a small fraction of the property taxes on $120,000,000 Flagler College properties, while draining the city of revenue every time Flagler College takes over another building. FLAGLER COLLEGE has few non-white students or professors and has until recently discriminated against GLBT students, dragging its heels for years in recognizing Club Unity. PROCTOR is known as “MASSA PROCTOR” to FLAGLER COLLEGE employees. FLAGLER COLLEGE is a right-wing rich kids’ school with no tenure for the faculty, no academic freedom, no unions and a censored school newspaper. A former football coach who writes nasty letters to constituents who disagrees with him (even insulting them in person), WILLIAM L. PROCTOR is an egotistical, angry, hierarchical, authoritarian control freak who got his job by apple-polishing for the illegitimate heirs of Henry Flagler, the brains behind the Standard Oil Trust. PROCTOR is responsible for taking the Spanish Garden and rules FLAGLER COLLEGE with an iron fist. PROCTOR’s an unpredictable, erratic, insufferably mean-spiroted bully aged 75, a throwback to the days of Jim Crow and one-party rule, an energumen in whom voters lack trust. PROCTOR’s hot under the color because Democrat Doug Courtney is running against him for the 20th District State Representative seat, winning support from diverse residents who want real representation.

MARK KNIGHT, St. Augustine Planning and Zoning Director, hired by HARRISS on April 18, 1998 after losing his position in Lake County. KNIGHT is nothing but a lapdog for the likes of ROBERT MICHAEL GRAUBARD, CHESTER STOKES and other speculators who have tried to destroy St. Augustine and St. Johns County with wetland-killing, tree-cutting chicanery.

GEORGE McCLURE, a developer lawyer formerly with ROGERS TOWERS law firm, got everything he ever asked for from St. Augustine City Commission and St. Johns County Commission, including winning permission for clients to destroy wetlands and build homes in marshes, while destroying a 3000-4000 year old indigenous native American Indian village for a strip mall and condos on Red House Bluff. McCLURE's latest project is trying to foist off a one cent sales tax so developers can be bailed out, with no strings attached.

JOHN REGAN, Chief Operating Officer of City of St. Augustine – he’s WILLIAM B. HARRISS’ "hey-boy," feverishly, fronting for HARRISS in dealing with communities victimized by St. Augustine’s environmental racism.

And last but certainly not least in our ST. AUGUSTINE ROGUES' GALLERY for 2008, there’s City Commissioner SUSAN BURK, who adamantly defends HARRISS. On April 13, 1998, she said if we hired a city manager from outside the city, they might wish to use St. Augustine as a stepping stone to a job somewhere else someday. She joined JONES in insulting persons who asked about the City’s illegal dumping in the Old City Reservoir. She’s the ex-girlfriend of tree-killer ROBERT MICHAEL GRAUBARD, who has allegedly bragged about using her influence and floor-planning her campaigns. GRAUBARD was forgiven a $15,000 tree-killing fine outside the ordinary course of business. BURK has laughed at citizens contemptuously when raising concerns about misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, waste, fraud and abuse. BURK is full of herself, playing with her hair and computer during Commission meetings, rolling her eyes, even remarking that it was “insane” to consider a public power utility for St. Augustine and St. Johns County, saying it was “a no brainer.” No, a "no-brainer" would be exercising effective government oversight after WILLIAM B. HARRISS was caught-red handed depositing 40,000 cubic yards of contaminated solid waste in the Old City Reservoir and lying about it (he told former Mayor George Gardner it was "clean fill," to which EPA's John Marler replied, "there's no bedsprings in clean fill." BURK is an energetic defender of the status quo (another dull Republican) and is primarily responsible for keeping the same City Manager for 10.5 years without so much as one (1) performance appraisal.

What do you reckon? Even though St. Augustine is a small city, it has big city problems, not the least of which is WILLIAM B. HARRISS and his band of allies, from the Courthouse to the Congress.

A new broom sweeps clean!

DECEMBER 1, 2008 TRIAL DATE FOR BRIBERY TRIAL OF REPUBLICAN COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN THOMAS G. MANUEL

We've got a bribery scandal (Republican).

We've got a sex scandal (Republican).

We Democrats have candidates.

The Republicans have borscht.

Not even Republican dirty tricks can save them from the people's righteous wrath.

In the words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic:


Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my condemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on."
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free,
While God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

Time to Vote Out the Vile St. Augustine "Tweed Ring" -- Defeat Rep. MICA, Rep. PROCTOR, JONES & SIKES-KLINE

Time to elect Faye Armitage to Congress, Doug Courtney to the State Legislature, Judith Seraphin and Jimmy Owens to the St. Augustine City Commission.

Defeat those who have enabled misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, waste, fraud and abuse from City Hall to Congress. Don't forget to vote for Obama/Biden. See my recommendations column from last Sunday's St. Auguustine Record, below.

There are times when you are simply required to be impolite. There are times when condescension is called for!

There are times when you are simply required to be impolite. There are times when condescension is called for!


Maureen Dowd's Sunday New York Times column om September, setting forth advice from the fictional character, President Jed Bartlett, on the West Wing, in consultation with Aaron Sorkin.

And you’re worried about seeming angry? You could eat their lunch, make them cry and tell their mamas about it and God himself would call it restrained. There are times when you are simply required to be impolite. There are times when condescension is called for!

Guest Column: Suggests candidates for election

Guest Column: Suggests candidates for election

ED SLAVIN
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/26/08


Abraham Lincoln warned about politicians who "fool the people." Let's not be fooled again. Therefore, I respectfully recommend:

1. Defeating the defective St. Johns County charter again, as on Aug. 26. Supporters admit that their charter-drafting-bee was aimed at former Commissioner Bruce Maguire, whom they loathed. I'm no Maguire fan, but that's a bad reason to adopt a charter. Supporters pretend only developers oppose their poorly-drafted-charter. Vote no if you treasure limited government, accountability, human rights and environmental protection -- none well-addressed in the charter, which would be very difficult for the people to amend and was drafted by a few. Commissioners never explained refusals to adopt pages of proposed strengthening amendments. Starting Nov. 5, let's write a real charter addressing real concerns (like preventing corruption and waste with an inspector general, ombuds and elected county attorney).

2. Voting to change City Hall, Tallahassee, Congress and the White House. America will recover with wise leaders like Obama/Biden, with the courage to protect our health and our wealth, helping heal our nation's wounds.

3. Electing Jimmy Owens and Judith Seraphin City Commissioners. Let's heal our city's wounds, advance liberty and equality, safeguarding our environment, questioning those who wrought waste (secret environmental violations, tens of thousands in environmental fines) and millions in out-of-court settlements for police abuses. It's our money. Vote against those who reflexively, chauvinistically defend City Manager William B. Harriss.

4. Electing Doug Courtney State Representative (District 20). Incumbent William Proctor is out-of-touch, a walking conflict of interest, promoting Flagler College over needy public elementary and secondary schools. Elect Courtney to represent us in Tallahassee.

5. Electing to U.S. Congress Faye Armitage of Fruit Cove -- an economist, mother of five, grandmother of three, she raised a disabled son (her son-in-law is in Iraq). Eight-term incumbent John Mica is way too big for his britches, a national embarrassment. Mica's voted against raising the minimum wage and granting (unpaid) family and medical leave. Mica never apologized for taking money from the likes of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff or head-butting an ABC News cameraman upon leaving Tom DeLay's lobbyist party. Mica's spends special-interest campaign contributions on travel/hotels/casinos/restaurants/bars/private clubs. See www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com. Ungracious Mica's guilty of goading "liberals," President Clinton ("a little booger") and social welfare recipients ("don't feed the alligators"). But as Record Senior Writer Peter Guinta reported, Mica's given earmarks to campaign contributors (that's corporate welfare). Mica wrote that he flew to Tibet to sell airplanes to China for Boeing (whose PAC contributed thousands to Mica's campaigns). Economist Armitage will represent all of us and we can be proud to say that we finally have a Congressman who works to help people like us. No ninth term for Mica.

6. Electing Mosquito Control Commission candidates Ronnie Radford, Paul Linser and Gary Howell. We don't need to buy aircraft -- voters' will was finally heard -- and we don't need an unwise, rushed, unscientific return to aerial organophosphate spraying. AMCD's mission statement mandates scientific peer review and public hearings. Let's do it.

7. Voting against special interests' unfair state constitutional amendments, each of which would require 60 percent of the vote to be enacted into Florida's Constitution. Reject bigotry and greed.

Our founders' vision will prevail over "social dominators" led by the Karl Roves of the world -- the mean-spirited few who boss, bully, divide and gull people.

Leaders will want to discuss Congressional enactment of a St. Augustine National Historical Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Highway, welcoming the world to observe 11,000 years of indigenous Indian history, and 500 years of Hispanic, African-American, British, French, Minorcan, and other world cultures.

Vote.



Ed Slavin first wrote national park legislation for former U.S. Sen. Jim Sasser, D-Tennessee at age 20 (the proposed Great Smoky Mountains Wilderness Act) in 1977. On Nov. 13, 2006, Slavin proposed a St. Augustine National Historic Park, National Seashore and National Scenic Coastal Highway Act.


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REPUBLICAN RANDY BRUNSON FACES PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING BEFORE FLORIDA ELECTION COMMISSION NOVEMBER 12, 2008 IN TALLAHASSEE

REPUBLICAN RANDY BRUNSON FACES PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING BEFORE FLORIDA ELECTION COMMISSION NOVEMBER 12, 2008 IN TALLAHASSEE


RANDY BRUNSON

Charged with the same offense that is about to cost NORM COLEMAN his Senate seat, Republican RANDY BRUNSON already lost a County Commission seat when the Ponte Vedra Recorder blew the whistle and covered the story.

Now failed St. Johns County Republican County Commission candidate RANDY BRUNSON faces a November 12, 2008 Probable Cause hearing in Tallahassee before the Florida Elections Commission. In case no. FEC 08-137, BRUNSON is charged with receiving free or reduced rent from hotelier KANTI PATEL for his campaign headquarrters. BRUNSON paid no rent for months, while paying for utilities. After the complaint was filed, BRUNSON filed a notarized lease, purporting to be paying only $100/month for prime property on Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

While the Ponte Vedra Recorder reported the charge against RANDY BRUNSON before the August 26, 2008 primary, not one word of it appeared in the St. Augustine Record.

The hearing will take place in the Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe Street, Room 401, Tallahassee, Florida.

BRUNSON is represented by attorney MARK HERRON, who is also a lawyer for the Florida Democratic Party and Democratic candidates. How utterly disappointing.

Is this a conflict of interest on MARK HERRON's part? Bad taste in client selection? Divided loyalties? Cynical lobbyist representing all parties?

"I can represent anyone I want," RANDY BRUNSON's defense lawyer MARK HERRON said.

Indeed, he can.

"That's none of your business."

He's wrong. As an elected member of the St. Johns County Democratic Executive Committee, I'll be damned if some impertinent energumen will represent both Florida Democrats and Republicans. It's wrong. It's an appearance of impropriety. It is unseemly. HERRON hung up the telephone on me -- thrice -- when I asked him about BRUNSON and the BRUNSON case and Herron's conflict of interest.

We don't need to be sharing our confidences with a maniacal jerk.

In Tallahassee, is there only one political party -- the party of lugubrious lobbyist-goobers and gooberettes, to whom open, honest government is but a punchline?

What do you reckon? "I have no obligation to talk to you about anything," HERRON said, mocking my typing his answers.

It's pretty funny alright -- the same lawyer representing our Democratic Party is representing RANDY BRUNSON.

Neither BRUNSON nor HERRON have to talk to me. But on November 12, 2008 at 11:30 AM, HERRON and BRUNSON get five minutes to explain to the Florida Elections COmmission why there should not be a determination of probable cause that BRUNSON broke the law by accepting free rent from hotelier KANTI PATEL. Will BRUNSON take the Fifth Amendment because BRUNSON's overt acts may also constitute federal crimes, including possible violations of the Hobbs Act and RICO?


Conflicted Tallahassee power lawyer MARK HERRON, who represents RANDY BRUNSON and other Republicans as well as Democrats before the FLorida Elections Commission.

MARK HERRON's firm biography states:

Mark Herron

Direct telephone: (850) 425-5217
Email: mherron@lawfla.com

Mark Herron concentrates his practice on ethics and elections law, legislative representation, administrative law and appellate practice.

Mr. Herron received his undergraduate degree from The Florida State University (B.A., cum laude) in 1972, and his law degree from The Florida State University (J.D., with honors) in 1975.

He served as a member of the State of Florida Commission on Ethics from 1984-1988, serving as its Chairman in 1987-1988. He has served as the Executive Director and General Counsel to the Florida House of Representatives. Mr. Herron has also served as the Staff Director of the Florida House Select Committee on Reapportionment and the Florida House Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Herron is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and the State Bar of Georgia. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association and the Tallahassee Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals of the Eleventh Circuit, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

CONFLICTED RANDY BRUNSON LAWYER MARK HERRON: "I CAN REPRESENT ANYONE I WANT."

CONFLICTED RANDY BRUNSON LAWYER MARK HERRON: "I CAN REPRESENT ANYONE I WANT."

RANDY BRUNSON's lawyer has a conflict of interest as big as the Grand Canyon.

RANDY BRUNSON's represented by a lawyer who advises our St. Johns County Democratic Executive Committee, has provided training here, and represents the Florida Democratic Party and Democratic National Committee.

Arrogant MARK HERRON says he can represent anyone he wants.

No, he can't.

There's a certain lack of intellectual rigor to such an extravagant, elitist, chauvinistic position -- especially from someone who did nothing to help Northeast Florida Democrats in our time of need.

MARK HERRON reminds me of RICHARD NIXON, who said, "I'm not going to be impeached for bombing Cambodia, The President can bomb anybody he likes."

No, Dick, no.

No, Mark, no.

You're wrong.

Tallahassee power lawyer MARK HERRON needs to resign from representing Republican RANDY BRUNSON. Or else no Democrat anywhere should trust him with our confidences and our trust.

Nixonian Tallahassee power lawyer MARK HERRON has an ego the size of the Grand Canyon to go with his conflict of interest. You don't find lawyers who represent both unions and management, or employees and management.

Pick a side, MARK HERRON -- either you're a lawyer for Democrats, a lawyer for Republicans, or neither side can trust you.

Personally, as they say in East Tennessee, I wouldn't trust MARK HERRON in an outhouse with a muzzle on -- any Democratic lawyer who represents a reprobate Republican like RANDY BRUNSON is no better than any other Tallahassee lobbyist -- an energumen with no soul.

What do you reckon?


GRAND CANYON



MARK HERRRON, Tallahassee power lawyer, with an ego the size of the Grand Canyon and conflicts of interest to match



Sir Anthony Hopkins as Richard Milhous Nixon

Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) Among Most Corrujpt Members of Congress for Failure to Pay Rent

Published on CREW's Most Corrupt Members of Congress (http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org)

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) is a first-term senator, representing Minnesota. His ethics issues stem from lodging he accepted in violation of the Senate gifts rule.

Failure to Pay Rent

When in Washington, Sen. Coleman lives in a basement apartment in the Capitol Hill townhouse of Republican operative Jeff Larson. Mr. Larson runs FLS Connect, a telemarketing firm, which has been paid over $1.4 million since 2001 by Sen. Coleman’s leadership political action committee (PAC) and two campaign committees. Mr. Larson is also the treasurer of Sen. Coleman’s PAC and provides it with office space in St. Paul, MN. Adding to the relationship between the pair, Mr. Larson’s wife, Dorene Kainz, had been employed as a casework supervisor in Sen. Coleman’s St. Paul office, though after a news organization questioned Sen. Coleman about this, his staff announced that she would leave the office on July 10, 2008.

Over the past year, Sen. Coleman appears to have accepted lodging from Mr. Larson for at least three months without paying the agreed upon rent until caught by National Journal. Although Sen. Coleman paid $1,200 and Mr. Larson cashed a check for an additional $600 after National Journal questioned the pair about the payments, the fact that the payments were not made until flagged by the media heightens rather than diminishes the concerns over Sen. Coleman’s conduct. Sen. Coleman’s repeated missed rent and utility payments, and Mr. Larson’s failure to cash Sen. Coleman’s check suggest that Mr. Larson was not, in fact, necessarily expecting payment. Moreover, it is unclear whether the $600 rental rate represents the fair market value of the apartment considering other rental rates in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. After touring Sen. Coleman’s apartment, a Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter wrote that the space is not extravagant but well kept and renovated. A spokesman for Sen. Coleman said, according to their research, the senator is paying fair market value, but a Minnesota political group reported similar apartments on Capitol Hill rent for $1,100 to $1,450.

Because lodging clearly falls within the Senate’s definition of “gift,” Sen. Coleman appears to have violated the Senate gifts rule by accepting free lodging from Mr. Larson, someone who financially benefits from his relationship with the senator. Further complicating the issue is the question of whether the salary paid to Mr. Larson’s wife as an employee in Sen. Coleman’s office might constitute the true payment of the rent. Also troubling is the fact that Sen. Coleman paid his back rent, and Mr. Larson cashed Sen. Coleman’s checks, only once the media began questioning the living arrangement. Finally, by failing to pay his utility bills, which were valued at $532.88 – well over the $49.99 permissible gift limit -- Sen. Coleman accepted an improper gift from Mr. Larson.

On July 1, 2008, CREW filed a complaint with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics requesting an investigation into this matter to determine whether Sen. Coleman has violated the Senate gifts rule.


Source URL:
http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/node/429

THIN-SKINNED REPUBLICAN NORM COLEMAN SUES AL FRANKEN FOR DEFAMATION ON TRUTHFUL ADS ABOUT CHEAP RENT IN DC

Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Coleman sues Franken campaign over ads
By KEVIN DUCHSCHERE, Star Tribune

October 30, 2008

Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign, charging that recent Al Franken TV and radio ads contain lies about the Republican incumbent, is suing the Democrat's campaign for allegedly violating state campaign law.

Mark Drake, a Coleman spokesman, said at a State Capitol news conference Thursday that statements that Coleman has been named "the fourth most corrupt senator in Washington" and lives in a D.C. apartment "almost rent free" are patently false.

"Al Franken has chosen to push the lines of believability far beyond the bounds of truth," Drake said.

Because the complaint was being filed five days before the election, there is no chance the case will be decided by then.

The claim that Coleman ranks fourth among senators in corruption is based on a recent list put together by the Washington watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which names three senators among "the 20 most corrupt members of Congress" and then gives Coleman a "dishonorable mention."

CREW never actually names Coleman "the fourth most corrupt senator," Drake said, nor is there any mention of the fact that CREW is led by Melanie Sloan, who has worked for high-profile Democrats and appeared several times on Franken's Air America radio show.

Reached in Washington on Thursday, Sloan said she was surprised that the Franken campaign had extrapolated a ranking for Coleman from the group's corruption list and called it an exaggeration.

"We don't rank the people on the list. Mr. Coleman was included as one of the members to watch [because of the apartment controversy], not one of the most corrupt," she said.

Drake characterized CREW as a "liberal front group," but Sloan pointed out that six of the 20 members of Congress they call most corrupt are Democrats.

Regarding Coleman's D.C. living quarters, Drake said that the senator pays $600 a month to rent a bedroom and bath in a rowhouse owned by his longtime friend and political telemarketer, Jeff Larson.

Although the campaign released copies of Coleman's lease and rent checks last summer, it has not yet produced proof that the senator pays for his share of utilities in the house.

In 1998, Coleman charged Hubert Humphrey III, one of his opponents for governor, with distorting his position on family farms. In 2002, he filed a complaint against Sen. Paul Wellstone for saying that Coleman supported privatizing Social Security. The complaints were both dropped after the election.

Said Franken spokeswoman Colleen Murray: "Our ads are factual and true, even if Norm Coleman doesn't like being held accountable for his conduct. Every time someone tries to hold Norm Coleman accountable, he runs to court to try to weasel out of it."

Kevin Duchschere • 612-673-4455

© 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

REPUBLICAN DIRTY TRICKS -- ISLAND DOCTORS PAYS FOR AD WITH CORPORATE FUNDS IN TODAY'S ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD

The ad is from the putative "Christian Coalition," an unChristian, anti-progressive group that rears its ugly head every two years, with twisted surveys on issues. In this case, the ad is intended to hurt the electoral chances of Barack Obama (favoring John McCain) and to hurt Doug Courtney (and benefit WILLIAM L. PROCTOR), both right-wing Republicans.

Isn't it a violation of federal law to spend corporate funds as a campaign contribution? Perhaps "Island Doctors" didn't get legal advice. Anyone ever heard of McCain-Feingold?

The ad does not say it's paid for with a Political Action Committee's funds (which would be legal).

7th Congressional District Exemplifies "Gerrymandering," Was Created to Give Rep. Feeney A Congressional District in Which to Run, Republicans on Run!

7th Congressional District


The original "Gerrymander" district, named for Elbridge Gerry

PBS Inspector General Asked to Investigate Dirty Pool by Jacksonville PBS Affilliate, Which Deprives Viewers of Arnutage-Mica Dialogue or Debate

A complaint has been filed with the Inspector General of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) over an unfair practice by the PBS affilliate serving St. Johns County and St. Augustine.

WJCT, the lackluster PBS affiliate in Jacksonville, Florida, deprived its viewers of recorded three minute statements from Faye Armitage and incumbent John Mica in the race for the gerrymandered 7th Congressional District seat, running 225 miles from Ponte Vedra Beach through five counties to the Orlando suburbs.

WJCT scheduled its taping at the same time as PBS Affilliate WMFE in Orlando had a taped debate between Professor Armitage and Mr. Mica.

WJCT refused to reschedule the taping and refused to return phone messages from Professor Armitage In its broadcast and rebroadcast of the canned interviews, WJCT merely said that Professor Armitage and Mr. Mica were "not available." They were unavailable because WJCT ignored the laws of physics -- two busy candidates can't be in two PBS studios simultaneously, one in Orlando and one in Jacksonville.

Why didn't WJCT just air the WMFE debate? Taciturn WJCT isn't talking.

Instead, WJCT ran nothing. How indescribably inept and offensive. By leaving out the 7th District race, WJCT "tilts" and favors Mica, the 16-year incumbent, whose head-butting of an ABC news cameraman, chauvinistic support of President Bush and sponsorship of earmarks for his campaign contributors are rightly under fire (along with Mica's support of offshore oil drilling off Florida's coasts).

Remedy: WJCT must run the WHFE debate and carry links from its website, or its license renewal should be strictly scrutinized for lack of public service.`

WJCT has also apparently canceled its Jacksonville Week in Review Program after some nine years, improving in recent years after several years of being an all-white good-ole-boy affair.

Does WJCT get the booby prize among all PBS affiliates for incompetence?

Will PBS higherups act?

Stay tuned.

As Stetson Kennedy Wrote in his book, "Southern Exposure" (1946), Federal Criminal Laws Cover Conspiracies Against Citizens' Civil RIghts

See below. Election-fraud-artists, Republican sign-stealers, voter-intimidators, goons and crooks -- we are watching. Please see below.