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Article
Courtesy of The NEW TIMES
By Kimberly
Miller
Published
May 30, 2010
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This shot by Mike Stocker should have
won a Pulitzer. |
The
top ethics official in Florida penned a letter asking a
federal judge to show leniency for former Broward County Board Member
Beverly Gallagher, who has pleaded guilty to bribery and other federal
charges that stemmed from an undercover FBI corruption investigation.
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Florida
Commission Ethics Chairman Roy Rogers wrote the letter for
Gallagher on May 23, and it was filed in court by her
defense attorney yesterday along with several other such
letters.
"I
am requesting leniency in consideration of her overall
character," Rogers wrote U.S. District Judge
James Cohn in a handwritten letter dated May 23. "I
have known Beverly for over 25 years. During that time she
consistently and passionately advocated for students. Her
communication with decision makers locally and in
Tallahassee enured to the benefit of the Broward School
District."
Considering
Rogers is the state's top ethics official, it's good to
know he's so forgiving of a public official who offered to
sell out her office -- and try to fix school construction
contracts -- in exchange for cash (some of which she
famously stuffed in a doggy bag) and promise of a job from
agents who pretended to be "quasilobbyists." |
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Florida
Commission Ethics Chairman Roy Rogers
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Rogers, a Charlie Crist appointee, is also chairman
of the Broward Fair Campaign Practices Committee. He was also an executive
with Arvida when it built Weston on the Everglades. I have a call into
Rogers and am waiting for comment to my question: "What
were you thinking?"
Another boneheaded letter came from "Mothers
Against Predators" President Jaemi Levine -- who is actually running
for the seat being vacated by Board Member Stephanie Kraft. "I
know she must pay for her mistakes but I would ask for leniency in her
sentencing," Levine wrote.
No, Jaemi, not "mistakes." Mistakes are
things you don't mean to do. They are accidents. What Gallagher did is
called a "crime." The fact that you don't know the difference
doesn't bode well for your political career (or perhaps it will bring you
great success).
There is one letter, though, that is even more
interesting than those two. It is from prolific Broward County lobbyist
George Platt. If anybody knows about the corroding effect lobbyists have
on whatever integrity public officials might possess, it's Platt. He's
hired relatives of politicians (in-trouble Diana Wasserman-Rubin's husband
Richard Rubin comes immediately to mind) and done his share of wining
and dining (Kristin Jacobs has visited his vacation home in North
Carolina).
He writes the obligatory "she was a great
official and please be lenient" kind of stuff but then writes
something that seems heartfelt and thoughtful, maybe even a bit
confessional. Read Platt's thoughts after the jump.
From Platt's letter:
"It is painful to see a public official step
over the line. My lengthy involvement in the political process has
convinced me that some public officials simply lose sight of the line
between right and wrong. Some of it may have to do with peculiar
weaknesses such as a corrupt streak, but sometimes it is has to do with
self-importance that public officials assume when lobbyists, the public,
favor seekers, unions and others puff up the egos of elected officials. We
have seen sad examples of this over the years and it may tend to blur the
vision of some. Somewhere along the way, Beverly lost sight of the
line."
You
know, I have to hat-tip Platt for his honesty there.
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