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DECEMBER 2002: Oak Hill City commissioners Ron
Mercer and Bob Jackson pleaded not guilty to violating the Sunshine
Law. The two men were accused of meeting privately and discussing
city business, including the appointment of a mayor and department
heads, over a seven-month span.
NOVEMBER 2002: Circuit Court Judge John Booth
ruled that the Hernando County had violated the Sunshine Law
by keeping the public from taking part in a meeting of the Development
Review Committee in Brooksville. Booth ordered that future meetings
be open to the public for all who want to participate.
NOVEMBER 2002: Two Kissimmee city commissioners
were charged with violating Florida’s Open Meetings Law.
Wendell McKinnon and Bob Makinson reportedly met in private and
discussed their plans for a future public meeting. The civil
charges carry fines of up to $500 each and a maximum of 60 days
in jail. The commissioners, however, were only fined $50 each.
(See March also 2003)
OCTOBER 2002: Welaka Mayor Gordon Sands was charged by the State Attorney’s
Office with violating the Open Meetings Law. Sands was accused of meeting with
former council member Shirley Gillins in 2000 in order to discuss votes for
an upcoming public meeting. If found guilty, Sands may have to pay attorney’s
fees and $500 in fines.
OCTOBER 2002: Belleair Beach Councilmember Frank Lombardi has been
accused of breaking the Sunshine Law. According to council members Lynn Rives
and Mary Jo Henderson, Lombardi attempted to discuss matters of new officers
outside of official meetings. Rives filed the complaint the State Attorney’s
Office in Pinellas County.
SEPTEMBER 2002: Three Escambia County Commissioners
reached plea agreements in connection with charges of bribery
and violating the Sunshine Law. Commissioner Willie Junior agreed
to plead guilty to 12 charges including bribery and violation
of the Sunshine Laws and agreed to testify against fellow commissioner
W.D. Childers. Junior could have been sentenced up to 125 years
in prison but will serve a maximum of 18 months in exchange for
his testimony. Commissioner Mike Bass pleaded no contest to two
misdemeanor counts of violating the Sunshine Law. His felony
counts were dropped. Bass must pay a $500 fine for each of the
two counts and must pay investigative costs of around $3,000.
Sentencing will occur after Bass testifies against Childers.
Bass originally faced up to 70 years in prison, but after agreeing
to testify his maximum possible jail sentence was reduced to
60 days. Commissioner Terry Smith was found guilty on two counts
of violating the Sunshine Law. He was required to pay fines and
court costs totaling $4,987 and was sentenced to 250 hours of
community service. (See also June 2002, August 2002, June 2003,
October 2004, December 2004)
AUGUST 2002: Escambia County commissioner and
former state senator W.D. Childers was found guilty on one count
of violating the state’s Open Meetings law. Childers stands
accused of discussing public business with fellow commissioners
in private on four separate occasions and conferring with fellow
commissioners about redistricting. He was declared not guilty
on two other Open Meetings counts. Childers was indicted on four
misdemeanor Sunshine charges and felony counts of money laundering,
bribery and unlawful compensation of a public official. The trial
for his felony charges was set for March 2003. (See also June
2002, September 2002, June 2003, October 2004, December 2004)
AUGUST 2002: Daytona Beach’s community
relations advisory panel met illegally, violating the Open Meetings
Law, by not giving proper notice to the public. The council plans
to “cure” the violation by holding the meeting once
again, according to Chairman Tom Vogel.
JULY 2002: Clark V. Hoshall Jr. filed suit against
Nassau County commissioners, alleging that they were holding
meetings in secret for over four years. However, the commissioners
did not violate the Public Records law, according to a lower
court decision, which was upheld by the 1st District Court of
Appeal.
JUNE 2002: Four Escambia County commissioners
were arrested on multiple charges, including violation of the
state’s Sunshine Law. Mike Bass, W.D. Childers, Willie
J. Junior and Terry Smith were indicted and charged with multiple
misdemeanor counts of violations of Florida’s Open Meetings
Law. Each misdemeanor count is punishable by a maximum of 60
days in jail and/or a $500 fine. (See also August 2002, September
2002, June 2003, October 2004, December 2004)
MARCH 2002: Ormond Beach commissioners Jeff
Boyle, Joyce High and Jim Privett faced a lawsuit from The News-Journal
Corporation, which accused the three of violating Florida’s
laws concerning open government by illegally communicating about
city business.
FEBRUARY 2002: Chiefland City Commissioner Sunshine
Baynard filed a civil suit against the Chiefland City Commission
for violating the Sunshine Law. Baynard claimed that an emergency
meeting was held, without proper notification to the public,
during which the Commission voted to postpone the search for
a new Chiefland chief of police. (See also February 2003)
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