Please look at pages of 20-22 of the emails that the State Attorney’s Office found on Commissioner Gene Valentino’s laptop.
You will see where bingo casino developer Cy Keefer of Dallas, Texas drafted a letter for Valentino to sign and put on county letterhead that insinuates that Keefer is working on a project that has the endorsement of the county. It’s a letter from Valentino, who was still commission chairman at the time, to Keefer that the developer could show the Perdido Bay tribe of the Muscogee Indians and others.
It says, “In anticipation of your visit we’ve selected several sites the county would make available to you for this development.”
Who is the “we”? It seems to be the county government.
Valentino (with Keefer’s help) goes on to write, “We also will assist you in the development of this project buy (sic) making available to you any and all economic incentive programs. Our county is excited about this opportunity and I believe we will make great partners in the development of this very exciting project.”
Any person that was handed this letter signed by the county commissioner chairman would believe the Cy Keefer had the full endorsement of the county commission for any development that he was discussing. Note the letter doesn’t say what the development is, so Keefer could have used it for any number of projects without Valentino or the other commissioners knowing what they are.
To explore economic opportunities is fine, but to turn over your office to a developer and become his tool is an entirely different matter. Never have I seen a county commissioner so completely put himself into the hands of a developer –a developer that none of us know or has any track record in this area.
Valentino likes to rail at the “downtown crowd.” This letter and Valentino’s other activities with Keefer smell of backroom deals and backdoor deals. He has said that he worked so hard for his economic development plan because he wanted economic development done in the sunshine. However, his work for Cy Keefer and the bingo casino was done all in the “dark” and when asked to give the citizens his emails concerning, Valentino hid them.
It’s time for Commissioner Valentino to resign. District 2 deserves better.
Popularity: 35% [?]
This guy is a real piece of “work”, his true colors have been revealed inside of his turncoat. Humility and Valentino seem to have parted ways, he is giddy in his response’s to this “BILLIONAIRE” dude and seems beside himself to do any and all things for him. His supporters, and I have to admit that I did vote for this knucklehead believing the rhetoric of eliminating the cronyism and corruption in BOCC. Please Gene Valentino step-down you are no longer wanted, respected, or believable no matter how many of spins you put on these balls. You are what is wrong in America today a crooked and corruptible politician instead of a public servant
Yes, because he was…..his name is Julian McQueen. The point is that he shouldn’t be in the hands of any developer.
“To explore economic opportunities is fine, but to turn over your office to a developer and become his tool is an entirely different matter. Never have I seen a county commissioner so completely put himself into the hands of a developer – a developer that none of us know or has any track record in this area. “
So, Rick, if you are using that rational, if Gene Valentino was “completely in the hands of a developer that we do know and has a track record in this area”, would you still want him to resign? Just curious.
How about Mr. Valentino hang up his hat and Dr. Edwin Roberts get appointed in his place? Roberts lost the election by only 5 votes, so we know half the peeps in our district supported him. Now, far more would. Of course, that’s just assuming that Dr. Roberts would jump into the snake pit.
So was that letter ever printed and returned to Keefer?
I have to wonder if and how much $$ were offered to do so.
Resign now! He has lost all interest in being District 2 County Commissioner! He wants to create a Waterfront Taxing District, his Economic Development Plan, Mass Transit Tax, Casino’s Spread throughout the County…..folks, he left District 2 a long time ago and only wants to work on BIG BROAD items so that they can feed his ego. We need the focus to be in District 2 NOW. Gene, just do us all a favor and get out – your heart is not in it. There are those that say he is the hardest working commissioner ever and available to the people, but if he is not effective and not accomplishing anything, why is he killing himself working so many hours – is it to feed his own ego?
Get out now before the ethics complaints have you removed from office.
Touart is probably the only candidate valentino could beat.
ummm, surfergirl, did you mean 2004 for Ivan? I disagree with you and Rick. We dont know all of the facts in the parallel universe where Valentino lives. Sure, you guys are probably right in our universe, but Valentino’s press release either is delusional or proves the existence of a parallel universe where Gene spends a good amount of time. It’s not fair for us to judge him for whatever is going on in the parallel uiverse.
http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=9127bf6383f340e28d641d54cc845f9d&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckUserId=9127bf6383f340e28d641d54cc845f9d&plckPostId=Blog%3a9127bf6383f340e28d641d54cc845f9dPost%3a3705f574-3860-4cd3-a4f4-838c2304ecc3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest
The next election could be a ‘humdinger’ of a choice …ughh!
Touart is testing the waters for a run.
[...] Rick’s Blog: “Valentino misused chairmanship” [...]
Gene’s hasn’t just misused his chairmanship, he abdicated his responsibilities as commissioner from the start, evidenced by the still dilapidated condition of the key since Ivan in 1994.
One need only read the emails to see that Gene is more interested in fostering a relationship with a man he considers to be a possible personal gravy train than serving his constituency.
Gene doesn’t listen to his constituents and has categorically ignored the working neighborhood vision and plans that will truly make the key a draw to residents, businesses and tourists.
Gene’s “vision” is to make Perdido Key look like a miniature version of Panama City Beach with all its seedy enterprises – all at the cost of the wildlife, beach and residents.
Gene’s only real “vision” is the one in the mirror.
Resign, Gene.