Commissioner Gene Valentino has been indicted by the Escambia County Grand Jury for the solicitation of any political contribution in a building owned by a government agency. It is a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in the county jail and $1,000 fine.
It involves an allegation that Valentino solicited campaign contributions from Dan Gilmore on November 5, 2009.
The Florida Constitution enables Charlie Crist, as governor, to suspend any elected public official indicted for a crime and remove public officials from office who are convicted. The governor also can suspend state or county officials — anyone from people appointed to state or local boards or even public notaries — for misconduct. Crist suspended 37 officials since he took office.
Popularity: 4% [?]
I find it quite interesting that the indictment did not actually involve Cody Rawson??? And his meeting with GV in his office. But another person’s meeting with GV in his office.
Is that correct?? All of the news media and the SA led the public to think that the Grand jury was about the GV & CR meeting.
Jim, the answer is every election. Maybe someone from Tallahassee needs to come investigate how this county is ran.
How much longer will we keep electing crooks and bums, flim-flam men and con artists to office? Are we seriously trying for the state record of commissioners removed by the governor and the highest number of elected officials in prison? I was glad to see that per-capita income in Escambia is up, now if we can only do something about the IQ of the average voter!
Well he did admit it to the paper while trying to talk his way out of something else he got caught at. ‘Honest officer, that wasn’t my bookien it was my dealer.”
He will blame it on george, rick, or his wife.
He finally got CAUGHT for something!
[...] Rick’s Blog points out, the Florida Constitution allows the governor to remove from office any public official indicted or [...]