In a letter, the foundation treasurer, Butch Hansen, wrote:
“I was recently asked to confirm the amount of a donation that you previously made to our Foundation’s effort to build a memorial museum plaza to General James near the bridge recently named in his honor. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a record of a donation nor a copy of the receipt for a donation.
“This is very concerning to me because I work hard to ensure all our donors are properly recognized, and all required receipts are provided to our donors in a timely manner. Perhaps your donation went to another nonprofit associated with General James, could you please provide the details of your donation’s time and amount so that I can assure our and your records are complete in this regard?”
FOUNDATION’S PETTINESS
But David Bear has questioned the legality of using tourist development tax revenue to construct the statue and plaza. The rancor and personal attacks directed toward Bear by foundation board members have been unprecedented, even for Escambia County politics.
WHAT BEAR SAID: At the February 20 meeting of the Escambia County Commission, Bear stated:
“I think General Chappie James is a war hero that needs to be celebrated. I, too, think this is a wonderful project. I have personally put funds and donated to this project…I just don’t believe tourist development tax dollars maybe spent under the statute for this type of project.”
THE CANCELLED CHECK
David Bear had the canceled check, dated March 25, 2023. He also provided the Board of Directors of the General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. Memorial Foundation with the particulars of how he gave them the check:
“I gave this check to the Foundation the night of the event at Artel Gallery when you all announced the Florida Power and Light $50,000 contribution. I attended the event with my mother and my wife.”
- Hansen replied, “David, thank you for this, and I apologize for the inconvenience of this because I can’t explain how this check was not in the package from that fundraiser including the receipts sent. I will send you a receipt and appreciate your support.”
CASE CLOSED?
Maybe for the Board of Directors of the General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. Memorial Foundation, but Mayor D.C. Reeves, Pensacola City Council, Board of County Commissioners and County Clerk Pam Childers should be concerned and asking for an audit of the Foundation’s records.
- Can the directors prove that Bear’s check went into the Foundation’s checking account? The treasurer said, “I work hard to ensure all our donors are properly recognized and all required receipts are provided to our donors in a timely manner.” How did he miss accounting for a $200 check? What other checks are unaccounted for?
DODGING ANSWERS: Foundation President Cris Dosev has touted that they raised $1.3 million but has dodged answering publicly how much they have raised in private donations. The county commissioners tried to pin him down at its February 20 meeting. Most of the money has come from state and local governments. The largest private donation was from FPL – $50,000.
Commissioner Lumon May: “I think public-private partnership is essential. Is the commitment still there from the private dollars?
Dosev: “We raised $1.3 million.”
Commissioner May: “You’ve raised 1.3 private dollars?”
Dosev: “Let me ask you this. When somebody comes here from the country of Singapore, does anybody ask them about private dollars and we’ve given them $220 million. Okay, so we don’t have a problem giving people money, even people that are foreign to this country.”
OTHER WARNING SIGNS: The Foundation failed to file its annual corporate report with the Florida Secretary of State in 2020 and 2021, forcing the board to seek reinstatement in June 2021 – Reinstatement Notice.
- WHY THIS MATTERS: The Foundation must maintain the park after the monument and plaza are built. Does it have the funds to do it, or will the burden fall on city taxpayers?
POLITICS?
Is it because Dosev joined the protesters fighting to get her husband, Bruce, on the ballot in the election supervisor’s race?
Or is it to pay off a favor to Commissioner Steve Stroberger, maybe the Foundation’s biggest supporter on the county commission, who appointed Bruce as his representative on the Santa Rosa Island Authority?