The Florida Statutes state it is illegal for an elected official to solicit campaign contributions from his government office. PNJ reporter Jamie Page reports on his blog that Comm. Gene Valentino told him that he met with Cody Rawson in the commissioner’s office to solicit campaign support from Rawson.
Valentino said his office meeting with Rawson that day in November was primarily to gauge whether Rawson was planning to give political support to George Touart in the 2010 election or whether Valentino could potentially get Rawson’s campaign support.
“The meeting was not about this bid issue,” Valentino said. “I was going to seek their campaign help. I am on the political campaign trail now and I have to go out and get political support. He (Rawson) was one of a list of 75 to 100 local contractors and architects and engineers I was planning to talk to (for support).”
Florida Statute 106.15 states:
“(3) A candidate may not, in the furtherance of his or her candidacy for nomination or election to public office in any election, use the services of any state, county, municipal, or district officer or employee during working hours.”
“(4) No person shall make and no person shall solicit or knowingly accept any political contribution in a building owned by a governmental entity. For purposes of this subsection, “accept” means to receive a contribution by personal hand delivery from a contributor or the contributor’s agent. This subsection shall not apply when a government-owned building or any portion thereof is rented for the specific purpose of holding a campaign fund raiser.”
While Comm. Valentino didn’t get a check from Rawson, according to his finance report, he did use his office, during office hours, for campaign purposes.
Furthermore, Valentino tells Page that he is calling 75 to 100 local contractors, architects and engineers for campaign support. At the BOCC meeting yesterday, Valentino tells the public that he wants to give preference to local contractors. Was that a not-too-subtle message to his potential campaign contributors?
I favor a preference for local contractors – as long as the rules are drawn BEFORE the seals bids are open. However, the circumstances surrounding this Maplewoods area contract and Comm. Valentino using his office to solicit campaign support stink. It may be smart politics. We will find out in August.
