County Clerk Pam Childers’ husband, Bruce, was disqualified from running for Escambia County Supervisor of Elections because he didn’t file Full Financial Disclosure Form 6 with the Florida Commission on Ethics.
WHAT HAPPENED: Pam tried to convince the SOE staff that a picture of the form’s first page on the website met the requirement. She and Bruce were told that wasn’t sufficient, and Bruce needed to present the Form 6 receipt that can be printed once the form is completed online. They agreed to print it out and return it to the SOE office. The SOE staff assumed they would and marked Bruce as qualified. However, the review after the qualifying deadline found that Bruce never completed the form.
- Rather than accept personal responsibility for his lack of understanding of Florida elections laws and his wife not completing the form for him, Bruce sued to be put on the ballot.
Bruce lost. The judge found the SOE staff more credible than the Childers’ tale. When Pam Childers testified, she described how she showed a completed Form 6 on her laptop to SOE staff. She said that Bruce had completed it before their first visit to SOE.
- However, Pam Childers did not have her laptop in the SOE video presented at the hearing. Oops.
LEGAL BILL: Bender asked the county to hire the GrayRobinson law firm to defend him. The PNJ reported the discounted bill was $46,666.50.*
Pam should have known how to complete Form 6, and Bruce’s legal background should have helped him understand the election laws he wanted to be in charge of if he had gotten elected. Neither took responsibility for their mistake and did not care what the lawsuit would cost the taxpayers until they lost.
*Note: Remember the PNJ had no interest in how much Pam Childers in the 401a lawsuit.
The Childers think they are entitled to play these games at tax payer expense. This is something they would never permit a regular citizen to “get away” with. They are a nuisance to Escambia County.