Will April Griffin Endorse Kevin White???
In the world of connecting local political dots…..here’s a strange tidbit.
Last month, sleazy county commissioner Kevin White kicked off his latest campaign for re-election. A number of locally recognizable names attended, including La Gaceta publisher Patrick Manteiga.
I kept wondering if Patrick was there simply as an observer…or a supporter.
After doing some easy research, I found out that Manteiga was included in the elections violation case against White. Remember, White was fined $9,600 for trying to claim $4,600 for imported suits as a campaign consulting expense. White was also accused of misspending $1997 for buying a new Dell computer with campaign funds.
That charge was dismissed because Patrick wrote a letter to the elections commission helping White justify the expense. Apparently, Manteiga and LaGaceta had been paid by the White campaign for post card designs and other campaign graphics..and White’s older computer would not accept the La Gaceta downloads.
Then, looking back at White’s campaign expenses in 2006, he spent thousands at La Gaceta for various ads and other design work.
And then I found another interesting name getting paid thousands by White: Brian Griffin, husband of ole April. Holy Moly!!! Brian was doing some voter data work for White.
Now I must wonder: Will Mr. Griffin be asked again by White for the same services…..and will wife April endorse White in his new campaign????
I mean, why not???? After all, she’s endorsed every local Democrat in the past….April goes where Patrick goes…and we know Patrick endorsed White four years ago despite being on the White campaign payroll. Hey, birds of a feather flock.
On the other hand……..would the oh-so-squeaky-clean April think White a potential campaign stain??
Susan Valdes Pays $500 for Her Lies and Deceit
I just received notice that the Florida Elections Commission (Case #: FEC 09-007) has fined our stellar board chair Susan Valdes $500 for accepting a cash contribution during her past election in excess of state statute. She paid that fine with a money order dated 02/14/10.
If you remember, I filed a complaint against Valdes for accepting and reporting a $250 cash campaign contribution during her last board race, even though the law prohibits any cash contribution above $50.
When I read the investigative report, Valdes blamed the local elections office filing officer for not informing her or her treasurer of changes in campaign law. She was referring to the law that changed cash contributions from $100 to $50.
Either way, she accepted more than the limit.
Of course, the investigator immediately caught her lies and clumsy attempt to rationalize her actions.
As he pointed out in the final report, Valdes is an experienced candidate after four elections, she signed a “Candidates Statement” in July, 2006 acknowledging that she received, read, and understood the requirements of Chapter 106, Florida Statutes pertaining to campaign law, and “respondent’s actions in this case were willful.”
Ah yes…..Valdes sets a fine example for our district’s students.
Don’t forget, this is the same fine lady who blamed everyone else for spending $50,000 in travel during her first 3 ½ years on the board….more than twice any other board member.
This is the same person who got caught by me making 1400 minutes of personal calls on her district expensed cell phone….and had to repay the district over $500.
And let us not forget, of those 1400 unpaid minutes, 400 were either to or from April Griffin, which is a gross violation of Government in the Sunshine statutes.
Griffin and Valdes are buddies and like to be labeled as the school board mavericks. I’ll simply call them our school board “Liars Extraordinaire.”
