Whistleblower lawsuit takes aim at Benson

Well, this one has it all: Hooters, ice cold beer, not one but two of Gov. Charlie Crist's agency heads and even Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer.

A whistleblower lawsuit was filed Wednesday by Stephen Hougland, a former division chief in the state's business regulation agency. He accuses former Secretary Holly Benson of interfering with his decision-making authority and improperly favoring a beer distributor and beverage industry consultant who's a close friend of Greer's. The case involves special Hooters/Bud Light bottles and whether they violated Florida's "Tied House Evil" law that bars financial aid to a beverage vendor by a liquor manufacturer or distributor. The suit accuses Benson of overruling Hougland and allowing Hooters to deplete their remaining Bud Light bottles featuring the distinctive Hooters logo (read the lawsuit here).

In addition, the suit alleges Benson dismissed 19 cases of unlicensed activity at "the Sandestin Beach Resort, a mega-resort located in Benson's previous House district consisting of numerous, privately-owned restaurants and alcoholic-beverage establishments."

Among Hougland's other charges is that former DBPR deputy secretary Chuck Drago, who last week was named by Crist as Benson's successor, gave Greer friend John Harris "inappropriate access to DBPR personnel" and gave a job to a close friend who was unqualified. Hougland is asking a circuit judge for reinstatement to his old job and full back pay. 

Hougland previously filed similar charges with the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the Florida Commission on Ethics, but the charges were not sustained either time. The Hougland lawsuit was first reported by Gary Fineout of Florida Health News.

Comments

"improperly favoring a beer distributor and beverage industry consultant "

that ENTIRE industry is a corrupt bunch of monopolies

11:20 That includes the McCains. I wonder if we'll see some interesting new trade arrangements with the Belgians if McBrew is elected?

Under Holly the important thing was who you knew. And nothing will change under Drago!

Holly Benson is an excellent public servant. This clearly has the markings of a disgruntled state employee whose feathers are ruffled over an inner agency turf battle.

Holly drinks Blue Moon at the GC - not Bud Light. What gives?

Adam - The Sandestin Beach Resort is actually in Marti Coley's district. It was never in Bensons. You can't get lazy with the facts if you are going to make posts like this.

My bad - it was Bosquet who needs to not be lazy.

"Hougland previously filed similar charges with the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the Florida Commission on Ethics, but the charges were not sustained either time."

"This clearly has the markings of a disgruntled state employee whose feathers are ruffled over an inner agency turf battle."

Look! I found a GOP staffer!

This case was really about Benson, The guy just though anything he could up against the wall to see what sticks .

dumbass government employee that has been feeding at the trough for so damn long he thinks he is owed a government job!. I wish there was a statute of limitation that every government employee had to resign after 10 years and had to re-apply and was automatically fired after a new administration. May that would clue in some of these dumb-a that theri government job IS political. Get a f-in clue or go work in the private sector!.

2:18

because rehiring and retraining across the entire bureaucracy is SOOOO EFFICIENT

Holly Benson is corrupt and gets what she deserves. GOOD! What goes around comes around Holly. Treat others with respect... oh wait, you don't know what that means. You favor men in the workplace.

What horsecrap. The human relations commission and ethics commission rarely reject complaints if there's even the slightest bit of evidence supporting a claim. And now this guy gets to file a lawsuit?? And the taxpayers have to pay for the state to defend this crap? He should be fired from his curent state job and forced to reimburse the state for the expense of having to deal with his frivolous complaints.

2:59 - most women bosses do...

[red]

Same time next year?

Hey, Cindy's daddy was a convicted bootlegger and still got the monopoly bud beer distributorship. Lies on the license matter? Fooey -- not if you know the right folks, it seems.

Cindy's little illegal drug theft problem should have ended her keeping the beer pusher license. Not in elitist multimillionaire justice system if you own the right McSenator.

There's a reason they called him McNasty when young. Still McNasty -- but replaced military/industrial elitism for buy a congressman elitism.

Still hates and uses women to get what he wants. J.S.McCain -- third generation drunken sailor. Disgusting family values -- since prohibition.

I hear Holly will counter that he nhad more time to exercise after he was forced out.

Is this why Kotas got fired from DBPR?

He didn't get fired, moron. He is going to ahca with Holly.

the beer distributor lewis bear was holly's finance chairman for her reelection--but hey, no quid pro quo here, right?

Att Mr. Hougland,

That is why people work so hard to get in power so they can use a bit of it. Are Holly and Chuck too close to whomever they regulate? Sure. Will the press ever ask for senior management emails or dig at all? Nope, there is not any press left because we all read the "news" for free on titilating blogs where we end up providing most of the content.

is this spam?

Holly still thinks she is a Legislator. Her profound indiscretion and lack of understanding are staggering. Just do the State a favor and resign already.

Holly is not corrupt - just an idiot. I'm surprised she made it through high school, let alone law school. She rode her mother's coattails to elected to public office. Now it appears she hit the ceiling as far as her capabilities go. She ought to retire and go back to "lawyering" and playing the little rich girl from the panhandle.

Reminds me of the time Holly brought that reporter from Pensacola into a private meeting with Jeb and the rest of the delegation and forgot to tell them.

Holly has no inner life. I suspect most politicians have this issue. Does she have any friends or are most of her inner circle either employees or lobbyists?

sexism is more like it!! get real dude you are mad because a beautiful intelligent woman is smarter than you and cares about the community in a different way than your authoritarian butt!!! Thank god for holley benson and bless the tribe she came from!!haha Yes holley knows justice lies with the concience and she is not afraid to use hers for what she sees as best for the community that is why she is successful and the disgruntaled employee is crying lawsuit and want the job back!! my suggestion to you buddy is to move on thier is a new marshall in town and she is a lady!! p.s. I support holley and all conservatives who want buisnesses to work because they bring dollars to florida and we need all we can get with gas at 4 dollars a gallon!!haha

I heard Kotas was out at DBPR and now NOT getting invited to ACHA

OK 4:52, you have definitely not seen her up close because "beautiful" is not the word for her. 2:33 is right on point. She has no other friends, all lobbyists. They use her and she uses them. She's drowning at AHCA.

Why does this story matter? It's not like the SPT or any other paper for that matter will investigate this further. That would be real reporting after all! This story dies on the vine just like all the other ones in the last 24 months.

Have a Nice Day.

Kotas was brought in by Holly at DBPR- then taken with her to AHCA. Government corruption at it's best. The old legislative director was probably doing a good job, but that doesn't stop Holly. What Holly wants..Holly gets. Kotas is her drinking buddy and her friend. Corruption! What about the people of FL? Do they care? No! Tax dollars wasted on Benson's watch.