New ethics complaint against Sansom

House Speaker Ray Sansom faces a second ethics complaint.

Tampa-area activist Susan Smith today filed the complaint against the Destin Republican, who was has been under fire for taking a job at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. Smith is a member of Democracy for America.

"He has embarrassed the Florida Legislature," Smith said an interview. She alleges Sansom violated, among other things, a House ethic rules that states legislative office, "is a trust to be performed with integrity in the public interest."

Smith, 59, mailed the complaint to Sansom this afternoon. "I'm outraged so I’m going to do something about this. I’m tired of lawmakers thinking they they can act this way and get away with it."

The speaker already faces a complaint from David Plyer of Clearwater, who cited a Florida Statute that prohibits public officials from using their position to gain special privilege for themselves or others. The Florida Commission on Ethics next meets Jan. 23.

Smith's complaint is directed to the chairman of the House Rules & Calendar Council, Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton.

Sansom, who is quitting the $110,000 job on Jan. 31, has maintained he did nothing wrong, that he is looking out for his district and has a desire to expand educational and economic opportunity.

Comments

[It's not about the money, of course]

good for Citizen Smith. Next: an ethics complaint against Richburg and the NWF State College Trustees? Crank it up. We need a new way of doing things in this state.

Eeeeeexcelllent Susan!

the Destin Clown is going down!

How come the presiding officers have so much power, anyway?

Isn't the Legislature supposed to be a deliberative body? Aren't all the members elected to represent an equal number of constituents?

If so, why should a presiding officer have the power to control which bills have a chance of coming to the floor? I think we should be questioning why some things are the way they are.

love these random citizens calling a spade a spade and a crook a crook

Next... Susan Smith files a complaint against Sands for using his position to sell committee assignments...

a new guessing game for you.
How many ethics complaints does it take to justify a hearing?

Think that is easy, how many does it take to achieve action from elected officials?

One more, how many legislators realize their own reputation slides each day Ransom remains at the healm?

Susan could have killed many, many birds with this one stone with just a simple modification and a copy machine, to wit:

Instead of: "He has embarrassed the Florida Legislature,"

Change to read:

"He/She (insert Legislator’s name here) has embarrassed the Florida Legislature,"

The only thing that will make a difference is these ethics complaints. If joe citizen is outraged he/she should file an ethics complaint and these will reverberate in Tallahssee when other legislators start seeing thier own reputation and elected position being tied to this if they dont act. Hundreds of ethics complaints should be filed with an additional naming of their local representatives for enabling malfeasence and corruption of an elected body if they dont act.

[surfdog]

3:14
lets all start
i'm calling charlies office NOW

[surfdog]

http://www.flgov.com/contact_governor

just called to file my complaint
they send you a form
i was on hold a while and had to put up with hearing charlie say how he is saving florida
but it is worth it!!

DO IT!!!

[T-HIZZEL]

the only problem with citizens complaining is the people they are complaining about are the ones getting the complaint an the only ones that can do anything about it... so it is a useless point!!

[T-HIZZEL]

but what the hell ill give it a try!!!

[Political Consultant]

As soon as the new season of 24 starts, you loads of hot air will forget all about it.

This is what the corrupt politicians and I know… and you and the masses haven’t figured out yet.

Who really takes her seriously anyway? She is nothing more than a liberal hack. She probably looks like one of those hags from NOW.

Hey Susan, GET A LIFE!!

3:48 "the corrupt politicians and I" = the corrupt politicians and their bleating little minion trying to erect a smokescreen around their illegal activities.

Yeah Susan! Keep up the great work!

[Michelle from Tampa]

3:58 - what an awful comment, and sexist as well. You don't know Jack about Susan, but I do--she is knowledgable, intelligent, and professional; and she knows what she's doing when it comes to citizen action against people like Sansom who behave illegally and abuse their offices. She's also a devoted wife and mother who's raised two sons into excellent young men with college educations and futures.

So, what have YOU accomplished lately, Mr. "Get a Life"?

[Sybil]

Surfdog you are almost as big of a Hero as Susan! Thankx - just called - and yes, they do make you wait. I'll be sending mine - and T-Hizzel - "what good does it do" - how about you cc your local rep, if you are not represented by the rep - send it a local rep that knows you, and oh yeah, share it with the world.

Ransom has to learn - no more "good ole boys" network in Florida - they've bankrupted us

[Gilbert Ford]

It is truly a sad day when ordinary citizens have to file complaints against a sitting elected official, while said he/she is in daily contact with other elected officials. Classic case of cronyism.

One last tidbit; please don't get our hopes up, the Grand Jury only indicts based on the EVIDENCE, the State Attorney PRESENTS! Case in point, the case against Pinellas Tax Appraiser Jim Smith and State Attorney Bernie McCabe's office. The FBI should intervene, I have no faith in Tallahassee's judicial establishment, afterall, Governor Crist did state 12/16/08, "I see nothing wrong with Speaker Sansom's actions", when he was asked by reporters prior to holding a meeting.

[Liam]

Citizen by citizen, vote by vote, ethics complaint by ethics complaint...

Good job Susan. This is what Democracy looks like.

Im glad Susan Smith has time to do that...you know...being another unemployed liberal and all.

[Michael Paris]

You will never get Ray Ray with Meggs, he is to busy triple dipping. Get the Feds.

why to go Susan! I am going to do the same and copy my rep.

Ray Sansom has been self-serving business for many years, and the good-old boys have always taken care of him. This is not the first time he's had a lucrative position created for him by his cronies and funded by the public.

[A]

Gee, you might actually achieve some changes if you got involved in a political campaign rather than sitting at a computer blogging.

I get to do this as I have an interested party having me checking the blogs for him/her while they work and I am between classes at the professional level.

As long as ya'll just sit and complain. Nothing changes and everything is the same.

And you know? You are right about political favors. People that ACTUALLY work on campaigns or hold office are generally rewarded for their efforts in some way. While the bloggers sit home, wait for their check, and complain.

I got an internship at the Capitol (yes, I had to apply the regular way), but, got a very good committee to be on. And, no, interns don't copy stuff, get coffee, etc. It is REAL work and long hours. I got it because I had a resume of proven experience and had developed a reputation as being a hard worker and having integrity.

Get involved at your local level....you will understand things better and will actually KNOW the people who are talking about.