Election complaint against Greer

Democratic activist Kenneth Quinnell yesterday filed a complaint with the Florida Election Commission, alleging that the state GOP illegally failed to report expenditures made during a stay at the Breakers:

"In essence, what it boils down to is that it appears that the Republican Party of Florida was required, by law, to report more than $5,000 in hotel expenses charged to the party American Express Card as ‘Other Distributions’. As the data from the Division of Election shows, they did not appear to do that, which would be a clear violation of the law. Since their American Express records are undisclosed, the public can’t determine if violations have been made and these records should be released to the public and the Florida Elections Commission should look into this matter," Quinnell said on his blog, which also includes a text of the complaint.

The RPOF has said chairman Jim Greer, above left, mistakenly included some personal expenses on the party AmEX card, but that the party complies with all disclosure requirements. Meanwhile, on the eve of the RPOF's party leadership elections, a new group called the Florida Republican Reform Caucus (FRRC), is calling for an audit into RPOF leaders' "luxurious spending."

"Today, the State Party is confounding a closer look at the credit card spending - by cardholder - to determine how Party funds have been spent," said John Bertran of Melbourne, an FRRC cofounder, along with Martin Stockdale of Ft. Lauderdale, Eric von Tausch of Miami, and Joe Aloisio of Pasco County.  "Only a true forensic audit will show who spent what, and for what reason."

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Comments

[Big Sugar]

"Jim Greer mistakenly included some personal expenses on the party AmEX card"

If anyone actually believes it was a “mistake”… I have some swampland in south Florida to sell you. Oh, never mind.

Republicans are vulnerable to investigations across the board. Let the sun shine in and let the voters be enlightened!

Yawn. This story is getting boring.

Yawn. This story is getting boring. Umm, on second thought, better call my attorney.

where there is smoke there normally is fire. Are St. John's suits something that should appear on RPOF AMEX card? Oop. . .Jim used the wrong card.

I'm sick of them. Vote out all lying cheating exploiting Republicans!

When will the Demoncrats learn that those rocks they're throwing only end up breaking their own windows?

[Sybil]

Excuse me, but "mistakes" by Jim Greer are simply unacceptable.

This guy has been in the political business long enough to know the rules - or were these expenses for "entertainment" - private entertainment?

[12:24's shadow]

You have something against accountability?

Democrats don;t have to do a thing, the Republicans are doing a great job of it all by themselves.

[Michelle from Tampa]

It is good to know that citizens in Florida like Kenneth Quinnell care about the honesty (or lack thereof) of our elected officials that they're willing to shine a spotlight on them. Good on Ken for taking action!

12:22 - Jim Greer is not publically elected. He is only elected by certain Republican Party members.

[t-hizzel]

1:17 you are right we need more accountability!! the more we find out about dirty politians the better off america will be air that dirty laundry!!!!

Michelle,

Which elected official did Kenneth Quinnell shine a light on?

Jim Greer is an outstanding individual with the highest level of ethics and integrity. I look forward to working with him again as we move forward on our goal of getting good Republicans elected.

Signed… hic’up!

Karen Thurman
Florida Democratic Party Chair and Republican Consultant

Finally someone who filed the complaint based on 106.07(4)(a)11.... which states - "A copy of each credit card statement which shall be included in the next report following receipt thereof by the candidate or political committee. Receipts for each credit card purchase shall be retained by the treasurer with the records for the campaign account."

Someone should also look at F.S. 106.125 Credit cards; conditions on use

(1) Credit cards may be obtained only from the same bank which has been designated as the candidate's or political committee's primary campaign depository.

-- I didn't know Amex was a bank, although didn't the apply to be one in order to get bailout money?

(3) Before a credit card may be used, a copy of the agreement or contract between the candidate and the bank, or the political committee and the bank, and a list of all persons who have been authorized to use the card shall be filed with the Secretary of State.

-- did Greer do this?

Brian Ballard seems to still be busy behind the scenes pulling the strings of others trying to discredit Jim Greer and emabarass Charlie. Charlie needs to start taking a close look at Ballard and start differentiating his true frinds from self serving Lobbyist that leverage their firms support of candidates to make sure that no matter who won Crist or Gallagher they would have been covered.

so let me get this straight 4:10 - you think Ballard is bad because he had clients that philosophically were behind both candidates and you think that is odd or unusual???

Or are you just jealous of his client list?

BTW - I don't like Ballard...

Everyone knows that this stuff has all been because Ballard and his girlfriends wanted Greer and the Party out of the way so he( Ballard) could be the King maker, only thing Ballard did not count on was Crist and others standing with Greer. Donors and insiders know all about this little power play, If Greer does not know this he should so he and Crist can know who is their true friends and not let BB run off so many others who want to play!! .

4:36 or rather, Rivera - quit trying to point the finger at other people. Greer knows it was you and Marco behind all of this. He won't forget.

I LOVE David Rivera. He is sexy beyond words!

Down in flames... Former republican here who left the party for these very reasons. Glad to be an activist with the party of the people: Democratic Party of Florida!

NEW GOP GROUP CALLS FOR AUDIT OF STATE PARTY SPENDING
Florida Republican Reform Caucus: "Who's the big spender?"

(MIAMI, FL) - Four irate Republican activists joined forces today to form the Florida Republican Reform Caucus (FRRC), pledging to rally grass-roots GOP troops in a call for a forensic audit of Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) expenditures. At issue: a $1.7 million Party slush fund, $700,000 in charter aircraft use, $22,000 for limousines, and more profligate spending.

"RPOF Chairman Jim Greer is virtually certain to be re-elected to his Party post," said FRRC cofounder Martin Stockdale of Ft. Lauderdale. "But this certainty is no reason to ignore decadent expenditures. Republican Party members have a right to know where our money went."

Stockdale said the Florida Republican Reform Caucasus will ask rank and file republicans to join on-line to work for greater transparency and accountability by Party leaders. The organization will post its website soon.

Recently, it was revealed that the RPOF provides an America Express Card to senior party officials, and $1.8 million(check this number) was spent on these cards in 2008. This and other distressing financial news urged Party members Stockdale, Eric von Tausch of Miami, Joe Aloisio of Trinity, and John Bertran of Melbourne to join forces calling for an investigation into RPOF officials' luxurious spending.

"Today, the State Party is confounding a closer look at the credit card spending - by cardholder - to determine how Party funds have been spent," said Bertran, an FRRC cofounder. "Only a true forensic audit will show who spent what, and for what reason."

"What are these campaign expenditures - Five-Star resorts? Luxury suites? Spa days? Premium cigars? Private jets? Thousands of dollars in room service charges?" asked Aloisio, an FRRC cofounder. "Who's the big spender? We need to know what our leaders are doing with Party money, if there are tax implications, and whether Chairman Greer has been subsidizing his lavish lifestyle with Party funds."

"The RPOF racked up $46,000 worth of expenses on hotel suites, five-star restaurants, endless bar tabs, expensive tours, and shopping at a luxury department store, all in the United Kingdom alone," FRRC cofounder von Tausch said. "Chairman Greer blames Speaker Ray Sansom for the spending, Sansom blames Greer - and the rank-and-file wants the truth."

The RPOF had one of the most successful fundraising years in history, raising $23 million in 2008. Still, the Party allowed Sen. Barack Obama a remarkable Florida victory. Instead of paying for critical Spanish language radio or cable advertising, Chairman Greer and others spent millions on extravagance, lost a critical Red State - and failed John McCain miserably.

complain all you want about Greer's handling of RPOF money/expenses - he will be re-elected and nothing within RPOF will change. I suspect Greer will get a little wiser with the expenses, though.

Ballard- he will not go away as Charlie is well known to NOT confront those that backstab him publicly or privately as long as they continue to raise money for him.

It wasn't Greer's idea to hold back RPOF money from McCain - it was Charlie's. He was furious that he wasn't VP after he was led to believe he would be. What Charlie did not consider at the time he ordered the money to be held, he gained formidable enemies who will thwart his every move from here on out. The only part of the White House he will ever see is the dining room when he and Carole are invited to Obama's first event for Governors.

"Chairman Greer blames Speaker Ray Sansom for the spending, Sansom blames Greer - and the rank-and-file wants the truth."

Amen to that!

[Wondering why I am still a Registered Republican???]

If this unethical and corrupt behavior continues, we will start to see some R's flipping.

For goodness sakes,what has happened to the "moral" and "family values" party?
We are supposed to be above all this and the democrat party is supposed to be full of crooks,well thats not how it is.
We need to clean house or it will be cleaned for us.I am almost talked into changing parties until we can again hold our head high.Tell sansom to resign his post NOW.Any and all ethics problems should NOT be ignored by ourselves,it is not being ignored by the voting moderates!!!Look at what poor ethics and our not policing ourselves did to the party at the national level!