Sink hires a lawyer and McCollum draws an ethics complaint

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has hired lawyer Mark Herron to represent her in her ethics complaint on charges that she used the state plane to transport her family and to commute to her Tampa home. Tallahassee lawyer and Republican activist Jose Blas Lorenzo filed the complaint against Sink.

Meanwhile Democratic activist Ken Quinnell brags today on his Twitter page that he's just filed a complaint against Attorney General Bill McCollum ''for misuse of the state plane.'' No word back from Quinnell, but stay tuned.

The Herald/Times reported today that as far back as February state auditors began examining the state aircraft manifest and found numerous examples of possible commuting by state officials. The investigation seems to have avoided any review of Gov. Charlie Crist's flight logs but it gave a detailed review of Sink's trips to Tampa and McCollum's trips to Sanford, raising questions about whether they were traveling home for official business or personal convenience.

The audit was prompted after the Sun-Sentinel broke the story that Lieutenant Gov. Jeff Kottkamp had used the state plane to travel to his Fort Myers home with his wife and family, and the state never billed him for reimbursement.

Comments

[It's getting fun now]

Equal opportunity, dueling, tit-for-tat ethics complaints!

[diablo]

Sink has real problems. She broke the law. McCullum did not. This will Sink her in due time.

[Adios beeeech]

Sink is sunk

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Sorry, I was running errands and just hadn't seen the e-mail yet. I sent you a copy of the complaint.

McCollum actually did the exact thing that people are complaining that Sink did, but he did it much more frequently.

[Paul D. Harvill]

Equal opportunity, dueling, tit-for-tat ethics complaints!

And the campaigns are more than fully engaged now.

Mark Herron would be my attorney should anyone ever file a Florida Commission on Ethics complaint against me.

He is the best in the field.

[kenneths a moron]

Did Bill use the state plane to pick up his wife and kids? Did he divert state aircraft to help start his vacation? What was the state purpose of picking up and dropping off Bill Mcbride? Kenneth you are a moron.

[Get Real]

Being a loser, half-a55ed community college instructor gives you plenty of time to file ethics complaints against our Attorney General.

I must have missed the part where Gen. McCollum allowed his family on the state plane and diverted the flights for their convenience.

[Here's your ethics complaint]

Did Alex Sink ask the Legislature to divert $2.5 million into a television ad campaign slush fund? Nope.

Did Alex Sink divert $2.5 million away from hiring cyber crime investigators to pay a campaign consultant so Howdy Doody's face could be plastered all over TV on the taxpayer's dime? Not.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Actually, he frequently used the plane for trips that were outside his official duties, such as going to a funeral, or for commuting purposes (something outside the legal definition of the purpose of the plane), so, yeah, he did do those type of things. On many occasions. And I can say that with my name on the record, in a formal complaint and without resorting to name-calling, since I actually have the evidence to back it up.

[terminator]

why no investigation of Chuck Crist's corporate jet freebies on the RPOF dime?
How many rides did Chuck take on Jay Odom's jet?
look for Marco to expose this hill of beans during the primary campaign.
can you say "conflict of interest"?

[Get Real]

From the community college complainant's own website:

"kennethquinnell's status on Wednesday, 24-Jun-09 21:57:08 EDT

kennethquinnell: Looks like my $ troubles may be behind me as I likely have a new political job that will pay well. Will make an announcement when confirmed."

This may be confirmed at:
www.flaprogressives.com/notice/267

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Again he repeatedly diverted the plane to his home town for his own convenience, which is just as bad (and just as illegal) as doing it for your family.

Yes, I am working on a new political job, that has absolutely no connection whatsoever to the governor's race or AG race. And if you read my blog and twitter stuff, you'll note that I haven't endorsed Sink. I have endorsed in other races.

[Susan Smith]

Get Real,

So you've got a problem with community college instructors? Interesting.

[Get Real]

I have a problem with the manner in which he described (and minimized) the funerals of Okaloosa County Deputy Sheriff Burt Lopez and Deputy Sheriff Warren “Skip” York. His exact wording in describing Gen. McCollum's use of the state plane included this excerpt: "trips that were outside his official duties, such as going to a funeral."

For the chief law enforcement officer of the State of Florida (the Attorney General) to attend the funerals of two slain deputies is NOT beyond the scope of his official job duties. The General is a law enforcement leader in this state.

A university professor would have probably known that.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Legally speaking, it is. Find me in the official duties of the attorney general that this is authorized. I'll wager you can't. Even it it were, that's one of the 15 incidents reported, compared to five reported for Sink.

[Get Real]

Get your JD and then you can lecture me on the LAW, "Perfesser." Until then, stick to your field--poli sci. You seem better suited for that.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

I thought as much, you don't actually know the official duties (that's poli sci, by the way) and you're too lazy to look them up.

[No comprende]

Mr Quinnell,

It doesn't seem that you understand the law. According to media reports McCollum had the state plane pick him up or drop him off in various locations around the state for state business purposes only. Sink had the plane diverted to pick up her family with no official state business.

That, sir, is illegal.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

I'm reading those media reports and they are saying that McCollum was on official business -- without backing that up with sources. And they are saying that Sink reimbursed the state for the expenses that were not official business. McCollum did not, it appears.

[Get Real]

"Perfesser," I am quite familiar with both Article IV, Section 4(b), Florida Constitution, and s. 16.01, Florida Statutes. Apparently, you aren't.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Article IV, Section 4(b): "(b) The attorney general shall be the chief state legal officer. There is created in the office of the attorney general the position of statewide prosecutor. The statewide prosecutor shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the state attorneys to prosecute violations of criminal laws occurring or having occurred, in two or more judicial circuits as part of a related transaction, or when any such offense is affecting or has affected two or more judicial circuits as provided by general law. The statewide prosecutor shall be appointed by the attorney general from not less than three persons nominated by the judicial nominating commission for the supreme court, or as otherwise provided by general law."

Relevance? Don't see anything about funerals?

[Susan Smith]

Call the media! "Get Real" knows how to look up statutes!

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Here's section 16.01 of the statutes (too long to quote), again, there is absolutely nothing relevant to the conversation in this part of the law. Nice try at throwing up a smoke screen: http://law.onecle.com/florida/executive-branch/16.01.html

[Kenneth Quinnell]

I guess the constitution comment must've been too long, too. Here's the link: http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?mode=constitution&submenu=3&tab=statutes&CFID=152185963&CFTOKEN=70025734#A04S04

Again, notice nothing related to anything said in this thread.

[No comprende]

The official state business is on the complaint you sp frivilously filed.

You, sir, have been duped by the children at the FDP.

Too bad for you, did you even read this before you filed it?

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Susan, apparently he doesn't know how to look them up or he would've realized they have nothing to do with supporting his argument.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

No comprende, I notice that you make no actual evidence to back up your argument. There is clearly no official business for McCollum listed anywhere in the complaint I filed.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

And "frivolous"? It's good to see that conservatives think that a citizen questioning one of their government officials is frivolous. I'm glad that I have the First Amendment and don't have to rely on people like you.

[Get Real]

I have accompanied General Butterworth to similar funerals and memorials. As the state's chief prosecutor, chief law enforcement officer, and supervisor to the Statewide Prosecutor, the Attorney General's attendance at "a funeral" for two slain deputy sheriffs is not inappropriate or illegal.

It would not have been inappropriate for Alex Sink to have attended those same funerals. Under Chapter 633, FS, she's a law enforcement officer as the State Fire Marshal.

Ms. Smith, you are truly assuming that I had to "look up statutes." My colleagues know that after three decades, I know Florida's Constitution, statutes, administrative code, Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure, and its evidence code.

It's not rocket science.

[Edmond]

McCollum is as crooked as the three-dollar bill.

Diverting the plane for his "official" business - let's not look too closely or Mrs. McCollum may have her heart broken. The funerals are not in his official job description, and what did McCollum do while in the vicinity? It wasn't just attending a funeral - he appeared, but he also appeared elsewhere - fundraising on at least one excursion.

Not to mention the no-bid contract for HIS private media specialist company.
Who works there that he's so fond of?

[Kenneth Quinnell]

I notice that you leave out, "Get Real," whether or not the state paid for Butterworth to go to said funerals. Obviously, it is legitimate for the AG to attend such a funeral, even expected. That doesn't mean it is legitimate, or legal -- and nothing you have shown here says otherwise -- for taxpayers to cover the cost of that. And do we really care what your friends think about you? It doesn't have any bearing on the comments here. I could just as easily say that my colleagues know that I know what I'm talking about, but you wouldn't believe it and it wouldn't be relevant -- just like your claim about your colleagues.

[Rockabilly]

It's the Attack of the Progressive Twits, Get Real; "activist" KQ and that shrill Kos diarist Susan Smith. Whatever you say or do, whatever your knowledge or experience, they will be dismissive of you the way a brahmin dismisses one of the dalits. If your opinion does not coincide with theirs your opinion is obviously worthless.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

No, we dismiss your opinion when you don't back it up with actual facts or logical arguments. Or when you devolve into childish namecalling from your anonymous perch.

[new best friends]

Get Real - you sure know how to milk those "law enforcement" issues during a campaign season, don't you?

Guess you advised Tom Gallagher about the same thing while he was CFO running for Govr in '06.

Be sure to get some cop cars in the photogs, will ya?

[Rockabilly]

From KQ's Twitter: "Battling trolls in three different comment threads. Their strategy -- obfuscate and name-call. Mine, logic and evidence. #p2 #pfla"

TRANSLATION: Nya nya nya I'm smarter than you!

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Actual translation: "No, we dismiss your opinion when you don't back it up with actual facts or logical arguments. Or when you devolve into childish namecalling from your anonymous perch."

[Rockabilly]

If you want childish name-calling, KQ, go to your friend Sinfonian's blog. He specializes in it. I'm not going to judge the merit of your copycat complaint --- good luck with it --- but I will take your measure from what you write and I think you are a pompous SOB. Have a nice day.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Sinfonian does specialize in that, but I'm not him, so that isn't relevant here. Notice though, that while Sinfonian does call names, he always takes on the substance of the other side's argument as well. You didn't even pretend to do that, you just did the namecalling. That's not the same thing.

[Michelle K from Tampa]

So I suppose noted Republican activist Jose Blas Lorenzo filed a "frivolous" complaint against Sink, is that right? Or is being a citizen who questions one of his or her government officials only OK if you're a Republican?

[Michelle K from Tampa]

And speaking of "frivolous," Rockabilly and Get Real--your Internet stalking of Kenneth Q. is getting creeeeeeeeeeeeepy. Do you really have that much free time on your hands to hunt Kenneth's blog history for what you think are "incriminating" quotes? Sheesh!

[What's up with Get Real?]

Get Real, I have seen you on other posts bashing the Republican Lt. Gov. You are obviously a Republican, work for the AG and are a lawyer. So, why do you disparage the LG?

[Kimberlie]

Here is the statute pertaining to the ethics inquiry:

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0287/Sec17.HTM

From my read, McCollum did nothing wrong. All his trips were for state business. Why should the state plane have to drop him off in Tallahassee instead of Sanford?

Alex Sink on the other hand used the plane for personal affairs and did not reimburse the state until she was caught.

[Pandora]

Crist and Kottcamp are next.

[Can o worms for GOP]

I warned you but did you listen? Nooooooo, you know everything......

Now, just in case this little chess match is ploy to get Rubio elected, we need to get busy making sure his name is mud - re: Sansom. If the little fascist gets elected, everyone loses. (Alsthough getting Chuck "our state to the developers: Crist out of office is looking more attractive all the time.

[Next What?]

Pandora---"Crist and Kottcamp are next"? They are running the entire state---and guess what---when you govern the 4th largest state and 13th largest economy in the world you have to travel. To complete your thought...Crist will be the "next" U.S. Senator and Kottcamp will be the "next" Attorney General.

[Uh oh]

Rumor has it...

Sink is going to hire Rod Smith as her attorney when Willie Meggs investigates the family travel charges. Alex thinks Rod won't run against her if he's on her legal team.

[Uh oh]

Rumor has it...

Sink is going to hire Rod Smith as her attorney when Willie Meggs investigates the family travel charges. Alex thinks Rod won't run against her if he's on her legal team.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

>Why should the state plane have to drop him off in Tallahassee instead of Sanford?

Because state law says it has to.

[Tommy]

Jose Lorenzo is a political joke and a mental midget. Not to mention he was thrashed in a Leon County School Board race last year.

[Paul D. Harvill]

Equal opportunity, dueling, tit-for-tat ethics complaints! Full contact sport! Florida Championship Wrestling Match.

The last round ends on election day in November.

And the winner is?

And the campaigns are more than fully engaged now.

Mark Herron would be my attorney should anyone ever file a Florida Commission on Ethics complaint against me.

He is the best in the field.