The "most hated man in Florida"?

We've reported a couple of times now about Joel Chandler's efforts to hold Florida school districts accountable to the Sunshine Law. The Polk father started off trying to teach his kids a civics lesson, and has become a crusader after the Polk school district rejected his request.

What he wanted -- personal information of employees' dependents who get health insurance -- outraged many school workers.

Sometimes, Chandler writes in his blog, the reaction makes him feel "like I'm the most hated man in Florida and it's all because I asked some inconvenient questions."

Not like that's stopping him. Chandler now has posted a "report card" grading all districts' responses to his request. Locally, he gave Hernando a B+, Hillsborough a D, Pinellas a B and Pasco an F. (Don't feel bad, Pasco. The majority failed his system.)

Next up for Chandler? More public record requests of school districts, of course. Apparently, being hated is no deterrent.

Comments

Sure, I believe in transparency and openness in government, but pray tell what does that have to do with school employees, their spouses and children? To compare these people's personal records, such as medical coverage etc. to the governor of Illinois is beyond ludicrous. He should be spending a fraction of this effort on real elected government officials and digging up something worthwhile. Seems to me, as has been mentioned, he simply wants to benefit from information he can sell to the highest bidder, for whatever reason. Has Chandler also requested the information on employees, spouses and offspring of other government agencies such as highway workers, park rangers, police, highway patrol, city and county commissioners...the list goes on? Maybe he could spend his time going to the county courthouses across the state (country?) and looking for all records he can find on everyone that has any kind of public record of any kind at all. If he's just trying to prove a point about public records, why not go all the way?

Anyone read the section on his blog that made reference to his solicitation of prostitutes? Ha!!!!!

[RJohnson]

Sorry . . forgot the link.

[RJohnson]

Terminator-

Thanks for your help!

Think this through, though. Have you read the report card this guy did? Many of the school systems are dragging their feet in responding to him. Sen. Fasano's legislation is retroactive. If these folks drag their feet long enough, they can run out the clock on him.

Please encourage everyone to sign the petition, forward it to others, and contact their legislators.

[terminator]

RJ:
I will do so.
thanks
Ps most likely won't happen until regular session, so this slimeball can still expose a lot of pertinent employee information but the sooner the better.

[RJohnson]

Terminator-

You're spot on. The legislature must protect us, but it's important that whatever they do goes as far as possible.

There are at least 2 pieces of draft legislation aimed at stopping this. The bill authored by Sen. Mike Fasano offers the greatest protection and is retroactive. If enacted soon enough, not only will we be properly protected, but Mr. Chandler may be stopped before he gets more counties to fill his reqest.

Please sign the new petition supporting Sen. Fasano's bill. Forward it to all who are concerned about teacher's privacy and safety, and contact your legislator.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/protectflateachers/

[terminator]

Nobama:
get off the crack, it fries your brain.

obviously Mr. Chandler is gathering this information for a reason. Most likely to sell it to health insurance companies for a hefty profit (although he has previously stated he works in marketing and doesn't have an interest in selling it).

nothing we can do at this stage besides get the legislature to pass a bill which would prohibit it in the future.

[CHANDLERISEVIL]

NOBODY DESERVES PERSONAL INFORMATION ON ME. I DON'T NEED NOBODY COMING TO MY HOUSE. MR. JOEL CHANDLER, STAY AWAY FROM ME OR I WILL PUT A BULLET IN YOUR A**. YOU ARE TRUE EVIL!

[RJohnson]

A new petition exists to help support legislation to stop this man, or anyone else who wants our info. Please help. Send this to anyone you know who is concerned in protecting teachers and their families. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/protectflateachers/

[Nobama]

Teachers should be respected? --- Do you know how sick and tired I am of hearing how poorly teachers have it? You're indoctrinating our kids with liberal filth, and you expect our respect. Keep whining. It seems like Chandler has taught the Florida school system "a lesson." Class dismissed!

[Actually 9:05]

My spouse and I both work in Pasco and still pay over 150 biweekly for medical and even more for vision and dental. Well over 4000.00 a year for one small child. Check your facts. This criminal, check his record, does not deserve his information regardless of what I pay but, for the record, it is substantial on a "frozen" salary plan.

from the above post: dependents may be included in our health plans but the cost of this coverage is paid for by the employees, not the public.

This is not true in my distict for all people. If both 'parents' work for the school system the school system pays more than enough to cover all dependents. A little perk enjoyed by many administrative types.

[Observer]

He should ask Lee De Cesare for some advice.

[Teacher (again)]

After scanning his blog (thanks for the link Jeff) I think he is attention seeking. You know, the kid in the class who just has to let everyone know that he exist if for no other reason than because he can. The one who drives almost everyone nuts. Enough said.

[Teacher]

Why teachers? Why not those on Medicaid or Medicare which is also paid for by the state. Why not use the information for good and go fishing for fraud? Leave the people who go to work each day and work hard alone Mr. Chandler. Teachers should be respected. No one should have the right to my child's information and I pay for his coverage, over 500.00 a month by the way, not the state.

[proud to be an F on HIS report card]

School board employees have their health insured paid (at least partially) by public funds, so there may be some justification in requesting information about them. But, as a writer pointed in response to a different issue, dependents may be included in our health plans but the cost of this coverage is paid for by the employees, not the public. Thus, by what reason does he have a right to information about our dependents?

Joel Chandler should get a job, or volunteer. He has entirely too much time on his hands.