Bob, there is a quantum difference between having little respect for local government generically and having little respect for Walton County's modus operandi. Neither Matt nor Suzanne (nor I) has any respect for the manner in which Walton often does its business in managing the affairs of county government in instances such as these with George Ralph as well as the missing plat fees, and deservedly so. Many have thrown rocks at Suzanne for her steadfast and very public opposition to many of the practices of the players and hangers on in county government. One might hope that these folks would open their eyes to the evidence before them. Suzanne has been right time after time, and Matt has had the courage to do his job as an attorney despite the certainty that doing so will alienate powerful people who will do all they can to hurt him politically.
Cast aside your prejudices and accept reality. Suzanne and Matt have confronted the county on your behalf and mine again, and they have won again. The wasted tax dollars are the proximate result of willful, and I think egregious, misconduct by multiple people paid by the county. The county knew it was wrong, refused to admit it, refused to settle early or late, and it has deservedly been found thoroughly at fault, sufficiently so that a judge would not let this go further and allow the county to waste more tax dollars defending the indefensible. The summary judgement is an indictment of the county in this instance. We can only wish this were an isolated case.
We have some decent people doing good jobs at many levels of county government. Unfortunately, they and we are and have been being betrayed by irresponsible and illegal practices, this latest case being only a small but illustrative example of how and by whom. Suzanne deserves our thanks and our admiration for having the determination, intelligence and personal courage to fight the blatant wrongdoings in county government. Now, if only someone in county government will step up and see to it that Ms. Hoshihara does no further work for the county. It's a mite late for bar complaints against George Ralph, but Ms. Hoshihara's misdeeds in this case warrant bar action, and it should not await a citizen complaint. The Florida Bar certainly knows of this by now.
I doubt many know of the instance a couple of years ago when two armed thugs showed up at Edgewater, posing as BATF agents, brandishing badges and demanding to see Suzanne. Their excuse was a transparent lie, and the front desk employee rightly called them on it. Despite this, they proceeded to scout the grounds. Nothing more came of it, but if the intent was to scare Suzanne off, they demonstrably failed. The employee in question told me of this face to face, and Suzanne has told me and others directly that she will not be intimidated. And she, unlike many, speaks the truth.
And Misty, I'm not defending Larry. I'm castigating the State Attorney's office for what I deem unconscionable behavior at best. Our system of justice is capable of being perverted, and I firmly believe that to be the case in this abortion of an investigation and Grand Jury proceeding if the reports of same are to be believed. Keep up your revelations into the relations among the players. Everyone needs to know these things.
