Question" HOW DO YOU GREET A POLITICIAN FROM NORTH FLORIDA"?
Answer" WILL THE DEFENDANT PLEASE RISE"!
Ethics Complaint Against Jones
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Question" HOW DO YOU GREET A POLITICIAN FROM NORTH FLORIDA"?
Answer" WILL THE DEFENDANT PLEASE RISE"!
Walton County Commissioner Larry Jones Fired
Walton County Commissioner Larry Jones has lost his job as a government liaison for Waste Management Service.
Jones confirmed that the company he had worked for since 2009 terminated him last Thursday.
Jones said he believed his firing was connected to an ethics complaint questioning the legality of his work for a company that does business with Walton County.
“I’m sure that was part of it. It was the only reason I was told,” he said.
He said he harbors no bitterness toward Waste Management, which holds residential and commercial trash collection contracts with the county.
“I have respect for Waste Management. They made the decision based on the facts as they understood them,” Jones said. “It was a business decision on their part.”
Suzanne Harris, president of the Edgewater Beach Owners Association, filed the ethics complaint against Jones. It claims that as a county commissioner, his employment with Waste Management violated state law.
“The mere act of employment with a company that is doing business with the county presents a violation of the (state) code of ethics,” the complaint states.
It also claims he committed ethics violations by “misusing his public position.”
The complaint states that Jones lobbied other governmental agencies on behalf of Waste Management.
It also claims he obtained information from Walton County employees “to benefit Waste Management as his employer.”
The complaint states that Waste Management has expanded its business in the county since it hired Jones.
David Myhan, an area vice president for Waste Management with oversight across Northwest Florida, declined to confirm Jones’ termination or the reasons for it.
Harris’ ethics complaint against Jones also creates a new twist in her public records lawsuit against Walton County.
Harris’ attorney Matt Gaetz, as well as Shawn Heath, another lawyer seeking to intervene in the public records lawsuit, assert that Harris received a copy of the ethics complaint in an email from County Commissioner Scott Brannon.
They allege that Brannon forwarded the email, with the ethics complaint attached, after he received it from attorney Clay Adkinson, who is believed to have drafted it.
According to Harris, Brannon and Adkinson asked her to file the complaint. She said she agreed after proof was provided that the allegations against Jones had merit.
Adkinson worked briefly as acting county attorney and has represented Brannon personally in a matter pertaining to the public records lawsuit.
In either capacity, Gaetz said, a violation of a judge’s order barring the discussion of county business or county officials on private emails occurred when Adkinson sent the ethics complaint to Brannon via a private email.
“If Clay Adkinson as the county’s lawyer sent an ethics complaint pertaining to Larry Jones to the private email address of Scott Brannon, this constitutes a violation,” Gaetz said.
“If he was acting as Brannon’s private attorney, a violation still exists,” Gaetz said. “An agent of Commissioner Brannon should not be sending public documents to Brannon’s private email address.”
Walton County Commissioner Larry Jones has lost his job as a government liaison for Waste Management Service.
Jones confirmed that the company he had worked for since 2009 terminated him last Thursday.
Jones said he believed his firing was connected to an ethics complaint questioning the legality of his work for a company that does business with Walton County.
“I’m sure that was part of it. It was the only reason I was told,” he said.
He said he harbors no bitterness toward Waste Management, which holds residential and commercial trash collection contracts with the county.
“I have respect for Waste Management. They made the decision based on the facts as they understood them,” Jones said. “It was a business decision on their part.”
Suzanne Harris, president of the Edgewater Beach Owners Association, filed the ethics complaint against Jones. It claims that as a county commissioner, his employment with Waste Management violated state law.
“The mere act of employment with a company that is doing business with the county presents a violation of the (state) code of ethics,” the complaint states.
It also claims he committed ethics violations by “misusing his public position.”
The complaint states that Jones lobbied other governmental agencies on behalf of Waste Management.
It also claims he obtained information from Walton County employees “to benefit Waste Management as his employer.”
The complaint states that Waste Management has expanded its business in the county since it hired Jones.
David Myhan, an area vice president for Waste Management with oversight across Northwest Florida, declined to confirm Jones’ termination or the reasons for it.
Harris’ ethics complaint against Jones also creates a new twist in her public records lawsuit against Walton County.
Harris’ attorney Matt Gaetz, as well as Shawn Heath, another lawyer seeking to intervene in the public records lawsuit, assert that Harris received a copy of the ethics complaint in an email from County Commissioner Scott Brannon.
They allege that Brannon forwarded the email, with the ethics complaint attached, after he received it from attorney Clay Adkinson, who is believed to have drafted it.
According to Harris, Brannon and Adkinson asked her to file the complaint. She said she agreed after proof was provided that the allegations against Jones had merit.
Adkinson worked briefly as acting county attorney and has represented Brannon personally in a matter pertaining to the public records lawsuit.
In either capacity, Gaetz said, a violation of a judge’s order barring the discussion of county business or county officials on private emails occurred when Adkinson sent the ethics complaint to Brannon via a private email.
“If Clay Adkinson as the county’s lawyer sent an ethics complaint pertaining to Larry Jones to the private email address of Scott Brannon, this constitutes a violation,” Gaetz said.
“If he was acting as Brannon’s private attorney, a violation still exists,” Gaetz said. “An agent of Commissioner Brannon should not be sending public documents to Brannon’s private email address.”
Two Ethics Complaints Against Jones Dismissed
We previously reported on complaints to the Florida Commission On Ethics filed against Walton Commissioner Larry Jones by Suzanne Harris and Mike Judkins. Jones has maintained he felt he was not in violation and welcomed the investigation. These came after Jones took a job with Waste Management, a company who was seeking and eventually received a contract with Walton County. The two complaints have been dismissed.
The complaints claim Jones misused his commissioner office by working for and representing Waste Management. The claims indicate he misused his position as commissioner for the advantage of the waste company, a company he was being paid by. In Harris’ complaint it states, “The mere act of employment with a company that is doing business with the county presents a violation of the (state) code of ethics.” Both complaints also say Jones accepted the job with Waste Management and did not notify the county. According to the Commission On Ethics, the complaints also alleged that by accepting the job, Jones “knew or should have known it was offered to influence his official actions.”.
Jones says he consulted with then County Attorney Mike Burke and was told there were no legal obstacles. Jones has maintained he moved forward based on the legal advice. A year ago Jones told WZEP First News he did not believe he was in the wrong and has tried to be open about his position. He also says he made an effort to not participate in any action relating to commissioner decisions about Waste Management. Jones has said that if he was in the wrong and was mistaken, then he would own up to it.
The Commission on Ethics found no probable cause to believe Jones used inside information gained by reason of his public position to secure a benefit for his employer. The Commission also says an allegation that Jones misused his position to benefit Waste Management was also dismissed with a finding of no probable cause. The Commission’s rejection of the claims also rejects an Attorney General’s Office investigator opinion about probable cause.
Jone did not seek reelection of his Commission seat. He tells First news he is actively considering applying for the open County Commissioner job. A few years ago Jones completed a degree that better qualifies him for the position.
We previously reported on complaints to the Florida Commission On Ethics filed against Walton Commissioner Larry Jones by Suzanne Harris and Mike Judkins. Jones has maintained he felt he was not in violation and welcomed the investigation. These came after Jones took a job with Waste Management, a company who was seeking and eventually received a contract with Walton County. The two complaints have been dismissed.
The complaints claim Jones misused his commissioner office by working for and representing Waste Management. The claims indicate he misused his position as commissioner for the advantage of the waste company, a company he was being paid by. In Harris’ complaint it states, “The mere act of employment with a company that is doing business with the county presents a violation of the (state) code of ethics.” Both complaints also say Jones accepted the job with Waste Management and did not notify the county. According to the Commission On Ethics, the complaints also alleged that by accepting the job, Jones “knew or should have known it was offered to influence his official actions.”.
Jones says he consulted with then County Attorney Mike Burke and was told there were no legal obstacles. Jones has maintained he moved forward based on the legal advice. A year ago Jones told WZEP First News he did not believe he was in the wrong and has tried to be open about his position. He also says he made an effort to not participate in any action relating to commissioner decisions about Waste Management. Jones has said that if he was in the wrong and was mistaken, then he would own up to it.
The Commission on Ethics found no probable cause to believe Jones used inside information gained by reason of his public position to secure a benefit for his employer. The Commission also says an allegation that Jones misused his position to benefit Waste Management was also dismissed with a finding of no probable cause. The Commission’s rejection of the claims also rejects an Attorney General’s Office investigator opinion about probable cause.
Jone did not seek reelection of his Commission seat. He tells First news he is actively considering applying for the open County Commissioner job. A few years ago Jones completed a degree that better qualifies him for the position.
Perhaps in filing the complaint, Mrs. Harris felt that the relationship was a conflict of interest. Some of us feel that certain relationships constitute bribes. Certainly some states have real ethics laws that frown on such relationships. The former governor of Alabama is in prison for accepting a campaign contribution from a crook. If we prosecuted people for violations of true ethics, even the great and powerful Don Gaetz would be in jail. Nevertheless, I'm amused by the apologists for our "public servants".
j p nettles I"m amused that you're amused by "apologists for our "public servants"". I guess I'd be considered one of those "apologists". It is my strong belief that anyone who puts out the effort to run for public office is either utterly stupid or courageously brave, or maybe both. One thing is for sure. Whomever they are, they have by deep and abiding respect. 99% of them try to do what they think and have been shown their constituents want. It is a really tough job. On top of that, they are required to put up with the likes of you and me.
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Our local politicians bring all the complaints on themselves. If they always act in ways with the appearance of being unethical they deserve all the heat they get. If they have even the slightest doubt that something they are doing might be illegal or unethical they should do a little research before acting. Like it or not, appearances are everything in the political arena. A little honesty and integrity goes a long way. If you make a mistake then own it, admit your mistake, ask for forgiveness, and move forward. And most important, learn from your mistakes and don't repeat them.
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I'm glad that you feel comfortable that our elected officals are all above unethical behavior. However, some of us live by a moral discipline that is simple. Ethics means legal, and in the best interest of all. And you mention that in your years of working in the public sector you didn't observe any illegal or unethical activity. When people get away with it, the idea is for nobody to see it. And the definition of a bribe is pretty straightforward. "Anything given or serving to persuade or induce". A big check is pretty persuasive and one person has contributed thousands of dollars to most of Walton County's elected officials (through a dozen different entities to make it fall within the legal context of an individual contribution).
I'd really like to know where I said any elected official was "above ethical behavior". I suggest you take a course in reading comprehension before you question someone's post. Maybe I should try writing at a fifth grade level to assure my point is getting across. Sorry to be so incomprehensible.
Thank you for the advice Andy A, I'll try to seek out a suitable teacher who can tutor me in reading comprehension.