By TOM McLAUGHLIN
315-4435 | @TomMnwfdn
tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com
Posted Oct. 1, 2015 at 5:04 PM
Updated at 5:10 PM
Suzanne Harris has won a lawsuit alleging the state Sunshine Law was violated when Walton County hired attorney George Ralph Miller without the public being notified.Judge John Simon granted a motion for summary judgment filed by Harris attorney Matt Gaetz.The ruling could end a case originally filed in 2010, following a controversial purchase of South Walton land in the area of Chat Holley Road.Simon decided that then-interim County Attorney Lynn Hoshihara put Miller on retainer without notifying the board of county commissioners she was doing so.That violated a county admonition to Hoshihara that she “work with the board to secure outside legal counsel, as needed,” Simon said in his ruling.Walton County wound up paying $187,400 to Miller during the time he was on retainer, the ruling said.“Unilateral action by one government official that commits taxpayer funds and that has not been fully and lawfully authorized at a public meeting” violates Florida law, the judge ruled.“No record evidence indicates that Ms. Hoshihara worked with the board at any public meeting ... to subsequently hire or enter contracts with Attorney Miller.”Gaetz called it “ludicrous” that Walton County would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars defending something he called “clearly illegal.”“Walton County cannot enter into contracts without a public meeting,” he said. “Conducting business outside of the sunshine is what feeds the good ol’ boy mentality.”The Chat Holley land deal that led to the revelations about the hiring of Miller occurred when Miller negotiated the purchase of land in the area with developer Lloyd Blue.Questions arose as to whether Blue owned the land he sold and if the county might not have even owned some portion of the very land it bought. Bill Warner, the attorney who represented the county, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Replies
44
BannedAuthor
Mrs. Harris does not operate in the sunshine.
Joined today just to "troll" Ms. Harris?
Beach Fanatic
Mrs. Harris does not operate in the sunshine.I was not aware that ordinary citizens were required to operate in the Sunshine. I thought that only applied to government officials. If she runs and if she is elected then she will fall under the Sunshine laws but until then she is a private citizen and has the right to privacy as much as anyone else.
Beach Comber
Tom McLaughlin is a very one sided reporter when it comes to Mrs. Harris and Matt Gaetz. Dotty Nist tells it all.
Beach Comber
Danny as for her operating Edgewater she keeps the owners in the dark. They know nothing. That is why I said she does not operate in the sunshine.
Beach Fanatic
Danny as for her operating Edgewater she keeps the owners in the dark. They know nothing. That is why I said she does not operate in the sunshine.If you are going to make nebulous accusations like that you are going to have to back them up with proof or be sued yourself. It's called libel. Look it up. Your computer is not your protection. It is your identifier.
BannedAuthor
Tom McLaughlin is a very one sided reporter when it comes to Mrs. Harris and Matt Gaetz. Dotty Nist tells it all.
I haven't seen Dotty Nist write anything that McLaughlin hasn't written.
BannedAuthor
Danny as for her operating Edgewater she keeps the owners in the dark. They know nothing. That is why I said she does not operate in the sunshine.
How would you know what she doesn't or doesn't tell the owners? Are you the owners? Or, are they friends of yours?
Owners generally pay someone a "lucrative salary" to deal with the day to day operations of a business so they don't have to deal with the headaches themselves.
Get a grip Lurch.
Beach Lover
BAP either knows not that he knows not, or he has his head where the sun don't shine. Or maybe he's a fool or a tool. The owners at Edgewater, by and large, are investors, and they pay for performance. And they get it! Suzanne runs a tight ship and spends 7 days a week doing so. The big vote at their annual meeting a week or so ago, was 149-2 with one abstention, the 149 approving of Suzanne's handling of their business. The other 3 were declared personal enemies of hers. Let me see. Who am I going to believe has the right answer here? People with their own money at stake, or an anonymous, malicious know-nothing? The Edgewater owners know they are getting a bargain in paying Suzanne as they do.
Beach Fanatic
BAP , Bruce A. Pekarski ,is my x employee who can never work at Edgewater again. This is what the Edgewater owners voted on in 2012 at their annual owners meeting. My owners must like me as I was just elected president again last month. Bruce has sent out mass e mails to my owner for 2 years about me. I suggest Bruce get a job and a life. You might want to check his arrest record in Okaloosa county . Very sad person.
Edited
SWGB
Until Ms. Harris actually runs she's just another welfare queen living off of you and me.
So let me explain what I'm saying before the board server melts.
I call her a welfare queen as she keeps suing the county for sunshine law violations, but has yet to be involved (outside of the planning commission and attending BCC meetings). I'm still waiting to hear which charity it was she donated the winnings from her first lawsuit to.
So let me explain what I'm saying before the board server melts.
I call her a welfare queen as she keeps suing the county for sunshine law violations, but has yet to be involved (outside of the planning commission and attending BCC meetings). I'm still waiting to hear which charity it was she donated the winnings from her first lawsuit to.
Beach Fanatic
Until Ms. Harris actually runs she's just another welfare queen living off of you and me.
So let me explain what I'm saying before the board server melts.
I call her a welfare queen as she keeps suing the county for sunshine law violations, but has yet to be involved (outside of the planning commission and attending BCC meetings). I'm still waiting to hear which charity it was she donated the winnings from her first lawsuit to.
I am so sorry but there were NO winnings. A welfare queen can not
hire a lawyer and not even get back all of her legal fees. If you think I made money you are wrong. You can not make money when you file a lawsuit, you have to prove your legal fees and then you may get reimbursed part of them if you win. If you lose you get nothing. Please feel free to come visit with me at my office.
SWGB
I am so sorry but there were NO winnings. A welfare queen can not
hire a lawyer and not even get back all of her legal fees. If you think I made money you are wrong. You can not make money when you file a lawsuit, you have to prove your legal fees and then you may get reimbursed part of them if you win. If you lose you get nothing. Please feel free to come visit with me at my office.
It was my understanding the lawsuit included settlement monies beyond attorneys fees. If that's not the case then I apologize.
Please stop inviting me to your office, it reeks of The Graduate. Just run for office already.
Beach Fanatic
Every citizen in Walton county is invited to come and meet me. There were absolutely no monies beyond attorney fees as a truthful matter of fact it did not cover all of my fees.
Beach Lover
Matt J,
Suzanne does more for Walton County citizens each day than almost anyone else in this county does in a month. And she does it because she not only believes in honest, open, transparent government, she is willing to put herself, her time, her money on the line every day for that cause. She's spent a lot of her own money doing this, and the attorney fees she's been awarded for representing your best interests and mine have fallen well short of the amounts she's had to spend. She's spending her money to fight the malefactions of a county government that is spending your taxes and mine to defend their indefensible behavior. Illegally giving George Ralph nearly 200k for doing legal malpractice on our supposed behalf is what you should be screaming about. Those involved in the Chat Holley scheme likewise. You want to b**ch at someone, b**ch at the people making and then breaking the law and their hires who do likewise. Suzanne, being the gracious lady that she is, will almost certainly accept your apology, your sophomoric attempt at humor notwithstanding.
The only welfare Suzanne is concerned about is the welfare of the citizens of this county. She gives, not takes. How about you? What have you done lately for your fellow citizens? Have you gone regularly, or at all, to BCC meetings, TDC meetings, beach HSDR meetings, Planning Commission meetings, school board meetings? She has and does this and more, much more, every month. This neglects the time she devotes to calling, writing, and meeting with Commissioners, County officials, and state officials in her efforts to fight the perceived corruption and lawlessness that are so widely believed to characterize Walton County government. And she works 7 days a week at her day job.
As I was saying last night before she ripped Tom Terrell a new one at the Planning Commission, if the powers that be in this county are going to keep hunting her, they better get a bigger gun. After she finished with Terrell, I amended that. A MUCH bigger gun.
Mr. Terrell, Planning Commission Chair at the time, had in a fit of pique a year or more ago commanded the members to go in the room behind the dais at the Annex meeting room to discuss privately whatever had angered him. Suzanne just sat there. A minute or so went by and Terrell popped his head out the door and told her to get back there. She proceeded into the back room, told the members and the attorney that this was a blatant violation of the Sunshine Law, and she went back out front. A covey of chastened members trailed behind.
Mr. Terrell, one of the rudest and most arrogant guys I've had the displeasure to encounter, used an intermediary recently to poll at least 3 other members of the Planning Commission, such polling at the least very close to if not in fact flagrantly violating the Sunshine Law once again. The polling was to ask each of the Commissioners called if they would support Mr. Terrell in trying to kick Suzanne off the Planning Commission at last night's meeting. Each said NO. Mr. Terrell was advised by his friend doing the polling of the results and advised him that he did not have the votes and would embarrass himself were he to proceed. Mr. Terrell told his friend he was sure he would prevail and made the stupid effort. Unlike Mr. Terrell, Suzanne is not foolish. She knew not only all about the polling but also even who make and who would second the motion.
When one attempts to match wits, it helps not to be witless. Mr. Terrell not only embarrassed himself last night, he embarrassed Walton County once again. He was allowed to remain on the Planning Commission after his Sunshine Law violation involving the back room, that in exchange for his agreement to step down as Chairman while using the patently false excuse of his wife's health as cover. He is Mr. Imfeld's appointee, and Bill needs to tell Mr. Terrell that the time has come and gone for him to remain on the PC. Mr. Terrell needs to be replaced o nth Commission. I intend to make that case at the BCC Tu night. Matt J, care to join Suzanne, me, and a few other folks willing to regularly get off our butts and actually show up and fight for what is right? I know it's easier to watch on video, but you just don't get the flavor and impact as if you were there.
Toward that end, you had to be there to see Terrell jump, contort his face and be rendered speechless as he tried to figure out what to say when Suzanne called him out last night. I was there, and it was a remarkable and hilarious moment. The video does not do it justice. The fun starts at about the 6 minute mark and proceeds for about 13 minutes. Board of County Commissioners on 2015-10-08 5:00 PM - Planning Commission Regular Meeting - Oct 8th, 2015
Suzanne does more for Walton County citizens each day than almost anyone else in this county does in a month. And she does it because she not only believes in honest, open, transparent government, she is willing to put herself, her time, her money on the line every day for that cause. She's spent a lot of her own money doing this, and the attorney fees she's been awarded for representing your best interests and mine have fallen well short of the amounts she's had to spend. She's spending her money to fight the malefactions of a county government that is spending your taxes and mine to defend their indefensible behavior. Illegally giving George Ralph nearly 200k for doing legal malpractice on our supposed behalf is what you should be screaming about. Those involved in the Chat Holley scheme likewise. You want to b**ch at someone, b**ch at the people making and then breaking the law and their hires who do likewise. Suzanne, being the gracious lady that she is, will almost certainly accept your apology, your sophomoric attempt at humor notwithstanding.
The only welfare Suzanne is concerned about is the welfare of the citizens of this county. She gives, not takes. How about you? What have you done lately for your fellow citizens? Have you gone regularly, or at all, to BCC meetings, TDC meetings, beach HSDR meetings, Planning Commission meetings, school board meetings? She has and does this and more, much more, every month. This neglects the time she devotes to calling, writing, and meeting with Commissioners, County officials, and state officials in her efforts to fight the perceived corruption and lawlessness that are so widely believed to characterize Walton County government. And she works 7 days a week at her day job.
As I was saying last night before she ripped Tom Terrell a new one at the Planning Commission, if the powers that be in this county are going to keep hunting her, they better get a bigger gun. After she finished with Terrell, I amended that. A MUCH bigger gun.
Mr. Terrell, Planning Commission Chair at the time, had in a fit of pique a year or more ago commanded the members to go in the room behind the dais at the Annex meeting room to discuss privately whatever had angered him. Suzanne just sat there. A minute or so went by and Terrell popped his head out the door and told her to get back there. She proceeded into the back room, told the members and the attorney that this was a blatant violation of the Sunshine Law, and she went back out front. A covey of chastened members trailed behind.
Mr. Terrell, one of the rudest and most arrogant guys I've had the displeasure to encounter, used an intermediary recently to poll at least 3 other members of the Planning Commission, such polling at the least very close to if not in fact flagrantly violating the Sunshine Law once again. The polling was to ask each of the Commissioners called if they would support Mr. Terrell in trying to kick Suzanne off the Planning Commission at last night's meeting. Each said NO. Mr. Terrell was advised by his friend doing the polling of the results and advised him that he did not have the votes and would embarrass himself were he to proceed. Mr. Terrell told his friend he was sure he would prevail and made the stupid effort. Unlike Mr. Terrell, Suzanne is not foolish. She knew not only all about the polling but also even who make and who would second the motion.
When one attempts to match wits, it helps not to be witless. Mr. Terrell not only embarrassed himself last night, he embarrassed Walton County once again. He was allowed to remain on the Planning Commission after his Sunshine Law violation involving the back room, that in exchange for his agreement to step down as Chairman while using the patently false excuse of his wife's health as cover. He is Mr. Imfeld's appointee, and Bill needs to tell Mr. Terrell that the time has come and gone for him to remain on the PC. Mr. Terrell needs to be replaced o nth Commission. I intend to make that case at the BCC Tu night. Matt J, care to join Suzanne, me, and a few other folks willing to regularly get off our butts and actually show up and fight for what is right? I know it's easier to watch on video, but you just don't get the flavor and impact as if you were there.
Toward that end, you had to be there to see Terrell jump, contort his face and be rendered speechless as he tried to figure out what to say when Suzanne called him out last night. I was there, and it was a remarkable and hilarious moment. The video does not do it justice. The fun starts at about the 6 minute mark and proceeds for about 13 minutes. Board of County Commissioners on 2015-10-08 5:00 PM - Planning Commission Regular Meeting - Oct 8th, 2015
SWGB
I don't have to justify anything to you or roll out a resume of what I've done in and for this county. Your response borders on threatening and that's the sign of a bullies goon. I do attend BCC and planning commission meetings when I can, but keeping up by watching it online is very convenient.
I'm wondering how much good someone has to do in your eyes for you to gloss over their own short comings?
I'm wondering how much good someone has to do in your eyes for you to gloss over their own short comings?
Beach Fanatic
Matt J,
Suzanne does more for Walton County citizens each day than almost anyone else in this county does in a month. And she does it because she not only believes in honest, open, transparent government, she is willing to put herself, her time, her money on the line every day for that cause. She's spent a lot of her own money doing this, and the attorney fees she's been awarded for representing your best interests and mine have fallen well short of the amounts she's had to spend. She's spending her money to fight the malefactions of a county government that is spending your taxes and mine to defend their indefensible behavior. Illegally giving George Ralph nearly 200k for doing legal malpractice on our supposed behalf is what you should be screaming about. Those involved in the Chat Holley scheme likewise. You want to ***** at someone, ***** at the people making and then breaking the law and their hires who do likewise. Suzanne, being the gracious lady that she is, will almost certainly accept your apology, your sophomoric attempt at humor notwithstanding.
The only welfare Suzanne is concerned about is the welfare of the citizens of this county. She gives, not takes. How about you? What have you done lately for your fellow citizens? Have you gone regularly, or at all, to BCC meetings, TDC meetings, beach HSDR meetings, Planning Commission meetings, school board meetings? She has and does this and more, much more, every month. This neglects the time she devotes to calling, writing, and meeting with Commissioners, County officials, and state officials in her efforts to fight the perceived corruption and lawlessness that are so widely believed to characterize Walton County government. And she works 7 days a week at her day job.
As I was saying last night before she ripped Tom Terrell a new one at the Planning Commission, if the powers that be in this county are going to keep hunting her, they better get a bigger gun. After she finished with Terrell, I amended that. A MUCH bigger gun.
Mr. Terrell, Planning Commission Chair at the time, had in a fit of pique a year or more ago commanded the members to go in the room behind the dais at the Annex meeting room to discuss privately whatever had angered him. Suzanne just sat there. A minute or so went by and Terrell popped his head out the door and told her to get back there. She proceeded into the back room, told the members and the attorney that this was a blatant violation of the Sunshine Law, and she went back out front. A covey of chastened members trailed behind.
Mr. Terrell, one of the rudest and most arrogant guys I've had the displeasure to encounter, used an intermediary recently to poll at least 3 other members of the Planning Commission, such polling at the least very close to if not in fact flagrantly violating the Sunshine Law once again. The polling was to ask each of the Commissioners called if they would support Mr. Terrell in trying to kick Suzanne off the Planning Commission at last night's meeting. Each said NO. Mr. Terrell was advised by his friend doing the polling of the results and advised him that he did not have the votes and would embarrass himself were he to proceed. Mr. Terrell told his friend he was sure he would prevail and made the stupid effort. Unlike Mr. Terrell, Suzanne is not foolish. She knew not only all about the polling but also even who make and who would second the motion.
When one attempts to match wits, it helps not to be witless. Mr. Terrell not only embarrassed himself last night, he embarrassed Walton County once again. He was allowed to remain on the Planning Commission after his Sunshine Law violation involving the back room, that in exchange for his agreement to step down as Chairman while using the patently false excuse of his wife's health as cover. He is Mr. Imfeld's appointee, and Bill needs to tell Mr. Terrell that the time has come and gone for him to remain on the PC. Mr. Terrell needs to be replaced o nth Commission. I intend to make that case at the BCC Tu night. Matt J, care to join Suzanne, me, and a few other folks willing to regularly get off our butts and actually show up and fight for what is right? I know it's easier to watch on video, but you just don't get the flavor and impact as if you were there.
Toward that end, you had to be there to see Terrell jump, contort his face and be rendered speechless as he tried to figure out what to say when Suzanne called him out last night. I was there, and it was a remarkable and hilarious moment. The video does not do it justice. The fun starts at about the 6 minute mark and proceeds for about 13 minutes. Board of County Commissioners on 2015-10-08 5:00 PM - Planning Commission Regular Meeting - Oct 8th, 2015
Well said. Thank you.
Time to expose each and very one of these frauds for what they really are.
Beach Lover
Matt J,
Borders on threatening? If my statement of facts and my challenge to you, implicitly suggesting that you join the fight, not just observe from your sofa, is threatening, how would you characterize what you had to say about Suzanne, not to mention characterizing me as a bullying goon. Such ad hominem attacks do not become you.
I would agree that you don’t need to justify yourself to me. What I would suggest is that you justify yourself to the guy in your shaving mirror and assume a mindset less critical of others and more critical of self.
I do my limited best to do such self-examination every day, but then, perhaps that’s just a reflection of my advanced age and the upbringing characteristic of long ago. That you are participating in the discussion suggests that you at least are interested in good government. Leverage that interest and join the fight for better government on the front lines.
While I’m an educated man, I’m having trouble with “I'm wondering how much good someone has to do in your eyes for you to gloss over their own short comings?” My best guess for a reply is that I value those who do for others, those who walk the walk, not just talk the talk. It’s easy to sit in the cheap seats at our laptops and criticize and condemn, but I’m not sure how much good that does for anyone other than those venting.
It takes a great deal more to put oneself on the line with selflessness and integrity. Suzanne does that every day, and you should be thankful that she and others honorably carry the load for all as she and they do. She is not the person responsible for the bad things that have been done by government in Walton. She is instead one of those most responsible for stopping even more bad government. You’d do better to join her than criticize her. As you might have guessed, I chose that course some years ago, and it's rewarding to be part of a fight for the rights of others. Join us!
Borders on threatening? If my statement of facts and my challenge to you, implicitly suggesting that you join the fight, not just observe from your sofa, is threatening, how would you characterize what you had to say about Suzanne, not to mention characterizing me as a bullying goon. Such ad hominem attacks do not become you.
I would agree that you don’t need to justify yourself to me. What I would suggest is that you justify yourself to the guy in your shaving mirror and assume a mindset less critical of others and more critical of self.
I do my limited best to do such self-examination every day, but then, perhaps that’s just a reflection of my advanced age and the upbringing characteristic of long ago. That you are participating in the discussion suggests that you at least are interested in good government. Leverage that interest and join the fight for better government on the front lines.
While I’m an educated man, I’m having trouble with “I'm wondering how much good someone has to do in your eyes for you to gloss over their own short comings?” My best guess for a reply is that I value those who do for others, those who walk the walk, not just talk the talk. It’s easy to sit in the cheap seats at our laptops and criticize and condemn, but I’m not sure how much good that does for anyone other than those venting.
It takes a great deal more to put oneself on the line with selflessness and integrity. Suzanne does that every day, and you should be thankful that she and others honorably carry the load for all as she and they do. She is not the person responsible for the bad things that have been done by government in Walton. She is instead one of those most responsible for stopping even more bad government. You’d do better to join her than criticize her. As you might have guessed, I chose that course some years ago, and it's rewarding to be part of a fight for the rights of others. Join us!
Beach Fanatic
lazin&drinkin, you and I differ on very little but on this issue we differ greatly. I see her as a detriment to better government if sitting as a Walton Couny Commissioner. While I understand your defense,, it is my humble opinion she has done far more harm than good and would continue to to do so if a Commissioner.
BannedAuthor
lazin&drinkin, you and I differ on very little but on this issue we differ greatly. I see her as a detriment to better government if sitting as a Walton Couny Commissioner. While I understand your defense,, it is my humble opinion she has done far more harm than good and would continue to to do so if a Commissioner.
I don't know how anyone could think open, honest, government being operated in the Sunshine is a detriment to better government.
Having to force those issues with the County via lawsuits only made the County look worse after being given ample opportunity to concede that Sunshine laws were violated.
Bottom line Andy is that it didn't have to come down to the lawsuits and at some point the County needs to accept responsibility for their actions!
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