Good government is a non-partisan issue; where is the Democrat’s outrage?
Chris Ingram, president of 411 Communications, and publisher of IrreverentView.com has mailed an ethics complaint to the State of Florida Commission on Ethics against Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White.
Ingram’s complaint stems from the sexual harassment lawsuit against White and specifically his vote of dissent yesterday when the Hillsborough County Commission voted to sue White in order to recover some of the county’s legal fees which have exceeded $400,000. All other commissioners present voted to sue White.
“Kevin White’s behavior yesterday is another example of an out of control politician who has complete disregard for the voters and taxpayers he represents. Furthermore, I have to wonder where is the outrage from the feminists and the Democrats? Sexual harassment and unethical behavior is not a partisan issue. I call on the Hillsborough County Democratic Party leadership to publicly condemn White’s behavior and call for his voluntary resignation so this chapter in the county’s history can be put to bed – no pun intended,” Ingram said.
Ingram’s complaint to the Ethics Commission reads as follows:
Statement of Facts from Chris Ingram re: complaint against Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White
Background: Commissioner White was involved in a sexual harassment case in 2009. A civil court jury found Mr. White guilty of sexual harassment and awarded a large sum of money to the victim. Hillsborough County was a co-defendant with Mr. White.
On January 21, 2010, Mr. White’s peers on the County Commission voted to sue Mr. White to recover the extensive legal fees the county has expended in defending him for his shameful and reckless acts which he has failed to own up to.
When this matter was brought to a vote before the Hillsborough County Commission, Mr. White voted against the motion for the county to sue him to recover the aforementioned costs. This is a clear violation of Florida Statutes prohibiting elected officials from voting on matters before them which would cost or benefit them financially.
Action requested: investigation and appropriate fines, penalties, and removal from office for Mr. White’s blatant disregard for Florida law and the voters and taxpayers of Hillsborough County.
Chris Ingram is the president and founder of 411 Communications a corporate and political communications firm, and publisher of www.IrreverentView.com. Ingram is a frequent pundit on Fox News and CNN, and has written opinion columns for the Washington Times, UPI, Front Page Florida, and National Review online. E-mail him at: Chris@411Communications.com.
This article appears in Jan 20-26, 2010.