I spoke to Rep. Jose Felix Diaz about his bill (see yesterday's post) that would allow Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) employees to hold public office (you would think they were busy enough over there without adding office holding to their full plate). Anyway, Jose said that the Secretary (George H. Sheldon, not he current Secretary David Wilkins, in December), of DCFS asked him to put the bill up not Fiore. And Jose said that he was the one that asked State Senator Rene Garcia to introduce the companion bill in the Senate.
So now it falls on the shoulders of the Secretary of DCFS. Was he doing this for Patrick Fiore or did he just happen to think of this a month after Fiore was elected? And, why did the Secretary approach a Freshman Representative from Miami, that happened to know Fiore (although Diaz said Fiore supported his opponent). Why didn't the Secretary ask someone from Sarasota for instance? Something still smells but I think our Freshman Representative might have been duped by the Secretary and perhaps Patrick Fiore. Although the claims in comments here said that Fiore had a letter of permission to run for office from a superior at DCFS. So why the need for the 2 bills?
I think Jose Felix Diaz should withdraw his bill, and ask Rene Garcia to pull his, to see what shakes out. There are too many coincidences to swallow.
31 comments:
I am going to say this. I think Jose is a nice guy. I got a good vibe from him. If he was worked over, shame on the wrong doer. Jose, if you are reading this: do the right thing. Pull the bill and go get some answers as to why this guy would use you like that.
I will stay tuned.
Yes, I smell a story too. Why pick a Miami-Dade County freshman as you said, when he certainly has a multitude of choices that don't include Miami and one who is a friend of Fiore's. Don't kid yourself that he isn't. Why is the secretary proposing this now when it clearly is against his own operating manual. Just give them the approvals. He had all year to put it up before the elections. Why not give the approvals?
Was Wilkins the secretary in December? The State Representative said that the Secretary told him that this affected about 5 employees over the years...so he had a history with the Department. Was it the previous Secretary Sheldon?
Wouldn't the bill have died when the new Secretary came in? Why is it still getting pushed along? Who is behind it?
Here you go. The story, it would appear, is Accenture. See the source below. This activity went on right about the time he was there.
Feds Say Accenture, HP, Sun Kickback Scheme Involved Millions Over 10 Years
http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199200496
“Specifically, the complaints accused the defendants of breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and payment under mistake of fact, as well as violating the federal False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Act. Payment under mistake of fact means the defendants caused the government to pay for products and services that it normally wouldn't have bought, if it had known all the facts. Because the government didn't know about the kickbacks, which were wrapped into the price of the product and services, prosecutors claim contract negotiators were tricked into paying more than they should have.”
This would put the unethical activity happening right about the time that Wilkins got there.
Wilkins sounds like Rick Scott but I don't think he was there in December!!
I know this is about Fiore, but honestly, we need a blog on Wilkins. You have no idea. Wilkins was tied to the hip with BearPoint, a global giant that gets multi million dollars projects with USAID and DOD. This is starting to smell like Jeb Bush politics.
Evidently the MyFlorida Alliance was a bit of a problem for the State (cancelled a contract because of conflicts of interest). Alliance and BearPoint were working that one on the inside track. Accenture has also been in trouble with the Feds. I think it was about, how you say, BILKING THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. This guy is more like Scott than you can imagine.
I think FIore is a little piss ant compared to this guy, but the question is this - who in Talli made Wilkins care enough to pick up the phone?
Whomever is posting on Wilkins: Step away from the computer!! This is not a post about Wilkins.
It's me...and I will stop, but promise you will do a blog about Wilkins.
The timeline is important. The new administration was not sworn in until January. The appointment of Wilkins was later that month. quite frankly I don't believe George Sheldon who was on his way out the door would have asked anyone in the legislature to run a bill for an individual staffer and a peone at that. Diaz is lying about Sheldon. I suspect it was the House leadership who asked Diaz to run the bill, or that Diaz did it of his own volition. They had better both pull their bills or they will carry this stink with them for a long time.
This is totally blown into something of which it is not. Rep. Jose Felix Diaz is one of the most sincere, honest people I've met. Sec. Sheldon was a mentor in law school to him and since he's been practicing back in his native Miami.
Patrick Fiorre and Sen. Rudy Garcia are irrelevant.
I attended Jose's opening party for his Westchester office. Lots of nice talk about Fiore and the elected republicans. No mention of Gerald. I am not sure I can swallow that he supported Fiore's opponent. Fiore's had too much to say about Diaz as a friend. Jose Diaz is a nice guy but apparently doesn't know where to draw the line. Fiore thinks if he gives you a bottle of water you owe him. No ethics required for payback in his mind.
It still doesn't make sense that Rep. Jose Felix Diaz filed this bill. If I remember correctly, state reps are only allowed to file 6 bills. So why would Diaz waste one of them on something he does not feel strongly about? Why is he acting as the DCF Secretary's do-boy? What does he get out of it?
The Rep said that Fiore supported his opponent not that he supported anyone in Palmetto Bay.
So when Fiore was on the Community Council, he was breaking DCF's rules too????
Perhaps Kingdom Capital Network appears on some political expenses reports?? Who are they and what do they do? Joan is President, Patrick is V President.
there are several different Patrick Fiores...
There are so many instances where laws like this are not being followed. For instance, the Ethics Commission ordinance has always limited the chairman to two 2-year terms. But Kerry Rosenthal was the chair for 11 years. No one was watching and no one called them on it (until Al Crespo did earlier this year).
What about former MDPD Director Robert Parker and the nepotism scandal regarding his son? Even a blue ribbon county panel found him in violation, but he got away scot-free because no one lodged a formal complaint to the state ethics commission.
Here is another example of a blatant violation. The County Commissioners have been paying themselves an extra $24k annually for expenses in addition to their $6k salaries. This expense money is given directly to the commissioners without reimbursement or receipts, even though the County Charter says "Each County Commissioner shall receive a salary of $6,000 per year payable monthly and shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such reasonable and necessary expenses as may be approved by the Board." Because there is no reimbursement, it violates the charter.
In 2005, he was featured in an Herald article stating that he was an anglo that had influence with Cuban American politicos... The article also cited people like Brian May, Seth Gordon, Ric Katz, and Pizzi.
Patrick stated that you can run for office in a Hispanic community and win: "It can be done," Fiore said, "if you have a good personality, speak some Spanish and you're a staunch anti-communist."
I don't think much of his personality if he considers his foul mouth (way beyond potty mouth with a quick temper) a good personality.
http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y03/feb03/10e7
This is little about nothing. Fiore got a letter from his superior. His superior okayed it so take it up with him not Fiore. He did what he was suppose to do. The letter must be filed with his paperwork in Palmetto Bay. Go look at it all you turkeys.
Anthony. I am sorry but this is a significant issue. Whether Fiore's supervisor approves or disapproves is inconsequential. There is nothing in the statute that permits Fiore to hold elected office as a DCFS employee if his supervisor okays it. That's why these 2 Republican legislators are falling all over themselves to erase the law. Shame on all of them.
The questions are:
Can Fiore Get a letter and would that letter allow him to run.
Did he get that letter.
Where is it.
If it only takes getting a letter to get around the rule, why are they passing two bills? Something must have gone very wrong with the process.
Exactly. Here are two possible scenarios:
1. Supervisor wrote letter and then realized he goofed and is trying to clean up his goof
2. Supervisor is pissing in the faces of Florida residents because he wants to make his own rules.
3. Supervisor wrote a letter and is asking for a law change because he thinks the law is stupid and needs changing.
It could be any one of the three.
Dee, you have it right. He could take a leave with permission to run then if he won he would have to resign. If he lost, he could still go back to his job when the campaign was over. I looked it up and I do believe that's what it says. That's why the Bills are important and would save his job. Otherwise, why bother. Diaz is giving up one of his 6 bills to save his job. Being a friend of Lynda Bell does have its perks.
Dee is right I think and I agree with God. The law doesn't say he can hold office and work for the State. Just run for office with approval on a leave of absence. Lampert spoke about having to go on leave to run for mayor and then resign if he won. Fiore was working when he was campaigning, that I know. The 2 Bills go around the law requiring resignation if he wins. This is not about approval which he may have had to run, it's REALLY about keeping his job because he won. The Bills fix that so he doesn't need to resign or be fired.
Administrator, why did you delete my comments?
You ALLEGE: Fiore is spending an enormous amount of time on PB political activities when he is on the clock at DCFS.
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Genius said: That is why I deleted your comment. We don't know that is true about Fiore. If you want to get copies of his time sheets and compare them to his civic duties as a councilperson - Do it, don't advise others to do it for you. Bring us proof that he is double dipping. Don't accuse him of what you suspect to be true. On that I support Fiore. I assume he is balancing the two, doing his job and running the Village until proven otherwise.
So , who is filing a complaint with the Florida elections commission? an aggrieved Palmetto Bay resident should file. that is the only way to get this thing moving along.
Re: Fiore
OK guys,,, Check this out... State Law 110.233 says that State employees can run and hold a non partisan office.
Fiore asked for and received approval two times.Once in Nov. 2000 and served on a community council and then he got apporval again in Nov. 2009.
And now he serves in the Palmetto Bay City Council.
Check it out.
Thanks for being so objective in your blogging
Signed Michael Miller
Community Newspapers
305-669-7030
michael@communitynewspapers.com
Prohibited under the rule you sighted Miller -- nothing about non-partisan -- why don't you publish his letter of permission?
(a) Hold, or be a candidate for, public office while in the employment of the state or take any active part in a political campaign while on duty or within any period of time during which the employee is expected to perform services for which he or she receives compensation from the state. However, when authorized by his or her agency head and approved by the department as involving no interest which conflicts or activity which interferes with his or her state employment, an employee in the career service may be a candidate for or hold local public office. The department shall prepare and make available to all affected personnel who make such request a definite set of rules and procedures consistent with the provisions herein.
Your right. There is no mention of non partisan. But the way I read it if he got permission and it doesnt interfere etc with his job he can serve.
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