Democrats Applaud Sen. Gaetz for Calling Out Crist on Corruption

NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For Immediate Release: January 13, 2009

 

Tallahassee, FL - Today, the Palm Beach Post reports that Sen. Don Gaetz, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Florida's Economy, joined the Florida Democratic Party in blasting the appearance of impropriety surrounding Charlie Crist's "economic gardening" proposal.

"With his signature tone-deaf optimism and out-of-touch mindset, Charlie Crist continues turning a blind eye as Republican corruption festers in Tallahassee. While it is ironic that one of embattled Speaker Ray Sansom's best friends and biggest defenders is calling out Governor Crist on this conflict of interest, Sen. Don Gaetz is doing the right thing by raising questions about Crist's 'economic gardening' legislation," said Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff.

In response to the Palm Beach Post reporting on the conflict of interest, the Florida Democratic Party first called out Crist saying on January 10, 2008:

"Is this Sansom style Republican corruption spreading to the Governor's office? A Crist donor writing Crist's 'economic gardening' legislation, in which that donor qualifies to receive tax dollars for his company under the plan he just wrote. I know that it took Charlie Crist several tries to pass the bar exam, but one would think as a former Attorney General Crist would understand the concept of conflicts of interest. Unless Crist immediately apologizes for the appearance of impropriety in this case and orders the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to open an investigation into embattled Speaker Ray Sansom, Crist will prove that the Republican corruption festering in Tallahassee is just business as usual for Crist and his Republicans," said Eric Jotkoff, Florida Democratic Party Spokesman.

Today the Post reports that:

Lawmaker blasts potential vendor who crafted small business plan

By DARA KAM

Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau

Monday, January 12, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - A Senate GOP leader said the potential vendor who helped craft Gov. Charlie Crist's legislative proposal to help small businesses should not be allowed to bid on the contract.

Steve Quello, an economic development consultant and president of Winter Park-based CEO Nexus, worked closely with Dale Brill, Crist's head of the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, to create an "economic gardening" proposal approved by both the House and Senate last week, according to documents obtained by The Palm Beach Post.

The $10 million program, tucked into the budget that lawmakers are slated to approve on Wednesday, includes $8.5 million in loans to businesses with 10 to 99 employees and a $1.5 million contract for "technical services," which Quello said he is interested in.

Sen. Don Gaetz, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Florida's Economy, said Quello is "the last Floridian who could ever participate in this project" regardless of his qualifications.

"We're in a place right now in politics in this country and in this state where we can't afford to have people look at what we're doing and just instinctively grab their noses. If ever public officials have to be conscious of perception, it's now," said Gaetz, R-Niceville. Gaetz's committee is charged with examining Florida's tax structure and will question Brill about other economic incentive programs and their efficacy tomorrow, Gaetz said.

Brill, who will select the vendor, and Quello exchanged numerous e-mails and telephone calls plan, which Quello previously pitched to the state on a smaller scale to no avail, according to the documents.

Quello is linked with a Colorado-based organization, the Lowe Foundation, and cites ties to the Metro Orlando Economic Commission and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce on the CEO Nexus Web site.

Neither Brill nor Quello could be reached for comment.

Crist said he did not see anything inappropriate in the connection between Brill and a potential bidder.

"Well, I believe in open bidding and an open process and transparency. So long as there's an open bidding and open process and transparency, may it go to the best person," Crist said.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2009/01/12/0112xgrsmallbiz.html

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