FBI seizes records of Florida elections supervisor, Buddy Johnson.

[madfloridian]

I am so glad to see this happen. Hillsborough County elections can not be secure until this is investigated. There is a new supervisor now, and she has been fighting for investigation of all the money he has spent.

FBI seizes Buddy Johnson records


Buddy Johnson, former elections supervisor and founder of Buddy Freddy's restaurant

TAMPA - The FBI has opened an investigation into the office of former Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson with a subpoena of documents related to a blistering audit that showed Johnson overspent his budget by almost $1-million. The subpoena was served Wednesday on the Tampa office of Ernst & Young, which performed the audit of Johnson's spending, according to Phyllis Busansky, who became elections chief after defeating Johnson in the general election.

Busansky said she called Ernst & Young Wednesday to inquire about a second audit she wants done and was told by Executive Director John DiSanto that another audit might be difficult, since “the FBI just came and took all our working papers.”

Ernst & Young officials declined comment. An FBI spokesman said the agency was “not in a position to comment on the matter.”

“I think (the FBI) would be very interested in looking at what went on,’’ Busansky said. “They evidently think something was wrong in this office.”

There is more from earlier. Hat tip to Ybor City Stogie for this article.

Johnson Spent $2 Million On Voter Education

AMPA - With millions of dollars at his disposal and his re-election in jeopardy, Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson launched a voter education campaign last year unique in its scope and extravagance.

The smiling supervisor's likeness was on colorful brochures mailed to voters. His name was broadcast on radio in English and Spanish.

The campaign ostensibly was to educate voters about the change in voting machines from touch-screen to optical scan mandated by the state Legislature. Johnson spent about $2 million in county and federal funds on the education effort, far more than surrounding counties.

He also left his successor, Phyllis Busansky, with just $300,000 in the elections office account out of $3 million the county commission appropriated to cover operations through Sept. 30.

Auditors have yet to fully detail where that money went, and Johnson would not comment for this article. But check receipts and other records examined by The Tampa Tribune point to the voter education campaign as a likely source of much of the overspending.

That's a whole lot of voter education, Buddy.

[grannie4peace]

1. on to the greatest page!

:thumbsup:

[madfloridian]

4. Thanks.

Glad to see this finally happen.

[WhoWantsToBeOccupied]

2. Why does this have 16 recs and one reply?

[madfloridian]

3. Odd, isn't it?

I am so glad to see this investigation happen.

[madfloridian]

5. Church fans?

"The voter education money was spent on everything from radio and TV advertisements to book marks and church fans. Johnson spent several hundred thousand dollars of county money with consultants, including more than $230,000 with a Tampa advertising firm, Schifino/Lee. That's more than the Sarasota County elections office spent in county funds on its entire voter education effort.

In at least one case, a public relations firm paid by tax dollars attempted to arrange an appearance by Johnson at a bicycling club event in St. Petersburg. Sensing that Johnson had no interest in cycling, the bike store owners who sponsor the event declined."

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/feb/11/na-2-million-was-spent-on-voter-education/news-politics/

[csziggy]

6. Why would the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections be appearing in Pasco County?

And paying money for an appearance? Smells to high heaven!

I've got to email those articles to my activist sister in Tampa - she will get info to the right people to start protests!

[madfloridian]

7. Good question.

Sounds like he was doing creative stuff with public money. :eyes:

[csziggy]

8. The only part that might possibly be an excuse is the publicity

But he should be able to get that by working with Hillsborough County merchants who should be willing to help push voter education for free.

Here in Leon County, Ion Sancho has his pick of places to aid in voter education. Local businesses and organizations are happy to have him come in with programs and ask for nothing to help out. When Crist extended early voting, a local health food store contributed their eating area and stayed open to midnight to allow voting until the deadline when the County Commission would not (or could not) keep the courthouse open that late.

But then, Ion Sancho is a very special supervisor of elections!

[madfloridian]

9. Tampa's Mayor Iorio places some blame on Jeb

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article976092.ece

""Buddy Johnson is a native of Hillsborough County who has been a dedicated public servant. As a past member of the Florida House of Representatives, he has shown the leadership and dedication needed to serve as supervisor of elections." — Jeb Bush's office, January 2003, on the governor's appointment of Johnson to succeed Pam Iorio as Hillsborough elections supervisor.

Fast-forward six years. The elections office is a disaster, and Johnson is a disgraced former supervisor whose performance is under review by the FBI. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio lays some of the blame squarely at the feet of Jeb Bush, who appointed a man whose main qualification appeared to be party affiliation.

"It was a very poor appointment," Iorio said, contrasting the Johnson pick to Crist naming former Pasco Elections Supervisor Kurt Browning as secretary of state. "When governors have these constitutional appointments to make, they really have to look at individuals who have solid backgrounds, particularly in elections. … You have to have that attention to detail and high standards."

[HooptieWagon]

10. Other shady dealings

Besides $1 million or so missing from the elctions office (exact amount still unknown - records are a mess), there is also the matter of over $2 million still owed the Voting Machine manufacturer - money which had already been given to the elections office to pay.

Johnson's second home was foreclosed on. IIRC this was a several hundred thousand dollar condo in Sarasota.

Johnson may have committed fraud in a large land deal. That is still being investigated, but the sellers of the property have filed suit against Johnson.

And yes, Buddy Johnson was a Jeb appointee...

[madfloridian]

11. Thanks for the further info.

I did not know about his 2nd home and the land deal. :hi:

[HooptieWagon]

12. Here's a couple links

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/article971446.ece

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/article458431.ece

Also, after losing his reelection bid, Johnson extended the contract of his chief assistant - at about $175,000/yr. Hillsborough Co may be obligated to honor that contract.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/article961945.ece

[lenegal]

13. From a fellow Floriduh person, this state is as corrupt as can be

Damned redneck state.

[madfloridian]

14. Crist says there will no state investigation. Iorio says a lot more.

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/news/story/iorio-bush-partly-to-blame-for-johnson-mess-crist-no-state-investigation/

"Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who formerly served as county elections supervisor, today put the blame for the meltdown in that office partly on former Gov. Jeb Bush, who appointed Buddy Johnson to replace her.

Meanwhile, Gov. Charlie Crist said no state agency will investigate the allegations of misuse of funds by Johnson, saying the state will leave that up to federal investigators. Hillsborough County officials have sent several state and federal government agencies, including law enforcement agencies, the results of a recent audit that suggests Johnson misspent money and broke state law. Current Supervisor Phyllis Busansky said this week the FBI has seized some of the audit records.

Asked whether any state agency will look into the office, Crist said, “I think the feds will be fine—I don’t think we ought to get in the way of what they’re doing.”

Meanwhile, Iorio said Bush’s 2003 appointment of Johnson to replace her was “a very poor appointment.”

“At the time, I don’t know if people had that opinion or whether they thought much of it,” she said. “I think it is important that when governors have these constitutional appointments to make, that they really have to look at individuals who have solid backgrounds, particularly in elections ... You have to have that attention to detail and high standards.”

Iorio said she is “heartbroken” at the news coming from the office and the treatment of some of her former employees. “I devoted 10 years of my life to that office and I was very proud of it when I left,” she said. “We tried to make it the best in the state.”

[happygoluckytoyou]

15. vote for me vote for me you are being educated ignore the sounds and look into my eyes vote for me

[mother earth]

16. A Jeb Bush appointee? Not surprising, it's about time this

gets the scrutiny it deserves.