Local Buzz Update: Governor suspends Spence-Jones
Charlie Crist’s office issued this statement today:
TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today suspended Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, who was charged today with grand theft, a second degree felony. Last month, Governor Crist petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to impanel a Statewide Grand Jury to investigate criminal activity committed by public officials while acting in their official capacity. Katherine Fernandez Rundle, the State Attorney for the 11th Circuit Court, informed Governor Crist of the impending arrests.
“I am grateful to Florida’s State Attorneys for their tireless work to uncover corruption and bring those who abuse their position of public trust to justice,” Governor Crist said. “Today’s events further demonstrate the need for a Statewide Grand Jury to identify necessary changes in current law and provide specific recommendations to combat corruption in our state.”
In a separate case, Miami Commissioner Angel Gonzalez was charged today with a misdemeanor count of exploitation of public position and resigned today, effective Monday, November 16, 2009. Governor Crist cited the arrest as further evidence that a Statewide Grand Jury is needed.
Governor Crist deems it to be in the best interest of the public for a Statewide Grand Jury to review criminal activity committed by public officials while acting in their official capacity. Since taking office in January 2007, Governor Crist has suspended 32 public officials, including today’s suspension.
That leaves the City of Miami commission down two seats, counting the resignation, the suspension, and a run-off. I spoke with a staffer in the city clerk’s office today, who said that it’s still unclear whether the commission could have even followed the city charter and replacing either of the two missing commissioners, since two people does not a quorum make. Another source told me today that the new mayor, Tomas Regalado, has been in touch with Gov. Crist, and favors a “caretaker” for the seat — someone who would not want to run in their own rite, presumably in a special election. But there will be push-back on such an idea from the Black community, which has already seen the disenfranchisement of the voters in District 5 due to this mess. Already there are noises about several potential candidates, including Jeff Torain, who came in third in the race against Spence-Jones, and possibly Richard Dunn, who fought Spence-Jones to a run-off the first election go-round.
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