New Florida law requires city officials to disclose net worth; some are resigning instead

MicroWave@lemmy.world to News@lemmy.world – 755 points –
New Florida law requires city officials to disclose net worth; some are resigning instead
usatoday.com

Two Daytona Beach Shores city commissioners have resigned as the latest in a wave of local elected officials leaving before Jan. 1, when they face more stringent financial disclosure requirements.

Mel Lindauer, a Shores commissioner since 2016, told The News-Journal on Wednesday the new requirement − submitting what's known as Form 6 − is "totally invasive" and serves no purpose.

Commissioner Richard Bryan, who has also served since 2016, said in his Dec. 21 resignation letter that he had another priority but added the Form 6 issue "affected the timing" of his decision.

...

Many state officials already file a Form 6, including the governor and Cabinet, legislators, county council members and sheriffs. The forms require disclosure of the filer's net worth and holdings valued at more than $1,000, including bank accounts, stocks, retirement accounts, salary and dividends.

54

You are viewing a single comment

LOL. How in the world did this legislation get passed? In Florida, of all places.

Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, sponsored the legislation in the Florida Senate. Rep. Spencer Roach, R-North Fort Myers, sponsored the House version of the bill and said it brings "parity" among elected officials.

Also sponsored by Republicans, voted for by a state Congress with a Republican super majority, I'd love to know what the catch is, but it's definitely a law that should be everywhere, public servants should always have transparency to prevent corruption and as the sponsor said "bring parity" to local elections.

The catch is that it applies to city officials, not state or national level. So, not to any of the Republicans who sponsored or supported it.

Nah. It already applies to everyone else - this is maybe just about limiting the pool of challengers.

From the Florida Government site :

Who Must File Form 6: All persons holding the following positions: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Cabinet members, members of the Legislature, State Attorneys, Public Defenders, Clerks of Circuit Courts, Sheriffs, Tax Collectors, Property Appraisers, Supervisors of Elections, County Commissioners, elected Superintendents of Schools, members of District School Boards, Mayor and members of the Jacksonville City Council, Judges of Compensation Claims; the Duval County Superintendent of Schools, and members of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board, each expressway authority, transportation authority (except the Jacksonville Transportation Authority), bridge authority, toll authority, or expressway agency created pursuant to Chapter 348 or 343, F.S., or any other general law, and judges, as required by Canon 6, Code of Judicial Conduct.

9 more...

I was about to say that finally something good is coming from the state. Got used to disappointing headlines.

9 more...