Part 2 of a 3-part series on Beaches politicans that have been accused of influence peddling, and the very different approaches those tasked with enforcing public corruption laws have taken toward each. This week: District 8 Florida Sen. John Thrasher
John Thrasher has held the District 8 Florida State Senate seat since last October’s special election to fill the vacancy left by the death of Sen. Jim King, but it’s not his first time in Tallahassee.
A long time lobbyist, Thrasher served in the House of Representatives from 1998-2000, as the Speaker of the House from 1998-2000 and was appointed to the Clay County Board of County Commissioners from 2007-2008. As a Senator, he is the current chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Elections.
On three separate occasions, Thrasher has had direct dealings with the State of Florida Commission on Ethics regarding his lobbying efforts.
Lobbying
In 1995, Thrasher was publicly reprimanded on the floor of the House of the Representatives due to a complaint originally filed in October 1993. According to the Joint Stipulation of Fact, Law and Recommended Order from the Commission on Ethics, a sworn complaint charged Thrasher with violating Article II, Section 8(e) of the Florida Constitution. It states that Thrasher violated the code of ethics by representing the Florida Medical Association, for compensation, before a subcommittee of the Florida Board of Medicine.
"Article II, Section 8(e), Florida Constitution, prohibits legislators from representing private entities for compensation before State entities," the stipulation states.
The Commission on Ethics delivered the findings of its investigation in July 1994 to Bolley L. Johnson, then Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
In 2001, Thrasher was fined $500 after the Commission investigated an ethics complaint from three different complaintants. It determined there was probable cause to believe that Thrasher violated Article II, Section 8(e) of the Florida Constitution and Section 112.313(9)(a)3 of the Florida Statutes.
Both state "no member of the Legislature shall personally represent another person or entity for compensation before the government body or agency the individual was a member of for a period of two years following vacation of office."
According to Virlindia Doss, advocate for the Florida Commission on Ethics, Thrasher violated the rules when he sent out invitations to Legislatures, on behalf of The University of Miami, to attend a luncheon to hear the University President speak.
Doss’ analysis states that Thrasher, after leaving the legislature in 2000, joined Southern Strategy Group — a lobbying firm where he served as President and CEO. In January 2001, The University of Miami became a client of that firm.
"Both the Constitution and the statute prohibit ‘representation,’ which is defined as ‘actual physical attendance on behalf of a client in an agency proceeding, the writing of letters or filing of documents on behalf of a client and personal communications made with the officers or employees of any agency on behalf of a client,’" Doss wrote. "The sending of invitations on behalf of the University clearly falls within that definition."
Clay County
In April 2006, Thrasher was appointed to the Clay County Commission to fill the spot left vacant by Christy Fitzgerald. In March 2006 a grand jury indicted Fitzgerald on alleged activities related to the dumping of construction and other debris in unauthorized areas throughout Clay County. She was suspended from her position as commissioner, and Thrasher served in her place through March 2007.
While serving as commissioner, a complaint was filed with the Commission on Ethics alleging that Thrasher had a contractual or employment relationship with Advanced Disposal Services while that company was regulated by or doing business with the Clay County Commission.
James H. Peterson III, advocate for the Commission on Ethics, wrote in his recommendation that the complaint against Thrasher alleged that Souther Strategy Group were registered lobbyists for Advanced Disposal Services during times when he voted as a commissioner for matters "resulting in a contract between the county and Advanced Disposal Services."
According to Peterson’s report, the investigation into the allegations revealed that Thrasher had severed his contract prior to any of the votes in question or the contract between Advanced Disposal Services and the county. Peterson recommended that the Commission find no probable cause to believe Thrasher violated the Florida Statues.
Sen. John Thrasher did not return repeated phone calls and e-mails to The Recorder.
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