Florida Ethics Update: Commission on Ethics Determinations—January 2026 Meeting
January 29, 2026
During its meeting on Friday, January 23, 2026, the Florida Commission on Ethics (Commission), the constitutionally created independent agency tasked with interpreting and enforcing the State’s governmental ethics laws, took action on an array of matters involving public officials
Public Session
Commission Welcomes Two New Members & Elects New Vice Chair
The Commission welcomed two new members to the Board at its meeting on Friday. Joseph Oglesby, a Project Manager specializing in emergency response and disaster recovery. Commissioner Oglesby previously served as a Manager of Ernst and Young and was the Deputy Director of the Office of Long-Term Resiliency and Economic Recovery Bureau Chief for the Florida Department of Commerce. During the January 23 meeting Commissioner Oglesby was unanimously elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Also joining the Commission is Abbey Stewart. Commissioner Stewart is the Vice President of Programs & Planning at Leadership Florida. Previously, she served as the Chief of the Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development, Retention, Recognition, and Preparation for the Florida Department of Education.
Settlement of Ethics Complaint Filed Against Former Boca Raton Mayor
The Commission approved a Settlement agreement (referred to as “Joint Stipulation”) entered into between former Boca Raton Mayor, Susan Haynie, and the Commission’s attorney (referred to as “Advocate”) which dismissed several allegations of the initial complaint wherein probable cause had been found to exist and settled the remaining allegations which involved the filing of inaccurate financial disclosure filings in 2012 and 2013.
As detailed in the “Public Report and Order Dismissing Certain Allegations in Complaint” although the Commission after its initial investigation had found probable cause to believe that Haynie had violated the ethics laws by filing inaccurate financial disclosure filings in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016; that she had misused her official position by concealing a business relationship for her special private benefit; voted on matters which she knew inured to her own special private gain or to the special private gain of her spouse and/or business associate; and had a conflict of interest by maintaining certain business relationships with parties that appeared before her board—the Settlement approved at Friday’s meeting retroactively applied the newly implemented heightened complaint standard that only allegations based upon “personal knowledge or information other than hearsay” are legally sufficient. Pursuant to this heightened complaint standard the Commission found that only the financial disclosure allegations concerning Haynie’s Form 1 filings satisfied this requirement and all other allegations were dismissed.
With respect to the remaining financial disclosure allegations the Commission found that Haynie filed inaccurate 2012 and 2013 Form 1 disclosures and a civil penalty of $1,000 and public censure and reprimand were recommended for imposition by the Governor.
Settlement of Ethics Complaint Filed Against Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner
The Commission also adopted a Settlement agreement between the Commission’s attorney and Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner, Reinaldo Diaz. The Settlement found that Diaz violated the law by failing to timely file his 2023 Form 1, Statement of Financial Interests. In light of this violation a civil penalty of $500 and public censure and reprimand was recommended for imposition by the Governor.
Dismissal of Attorneys Fees Petition by the Former Interim City Manager for Palatka
The Commission dismissed a Petition for Costs & Attorney Fees filed by the former Interim City Manager for the City of Palatka, Florida, Johnathan Griffith, against the Complainant in the underlying ethics complaint filed against him. The petition was dismissed because it failed to substantively allege that the Complainant had made any material allegations in the complaint that he knew to be false, or that he filed the complaint with reckless disregard for the truth—which are requirements to state a sufficient claim for costs and attorney’s fees pursuant to s. 112.317(7), F.S., of the Florida Code of Ethics.
Dismissal of Ethics Complaint Filed Against a Former Riviera Beach City Council and Commissioner for the City’s Redevelopment Agency
The Commission voted to dismiss a complaint filed against former Riviera Beach City Council and Commissioner for the City’s Redevelopment Agency, Terence Davis. Although in September 2020 the Commission found probable cause to believe that the ethics laws requiring the reporting of gifts over $100 had been violated, in the “Amended Advocate’s Motion to Dismiss” the Commission’s attorney explained that the dismissal of the complaint was warranted due to the absence of clear and convincing evidence that any gifts were actually received by Davis.
Ethics Advisory Opinions
Adoption of Ethics Opinion Advising Manatee County Commissioner that the Use of Official Commission Letterhead to Endorse Candidates Would be a Misuse of Public Resources
The Commission adopted draft Ethics Opinion 2824 advising a current member of the Manatee County Commission that his use of official County-approved letterhead to endorse a candidate for election—would violate a State ethics law prohibiting the misuse of one’s official position and resources. However, the Commission noted that the ethics laws would not prohibit the Commissioner from making such an endorsement on self-created letterhead, using only private resources, but which identifies him as a commissioner but does not contain his official contact information or commissioner email and clearly states that the endorsement represents his private opinion and not the official position of the government entity.
Adoption of Ethics Opinion Advising Pension Board Member Regarding Gifts Law Implications of Winning Raffle Prizes
The Commission also adopted draft Ethics Opinion 2826 advising a current member of the St. Lucie Fire District Pension Board who files a Form 1, and is thus subject to heightened gifts restrictions under Florida law, that paying for a raffle ticket for the chance to win an all-expense paid trip—constituted payment of “equal or greater consideration” such that the prize, if won, would not be considered a gift nor would it need to be reported.
Adoption of Ethics Opinion Advising a Former Psychologist for the Department of Corrections on the Post Public Employment Restrictions
The Commission also adopted draft Ethics Opinion 2828 advising a former Senior Psychologist at the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) that a post-public-employment restriction contained in s. 112.3185(4), F.S., would prohibit her for two years after leaving her public position—from performing work for a private company in connection with a contract that the company has with the Department and which was within her responsibilities while publicly employed. However, the Commission further clarified that she would not be prohibited from working for the company on matters unrelated to the existing contract with the FDOC.
Adoption of Ethics Opinion Advising the Secretary of the Department of Corrections on Compliance with Post Public Employment Restrictions
The Commission adopted draft Ethics Opinion 2029 which advised the current Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections concerning the post-public-employment restrictions of the Florida Code of Ethics and the Sunshine Amendment (Art. II, s. 8, Fla. Const.) that would apply should he leave his public position. The Commission advised the Secretary he would need to be cognizant of, and compliant with, a two-year communications restriction which would prohibit him from representing clients before his former agency or personnel thereof after leaving public employment, as well as contract specific restrictions applicable to former State agency personnel. And the Commission further advised the Secretary concerning the six-year constitutional lobbying ban found in Art. II, s. 8(f)(3)b, of the Florida Constitution.
Commission Defers Consideration of Ethics Opinion on the Application of the Anti-Nepotism Restriction to Members of the Jacksonville City Council
The Commission voted to defer to the consideration of Draft Ethics Opinion 2830 to its March 2026 meeting after counsel for the City of Jacksonville argued that the anti-nepotism provisions of the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3135, F.S., should not apply to internal leadership elections of the Jacksonville City Council—including those for President and Vice President of the Council. During the oral argument at the January 23 Commission meeting counsel for the City also proffered a letter from the Attorney General’s Office of General Counsel which he stated supported the City’s position that the anti-nepotism law would not be violated where the son of a Jacksonville City Council member, who’s father is also a City Council member, to be appointed by his peers to the position of Council President or Vice President.
The Draft Ethics Opinion written by Commission staff found that the anti-nepotism law would prohibit this appointment in light of the familial relationships as it constituted “appointing him to a position of higher rank, dignity, or importance.”
After the first vote to approve the Draft Ethics Opinion failed due to a tie vote, the matter was deferred to the March 2026 Commission meeting to allow for additional time for consideration of the letter from the Attorney General’s Office of General Counsel.
Executive Session
During its closed session meeting (wherein confidential and exempt matters are addressed) the Commission took action on 129 matters. In a Press Release issued January 28, 2026, the Commission made the following findings.
Ethics Complaints Considered for Probable Cause
During the Executive Session meeting, 21 ethics complaints were considered for probable cause. Commission determinations regarding probable cause are based upon the ethics complaint, the Report of Investigation, the Advocate’s Recommendation, as well as written statements submitted by the respondent (against whom the complaint is filed) and any oral statements made at the meeting. A finding of probable cause is not a determination that a violation has occurred. Such a determination is made only after a full evidentiary hearing on the allegations at the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH).
The Commission considered a complaint filed against Coral Gables Commissioner, Melissa Castro. Probable cause was found to believe Ms. Castro had a conflicting contractual relationship that created a continuing or frequently recurring conflict between her private interests and the performance of her public duties when her private business, a company that provided expedited permit assistance, continued to pull permits in the city after her election.
The Commission considered seven allegations in a complaint filed against former Lake St. Charles Community Development District Property Manager, Mark Cooper. Three allegations concerned a concrete walkway poured from Mr. Cooper’s driveway to the front door, with unused concrete from a district walking trail project. Probable cause was found that he violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit and misused his position regarding the allegation. No probable cause was found to believe that he accepted the concrete walkway when he knew or should have known that it was given to influence him. The other four allegations related to Mr. Cooper entering into a consultant agreement with the district while continuing to be employed by the district. Probable cause was found that he misused his public position, violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit regarding the contract, and that he had a prohibited business relationship and a conflicting contractual relationship that created a continuing or frequently recurring conflict between his private interests and public duties by virtue of the consulting agreement.
The Commission considered a complaint filed against Coquina Water Control District (CWCD) Supervisor, Tonya Schumacher. Probable cause was found to believe Ms. Schumacher had a conflicting contractual relationship with a security company that was also doing business with the CWCD.
No probable cause was found on an allegation that Marshall Creek Community Development District (MCCDD) Chairman, Howard Entman, abused his position to obtain a disproportionate benefit or misused his position when he sent an email to a MCCDD-maintained resident distribution list that reflected his personal views as a resident.
The Commission found no probable cause to believe that Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Commander, Alan Canfield, violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit and misused his position when he spoke against the installation of speed bumps before a Laguna Lakes Board of Directors meeting. Allegations that he used his LCSO cell phone to send emails and provided his LCSO business card during the speed bump dispute were also dismissed with a finding of no probable cause.
The Commission considered a complaint filed against Venetian Isles Community Development District Supervisor, Mary Ann Delgado. No probable cause was found on allegations she failed to accurately complete the primary sources of income section on her 2020, 2021, and 2022 Form 1 disclosures.
The Commission considered two related complaints filed against Concorde Estates Community Development District (CDD) Board of Supervisors members Cesar Goyetche and Badia Strachan and no probable cause was found to believe that Ms. Strachan and Mr. Goyetche abused their positions to obtain a disproportionate benefit or misused their positions to exempt property from non-ad valorem taxes.
The Commission also held a probable cause hearing on another Concorde Estates Community Development District (CDD) Board of Supervisors member, Victor Cruz. No probable cause was found to believe he was doing business with his agency or that he had a conflicting employment or contractual relationship regarding checks he received from the CDD in his individual capacity that exceeded the amount he was authorized to receive as a Supervisor. An allegation that his son was hired by the CDD in violation of the anti-nepotism law also was dismissed with a finding of no probable cause.
The Commission considered a complaint filed against Sanford City Commissioner, Sheena Rena Britton. Probable cause was found on allegations that Ms. Britton failed to timely file her 2019 and 2023 Form 1 disclosures. However, the Commission elected to take no further action on the allegations due to the particular circumstances of the matter. In addition, an allegation that she failed to complete required ethics training for calendar year 2023 resulted in a finding of no probable cause.
The Commission considered a complaint filed against Bronson Town Council member, Rachel F. Weeks. No probable cause was found to believe that Ms. Weeks had a voting conflict when she voted not to renew a contract with a private company managing the Town’s planning, zoning, and permitting services. The Commission also found no probable cause to believe Ms. Weeks abused her position to obtain a disproportionate benefit or misused her position by participating in the vote.
The Commission found no probable cause to believe St. Lucie County Commissioner, Cathy Townsend, had a conflicting employment or contractual relationship when her non-profit organization entered into a grant agreement with the County.
The Commission found probable cause to believe Fellsmere Water Control District Manager, Mark Mathes, misused his position to change voting procedures without telling the Landowners.
The Commission considered a complaint filed against a member of the Florida House of Representatives, Fabian Basabe. No probable cause was found on an allegation that he misused his position regarding a staffer.
The Commission found no probable cause to believe that Director of Water and Wastewater Systems for the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Bowdoin G. Hutchinson, violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit or misused his position regarding allegations that he conducted personal business during work hours.
In a complaint filed against Flagler Beach City Manager, Dale L. Martin, the Commission found no probable cause to believe he misused his position or used information gained by his official position, which was not available to the general public, regarding the sale of a city-owned golf course.
No probable cause was found on an allegation that District Manager for the Villages of Westport Community Development District, Darrin Mossing, misused his position regarding contracts for security services.
The Commission considered a complaint filed against Polk County Building Inspector, Herman Blom, and found no probable cause on allegations that he misused his position by signing off on property inspections he should not have passed.
The Commission found probable cause to believe that Bradford County Zoning Director, Randal Andrews, violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit and misused his position when he used his County-issued email to correspond with prospective buyers of a property he owned.
No probable cause was found on an allegation that Polk County Commissioner, William Braswell, abused his position to obtain a disproportionate benefit or misused his position when he posted an advertisement for his commercial blueberry farm on his social media account.
A self-initiated investigation – required by statute – to determine if Suwanee County School Board member, Tim Alcorn, willfully failed to file his 2022 and 2023 Form 6 disclosures, resulted in a finding of probable cause. However, the Commission elected to take no further action on the allegation due to the particular circumstances of the matter.
A referral by the State Attorney for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, Harold Pryor, regarding City of Pembroke Pines Commissioner and Teacher at Charles W. Flanagan High School, Jay Schwartz, was dismissed as legally insufficient.
Ethics Complaints Dismissed for Lacking Legal Sufficiency
At its meeting the Commission dismissed complaints filed against the following public servants due to a lack of legal sufficiency: GWENDOLYN J. LAFFERTY, City of Bunnell Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board; three complaints against BEVERLY NASH, City of Quincy Mayor; SCOTT STEWART, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Deputy; STEPHEN COLWELL, Deltona City Commissioner; MARITZA AVILA-VAZQUEZ, Deltona City Commissioner; NICK LULLI, Deltona City Commissioner; EMILY BRANN, Leon County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Investigator; DIANE GULLET, Former Marion County Public Schools Superintendent; CLAUDE BRUCE, Leon County Building Inspector; JIMMY BURRY, Leesburg City Commissioner; BOB DANIELS, Sewall’s Point Town Manager; MEGAN MOSCOSO, Brevard County Communications Coordinator and City of Titusville Councilwoman; KATHRYN “KATIE” DELANEY, Brevard County Commissioner; DARRELL C. THOMPSON, Long Lake Ranch Community Development District Supervisor; DAVID JOSEPH BIECK, Fort Walton Beach Police Officer; TAYLOR YARKOSKY, Florida State Representative for District 25; JENNIFER BRAMLEY, Dunedin City Manager; BRANDON PATTY, St. Johns County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller; CHRISTINE MALLATT, Heritage Landing Community Development District Vice Chair; APRIL BIEGLER, Official Records and Courts Supervisor for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit; ALYSA L. JOHNSTON, Palm Coast Acting City Manager; DEAN L. WALTERS, Harbor Bay Community Development District Supervisor and Secretary; CYNTHIA MCINTYRE, Cory Lake Isles Community Development District Supervisor; DAYNA WILLIAMS, Alachua City Commissioner; JILL BURNS, Eden Hills Community Development District Manager; five complaints against DANIEL LEVENTRY, Harbor Bay Community Development District Supervisor; DALE “DOC” DOUGHERTY, Deltona City Manager; BETTY ERHARD, Brooksville City Council Member; GEORGE JACOB THOMAS, Fort White Mayor; TOM SCHLICK, University of Florida Director of Grounds, Facilities, and Services; ROY SIEGER, Flagler Executive Airport Director; MARK CARUSO, Winter Springs City Commissioner; CATHY TOWNSEND, St. Lucie County Commissioner; two complaints against TIMOTHY NARGI, Harbor Bay Community Development District Member of the Board of Supervisors; LORESSA M. FELIX, Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics General Counsel and Deputy Director; BRENDA D. FORMAN, Broward County Clerk of Courts; VICTOR COLOMBO, Harrison Ranch Community Development District Supervisor and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Crossing Guard Supervisor; NICK NESTA, Apopka City Commissioner; SEAN WILCOX, Coquina Water Control District Board Member; STACI MARIE DIRENZO, Broward County Assistant State Attorney; MICHELLE POIRIER, ED (EDDIE) HARRIS and DANIEL (DAN) SUMNER, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Agricultural Environmental Services Inspectors; JAMES WESLEY, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Agricultural Environmental Services Supervisor; WILTON SIMPSON, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture; KATHY MEARS, Florida Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture; JOSE GILL, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Apiary Inspector for Region I; four complaints against DARRIN MOSSING, Villages of Westport Community Development District Manager; BARBARA KING, South Bay City Commissioner; DENISE O’CONNELL, Monroe County Property Appraiser Executive Assistant; JARED JETER, Fort Walton Beach City Councilman; DEAN BRITT, Quarry Community Development District Chairperson; LUZ NELLY VELASQUEZ, Surfside Town Commissioner; MARK BLUMSTEIN, Surfside Town Manager; RICK WILSON, Polk County Commission Chairman; JAMES NEWLON, Casselberry City Manager; JORGE E. ROSERO, Village of Biscayne Park Acting Police Chief; ART GONZALEZ, Village of Biscayne Park Commissioner; ANN COFFIN, Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program Director; JOE HALMAN, JR., Polk County Deputy County Manager; KEVIN GAGNE, Eagle Pointe Community Development District Chair; two complaints against AUDREY FESIK, Pompano Beach City Commissioner; CRYSTAL BRYANT, Avon Park Housing Authority Vice-Chair; BERNIECE TAYLOR, Avon Park City Council; two complaints against GREGORY TONY, Broward County Sheriff; EDWIN FERGUSON, Palm Beach County School Board Member; HOWELL (TRIP) LANCASTER, III, Fanning Springs Mayor; ERIC HINSON and ALONZETTA SIMPKINS, Gadsden County Commissioners; REGINALD JAMES, Gadsden County Interim County Administrator; ROOSEVELT MORRIS, Gadsden County Interim Assistant County Administrator and Building Manager; ARTHUR CZYSZCZON, Treasure Island City Commissioner; DAVID SUAREZ, Miami Beach City Commissioner; MICHAEL PORATH, Welaka Chief of Police; WILLIAM VOSE, Orange County Commissioner; MICHAEL HARRIS, Lee County School District Assistant Director of Professional Standards; ROBERT DODIG, Lee County School District General Counsel; RICHARD D. CHESS, Fort Pierce City Manager; AMY JO CARROLL, Groveland City Council Member; KAREN WOODSON, Fort Myers Beach Town Council Member; JOHN R. KING, Fort Myers Beach Town Council Member; JAMES GLEASON, Lake Helen City Administrator; ANDREW CONNORS, Titusville Mayor; ANDREA KEEZER, Williams Elementary School Principal; SHAWN MCCAIG, Lakeshore Ranch Community Development District Supervisor; NAZLY CARDONA, Pembroke Park Town Building Department employee; CAROL J. BREECE, Broward County Inspector General; MUSFIKA KASHEM, Pembroke Park Vice Mayor; OCEA WYNN, City of Tampa Administrator of Neighborhood and Community Affairs; CHARLOTTE JOYCE, Duval County School Board Member; DONALD L. EDENFIELD, Jackson County Sheriff; CHRISTOPHER BOYCE, Lake County Compliance & Monitoring Specialist; CHRIS DZADOVSKY, candidate for Fort Pierce City Commission District 2; CURTIS JOHNSON, JR., Fort Pierce City Commissioner; and JUANITA BRUNSON, Quincy Interim City Clerk.