Florida Ethics Update: Commission on Ethics Determinations—March 2026 Meeting
March 18, 2026
During its meeting on March 6, 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
Attorneys Fees Petition
During its public session meeting, the Ethics Commission considered a Petition for Costs and Attorney’s Fees filed by Michele Myers, Mayor of Crescent City, against the four complainants in the underlying consolidated ethics matters which was dismissed on June 7, 2024, after a finding that the matters lacked probable cause to believe that wrongdoing had occurred. At Friday’s meeting the Commission voted to remand the case back to the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH), for the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to determine each complainant’s individual liability for fees and costs.
Friday’s determination to remand the matter back to DOAH follows the ALJ’s January 7, 2026, issuance of a Recommended Order which granted the Mayor’s petition for attorneys fees and costs despite the high legal standards for recovery provided in the ethics laws and found all four complainants liable for payment of $25,547.73, jointly and severally.
The attorneys fees and costs provision of the Ethics Code, s. 112.317(7), F.S., contains a high standard for recovery only in cases when the Commission determines that a person has filed a complaint against a public official “with a malicious intent to injure the reputation” of such official and with knowledge that the complaint either contains false allegations or with reckless disregard for whether the complaint contains false allegations concerning the alleged ethics violations. As such, awards of this type are rare.
Settlement of Ethics Complaint Filed Against North Miami Beach City Commissioner
The Commission unanimously voted to approve a draft Settlement Agreement (referred to as “Joint Stipulation”) entered into between former North Miami Beach City Commissioner, Paule Villard, and the Commission’s attorney (referred to as “Advocate”) finding that the Commissioner failed to certify her required ethics training on her 2021 Form 1 financial disclosure filing. In light of this violation, a civil penalty of $500 and public censure and reprimand was recommended for imposition by the Governor.
Following investigations of the initial ethics complaint the Commission at its January 31, 2024, meeting had found probable cause to believe the Commissioner had obtained a disproportionate benefit and misused her official position by conducting official City business through Facebook videos while in her City office and in a City vehicle, using appearances of other City employees in the videos, and by failing to complete and certify the legally required annual ethics training for the year 2021—and submitted the matter to DOAH for a full administrative trial.
The Settlement approved at Friday’s meeting indicated that following the Commission’s probable cause determination the agency’s attorney identified a witness that indicated that the Commissioner was not conducting personal business in the Facebook videos but rather humanitarian efforts. On the basis of this information the parties agreed in the Settlement that there was insufficient evidence that the videos were inconsistent with the proper performance of the Commissioner’s public duties—and as such all allegations except the failure to certify the satisfaction of the 2021 ethics training were appropriate for dismissal.
Settlement of Ethics Complaint Filed Against Gadsden County Commissioner
The Commission voted to approve the Settlement agreement between the Commission’s attorney and Gadsden County Commissioner, Ronterrious Green, which found that Mr. Green had a conflicting contractual relationship when he approved multiple contracts between the County and an individual who was his landlord. In light of this violation a civil penalty of $1,500 and public censure and reprimand was recommended for imposition by the Governor.
Withdrawal of Ethics Advisory Opinion Requested by Jacksonville City Council Member
The Commission voted to permit the withdrawal of an ethics opinion request made by Jason Teal, City of Jacksonville Council Secretary, on behalf of City Council member Joe Carlucci. The withdrawal request was predicated in part on the Commissioner’s belief that the Legislature would soon pass legislation that changes Florida’s anti-nepotism law to allow relatives serving on the same board to appoint, advance, promote, and advocate for each other.
The change in the law was approved by the Legislature via a last minute amendment to CS/SB 572 and effectively paved the way for Jacksonville City Council member Joe Carlucci to run for Council Vice President while serving on the council with his father, Matt Carlucci.
The amendment was filed by state Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, after the Commission on Ethics at its January 23, 2026, meeting failed to approve Draft Ethics Opinion 2830 due to a tie vote, which applied the current anti-nepotism law and recommended that it would prohibit two relatives serving on the same collegial body from recommending the advancement of one another “to a position of higher rank, dignity, or importance.”
Joe Carlucci is currently one of four Council members running for the position Vice President. The winner will serve a one-year term starting in July 2026 and will be the likely pick for Council President in 2027.
Approval of Ethics Opinion Granting Suspension of Financial Disclosure Requirements for Active-Duty Military Serviceman
The Commission adopted a formal ethics opinion concluding that a specified state employee who is ordered to active-duty military service will not be required to satisfy his annual financial disclosure requirement via the filing a Form 1 while deployed—due to a four-year leave of absence from public employment during his service. However, the Commission further found that he will be required to file his annual Form 1 for each year of his absence within 90 days upon returning to public employment or the end of his military activation orders.
Executive Session
During its closed session meeting (wherein confidential and exempt matters are addressed) the Commission took action on 97 matters. In a Press Release issued on March 11 the Commission made the following findings.
Ethics Complaints Considered for Probable Cause
During the Executive Session meeting, 15 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 DOAH.
The Commission considered a complaint filed against former Senior Appraisal Review Specialist for the Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office (LCPA), Dennis J. Black. No probable cause was found to believe Mr. Black violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit or misused his position to obtain alleged non-public information from LCPA before for use in his private purpose. An allegation that he used information gained by his official position, which was not available to the general public, was also dismissed with a finding of no probable cause.
No probable cause was found on allegations that Watergrass Community Development District II Board member, Craig Margelowsky, violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit or misused his position when he voted to renew an agreement to provide a local public high school swim team the use of the Community Development District lap pool.
Probable cause was found on an allegation that the Mayor for the Town of Astatula, Zane Teeters, Jr., violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit and misused his position when he used the Town’s seal, letterhead, and his title to threaten a former town council member who, in his resignation letter, named Mr. Teeters as the primary reason for resignation.
The Commission found no probable cause to believe that former Village Attorney for the Villages of Biscayne Park, Bradley Weissman, violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit or misused his position when an unlicensed private investigator was retained to investigate allegations against the former Village Chief of Police.
In a related complaint, no probable cause was found on an allegation that the former Village Manager for the Village of Biscayne Park, Albert Childress, misused his position in the hiring of the private investigator.
No probable cause was found on allegations that City Manager of Haines City, James Elensky, violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit or misused his position when he provided direction on an investigation being handled by the Criminal Investigation Division with the Haines City Police Department regarding a City Commissioner.
The Commission considered a complaint filed against the Vice President of the Harrison Ranch Community Development District, Thomas Benton. Probable cause was found on allegations that he failed to accurately disclose ownership of an LLC and the income he received from it on his 2023 and 2024 Form 1 disclosures. However, the Commission elected to take no further action on both allegations due to the particular circumstances of the matter. An allegation that he had a conflicting contractual relationship that created a continuing or frequently recurring conflict between his private interests and public duties was dismissed with a finding of no probable cause.
The Commission considered a complaint filed against Harrison Ranch Community Development District Supervisor, Julianne Giella. Ms. Giella was alleged to have colluded with a former employee of Harrison Ranch, who was the Supervisor of a neighboring Community Development District, to secure a contract for services that would benefit both of them. No probable cause was found on four allegations, including: soliciting or accepting something of value based upon an understanding that her vote, official action, or judgment would be influenced; accepting compensation, payment, or thing of value when she knew or should have known it was given to influence her vote or official action; misused her position to secure a special privilege or benefit; and violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit.
No probable cause was found on an allegation that Mayor for the City of Deltona, Santiago Avila, Jr., violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit and misused his position when he promoted a website that links to his campaign website, from his “official” Facebook page.
The Commission considered a complaint filed against Trial Court Administrator for the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Joseph D’amico. No probable cause was found on allegations that he failed to accurately complete the real property section on his 2024 Form 1 disclosure.
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 or violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit regarding a legislative intern.
In a complaint filed against City Commissioner for the City of Treasure Island, Arthur Czyszczon, the Commission found no probable cause to believe that Mr. Czyszczon had a voting conflict regarding an ordinance that financially affected a property owned by a company where he was a corporate officer.
In a complaint filed against the Mayor of Punta Gorda, Deborah Lux, the Commission found no probable cause to believe she misused her position when she used her personal Facebook page to offer her thoughts on matters of public interest and opinions on political opponents.
No probable cause was found on an allegation that the District Manager for the Villages of Westport Community Development District, Darrin Mossing, misused his position regarding contracts for security services.
The Commission rejected the recommendation of its advocate and found no probable cause to believe that Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy, Jeffrey Merry, misused his position or used non-public information gained by his public position by sharing an unredacted photograph and personal information of an individual obtained from the Florida Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID). An allegation that he violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit related to the information obtained from DAVID resulted in a finding of no probable cause because there was no benefit to Mr. Merry or any other entity listed in the constitutional amendment provision.
Ethics Complaints Dismissed for Lacking Legal Sufficiency
The Commission also reviewed and dismissed 82 ethics complaints for lacking legal sufficiency. These reviews are limited to questions of jurisdiction and determinations as to whether the contents of the complaint are adequate to allege a violation of the Code of Ethics or other laws within the Commission’s jurisdiction. In any matter where a complaint is found legally insufficient and dismissed, the Commission will issue an order explaining the rationale for the dismissal which is a public record accessible to the public upon request.
At its meeting the Commission dismissed the following complaints due to a lack of legal sufficiency: two complaints against FRANKLIN W. MARTZ, II, Altamonte Springs City Manager; CLAYTON JOHNSON, Department of Children and Families Quality Assurance Specialist; GEANETTA SALTER, Department of Children and Families Operation Program Manager; ANGELA COLON, Department of Children and Families Child Protective Investigator Supervisor; CHANDRIEKA ROBINSON, Department of Children and Families Child Protective Investigator; ANGELINA PEREZ, Indiantown Village Council Member; BRANDON BLACKBURN, Eagle Lake Community Redevelopment Agency Board Member; MADISON STOCKS (NELSON), Bay County Sheriff’s Office Investigator; DIANE LAMB, Center Hill City Clerk; BILLY BOWLES, Center Hill City Council Member; DEANNA NAUGLER, Webster City Manager; ALFRED JEROME FLETCHER, North Port City Manager; SHANIQUE ROSE, Orlando District 5 Interim City Commissioner; HAROLD FERNANDEZ PRYOR, State Attorney for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit; ADRIAN SEGURA, Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Chief Fire Officer; SUSAN STAFFORD, Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission Member; GEORGE LANDRY, St. Lucie County Administrator; BILL BRASWELL, Polk County Commissioner; two complaints against BEVERLY NASH, Quincy Mayor; JAMES BEVILLE, Second Judicial Circuit Assistant State Attorney; DeANTHONY SHAMAR, Quincy Police Department Sergeant; LANE STEPHENS, Quincy Mayor Pro Tem; MICHAEL THOMAS, Edgewater City Councilmember; FRANK SEBESTYEN, Vista Lakes Community Development District Chairman; two complaints against AUDRA CURTS-WHANN, Crystal River City Manager; MICHAEL JERRAHIAN, St. Lucie County Building Official; JOSUE GUEVARA, St. Lucie County Senior Code Enforcement Officer; FELIX JIMENEZ, Inspector General of the Miami Dade County Office of the Inspector General; DARREN GRAY, Seminole County Manager; CLIFFORD LABBE, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Captain; ERIC SCOTT FLOWERS, Indian River County Sheriff; REBECCA BAYS, Citrus County Commission Chairman; JACK HILLIGOSS, Lake Wales Mayor; JAY RADTKE, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Medical Examiner; REGINALD JAMES, Gadsden County Interim County Administrator; JARET LANDON WILLIAMS, Fort Meade City Commissioner; two complaints against BERNICE ELNA FISCHER, South Palm Beach Mayor; MONTE BERENDES, South Palm Beach Vice Mayor; JANE CASTOR, City of Tampa Mayor; ROBBI COARSEY AVERY, City of Trenton Mayor; LUCY COLEMAN, Trenton City Commissioner; JANICE BRODA, Indian River Mosquito Control District Commissioner; TROY KENT, Volusia County Councilman; two complaints against THOMAS E. BENTON, Harrison Ranch Community Development District Vice Chairman; GEORGE E. FUENTE, Hialeah Police Department Chief; DENISE D. GRANT, City of Lauderhill Mayor; two complaints against ANDREW CONNORS, Titusville Mayor; KIM DOWNING, Haines City Commissioner; AL TAYLOR, Titusville Board of Adjustments and Appeals Chairman; JIM DEAN, Jackson County Administrator; JAMEY WESTBROOK, Jackson County Commissioner; DAVID WHEELER, Jefferson County Planner; STEWART COOKSEY, Jefferson County Planning Commissioner; MARY-ELLEN HARPER, Levy County Manager; ROY SIEGER, Flagler County Airport Director; DEVONTA KNIGHT, Quincy City Commissioner; SCOTT LITTLEFIELD, Quincy Police Department Lieutenant; ERIC HINSON, Gadsden County Commissioner; RICHARD ASH, former Quincy City Manager; GEORGETTE DANIELS, Quincy Finance Director; HEIDI PETITO, Flagler County Administrator; two complaints against KIM SABOL, St. Lucie County Fire District Attorney; two complaints against BRIAN GONZALEZ, St. Lucie County Fire District Assistant Fire Chief; two complaints against JEFFERY LEE, St. Lucie County Fire District Chief; JEFF BROWER, Volusia County Council Chair; REBECCA MORRIS-HAID, Jackson County Property Appraiser; RODNEY BARRETO, Florida Wildlife Commissioner; BEN TEW, Town of Norma and Town of Esto Town Clerk; ASHANTI JONES, Department of Children and Families Former Hearing Officer with the Appeals Hearings Section; ALLISON SMITH-DOSSOU, Department of Children and Families Former Hearing Officer with the Appeals Hearings Section; DARRYL ADAMS, Sterling Hill Community Development District Manager; SHANE ABBOTT, Florida State Representative; and JENNIFER MULLER, City of Jacksonville Labor Relations Officer.
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