Judge finds evidence in Mayor Marks case ‘insufficient’ for ethics violation
4:07 PM, Nov 27, 2012 | By Jeff Burlew, Democrat Senior Writer Of The Tallahassee Democrat
Tallahassee Mayor John Marks. / Democrat file photo
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Administrative Law Judge Lawrence Stevenson, who presided over a one-day hearing in the case last month, issued his recommended order in the case this afternoon. It’s expected to go to the Florida Commission on Ethics for a final decision.
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The Ethics Commission in June charged Marks with five counts of violating state ethics laws by voting on matters involving Honeywell, a client of his former law firm, and separately, the Alliance for Digital Equality, an Atlanta nonprofit that paid him as a member of its board of advisers.
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Under Florida’s ethics laws, local officials are prohibited from voting on any measure that would give them, a principal who has retained them, a relative or a business associate a special, private gain. Officials found guilty can face penalties including fines and, in the most serious cases, suspension or removal from office.
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Check back with Tallahassee.com for more on this story.
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Posted: Tue 6:00 PM, Nov 27, 2012
Reporter: Andy Alcock Email | WCTV.Tv
Updated: Tue 6:01 PM, Nov 27, 2012
Tallahassee, FL – The ethics case against Tallahassee Mayor John Marks could be thrown out.
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The administrative law judge in the case says there’s not enough evidence to show the mayor violated the law by profiting from votes he made.
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The case will now go back to the ethics commission to make a final ruling in the case originally brought by local businessman Erwin Jackson.
November 27, 2012
Crimes, Government Officials, Law Enforcement