Former Florida Speaker of the House indicted
From Sunshine Review
17 April 2009
Ray Sansom, Florida representative and former Speaker of the House, was indicted on by a grand jury April 16 on a felony charge of official misconduct. He is alleged to have used his power to secure $6 million in taxpayer money to pay for a airplane hanger for his friend, and major Republican Party donor, Jay Odom. Bob Richburg, President of Northwest Florida State College, who received the money, was also indicted.
The grand jury report states, "We believe that Speaker-designate Ray Sansom because of his friendship and political contributions violated the trust that the citizens of Florida should expect from its elected representatives."[1]
[edit] Multi-use hanger?
Late in the 2007 budget session, Sansom put $6 million dollars into the budget to fund the building, which is located near Northwest Florida State College at Destin Airport, next to Odom's private jet business. Sansom said he had no idea that, at the same time, Odom was seeking $6 million to build a hanger he planned to share with local emergency officials.
Sansom's official misconduct charge is for creating false budget documents, which gave the building the appearance of "multi-use educational facility," when it was nothing more than a hanger. For example, he referred to office space in the building as classrooms.[2] Richburg, indicted for his part in the scheme, was also indicted for perjury after lying to the jury over plans for the building.
[edit] Sansom's new jobs
On the same day that Sansom was elected speaker of the house in November 2008, he was also hired for a no-bid job at Northwest Florida State College. The position, with a $110,000 a year salary, would have made him one of the highest paid officials at the school.[2]
While Sansom has continually maintained his innocence, he quit the job at the college. Following that, once the grand jury was created to investigate the matter, he stepped down as speaker of the house last January.[1]
Sansom and Richburg each face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Odom has not been charged.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Miami Herald, Ex-House Speaker Ray Sansom indicted on misconduct, April 17, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 AHN, Florida House Speaker Indicted on Misconduct Charge, April 18, 2009
