On Wednesday the City Commission will vote to fill a vacancy on the City Independent Ethics Board. Notable applicants include Dr. Erwin Jackson, former City Commission candidate Luther Lee and Bill Hollimon -the husband of Florida State Representative Lorrane Ausley.
Dr Erwin Jackson, who calls himself the “Tallahassee Truth Teller”, filled out an application and listed Mayor Andrew Gillum, City Commissioner Scott Maddox, and City Commissioner Gill Ziffer as references.
Mr. Hollimon, the owner of Hollimon, P.A., is married to Lorrane Ausley. Ausley’s father, Dubose Ausley, is listed as the Director of the Ausley & McMullen law firm.
The Ausley & McMullen law firm is a city vendor and Gerald Curington, an Ausley & McMullen lawyer, currently serves as the General Counsel for the Ethics Board.
The vacancy arose when the City Commission’s appointee to the Independent Ethics Board, Ms. Carol “Sunny” Phillips, provided notice she would resign effective December 30, 2017.
Her resignation coincides with the expiration of the term for Seat 1, therefore, the new appointee will serve a three-year term beginning January 1, 2018, and will be eligible to serve a second term.
The following individuals have submitted applications to the City for service on the Ethics Board.
• Karen S. Card
• Gregory E. Hogancamp
• Bill Hollimon
• Erwin D. Jackson
• Reiner Kirsten
• Luther Lee
• David T. O’Keefe
• James G. Pace
• Erin B. Sjostrom
• Gabriel Warren
Applications can be reviewed here.
The Ausley Law Firm also represents the Tall. Democrat. Talk about circling the wagons around City government.
Conflict of interest written all over it!
Citizens of Leon County & Tallahassee FL, here’s a quote that mirrors the ETHICS BOARD situation….”HE who PASSIVELY accepts EVIL is as much INVOLVED in it as HE who HELPS perpetrate it. HE who ACCEPTS evil without PROTESTING against it IS really COOPERATING with IT”….Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Erwin Jackson appears to be TAILORED for this SEAT! Let’s now see if the decision-makers will WELCOME his presence to the BOARD! Or will they seek person that WILL be a spineless “lacky”!
Two members of the same law firm, which does frequent business with the city, one serving as Board Legal Counsel, the other a board member, gives a very poor appearance of independence. Even though Mr. Holliman may be an honorable man, it places him and the board in a posture of appearing to be incapable of true independence from city intervention. It creates an undesirable appearance of insider dealings, of inevitable conflict of interest. The city would be well advised to pass on Mr. Holliman, he is just too close to city management.
If I’m not mistaken, this is a commission vacancy, so its to be expected that the commission would appoint someone with whom they would be comfortable. Still, I think the original idea was to develop a wide representation of the community. I understand the concern of those who think that board is becoming a very narrow interest in the community.
Perhaps the Commission should not appoint anyone to the Ethics board, although I don’t know who is impartial or unconnected anymore.
“Mr. Hollimon, the owner of Hollimon, P.A., is married to Lorrane Ausley. Ausley’s father, Dubose Ausley, is listed as the Director of the Ausley & McMullen law firm.
The Ausley & McMullen law firm is a city vendor and Gerald Curington, an Ausley & McMullen lawyer, currently serves as the General Counsel for the Ethics Board.”
Ballsy. But then again, ethics schmethics.