Recently filed city commission candidate Lisa Brown, who is the CEO and a board member at Tallahassee-Leon Federal Credit Union (TLFCU), appears to be relatively unknown in local political terms.
However, the web of local government connections that exist between members of the Board of Directors at TLFCU and local government vendor Vancore Jones, raises several questions about possible conflicts if she is elected.
A review of the Board of TLFCU reveals that Dustin Daniels and Ben Pingree, the Director of Tallahassee/Leon PLACE which oversees Blueprint activities, serve on the Board.
Dustin Daniels, the former chief of staff for Mayor Andrew Gillum as of March 21, 2018, is considering a run for local office himself.
But beyond his political aspirations, Daniels has courted controversy through his actions relating to Mayor Andrew Gillum’s email flap and the ticket scandal that forced City Manager Rick Fernandez to resign.
Pingree, in his role as a local government official, reports to the Intergovernmental Agency (IA) where city and county elected officials sit jointly.
Pingree is responsible for the management and oversight of Planning, Land Management, and Community Enhancement departments, including the nearly $1 billion “Blueprint 2020” program.
Pingree has served on the TLFCU board since 2006. This means that Mr. Pingree more than likely had a role in hiring Ms. Brown as CEO.
If elected, Ms. Brown would be voting on Blueprint proposals generated by Mr.Pingree’s office as a member of the IA.
Over the next four years the IA will be voting on how to spend millions of dollars in Blueprint economic development money.
And finally, Vancore Jones, who reportedly courted Ms. Brown in the time before she announced her candidacy, is a vendor for Blueprint – the office overseen by Mr. Pingree.
TR has reached out to Ms. Brown to inquire about her view on the potential conflicts.
City Candidate Lisa Brown’s Credit Union Board includes Dustin Daniels, Blueprint Official added by Staff on
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One of the people mentioned is related to former City Manager RIC Fernandez. Guess.
In response to Vernon, there are a couple of us in City races NOT tied to ANY local, regional or Federal politics. The voters of Tallahassee will have the opportunity to break the back of Corrupt City politics. It’s up to them.
So basically Lisa Brown was a “Usual Suspect” long before we all knew it.
If you would vote for Linda you would vote for Gary Yordon and of course there is no hope of turning you away from distructive mindless lefty liberalism.
Incestuous insider corruption caught in the act. As a member of this credit union I will be speaking to them about this.Thank you Steve for your reporting as always. No thanks to the Tallahassee Democrat who is always a step behind you.
Who produced the music video, how much did it cost, and did the TLFCU pay for the video?
I believe there are other questions regarding the trip to the Philippines expenses, insurance solicitations misuse/expenses, and possibly campaign video expenses that need to be addressed immediately by auditors and regulators to protect the members of the credit union.
Were funds that the credit union received through grants properly administered (or misused)? I believe a public accounting of these funds and answers to the above questions are warranted.
http://capitalsoup.com/2016/10/04/tallahassee-leon-federal-credit-union-mayor-andrew-gillum-to-announce-grant-award-from-the-u-s-department-of-treasury/
Wow… We need more information on this story Steve… You raised a lot of good questions?
Looks like Tally has become a political Peyton Place…everyone seems to be in bed with one another!… and the ones that are not… are looking for partners.
The FBI may need to staff up the local office so they can keep up!
People also need to look into a trip sponsored by credit union where Ms Brown, her son, and her son’s girlfriend went to the Philippines to teach financial literacy.
Son wax in high school and girlfriend was of Filipino descent.
Doesn’t really seem like something a small, local credit union should pay for.
If that is true she is not fit to run the credit union. She has already used the credit union to pay for her “sweet tallahassee” ad, which was used in the news stations segment about her running for political office.
http://www.wtxl.com/news/sweet-tallahassee-video-maker-runs-for-city-commission/article_df5451a0-39d9-11e8-8607-bb3659209212.html
They cannot be serious with this one!!! She needs to resign her position!!
Oh Boy!! Where there is smoke, there is Fire!!!
Thanks for this information. We have too many foxes guarding the hen house!