TR’s search of the documents reveal, that in May of this year the Open Society group applauded Mayor Andrew Gillum’s decision to welcome Syrian refugees to the City of Tallahassee.

TR has also verified the direct financial relationship between Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and the George Soros network.

Public documents show that the Soros non-profit Open Society earmarked $700,000 in 2012 to the Gillum run Young Elected Officials Network through the People for American Way Foundation.

Gillum receives approximately $150,000 in annual salary from his job with the Young Elected Officials Network.

The documents show that Gillum has been involved with the Open Society group since at least 2009.

A leaked document, dated May 2016 and entitled “Open Society U.S. Programs Board Meeting”, lays out the groups goal to promote change through leaders at the local level.

In describing a panel convened to address “Local Politics in the South” the document stated that “throughout the U.S. Programs’ history, we have looked to cities as places to advance policies that further open society values.”

Also in the document, the writers provided examples of how local governments had supported specific policies that were consistent with Open Society’s positions. Among those examples were Gillum’s public pronouncement on Syrian refugees.

The document states “Mayor of Tallahassee Andrew Gillum pushed back against Governor Rick Scott to publicly declare Syrian refugees were welcome in his city.”

Questions have been raised by some about Gillum’s financial arrangement with Soros backed groups and his unilateral policy decisions as Mayor. His public pronouncement on the Syrian refugee issue was done without consultation with the City Commission.

Is Mayor Gillum’s financial arrangement with Open Society driving decisions that ultimately impact the City of Tallahassee?

Mayor Gillum has been reluctant to talk about his relationship with the People for American Way and George Soros. In fact, in an email he threatened to take legal action against TR over a report discussing his employment with the People for American Way Foundation.