Flagler sheriff maintains his innocence

Soon after this morning’s 8:30 a.m. meeting convened in Tallahassee, Historic City News was informed that the Florida Commission on Ethics had reached a 6-1 split decision declaring that “probable cause” had been found in the recent complaints against Flagler County Sheriff, James L. Manfre.

Editor Michael Gold drove to a press conference called by the sheriff after lunch, where he explained, from a prepared statement, his regret for the disruption caused in responding to this complaint.

The complaint, No 14-097GPS/RGM, is being advanced by the wife of the retiring St Johns County Undersheriff, who was allowed to keep her job as chief financial officer after Manfre was elected November 6, 2012.

Linda Bolante and ex-Flagler County Undersheriff Rick Staly, the two chief administrators Manfre relied on for guidance and instruction after taking office, have turned around to bring the four procedural allegations against him.

These are allegations concerning two-year-old events that occurred during the first months of Manfre’s administration.

One of the allegations was that Manfre did not comply with proper procedures related to personal use of an agency-owned vehicle. A second complaint had to do with reporting the correct value of a three-day stay at the ex-undersheriff’s vacant time-share in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The tertiary complaint had to do with the method by which Sheriff Manfre settled incidental, personal charges while traveling out-of-town on agency business.

Some following the events say all the drama is much ado over nothing; instigated by the sheriff’s political rivals. There is no evidence that Manfre, who is represented by attorney Linda Bond Edwards, had any intent to skirt department regulations, ethics commission reporting requirements, or to break any laws.

In fact, when confronted by Bolante, who is being represented by St Augustine attorney Robert L. McLeod, II, Manfre said that he paid the incidental charges without argument. The procedure he followed allowed for the accounting department to deduct any incidental expenses from the sheriff’s “per diem” travel credit.

It is believed that Staly, although unannounced, intends to run for the sheriff’s seat in 2016; however, former Flagler Sheriff, Don Fleming, has announced his intention to run. Fleming was himself under fire by the state ethics commission going into the 2012 race when Manfre was elected. The commission concluded Fleming violated state law when he accepted a gift membership from The Hammock Beach Resort and didn’t report it. For that, Fleming agreed to a settlement and paid a $500 fine. Fleming was also embroiled in controversy for allegedly trying to help a friend’s spouse who was charged in a fatal hit-and-run case.