Bryan disclosure is late — and has math errors

The day after Historic City News reported that Chairman Joseph “Ken” Bryan was the only member of the St. Johns County Commission who had not complied with the July 1st due date to meet 2010 financial disclosure requirements, he appeared before a county employee and completed a report.

The Florida Commission on Ethics wrote a letter dated August 12th warning Bryan that he had filed a report covering a portion of 2011, however, he was still required to submit a full disclosure of his financial interests for 2010.

Our article was published on August 15, 2011, and, on August 16th, Bryan completed and signed a disclosure. Melissa A. Lundquist, a St. Johns County employee who manages the commissioner’s office, at a salary of $56,659.74 a year, plus benefits, used her commission to notarize the Chairman’s signature; thus establishing the date.

Bryan’s report indicates that his “net worth” on August 1, 2011 is $1,712,500.

He had so many itemized assets and liabilities as to require attached schedules. The year printed on those schedules indicated 2011, not 2010; however, Bryan has scratched through the date, and initialed a change of date to indicate that they were actually “for year 2010”.

According to his schedule, he owned assets totaling $1,712,500; however, he also reported debts totaling $441,000. Since “net worth” is assets you have, less the debts that you owe, his net worth would not be $1,712,500 — as stated on the disclosure Form 6 — it would be $1,271,500.

It is apparent that the report, as presented to the Florida Commission on Ethics, is faulty if it is supposed to represent the commissioner’s true financial condition if for no other reason than simple addition and subtraction.

The financial disclosure required by state law indicates the net worth of politicians, like Ken Bryan, and certain other officials, whose financial interest in the business of government can be compromised.

“The disclosure process serves to remind officials of their obligation to put the public interest above personal considerations,” the Florida Commission on Ethics told Historic City News when we made our inquiry. “It also helps citizens to monitor the considerations of those who spend their tax dollars and participate in public policy decisions or administration.”

Image credits: © 2011 Historic City News Source: Florida Commission on Ethics