Mike Haridopolos Calls for Linda South to Resign at DMS

Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, chimed in on the Tallahassee Taj Mahal -- the courthouse being erected on the outskirts of Tallahassee which cost almost $50 million. Haridopolos demanded Secretary Linda South resign her post at the Department of Management Services over the finding of an audit released by state CFO Alex Sink earlier in the week.

As public servants we have an obligation to serve our fellow Floridians with wise stewardship of the tax dollars used to run state government, wrote Haridopolos to South on Thursday. After reviewing the recent audit of the new First District Court of Appeals courthouse conducted by the states chief financial officer, I have serious concerns that you have violated the trust placed upon you as secretary of the Department of Management Services.

The audit details a project with runaway spending for extravagant items that have no place in a government building, continued Haridopolos. Even though the audit acknowledges the active involvement of First DCA judges, Florida law places sole responsibility for construction of this new courthouse on your agency.

Because of your irresponsible oversight, which has clearly wasted millions of taxpayer dollars, I call on you to submit your immediate resignation as secretary of the Department of Management Services, wrote Haridopolos after reviewing two findings from the audit. You have failed to provide proper leadership and the abdication of your responsibilities has further weakened the publics trust that their elected and appointed leaders will use their money wisely.