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Columns

The Ethical Lapses of Andrew Gillum

September 7, 2018 - 6:00am
Andrew Gillum
Andrew Gillum

Now that Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is the Democratic Party nominee for governor, the press and voters need to take a much closer look into his service as our ceremonial mayor.

Gillum has been consistently involved in issues that the FBI is investigating as part of their work into corruption at City Hall and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

While Gillum alleges he was told by the FBI that he’s not a subject of their investigation, no one has ever corroborated that statement.

First and foremost is the ethical concerns around the New York City trip that Gillum took for his former employer.  We now know, after persistent questioning by the Tallahassee Democrat, that Gillum stayed on after that meeting, relocating to a plush NYC hotel, the Millennium Hilton, attending the “Hamilton” Broadway play where tickets cost hundreds of dollars, and even going on a boat ride around Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty with Adam Corey and Mike Miller, where pictures were taken.

Barney Bishop
Barney Bishop

Gillum has recently told The Washington Post that sometimes his brother Marcus Gillum pays some of his expenses, and he has said that his brother paid his expenses in NYC.  

But where did Marcus get the money?

The money came from Miller and the FBI.  It appears they paid Marcus, who then paid Andrew’s expenses.

And Andrew didn’t ask who’s paying for all of this?  If you’re an elected official and you’re not asking about the source of the money, then you're also guilty of stupidity.

Hint:  Andrew, even if the FBI gave the money to your mother to pay your expenses, it’s still a bribe.

So, while Andrew may not get indicted initially, we can certainly expect Marcus to be indicted and then eventually roll over on his brother, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee.  

However, that’s not Andrew’s only ethical indiscretion.  

He also vacationed in Costa Rica with Corey, a lobbyist who did business with the city, and with Sean Pittman, a lawyer/lobbyist who represents the city of Tallahassee as a lobbyist. 

Oh, how so cozy for two lobbyists who do business with the city also spending “down time” with Andrew and his wife in a $1,400-a-night villa. Except it wasn’t really down time, because Corey has admitted doing business with Andrew there and emailing meeting requests for Andrew's calendar.

Finally, after promising for months he would release the Costa Rica receipts, Andrew gave the press some receipts -- not all, because allegedly, that’s all he could get his hands on at the time. 

Ethical red flags.  Again.

Andrew claims to have paid Corey $400 in cash -- how convenient, because there’s no receipt -- yet Corey’s attorney has said publicly and on the record that Corey never received any money from Andrew for that trip.  As if $400 would be his and his wife’s appropriate share of the villa cost each night.

Who to believe?

Gillum also provided receipts for an airplane ticket to Costa Rica, but without any documentation on who paid for the ticket. Is Andrew that stupid to think that reporters aren’t going to press him on who paid?  They did press him, and his campaign spokesperson says that’s all he has.

How convenient.

What’s that old saying that the cover-up becomes a worse crime than the crime originally committed?

Let the stonewalling begin.  

But, wait, there’s more.

Andrew started his campaign by illegally using city tax dollars to pay part of the cost for a political software program that was then used to send his political emails to city taxpayers.

And it was done on city computers, by city employees, during work hours.  A clear violation of the law.

Andrew and his chief of staff Dustin Daniels (who is running for Tallahassee mayor, but that’s another story I’ll tell you about soon), had Andrew's campaign pay part of the cost of the software.

Yet, no one on senior city staff, not the city manager, not the city attorney, not even the city auditor, had any questions, concerns or problems with a private campaign paying some and the city paying some of the cost?

How convenient.

Andrew finally was embarrassed enough when this came out to pay back the citizens for the $5,000 in tax dollars used, but he failed to pay for the use of the computers and city staff.  And Dustin was never docked any pay, suspended, or even reprimanded.

How convenient.

Another ethical issue is that Andrew has hired at least 10 people to work for him in the office of mayor. Remember that this is a ceremonial job.

And he paid them over $500,000 in tax dollars, with benefits too, to do exactly what?

Then we discover that Andrew and his fellow city commissioners spent over $100,000 on meals and entertainment in just one year.  After that hit the fan, the commission promised to adopt a city policy, but none has ever been created.  Another waste of taxpayer dollars so Andrew and city commissioners could live high on the hog at taxpayers’ expense.

How convenient. 

Then there’s the ethical issue involving the Edison Restaurant.
Andrew and the commission put out a bid to refurbish the old power plant building and turn it into a restaurant.  On city land.  With Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) monies.

Guess who won the bid?  Corey, of course.  The contract required that the owners/investors of the restaurant put up $1.5 million to match the city’s investment.
The contract said that the kitchen equipment couldn’t be used as collateral for a loan because the city owned that equipment and it was to remain free and clear.

During an audit last year, it was revealed that the $1.5 million the owners/investors gave to the city was actually the kitchen equipment which was collateralized for a loan.  Nothing was ever done about this gross example of incompetence by city lawyers who worked on this deal.

The owners/investors also received CRA money.  Who was the Vice Chair of the CRA – Mr. Corey of course.

How convenient.

This is the guy some want to be our governor?

Barney Bishop III, a conservative, is a former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party and is the president & CEO of Barney Bishop Consulting, LLC, a strategic public affairs firm based in Tallahassee.  

Comments

The algae does not feed the Red Tide you dumb#$$ but your treated sewer water and run off does feed the algae. Share the blame and realize what your footprint is on the environment.

He still seems to be an improvement from Governor Scott. And how about all that Blue/Green Algae feeding the Red Tide and contaminating the beaches ? How about all the dead sea life washing up on shore ? Say good bye to tourism for a while. And all under Governor Scotts sweet, sugar sweet, reign.

All of Gillum's graft is troubling but you never mention the disgraceful 52% increase in crime in Tallahassee under his administration. No wonder he's against Stand your Ground. That's his constituency he's trying to protect.

That's my next op-ed!

You left out the scandal in which Andrew used city workers to repair a water pipe at his home "free" of charge (at the tax payers' expense. When my water pipe broke, I had to pay over $600 to have it repaired. It must be good to be mayor.

Mr. Bishop, shouldn't you be peddling more bs for the oil industry? You make Gillum sound and look like a Republican. The main difference is that Gillum turned over all the receipts and other information voluntarily while Scott had to be sued for it. One thing is certain, if Gillum and King win, there won't be any concessions for offshore drilling. They (API) pay you to write that crap don't they?

All the receipts? Are you serious ? READ THE ARTICLE. He has done no such thing.

I am serious. The receipts refer to his trip to Costa Rica, looks like a lobbyist went there too. He handed over "all the receipts he could get his hands on." What else do you think happened down there? Who does that lobbyist work for, and what if any benefit did his client receive? If somebody received a big paving contract or work from the city steered to them by Gillum, crucify him. But you guys have no problem with Big Oil throwing fundraisers for Scott over in Texas. Is it because they just like him, or could it have something to do with their plans to expand offshore drilling.

Ocean Joe, what sort of moron are you? He turned over all his receipts? In what world will $400 pay for you and your wife for 5 days in a Costa Rican villa that is $1500 a night? The lobbyist, who was his best friend turned FBI informant, admitted that Gillum never gave him any money. OOPS. Then, the false story that Gillum made up about receiving Hamilton tickets, was also debunked by his best friend, the lobbyist. I produce more receipts from one night out on the town than he produced over a few week span. Ever been to Costa Rica? It ain't a safe place. No one, I repeat, no one carries that amount of cash on them to pay for 5 days of traveling. You'd be found dead in the streets. Additionally, let's not even delve into the sexual relationship between Gillum and Corey. If you pulled your cranium out of your rectum, squeezed some of the poo out of your ears, and listened to even ancillary bystanders that know the both of them; you'd know that Gillum likes spending time with the "boys". That sure wont play well with the minority vote...

I lived in Costa Rica. Things are much cheaper and it is incredibly safe. The country doesn't even have an armed forces. You're displaying your racism.

Whatever you say clown. Costa's murder rate hit a record high in 2017. You must be a Gillum goon to overlook all of the facts against him and comments on Costa's crime rate (your interpretation of it). Moron. https://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/health-safety/crime/violent-crime/

Show me the receipt Corey gave Gillum for the cash he handed him. Like when I give cash for after school sports... I get a hand-written, carbon copied receipt that shows I gave them $x dollar for xxx. That is a receipt. $400 ATM withdrawal is spending money and does not add up to a share of the nightly rental.

You like high taxes and how much is medicare for all going to cost you we will end up paying State and federal taxes he is putting a 505 charge on small mom and pop business and corporations where are they going they will leave the state along with jobs we will have the highest unemployment in Florida's history study economics really needed! Mr Bishop

You make Gillum sound like a Republican? Please educate us as to what Republican is for higher taxes, sanctuary cities and abolishing stand your ground?

I refer to the article with its' laundry list of scandals. Republicans have perfected pay to play to the detriment of regular Floridians. Responsible Republicans support collecting sufficient taxes to pay the cost of government: military, ss, roads, education, governmental functions. They should favor abolishing "Stand Your Ground" as Florida has long had an adequate statute covering self defense and the so-called 'castle doctrine'. Elimination of the duty to retreat when practical has led to quite a few unnecessary killings. SYG has placed a ridiculous burden on prosecutors. Look at the original statute and you might agree with me. The recent St Pete case was not SYG (even the NRA and Mr Desantis said so) but the defendant was emboldened by his misunderstanding of it. One thing the defendant was right about was the widespread abuse of handicapped parking spaces. Impose mandatory minimum $1000 fines and 10 days in jail and folks will learn how to park. As for sanctuary cities, I never heard of anybody outside of San Francisco who supports them and those folks are nuts anyway.

Looks like he understudied Corrine Brown. Clank, clank.

Donald Trump personally, his administration in general, and the Scott administration have all had about a thousand times more "ethical lapses" than Andrew Gilllum MIGHT have had or will ever have! Talk about the kettle calling the pot black! This is just typical Sunshine State News partisan blather! (Get back to me after Mueller delivers his report on Trump!)

So that makes it OK for the party who says they are so transparent ??????????????????

Wait till you find out about the deep state and the truth of Hillary paid for the Christopher Steele Dossier and gave it to McCain who gave it to Comey who used to work With Mueller get it then we have Peter Strozck and his girlfriend involved with Andrew McCabe ,Fushion GPS run with Nellie Orh and Bruce Orh worked in the FBI there is so much more to come out soon you should take a glance at OHN or FOX to learn some fact so you will understand the people are going to prison for trying to call it Russian Collusion when it was Hillary who gave 20% of our uranium to the Russians for 145 million for the Clinton Foundation while Sec of State! Rick Scott paided back the hospital errors which none of us are perfect and with Andrew Gillum just look up the FBI and his family you will have a rude awakening! TedKruze

Geez....if he is so "guilty" of whatever you think he did...why hasn't the FBI locked him up or at least charged him with something ? Check your crystal ball and let us all know what is going on ? Gosh...I'm so old I remember when people were innocent till proven guilty... things sure have changed. :(

Give it time...the FBI will catch up to Gillum

The "deep state" ? C'mon....are you a sucker for conspiracies or what ?

“Pot calling the kettle black” is a racist comment!

"pot calling the kettle black" is NOT a racist statement ... get a clue and do a bit of research.

Wonderful reporting Mr. Bishop. I find it amazing that you are listed as a former director of the FDP and also as a conservative. This just underscores the type of leadership that is missing in the Democrat party in Florida, so extreme left that 75% of Floridians find it abhorrent. Today's Dems are required to have their bonafides in corruption, graft and obstruction to even be considered for leadership, witness Wasserman-Shultz. Gillum seems to have all these bonafides in order.

Just a taste of what the corruption would be if Gillum got his hands on the state coffers. This graft and money laudering is the same thing you see in third world African and South American countries. Ron is right, Gillum would turn Florida into Venezeula (and Zimbabwe) in a few short years. Gillum would have Corey as chief of staff and his cronies shaking down every state agency for contractual dollars for his pals. I'm sure 99% of the state contracts would go to 'minority' straw corporations like Munilla and their 'collapsible bridge' design. Gillum is a bonafide crook.

Ya'll better be "scared" of Gillum....cause well....you know....he's one of them ! Dang it !..... ( LoL freaking funny )

mainstream media in Florida spent a lot of time & ink in 2010 regaling Rick Scott's work history. unless they want to make their bias more obvious than it already is they will do the same on Gillum and DeSantis. too many commenters here are blaming the messenger instead of answering the message which was well documented and reported before Mayor Gillum ran for governor

Disgusted In Tally did you read about Mayor Gillum expense report he had a pipe fixed on tax dollars lavish trips to Manhattan Paid for by Tallahasse Flks ,he belongs in prison with the others involved in the rip off and The F B I is ivestigating the entire Gillum FamilY1

If all these allegations are purported to be true. Where are the Commission on Ethics complaints?, the FBI briefs?, and/or the City/CRA disclosures? It one thing to make allegations, it's entirely another when you have indictments, ala Trump the Chump, which has 5 and running...of which Gillum, nor any of his staff have ZERO...

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