Carol Wehle Cleared of Using Influence to Get Her Boyfriend Hired at SFWMD

State investigators cleared the air for Carol Wehle this week, finding no evidence that she used her executive director position at South Florida Water Management District to help her boyfriend get a $120,000-a-year job there.

In a 33-page report dated May 16, investigators with the Department of Environmental Protection also found for John Williams, the district's inspector general. They said there is no evidence he acted improperly when he hired Bob Howard, Wehle's boyfriend, as engineering auditor. Howard did not use his relationship to win the job, the report said.

The controversy began after The Palm Beach Post revealed in a March 27 story the district hiring of Howard last June. The newly created position of engineering auditor -- reviewing work performed by the Army Corps of Engineers -- paid $120,000. Wehle had not divulged to the board or to the hiring committee her close personal relationship with Howard, the story said.

Wehle resigned in April; Howard still works for the district.

Melissa Meeker, the district's new executive director, is due to come on board June 1.

The story is reported in Friday's Post.
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