Gov. Rick Scott Suspends Port St. Lucie Councilman for Open-Meeting Law Violation

Gov. Rick Scott has suspended a Port St. Lucie councilman following charges he violated the state's open meeting laws.

Ron Bowen, serving his ninth year on the City Council -- 1992-2000, then elected again in 2012 -- is accused of discussing business outside a scheduled public meeting with another elected official in connection with the dismissal of former City Manager Greg Oravec.

Scott issued his executive order suspending Bowen on Wednesday afternoon.

It is in the best interests of the residents of the city of Port St. Lucie and the citizens of the state of Florida, that Bowen be immediately suspended from the public office which he now holds, Scotts order states. Bowen, whose annual councilman's salary is $31,956, could not be reached Thanksgiving morning.

The state attorney's office has charged Bowen with a second-degree criminal misdemeanor for using City Attorney Roger Orr as an intermediary to discuss Oravec's employment with Mayor JoAnn Faiella.