Email exchanges concerning congressional candidate Al Lawson's campaign have raised questions about political involvement within the state Senate Minority Office.
The April 9 emails from and to staff director Theresa Frederick discussed Lawson and his Democratic and Republican opponents.
In the first email, posted at 6:06 a.m. that Monday, Frederick thanks a correspondent for "the info on Jay Liles" [a Democratic primary opponent of Lawson's].It is always helpful toknow what the opposition is up to."
Frederickwent on to write on her Blackberry:
"I am forwarding a copyof your email to Vincent Evans of the Lawson campaign.I am wondering if we have someone on the [Democrat Leonard] Bembry mailing list and the [Republican Rep. Steve] Southerland mailing list.But, I am pretty certain that the Lawson campaign has this covered."
Frederick told Sunshine State News she wrote the email on her personal AOL account on her own time.
Later that Monday, at 2:56 p.m., Frederick received a return email, which stated:
"I am attaching a couple of pieces on the Restore Act.I really think Al needs to be on top of this immediately because, as you can see, it is in motion and will be key campaign rhetoric for Southerland.
"Additionally, [Sen. Marco] Rubio was among only a few senators who voted against the measure.Al can drive a wedge between Rubio, a very likely VP candidate, and Southerland on this one issue, not to mention raising his ability to attract national fundraising leverage."
A Florida resident, who requested anonymity, called such campaign-related correspondence involving a state civil servant "a total waste of my tax money."
But Frederick, who freely acknowledged being a "longtime Lawson supporter" from her days on the state Senate Budget Committee staff, told Sunshine State News, "If I did something wrong, I'd be willing to admit it. I'm not picking up calls I shouldn't be taking [during work hours]."
John Reid, spokesman for Lawson, said Frederick "has no official role in the campaign. She has volunteered at three campaign events -- one on a Saturday and two on Sunday."
Even Liles, who was mentioned in one of the emails, didn't seem too exercised about the matter.
"I'm flattered that they even care what I do. If it doesn't get any worse than this, this will be [the] cleanest campaign in history," the Democratic hopeful said.
And, he noted, "Everyone needs to pay attention to Restore Act [fines to be paid by BP over the Gulf oil spill]. We all need to be behind getting it past. I'm encouraging Southerland to help get it passed."
Southerland spokesman Matt McCullough said he hadn't heard anything about the emails and didn't know Frederick.
Bembry's spokesman did not respond to Sunshine State News' request for comment by deadline.
Former state Sen. Lawson, state Rep. Bembry, Liles and Alvin Peters are all seeking the Democratic nomination to face freshman Rep. Southerland in the 2nd Congressional District, which includes Tallahassee.
Frederick's private email exchange did bring one interesting fact to light. The Senate president, currently Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, makes the final decision on all hires at the Democrats' Senate minority office.
That may surprise some, who assume Democrats have full autonomy as to whom they hire, but all Senate staffers are at-will employees who serve at the pleasure of the president.
Frederick says she's fine with that. And so is Liles.
"Theresa is well-qualified for the job she's doing," he said.
Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
