Okaloosa County Commissioner James Campbell had planned to retire in the coming weeks from both his elected and city government positions.
Instead, Gov. Rick Scott removed Campbell from office on Monday, hours after the two-term commissioner and longtime Niceville parks and recreation director was arrested for allegedly failing to fully disclose money on his annual Florida Commission on Ethics Public Disclosure of Financial Interests.
It is in the best interests of the residents of Okaloosa County, and the citizens of the state of Florida, that James Campbell be immediately suspended from public office, Scott stated in his executive order.
No replacement was immediately named.
Campbell, 62, who represents Destin and Okaloosa Island, was charged by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with four counts of official misconduct and four counts of perjury.
We are, of course, saddened by this news and will have to see what the investigation or burden of proof reveals, Okaloosa Commission Chairman Don Amunds stated in a release.
Campbell was set to step down at the end of his second term in November when Kelly Windes, a longtime boat captain who won a narrow four-way Republican primary in August, takes office.
According to the probable cause arrest affidavit, the Republican Panhandle office had a working agreement since 2004 -- Campbell's first year on the commission -- with the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival to be compensated for recruiting sponsors. In 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2011 he failed to include his commission for attracting sponsors, the affidavit stated.
When questioned about the nondisclosure, Campbell told investigators that his wife had completed the financial disclosure payments. The reason the Mullet Festival money -- collectively worth $10,750 -- wasnt included was because his wife didnt know about it.
Campbell also stated that he did not disclose to his wife the amounts being paid by the BBMF because he would use the money for his personal hunting expenses, the affidavit stated.
Campbell did file an amendment disclosure report in July 2012 indicating $4,500 in payments for the festival.He would tell investigators he believed he filed the amended report after learning he was potentially the target of a criminal investigation.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
