FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Commission on Ethics has released the newest report concerning the four allegations made against Sheriff James Manfre. These are allegations concerning two-year-old events that occurred during the first months of the new administration when the policies and practices of the former administration were still in place.
The sheriff takes full responsibility for his actions and does acknowledge that he could have made better decisions. However, none of his actions constituted an ethical violation. In fact, the report does not cite any policies, procedures, practices or laws that were in place at that time that were not properly followed.
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A 1974 Florida Attorney General's Office opinion supports the sheriff and his position. The ethics report is a rehash of the same report issued several months ago with little additional information.
DOCUMENT: Sheriff's response to ethics report
In the last proposal by the commission, the commission's advocate agreed to dismiss three of the four allegations and the sheriff now asks the commission to dismiss all as they have not provided sufficient proof to support any of the allegations made. It is the sheriff's intention to go to arbitration if all of the charges are not dismissed. It is our legal position that the charges will be dismissed as they lack sufficient evidence.
According to the Sheriff, it is curious that the advocate relies on the testimony of Linda Bolante and Rick Staly, the same two close advisers that the sheriff was relying on for advice on these issues. Bolante was the chief financial officer, one who had the responsibility to manage and supervise the internal expenditures and internal control procedures, as well as conducting internal and independent audits and other fiscal matters.
Staly, as the Undersheriff at the time, was Bolante's supervisor and also shared the same responsibility to keep the Sheriff informed and provide guidance to him on issues like this, just like they both did on every other matter regarding official agency actions.
Immediately after learning of these issues, Sheriff Manfre instituted new policies and procedures to prevent these types of incidents from occurring in the future.