Foreclosure proceedings have begun on a Tallahassee home owned jointly by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio and David Rivera, a GOP contender for Congress, but a Rubio spokesman says the issue has been resolved with the bank.
The Second Judicial Circuit Court website, however, continues to list the foreclosure filing as an active case.
Documents filed in Tallahassee circuit court Monday began the foreclosure proceedings on a home purchased in March 2005 for $135,000 and used by the South Florida lawmakers during session.
A letter dated Thursday by the attorneys representing the bank indicates a payment of $9,524.88 was received to settle the claim with Deutsche Bank, the trustee seeking to recover the debt. Alex Burgos, spokesman for the Rubio campaign, said the payment brings the pair up to date on installments, reinstatement and legal fees.
Burgos said Rubio and Rivera have a contract pending to sell the home at 1484 Bent Willow Drive in Tallahassee, but the deal has yet to close.
“It’s been under contract for some time,” Burgos told the News Service of Florida. “They were in the process of selling.”
Rivera told the News Service later Friday that a buyer is ready to purchase and the financial situation has been resolved. But on Friday, the three-bedroom, 1,278-square-foot home, however, was still listed for sale by the Tallahassee Board of Realtors’ multiple listing service.
The foreclosure is the latest financial misstep for Rubio. The former House speaker was among several Florida Republican lawmakers and party leaders given party-issued American Express cards during the tumultuous reign of ex-chairman Jim Greer, who now faces six felony charges for allegedly skimming $125,000 from the state GOP last year through a company he organized with former party executive director Delmar Johnson.
Rubio ran up more than $100,000 in charges on the party card from 2006 to 2008, repaying about $14,000 in personal expenses.
During Greer’s three-year tenure as chairman, which ended with his resignation in February, party credit-card charges topped $7 million, records show.
According to recent disclosures, Rubio has paid income taxes ranging from $11,767 in 2000 to $86,010 in 2008. He has yet to release his 2009 tax form, saying he has asked IRS for an extension and will make the report public later.
Rubio’s Senate disclosure form also shows the candidate owes government loan corporation, Sallie Mae, between $100,000 and $250,000 in college loans, paying 4 percent annually on 30-year government promissory notes.
Rubio also has six college savings accounts for his four children, including four in the state’s pre-paid college program. Tax returns show that Rubio has made $65,900 in charitable contributions to Miami-area churches.
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
