It’s been less than three weeks since the incoming President of the Florida Senate Mike Haridopolos picked up the gavel in Tallahassee, but on Friday, the Florida Ethics Commission found him guilty of failing to fully disclose his financial holdings over a five-year period.
Haridopolos, who has since amended his annual disclosure forms, had neglected consistently to disclose a $325,000 Lake County home he and his wife owns, as well as more details about the clients of his MJH Consulting firm, and the clients he represented for Syntax Communications of Long island, N.Y., which paid him $25,000 from 2004 through 2006, reports the News Service of Florida.
Haridopolos has also provided more details, as he is required to do, on his assets and liabilities, which include a $1.3 million home in Merritt Island.
In 2009, Haridopolos, whose primary source of income is $79,000 as a visiting professor at the University of Florida, reported a net worth of $233,609.
While the Ethics Commisson doesn’t set penalties, a report on Haridopolos’ transgressions will be made to the Senate Rules Committee which will decide whether or not to penalize the Senate president.
The good news for Haridopolos is that the Senate Rules Committee is chaired by his long-time friend, Republican Senator John Thrasher. So, it would be interesting to see if Haridopolos is ever fined for his failings.
The complaint against Haridopolos was filed by Eugene “Bucky” Benson, 79, of Vero Beach, a voter in the Senate President’s district. The retired engineer told the News Service of Florida earlier that he was not satisfied, saying stiffer penalties are needed to encourage lawmakers to take financial disclosure laws seriously.
So much for governing in the Sunshine State of Florida, that leads the nation in public corruption, according to the FBI.
