Tag Archives: contribution

Pines Vice Mayor Iris Siple Used Personal Email For City Business

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Records obtained by REDBROWARD show Pembroke Pines Vice Mayor Iris Siple used her personal email address to conduct city business. While County ethics rules do not prohibit conducting business by personal email, Siple claimed she only conducted city business with her city email address. REDBROWARD obtained dozens of emails from Siple discussing various city issues such as traffic, garbage pickup, and police misconduct.

On July 28, 2015, Florida State Rep. Rick Stark replied to an email from Siple regarding a solidier killed in Afghanistan. From Siple’s reply, it is clear Stark questioned her use of a personal email address. Siple wrote, “It is active for personal. I use city email for city issues. isiple@ppines.com.” This email was sent via Siple’s iPhone using an AOL.com email address.

But dozens of emails show Siple used the AOL address, not the city email address, to discuss city issues. In January 2015, Siple used her AOL address to send lobbying disclosure forms to the city clerk’s office. Between January and June 2015, Siple used her AOL email address to send important documents to the city clerk. These documents included her letter of intent to run for re-election, her official financial report and her financial disclosure forms.

In January 2015, Siple emailed information regarding the Broward Inspector General to the Pines city attorney. In March 2015, Siple sent emails to city manager Charlie Dodge discussing incidents involving Pembroke Pines police officers. She sent emails to the Pines Police Chief discussing the “monthly scorecard for 911 communications.”

On March 22, 2015 Siple emailed a city employee seeking “help logging on to my home city computer.”

A document from the Office of the Broward Inspector General states personal emails can become public records. Usually, a public records request is made to the city clerk’s office. City employees, staff and officials would receive the request and forward the information to the person who made the request.

As witnessed in the Hillary Clinton email scandal, issues arise when an official acts as their own custodian of records.

How secure is Iris Siple’s AOL email account? How secure is Iris Siple’s home “city computer?” Is Iris Siple’s iPhone secure from hackers?

Siple is the chief administrator for the Broward Clerk of the Courts. Does she use her AOL email acccount for official Clerk of the Courts business?

Siple did not respond to requests for comment.

She faces re-election on March 15.

Broward School Board Member Violates Florida Election Laws

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roz11According to her campaign treasurer’s report, Broward School Board Member Rosalind Osgood has violated Florida elections law, twice. On July 9, 2015, Osgood loaned her campaign $100 in cash. Two weeks later, Osgood contributed $1,000 in cash. Florida election law prohibits candidates from accepting cash contributions over fifty dollars.

Section 106.09(1)(a) states, “A person may not make an aggregate cash contribution…to the same candidate or committee in excess of $50 per election.” According to the law, anyone who accepts more than $50 in cash, “commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.” Accepting more than $5000 is a felony.

Osgood is not the first Broward candidate to violate Florida elections law. In June, REDBROWARD exposed how “Mystery” Broward Sheriff candidate Edison Jules gave his own campaign $500 in cash. Also in June, REDBROWARD revealed Florida House District 95 candidate Roxanne Y. Valies’ illegal cash contributions.

On her April 2015 campaign report, Valies listed three contributions made by Valies herself. Two cash contributions of $50 each and one $150 check. The aggregate of Valies’ two cash contributions is $100 dollars, a first degree misdemeanor under Florida law. Even Broward Judges do not follow Florida elections laws.

In May, REDBROWARD reported Broward County Judge John “Jay” Hurley violated Florida elections laws by accepting campaign contributions before he became a candidate for elected office. Chapter 5 of the Florida Division of Elections “Candidate and Campaign Treasurer Handbook” states, “Nothing prohibits a person from announcing their intention to become a candidate prior to filing Form DS-DE 9, as long as no contributions are received, no expenditures are made, and no signatures are obtained on a candidate petition.” The State says Form DS-DE 9, “Shall be on file with the filing officer prior to the candidate accepting any contributions or making any expenditures, or authorizing another to accept contributions or make expenditures on the person’s behalf.” Judge Hurley filed his Form DS-DE 9 with the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office (SOE) on April 10, 2015.

After REDBROWARD exposed his violations, Hurley refunded the illegal campaign contributions he accepted before becoming a candidate for office. REDBROWARD reported how seriously The Florida Supreme Court viewed campaign violations by judges. Earlier this year, The Court punished a Vero Beach Judge for elections law violations. Many courthouse insiders expect the Judicial Qualifying Commission (JQC) will take a close look at all elections law violations.