Tamarac Commission Marlon Bolton instructed a North Lauderdale elected official how to circumvent the Broward County Code of Ethics, text messages obtained by REDBROWARD show. In a May 2021 text conversation with North Lauderdale Commissioner Regina Martin, Bolton explained the process she needed to follow in order to accept gifts on behalf of the Embassy Church of South Florida. As previously reported by REDBROWARD, Martin was first elected in 2020 with the assistance of Bolton.
“HEY PROPHET”
On May 11, 2021, Regina Martin texted “Hey Prophet” to Marlon Bolton. As pastor of the Praise Experience Worldwide Outreach church, Bolton often refers to himself as a “prophet.” In his reply, Bolton called Martin “Apostle To The Nations.” Martin is the senior pastor of the Embassy Church of South Florida.”
Martin responded to Bolton with a sixteen second voice text. The content of that voice message is unknown.
In response, Bolton wrote, “It’s called a Safe Harbor Opinion.”
Under the Broward County ethics ordinance for public officials, a “Safe Harbor Opinion” from an attorney offers guidance for an elected official when actions may appear to run afoul of the ordinance.
In his text to Martin, Bolton wrote the North Lauderdale city attorney would, “[O]pine that it’s OK for you to receive gifts from members of your church and individuals you have a preexisting relationship with.”
“OK. I’m here with [city attorney] now,” Martin replied.
Bolton told Martin, “Be careful.”
SAFE HARBOR
Two months later, North Lauderdale city attorney Sam Goren provided a Safe Harbor Opinion to Regina Martin. As required by the Broward County ordinance, the legal opinion was published in a public document.
According to Goren, Regina Martin asked “Whether the Broward County Code of Ethics for elected officials permits [Martin] to engage other elected officials and public officials, vendors, members of the public and businesses in the community on behalf of the Church as well as recruit members, raise funds and awareness of the Church to further the Church’s mission.”
According the city attorney, Martin was permitted to do so.
Not only was Martin permitted to raise funds, the city attorney stated the law did not require her to disclose the sources or amounts.
One business located in the City of North Lauderdale is Bolton’s Praise Experience Worldwide Outreach Church.
PRAISE EXPERIENCE
Just months after he was first elected in November 2016, Marlon Bolton asked Tamarac city attorney Sam Goren for a Safe Harbor Opinion on whether he could solicit funds on behalf of his Church from “other elected officials, vendors, members of the public and businesses….” As with Martin, the city attorney stated Bolton was legally permitted to raise funds with no disclosure requirement.
In both opinions, Goren stated the County ordinance intended to shield officials working for a non-profit organization from the need to disclose all funds raised for the non-profit organization.
So, if Commissioner John Doe worked as a fundraiser for The United Way, Doe would not be required to disclose the names of those who donated to The United Way.
Here, the first acts of two newly-elected officials who operated churches was to seek a legal opinion on the Code of Ethics.
Thanks to the guidance of Marlon Bolton, Regina Martin now possessed a legal opinion which gave her permission to raise funds from businesses and vendors working with the City of North Lauderdale.
The same opinion Bolton received four years earlier.
Is Bolton fundraising for his storefront church in North Lauderdale the same as The United Way raising funds?
With zero disclosure requirements, what would prevent any politician from opening a church or similar non-profit organization in order to raise funds from vendors, businesses and developers?
How many other politicians have received similar guidance from Marlon Bolton?
Why was Marlon Bolton in such close communication with Commissioner Regina Martin?
REDBROWARD wanted to ask Bolton, but it appears he blocked all communication.
