Tag Archives: leak

Denise Horland Joins Hunt For Whistleblower(s) Who Leaked HR Investigation Of Plantation Councilman Nick Sortal

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Denise Horland Joins Nick Sortal

Denise Appleby Horland is trying to unmask the whistleblower who revealed a City of Plantation Human Resources Department investigation of Councilman Nick Sortal, records show. On June 13, 2022 REDBROWARD revealed a longtime female City employee accused Sortal of making inappropriate sexual and racial comments to her while he was conducting official business inside City Hall. An official memorandum showed Sortal admitted to making remarks about his erect penis as well as expressing satisfaction that “Plantation will never have a black mayor.”

Despite the admission, a labor attorney told City leaders they were powerless to hold Sortal accountable for his behavior. Not long after being told Sortal would face no punishment, the longtime employee left her position. Nick Sortal is currently running against popular incumbent Mayor Lynn Stoner

After the news broke about Nick Sortal’s inappropriate comments, Denise Horland remained silent. During last Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Nick Sortal admitted, for the third time, to making the remarks. Even though he told the Sun-Sentinel that reports of racial remarks were a “lie,” Sortal said his racial remarks about a black mayor were just a “tone deaf” attempt at sarcasm. Instead of a lie, Sortal told residents it was a joke.

Denise Horland remained silent.

Instead of being angry over the treatment of a female employee or the lack accountability of a sitting elected official, Plantation Councilwoman Denise Horland wants to know who made Nick Sortal’s dirty laundry public.

Two days after Nick Sortal made his third admission to making the inappropriate sexual and racial comments, Denise Horland filed a public records request with the City of Plantation clerk.

Horland wrote, “I would like to know the name of any person’s who either requested or were sent a copy of the file memorandum which details what transpired between Councilmember Sortal and Ms. [REDACTED].”

“I would also like to know the dates of the requests received and the dates the memo was shared/sent,” Horland wrote.

Horland knows the facts of the investigation. She was sitting next to Nick Sortal Wednesday night when he admitted everything to the public.

So why does Denise Horland wants names and dates of who let the public know about this injustice?

REDBROWARD asked Denise Horland. She did not respond to our request for comment.

Normally, politicians want to know who leaked embarrassing information so they can “plug the hole” or intimidate other whistleblowers from going public.

Since our story broke, prominent Sortal supporters on social media have sought out the identities of the whistleblowers.

Why is Denise Horland sticking her neck out for Nick Sortal?

Is she showing loyalty to a fellow Democrat?

Are their shared donors and campaign advisers urging Denise Horland to defend Nick Sortal?

Doesn’t Denise Horland owe a duty to City employees to defend them from attacks and inappropriate comments by City leaders?

Is this duty overshadowed by politics?

Denise Horland is on the ballot this November.

City of Plantation voters deserve answers, no?

Denise Horland Wants Names & Dates

The Tamarac Stooges Want To Pay $50K To Dale Holness Supporter To Find Whistleblower Who Leaked Memo To Sun-Sentinel

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Thin-skinned Tamarac Commissioners Elberg Mike Gelin and Marlon Bolton will pay $50,000 to a Dale Holness supporter to track down the identity of the whistleblower who provided a city memorandum to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. On April 16, 2021 Lisa Huriash reported, “City commissioners recently allocated themselves a pot of money for local travel, without needing receipts to document where they went. Now a new proposal would pay for their full health care coverage, education, retirement and office furniture, according to a draft memo obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.” Since its publication, Gelin and Bolton have dominated commission meetings with angry attacks on the reporter, the newspaper and the possible source of the memo. Not satisfied with just wasting taxpayers’ time, Gelin and Bolton want to waste taxpayers dollars too.

The agenda for the May 12, 2021 Tamarac City Commission meeting includes a retainer agreement with the Kim Vaughn Lerner law firm of Fort Lauderdale. Interim City Attorney Hans Ottinot contacted the firm about conducting an investigation into the person(s) who gave the embarrassing memo to the Sun-Sentinel. Ottinot stated the City of Tamarac will pay up to $50,000 for the investigation. While Gelin and Bolton have not hid their desire to unmask the whistleblower, Ottinot tries to hide the true nature of the investigation.

In a draft resolution, Ottinot calls the whistleblower hunt a “name clearing investigation.” Ottinot states the lawyers will interview elected officials as well as city staff. The Kim Vaughn Lerner lawyers will be able to use the IT staff to “review emails, phone records and electronic devices etc., to determine who requested the items listed in the draft memorandum, who directed the release of the memorandum, who released the memorandum, how they were released and were City protocols followed in all instances.”

And who better to head up this blatant political witch hunt than a big supporter of Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness.

PEOPLE OF PRINCIPLE

Last year, REDBROWARD exposed Dale Holness’ role in the mysterious “People of Principle” Super PAC which supported Alcee Hastings and other candidates of Caribbean heritage. Federal campaign records show Holness’ longtime campaign marketing guru Omar Smith is tied to the “People Over Principle PAC.” These same records show the committee has failed report any money contributions or expenditures as required by law. Federal records show People of Principle PAC has never reported its financial information. The FEC sent “failure to file” notices on August 15, 2019, February 19, 2020 and May 1, 2020 to the committee.

Federal records show Elberg Mike Gelin and his Gelin Benefits Group gave $2,000 to the People of Principle PAC. These same records show a $5,000 contribution from Robert CL Vaughn P.A.

Last week, REDBROWARD revealed Hans Ottinot listed Dale Holness as a professional reference on his application to be the permanent Tamarac city attorney.

Must be a coincidence that Ottinot, a strong ally of Gelin and Bolton, who has the endorsement of Dale Holness, would select a staunch supporter of Holness to head up an investigation into the perceived enemies of Gelin and Bolton, right?

The Sun-Sentinel just called the Governor a “dictator” for signing bills into law.

What will they say about a $50K witch hunt into their reporter and her sources orchestrated by Dale Holness and his allies?