Barrett cleared of complaint concerning campaign signs BUT read the rest of the story the paper refuses to print!!
Watchdog comments in RED ---
Exert from --------------
Barrett cleared of complaint concerning campaign signs
Committee found no probable causeBy JUSTIN ST. CLAIRJSTCLAIR@LEHIGHNEWSSTAR.COM Published by lehighnewsstar.com on June 11, 2005
The Florida Elections Commission cleared water control official Desmond Barrett of a complaint that some of his signs for November's election were posted illegally.The commission voted 7-0 at its May meeting that there was no probable cause to fine Barrett, according to results made public earlier this week.The complaint was made by Lehigh Acres resident Robert Anderson, who leads the three-member Lehigh Acres Watchdog group.
In the complaint, Anderson stated that Barrett, who won a second four-year term on the East County Water Control District Board of Supervisors in November, posted campaign signs in public rights of way along public roads.Florida elections law calls for a fine of $100 for "placing or locating a political advertisement on or above any state or county road right of way."
Barrett, who became chairman of the water control board this year, said his signs were placed legally. He characterized the complaint as the kind of criticism from opponents that elected officials often must endure."I'm going to take some hits and knocks," Barrett said. Anderson, who works as a computer consultant, refused to comment on his complaint or on Barrett's response to it. Barrett agreed in December to pay a $200 fine to the elections commission for not placing statements of sponsorship on signs for the politically active civic committee he started in January 2004, Citizens Against Increased Taxes.
That complaint was also brought by Anderson, as was another to the state Commission on Ethics that claimed Barrett misused a fax machine and dedicated phone line provided by the water control district by posting the fax number on the CAIT Web site.That complaint was dismissed in February. Barrett resigned from CAIT in November. The group was formed primarily to oppose incorporation in Lehigh.
The Lehigh Acres Watchdog also runs a Web log, http://www.desmondbarrett.info, dedicated to tracking Barrett's political and professional activities.The Florida Elections Commission is composed of nine members appointed by the governor, and can order fines of up to $1,000 for violations of state elections laws.
The Lehigh News Star refuses to print this !!!!! Ms. Michele Hudson editor of Lehigh Acres News Star allowed Mr. Barrett a Local Opinion Column in the May 25th, 2005 edition but now refuses to allow me to respond in the same way? WHY?
This letter is in response to Mr. Desmond Barrett not being fined for his election signage issues during the election this last fall. First, Lee County Code Enforcement did found him guilty in three pictures that Mr. Barrett signs were in the right of way. Second, Mr. Barrett has no written proof of agreements that he had approval to put signs in private property. Even the County agreed that two the pictures of the bigger signs were in private property with out written approval. But why did the all mighty Florida Election Commission found no probable cause of these violations baffles me. Was this the "GOOD OLD BOY'S NETWORK" or not, we will never know? But: It is Mr. Barrett's true identity and motives that most people in Lehigh Acres question these days. Is he for incorporation, or against it? Is he for union members, or against them? By quitting the Citizens Against Increased Taxes Inc., is he now for increased taxation? By quitting the LACPC, is he for community planning, or against it?
Exert from --------------
Barrett cleared of complaint concerning campaign signs
Committee found no probable causeBy JUSTIN ST. CLAIRJSTCLAIR@LEHIGHNEWSSTAR.COM Published by lehighnewsstar.com on June 11, 2005
The Florida Elections Commission cleared water control official Desmond Barrett of a complaint that some of his signs for November's election were posted illegally.The commission voted 7-0 at its May meeting that there was no probable cause to fine Barrett, according to results made public earlier this week.The complaint was made by Lehigh Acres resident Robert Anderson, who leads the three-member Lehigh Acres Watchdog group.
In the complaint, Anderson stated that Barrett, who won a second four-year term on the East County Water Control District Board of Supervisors in November, posted campaign signs in public rights of way along public roads.Florida elections law calls for a fine of $100 for "placing or locating a political advertisement on or above any state or county road right of way."
Barrett, who became chairman of the water control board this year, said his signs were placed legally. He characterized the complaint as the kind of criticism from opponents that elected officials often must endure."I'm going to take some hits and knocks," Barrett said. Anderson, who works as a computer consultant, refused to comment on his complaint or on Barrett's response to it. Barrett agreed in December to pay a $200 fine to the elections commission for not placing statements of sponsorship on signs for the politically active civic committee he started in January 2004, Citizens Against Increased Taxes.
That complaint was also brought by Anderson, as was another to the state Commission on Ethics that claimed Barrett misused a fax machine and dedicated phone line provided by the water control district by posting the fax number on the CAIT Web site.That complaint was dismissed in February. Barrett resigned from CAIT in November. The group was formed primarily to oppose incorporation in Lehigh.
The Lehigh Acres Watchdog also runs a Web log, http://www.desmondbarrett.info, dedicated to tracking Barrett's political and professional activities.The Florida Elections Commission is composed of nine members appointed by the governor, and can order fines of up to $1,000 for violations of state elections laws.
The Lehigh News Star refuses to print this !!!!! Ms. Michele Hudson editor of Lehigh Acres News Star allowed Mr. Barrett a Local Opinion Column in the May 25th, 2005 edition but now refuses to allow me to respond in the same way? WHY?
This letter is in response to Mr. Desmond Barrett not being fined for his election signage issues during the election this last fall. First, Lee County Code Enforcement did found him guilty in three pictures that Mr. Barrett signs were in the right of way. Second, Mr. Barrett has no written proof of agreements that he had approval to put signs in private property. Even the County agreed that two the pictures of the bigger signs were in private property with out written approval. But why did the all mighty Florida Election Commission found no probable cause of these violations baffles me. Was this the "GOOD OLD BOY'S NETWORK" or not, we will never know? But: It is Mr. Barrett's true identity and motives that most people in Lehigh Acres question these days. Is he for incorporation, or against it? Is he for union members, or against them? By quitting the Citizens Against Increased Taxes Inc., is he now for increased taxation? By quitting the LACPC, is he for community planning, or against it?
posted by Editor Facts & Myths at 7:47 AM
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