Mum's the word on $24K gag deal( think TS -things that make you go Mmm

[wakeme2008]

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/24/Tampabay/Mum_s_the_word_on_24K.shtml

Mum's the word on $24K gag deal

The Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Office won't say why a fired employee got a hefty severance check in return for his silence.

By JEFF TESTERMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published August 24, 2006

TAMPA - In the office of Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson, the public information director is not a civil service employee. He serves at Johnson's pleasure and can be fired at his whim.

But last month, when Johnson abruptly asked for the resignation of public information director Steve Holub, it came with an unusual offer. Johnson promised to pay Holub $24,142 if he agreed not to sue the office and pledged to keep his mouth shut about anything he had observed during his eight months of employment there.

..cut..

Holub is the second top official to leave Johnson's office in recent weeks. Last month his top administrator, Helene Marks, the former in-house counsel for Clerk of the Circuit Court Richard Ake, resigned after Johnson redefined her responsibilities.

..more at link...

[TexasLawyer]

1. Florida tax payers

should start asking how their money's being spent. Sounds like a pay-off and not a legitimate severance package.

[TexasLawyer]

2. Where's the "claim"?

"Harris, a former assistant Hillsborough administrator, cited a section of state law allowing tax dollars to be allocated for "any compromise or settlement of any claim" involving a county or municipality."

How did an at-will employee who worked for 8 months have a "claim" that needed to be legally settled? Let alone a claim for over $24,000, which is a LOT of money. Very fishy.

And some info on "Buddy" :

Phillip E. "Buddy" Johnson was appointed the Supervisor of Elections for Hillsborough County on Jan 27, 2003, by Governor Bush. The Supervisor administers all elections in the County and is responsible for conducting voter registrations, maintaining voter registration lists and statistical data and providing for absentee registration and absentee voting.

Johnson’s most recent work prior to becoming Supervisor was as Director of the Division of Real Estate, a division of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation. In this role, Johnson was responsible for public protection against fraud and unlicensed activities, the administration of records and licensure for all of Florida’s 300,000 plus real estate and appraisal licensees, and the implementation of a state-of-the-art licensing system.

<snip>

http://www.votehillsborough.org/content.aspx?id=59

[loudsue]

3. What do you wanna bet Holub KNOWS about election theft??

I guess $24,000 bucks is enough hush money to get him to keep his trap shut about how republicans stole Hillsboro County elections.

These republicans are SO FUCKING TRANSPARENT!! They take any criminal action they please, and then either Wellstone the people who know what they're up to, or they pay 'em off.

Republicans are the most corrupt, mafioso group the world has ever seen.

May they all rot in hell.


:kick::kick::kick:

[bananas]

4. Can somebody give this another vote to put it on the greatest page?

[MGKrebs]

5. I'll vote for it.

This is very fishy.
Is there a D.A. with a less than full calender down there somewhere?

[Tippy]

6. Recommended...n/t

[BreweryYardRat]

7. Fuck! Well, I'll be in Tampa soon.

I'll try and remember to do a little digging.

[unblock]

8. anyone wanna offer $25K???

:evilgrin:

[annabanana]

9. that's the ticket!

Anyone who's silence comes in at 24k might just be interested in what a tell-all might bring!

[Jackpine Radical]

10. But the deal isn't probly just for $24k.

More likely $24k & a shot at longevity.

[praeclarus]

11. how do they arrive at these numbers i wonder

Did Johnson simply outnegotiate Holub?

Johnson: I'll give you $24K if you sign this piece of paper.
Holub: I'll sign it for $1M.
Johnson: I'll go $24,142 but that's it.
Holub: Deal. Where do I sign.

Holub goes home and tells wife how he finagled Johnson
out of an extra 1/2 tank of gas. ;)

[nashville_brook]

12. he sold out CHEAP... now he should renege