Counsel recommends separate candidate events to avoid Sunshine Law conflicts at Heritage Pines

During discussion of a proposed "Coffee with Candidates" event, Chair Kathleen Lonergan read District Counsel's written guidance that any incumbent supervisor who participates must ensure compliance with election rules and that it would be "a fair request" to arrange separate events per seat to avoid potential Sunshine Law violations. Lonergan read counsel's email into the record: "If any incumbent Supervisor is interested in participating they will need to ensure compliance with the election code and I think it would be a fair request for them to ask them to arrange separate events per seat to avoid any potential Sunshine Law violations."

Vice Chair Arthur Rhodes told the board that, under the stated interpretation, "our guy" would not attend. The board also noted that District Counsel suggested some questions might be appropriate for the Florida Election Commission, and participants clarified that the Florida Election Commission enforces complaints but does not give advisory opinions. Board members and the HPCA attorney expressed differing views about the appropriate path; District Counsel's written advice and the suggestion to run separate, seat-specific events was the operative guidance the board recorded.