Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Election Guidance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Counsel warns incumbents to avoid joint 'Coffee with Candidates' events over Sunshine, election concerns
Summary
District Counsel advised incumbents to ensure election-law compliance and suggested separate events by seat to avoid potential Sunshine Law violations; the board discussed differing opinions from the HPCA attorney and the Florida Election Commission's role.
District Counsel recommended that incumbent supervisors who want to participate in a proposed "Coffee with Candidates" event ensure compliance with election law and consider arranging separate events per seat, Chair Kathleen Lonergan told the board on Oct. 15.
"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," Lonergan read from counsel's email. Vice Chair Arthur Rhodes said "our guy" would not attend under that interpretation. The board noted the HPCA attorney has taken a different view and discussed portions of Florida statute that affect such events.
The board also noted the Florida Election Commission enforces complaints but does not provide advisory opinions, and members agreed that further outreach or separate formats could reduce legal risk. No formal action was taken at the Oct. 15 meeting; the discussion concluded after members voiced different viewpoints.
