Apparently the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust is already on Christmas Vacation.  Then again, I’m pretty sure they’ve been on vacation (and out to lunch) pretty much all year.  For some odd reason, I recently received an email from Rhonda Sibilia, the Community Outreach Coordinator of the Commission, and she asked to put me on her mailing list.  I’m not quite sure why an Ethics Commission needs a “Community Outreach Coordinator,” and I’m even more perplexed as to why she’d want me to receive their press releases, but receive one I did.

Just yesterday, the Commission had its monthly meeting and, according with Ms. Sibilia’s press release, they dealt with three issues:

1.  They decided that Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff did not commit any ethics violations when he ran for his current position at the same time he chaired the Downtown Development Agency and undertook a “Get Out the Vote” campaign.  (See Miami Herald article, Ethics Commission takes a pass on election complaint about Miami’s Sarnoff http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/14/2546291/ethics-commission-takes-a-pass.html.)

2.  They “ruled that a database manager for the Miami-Dade Park & Recreation Department may continue outside employment assisting developers of affordable housing with financial and environmental analyses under certain conditions.  In RQO 11-30, Zafar Ahmed stated that he may be asked to assist the Parks Dept. in a joint initiative with the Miami-Dade Housing Agency, but that he will not provide technical support for developers who have been selected for the public housing agency projects.  The Ethics Commission opined that as long as he has his supervisor’s approval, Ahmed may continue his consulting work, but he cannot work with any firm that is seeking grant or other technical assistance from the Parks Dept., must submit a list of his clients to his supervisors annually and may not meet with county staff about any client.led that a database manager for the Miami-Dade Park & Recreation Department may continue outside employment assisting developers of affordable housing with financial and environmental analyses under certain conditions.”

3.  They “presented a plaque to Staff General Counsel Ardyth Walker in recognition of her 13 years of service to the agency.”

Yeah, that’s money well spent.

I don’t know which is a bigger waste of tax dollars – funding the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics or the local office of the State Attorney.  I’d say it’s a toss-up.  Wouldn’t you just know that by sheer coincidence, Let ‘Em Go Joe Centorino, formerly of the State Attorney Office, is now the Executive Director of the Ethics Commission?  I’m just saying.

Back to the Sarnoff case.  The Commission’s press release stated, “Michelle Niemeyer alleged that the District Two Commissioner exploited his official position as Chair of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) because it used public funds for a “Downtown Votes” registration and absentee ballot drive.   The investigation found that a voter registration and participation project was consistent with the mission of a public agency such as the DDA.  The Board also found that Sarnoff had no input into the initiation of the project, though as a member of the board of directors, he was aware of it.  It also concluded that Commissioner Sarnoff did not have exclusive access to any voter information and did not specifically benefit from the voter registration/absentee ballot drive.”

Two terms stand out here: “public funds” and “absentee ballot drive.”  Apparently the members of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust don’t see a damn thing wrong with using public funds to campaign or to score absentee ballot votes.  Considering that some local officials are very adept at using their positions to campaign on our dime and playing shady games with absentee ballots, I have no idea what would constitute “sufficient evidence” for the Commission to actually find any one of them guilty of violating ethics and public trust.  Obviously, they have no clue, either.  Pretty much every person brought before the commission gets a “pass.”

Good ol’ Joe C. took issue with the Miami Herald article, extricated himself from his FarmVille game, and quickly dashed off a letter to the editor, which I imagine will be published as soon as the editor comes back from vacation, who’s not too keen on criticism, either.  Since I’m on the Commission’s mailing list, today I received an advance copy of the letter, which reads:

To the Editor:

The Miami Herald Dec. 15, 2011 story regarding the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission’s handling of the election complaint against Commissioner Marc Sarnoff was wrong.   The headline that Mr. Sarnoff was given a “pass” was both misleading and false.  We do not give anyone a “pass.”

Reporting that the Commission would “not pursue an investigation” into a complaint against Sarnoff was also wrong. Our news release said plainly that an investigation had been conducted.  In fact, it was done by one of our most experienced investigators, and was fair and thorough.  Our conclusion was based on the evidence and the law, as it must be.

Our findings are detailed in the investigative file which is readily available at the Ethics Commission office at 19 West Flagler Street, Suite 820. As it is public record, any persons having an interest in the investigation may examine the file or contact me to discuss their concerns.

It is disappointing that the Herald wrote this story without a proper inquiry into the facts.  The public is entitled to know the truth about any investigation by a public agency into alleged misconduct by an elected official.

Joseph M. Centorino, Executive Director

Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust

First of all, I’d say someone’s got a paycheck to justify.  Second of all, although I’m not too sweet on the Miami Herald (I usually vote for any candidate the editor does NOT endorse), I must admit that every once in a while they do get it right.  This is one of those times.  I’m absolutely confident that the reporter made a “proper inquiry into the facts.”  Probably even more so than the commission itself did.

I am not surprised that yet another elected official who allegedly violated ethics and public trust was given a “pass.”  The Herald editor was right on the money when he wrote that the Commission would “not pursue an investigation.”  Joe Centorino wouldn’t pursue any investigations brought before him by residents in North Miami Beach against allegedly crooked public officials when he was the State Attorney.  Why should that change now that he heads up the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust?  He’s probably having way too much fun playing FarmVille on Facebook.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”