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Ethics complaint to Senate names Graham
By ALISA ULFERTS, Times Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE -- U.S. Sen. Bob Graham used government staff and property to kick-start a drive to resurrect a statewide university board, according to a complaint filed by a California businessman whose consulting firm was fired by the campaign. Robert Kaplan, whose company Zonetal helped raise money for the ballot initiative, also filed complaints this week with Florida's attorney general, elections commission and two state attorneys accusing Graham's organization of mishandling financial disclosure forms. Kaplan also has sued Graham's Education Excellence for Florida committee for breach of contract, saying the group didn't have cause to terminate him. Kaplan said he uncovered the errors in preparing his arbitration case against the group. "I felt I had an obligation to disclose what I knew," Kaplan said. "It's hard to believe these were simple, sloppy mistakes." In his complaint to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, Kaplan said several Senate employees worked on the initiative on government time and even held meetings in Senate offices. He offered as proof memos about the initiative faxed to him from the senator's office, not the campaign headquarters. Graham spokesman Paul Anderson said the senator expects the complaint to be rejected. "We fully expect our response will satisfy any questions and lead to a quick dismissal," Anderson said. In the complaint to the Florida Elections Commission, Kaplan said people who had not filed the proper forms were submitting the committee's financial reports to the state. Deputy Attorney General George Sheldon, who is running for attorney general, is the official treasurer for the committee. Kaplan also complained that different versions of the committee's name appeared on different forms, which he said could confuse voters. One name that doesn't appear on official paperwork is Graham's, Kaplan said. That was intentional, said committee attorney Robin Gibson. "He didn't want to be the organizer. We were the organizers," Gibson said. Gibson characterized Kaplan's complaints as the work of a disgruntled ex-employee. "He erupted" when he was told the committee no longer needed his fundraising services, Gibson said. Kaplan's management style was inconsistent with how Graham wanted to operate, Gibson said, but he declined to give further details. "We rue the day we ever got tangled up with him," Gibson said. Kaplan said Gibson is trying to divert attention from the complaints. Graham wants voters on Nov. 5 to amend the state constitution to create a 17-member Board of Governors to oversee the Florida universities, while retaining individual trustee boards Republican Gov. Jeb Bush appointed. If the constitutional amendment passes, it would be a defeat for Bush, who led the effort to create the statewide Board of Education to oversee kindergarten through graduate school. Last week he signed a massive revision of the state education code that includes the new education governing system. It takes effect in January. Graham, a former governor and the state's most prominent Democrat, says the state's new system will lead to greater political fighting among the universities and duplication of programs. He is critical of Bush, who is running for re-election as an education governor, and he says the state fosters a poor education system that threatens Florida's economic future.
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From the Times state desk
From the state wire
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