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Review finds e-mail did not come from tourism agency
The message urged the start of a ''whisper campaign'' against South Carolina and Georgia.
©Associated Press
December 30, 2002
TALLAHASSEE -- The state's tourism marketing agency said Saturday an independent review has confirmed that an e-mail calling the governors of South Carolina and Georgia racists did not originate from its offices.
Visit Florida officials are trying to find the source of the message, which purports to start a "whisper campaign" against those states to boost tourism in Florida.
The e-mail, sent Tuesday, claims to bear a message from Kim Howes, public relations director for Visit Florida, laying out a strategy to lure tourists away from South Carolina and Georgia. It asks recipients to mention, when speaking to the media or tour groups, that Florida "does not have a racist flag nor a racist Governor."
Visit Florida officials asked Tallahassee-based Network Technology Solutions LLC to examine its corporate e-mail system and Howes' computers and personal e-mail account.
Visit Florida CEO Bud Nocera said the review confirmed that the message did not come from Howes or any employee of Visit Florida, and it also found the original e-mail was not received by any staff member. An internal review also cleared the agency of any connection to the e-mail.
Nocera said the agency is considering options for expanding the investigation of the case.
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