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FORT LAUDERDALE - A former state representative who is advising Broward County Supervisor of Elections Miriam Oliphant owes the Florida Elections Commission more than $60,000 in fines.
Darryl Reaves, 42, owes unpaid fines dating to 1996, including a March 2002 order to pay $58,366 in fines for campaign finance violations. He also was ordered in November 2002 to pay a separate $2,327 judgment for violations.
The Elections Commission sued him on Aug. 22, asking a judge to order him to pay.
Reaves lost a 2002 Democratic primary to incumbent state Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall of Miami. He represented Miami in the House from 1990 to 1992.
Reaves' role was questioned in a report released Friday by state officials and fellow election supervisors who visited Oliphant's office to evaluate whether she is prepared to conduct coming elections. In the report, Secretary of State Glenda Hood cited problems including Oliphant's recent firings of key supervisors and poor communication in her office, and gave Oliphant until Nov. 10 to correct the problems or come up with a plan to do so. If she fails to do that, Gov. Jeb Bush would consider replacing her.
Oliphant has been receiving stiff criticism since the 2002 gubernatorial primary, when her office had numerous problems.
Hood's observers said no one who works in the office was introduced to Reaves, and employees are uncomfortable and suspicious about his unexplained presence.
"If the supervisor of elections intends to continue to include Mr. Reaves in staff meetings, the purpose ... should be explained to her staff," the report said.
Reaves said Tuesday he is "not an employee of the supervisor of elections," while acknowledging he is a "close adviser."
"We're very good friends. She has a whole network of friends," Reaves said.
Oliphant did not return a phone message.