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This confirmation will have to wait

Crist's pick for the Department of Community Affairs faces one particularly upset senator.

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published April 13, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Usually, state confirmation hearings are a breeze. The governor appoints someone. The Senate has that person over, asks some questions, swears him in, and says congratulations.

That's not what happened Thursday to Tom Pelham, Gov. Charlie Crist's pick to lead the Department of Community Affairs, the agency that oversees community growth.

As Pelham stood before the Senate Committee on Community Affairs, Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, rigorously questioned Pelham concerning the DCA's funding of the Front Porch Florida Initiative.

Front Porch, the brainchild of former Gov. Jeb Bush, was created under the DCA in 1999 to help stimulate economic growth in distressed urban communities. Siplin pitched the idea to Bush way back then to help attract private investors to low-income areas.

But over the years, Front Porch has been plagued by reports of mismanagement, most recently making headlines in Pensacola, where one of Front Porch's 20 local organizations is under investigation for allegations a community liaison used the money to pay herself, her mother and her private property taxes.

Siplin said he's not happy another Front Porch contract in his community was canceled. And he doesn't think Pelham has done enough to help get the contract reinstated.

Pelham, who was named to his post Jan. 8, said the contract was canceled under the Bush administration, prior to his arrival at the DCA. He learned of the matter after meeting with Siplin in March, he said. Siplin and Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, and Sen. Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville, were also in attendance.

Despite meeting with Pelham twice on the matter, Siplin said he doesn't feel the secretary has been responsive enough.

Pelham said the contract in question was canceled due to mismanagement and financial concerns. Siplin still wanted about $325,000 to be given to the group. "Even if the contract hadn't been canceled," Pelham said, "it wouldn't be responsible to continue to release money into a program that mismanaged that money."

Siplin wasn't satisfied: "There's no proof there were financial problems. ... How can you tell the whole committee that you're going to be responsive to the Senate, when you haven't been responsive to senators telling you to fund this program."

As the questioning became more heated, Chairman Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah, decided to postpone the confirmation vote a week. He ordered Pelham to meet with all the senators before then.

Pelham has had this job before. A well-known land use attorney, he was DCA secretary from 1987 to 1991.

"I can't think of anyone who is more respected for his work in the area of growth management," said Rebecca O'Hara of the Florida League of Cities, clearly surprised by the confirmation stall.

Asked about the incident, Crist didn't seem concerned the matter would affect Pelham's new job.

"The secretary is a great man," Crist said. "I look forward to his confirmation, and I'm confident it will happen."

Times researchers John Martin and Caryn Baird and staff writer Lucy Morgan contributed to this report.

[Last modified April 13, 2007, 01:01:34]