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Letter to the editor

Mayor chooses fine in election law case

Charles Parker cuts a check rather than contest contribution charges.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA, Times Staff Writer
Published September 26, 2007

MADEIRA BEACH- Mayor Charles Parker paid a fine Friday to the Florida Elections Commission rather than fight a finding of "probable cause" that he violated election laws in his 2005 campaign for the mayoral seat.

"It was easier to write the check," Parker said Monday, calling the alleged election law violation a "simple mistake."

According to a report submitted to the FEC by its investigator, Charles Finkel, Parker accepted an excessive campaign contribution from Art Broaderick and an excessive "in-kind" contribution from Dan Conroy.

Broaderick donated $200 to Parker's campaign, $100 more than is allowed by law for a single individual. According to Parker, the contribution was intended to be given individually by Broaderick and his wife but was not recorded properly.

Conroy, owner of Instant Printing Services Inc., printed 2,000 campaign brochures for Parker as a campaign donation. State law limits such in-kind donations to a value of no more than $500. The cost of the printing was $663.40.

Finkel concluded in his report that Parker's acceptance of the excessive campaign contributions was "willful," noting that Parker was "an experienced candidate" who should have known the donations violated state law.

Parker, who served as his own campaign treasurer, signed for each of the donations, as well as an affidavit that he had read and understood state campaign laws.

Based on Finkel's report, the FEC ruled Aug. 31 there was probable cause that Parker committed two counts of violating state election laws. A third charge that he had incorrectly certified a campaign treasurer's report was dismissed.

Parker said he received a call from Finkel last week offering to "settle" the charges for a fine equaling the amount of the excess contributions.

Parker could have requested a formal hearing to challenge the charges, but he said the cost and time involved was not worth it.

The investigation was prompted by a formal complaint to the FEC submitted in 2005 by Ken Schwartz, who unsuccessfully opposed Parker in the 2003 city election.

The complaint also was notorized by Doreen Moore, who ran against Parker in 2005.

"It was not a big deal. It was just an opportunity for my opponents to hassle me," Parker said.

Parker, who is an attorney, was first elected to the commission in 1993, was appointed mayor in 2004 after the resignation of Mayor Tom DeCesare and was elected mayor in 2005.

He said he has not decided whether he will run for re-election in March.

[Last modified September 25, 2007, 21:54:52]