NO FRAUD AT FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY, BUT HIRING ISSUES

Former statewide prosecutor Melanie Ann Hines released her preliminary report on fiscal issues at the Florida Democratic Party today, and it said that while there was no fraud involved, former chairman Scott Maddox and former party executive director Paige Carter-Smith made poor hiring decisions resulting in accounting problems.

The Tallahassee Democrat quotes from the report:

"We know that the responsibility for the management of the payroll system was assigned to an individual who had no prior experience in that specific task, ... who appeared not to have been trained in that duty" and who had only a "rudimentary understanding of the process."

That individual refers to Comptroller Debbie Griffin-Bruton, who has submitted her resignation effective today.

Another question, having to do with over $926,000 in funds unaccounted for, was resolved. The reason for the problem was found in a series of accounting missteps, including an incomplete data entry of over a million dollars.

Ms. Hines mentioned that Maddox cooperated fully with the investigation.

New chairperson Karen Thurman announced a five point programme to restore confidence in the state Democrats' efforts:

--- Correcting any past accounting or bookkeeping errors.

--- Establish and maintain "best practices" financial procedures with appropriate controls, checks and balances.

--- Establish a corporate government structure.

--- Create a Select Committee to review and advise party leadership on financial procedures and auditing.

--- Provide a new confidence to openness and accountability.