BEFORE THE

STATE OF FLORIDA

COMMISSION ON ETHICS

 

 

 

IN RE: JASON PADGETT,

 

     Respondent.

                               

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Complaint No. 04-097

Final Order No. 07-066

 

 

FINAL ORDER AND PUBLIC REPORT

 

 

     The State of Florida Commission on Ethics, meeting in public session on July 27, 2007, adopted in full the Recommended Order of the Administrative Law Judge of the Division of Administrative Hearings in this matter, pursuant to Section 120.57(1)(l), Florida Statutes.1


In accordance with the Recommended Order, which is incorporated herein, the Commission finds that the Respondent, as a Council Member of the Town of Hampton, Florida, violated Sections 112.313(2) and 112.313(6), Florida Statutes, by soliciting withdrawal of an ethics complaint filed against him and by using or attempting to use  his public position in an effort to cause withdrawal of the ethics complaint, as set forth in the Recommended Order.

For the violations, pursuant to Sections 112.324 and 112.317, Florida Statutes, and in accordance with the Recommended Order, the Commission hereby recommends that the Governor publicly censure and reprimand the Respondent and that the Governor impose a civil penalty in the total amount of $10,000 (ten thousand dollars) upon the Respondent. 

     ORDERED by the State of Florida Commission on Ethics meeting in public session on July 27, 2007.

 

 

 

                           ____________________________________

                          Date Rendered

 

 

 

                          ____________________________________

                          Albert P. Massey, III

                          Chair

 

cc:  Mr. Jason Padgett, Respondent

     Mr. James H. Peterson, III, Commission Advocate

            Mr. William E. Tillotson, Complainant


[1] The Respondent, Jason Padgett, was given an opportunity to file exceptions to the Recommended Order; he did not file any exception or otherwise take issue with any portion of the Recommended Order.  The Respondent was given notice of the date, time, and place of the Commission's hearing to consider the Recommended Order; he did not appear.