In emails sent out Thursday, City commissioners Susan Bottcher and Yvonne Hinson-Rawls criticized Mayor Ed Braddy for criticizing Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson on city letterhead.
This week, Nelson and former Republican Governor and current Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist visited the University of Florida campus to allege that Republican Governor Rick Scott was suppressing liberal leaning voters on campus through a January Division of Elections opinion stating that campus facilities were not allowed early voting sites under a 2013 law the Legislature passed expanding locations. The opinion noted that the Legislature rejected several bills and amendments to allow early voting at educational facilities or on campus.
After Nelson’s visit and before Crist’s visit, Braddy sent out a statement on city letterhead criticizing Nelson and Crist for attempting to politicize the issue and turn it into “cheap campaign fodder.”
Thursday, Hinson-Rawls responded with this email to City Manager Russ Blackburn, City Attorney Nicolle Shalley, Braddy and the other city commissioners:
“I am appalled that the Mayor is allowed to use the office of the Mayor and City Of Gainesville resources and even the more the city’s seal to launch an attack in opposition to his political views. This is a travesty of justice for the residents of the City Of Gainesville whose viewpoints may differ from his. He was elected and sworn in to serve us all and this press release is in direct conflict. I would like a comment from both of you on the legality and ethics of the mayor’s office to issue such a statement under the city’s seal and letterhead.”
Bottcher sent this email to Blackburn, copying Shalley and the other commissioners:
“Dear Russ;
I am deeply disappointed that the mayor has used his office (and by association his colleagues on the commission) to disparage one of Florida’s most distinguished and long-serving public servants, Senator Bill Nelson.
The contents of the mayor’s Feb. 11th, 2014 press release do NOT reflect my position (and I would assume my colleagues’) on this issue nor do I find any fault in the actions of Senator Nelson. The senator’s efforts were that of a statesmen doing what we hope and expect: standing up for the rights of all citizens to have voting made easier and more accessible.
In fact, this commission voted in an effort to do just that: to seek to allow an early voting site on the UF campus.
The mayor’s press release – issued on city letterhead emblazoned with the official seal of the City of Gainesville – implies this commission feels otherwise.
Ed Braddy, private citizen, is entitled to his opinion and to use whatever means available to him to express it.
Mayor Ed Braddy is not entitled to use his office and the seal of the City of Gainesville in that manner.
What does the city Charter say about sitting elected officials using city resources/representation for partisan purposes?
I am embarrassed that the City and this commission are now associated with Mayor Braddy’s personal, partisan attack on Senator Nelson.
Nothing short of a public apology to Senator Nelson by Mayor Braddy is acceptable.”
The city had sought to add the J. Wayne Reitz Union as an early voting site in March, although that would not be possible this election cycle because of construction.
In an email, Shalley told commissioner they should follow the Division of Elections advisory opinion and attempt to have the Legislature change the law in the future.
Turnout on campus, where the Reitz is an Election Day precinct, is traditionally very low for city elections. The ongoing dispute likely has more importance in the November general election , when Crist and Scott may be facing each other and turnout on campus is traditionally robust and strongly Democratic.