Deerfield Beach Vice Mayor Steve Gonot has been cleared of charges he violated state ethics laws, but may be hit with a $6,000 fine after failing to follow Florida election rules. During Gonot's campaign for re-election in March, six political advertisements did not have the correct disclaimer required by law, according to the Florida Elections Commission. Gonot could be fined up to $1,000 per count, said Elections Commission Executive Director Barbara Linthicum.
"If they say I have to pay a fine, then I will certainly fulfill my responsibilities," said Gonot. "I made a mistake … but there were some mitigating factors. I was given an outdated copy of the election form [by the city clerk]."
The investigation was triggered in May after the Elections Commission received a complaint from Clearwater resident Elizabeth DeFazio, a friend of Gonot's political opponent, Anita Cruz. "[The intent is to] harass and intimidate me because of the complaints I have had about the city manager," Gonot said, referring to his longstanding feud with Larry Deetjen.
Gonot was also the subject of what he called a frivolous complaint to the state Ethics Commission, filed by Deetjen supporter Steve Miller. In a September complaint, Miller accused Gonot of violating public records laws and failing to report a potential conflict-of-interest. Gonot approved a bus bench project with the Kiwanis Club in February 2005. Miller claimed Gonot should have disclosed that his son won a $1,000 college scholarship from the Kiwanis Club in June 2004. Miller also claimed Gonot used his influence to get his son a job as a lifeguard with the city in the summers of 2004 and 2005. The Ethics Commission dismissed the charges, saying the allegations were legally insufficient to indicate a violation of state law.
In separate cases, the state Elections Commission also found reason to believe former Dania Beach Commissioner Robert Chunn and former Margate Commissioner Arlene Schwartz violated election laws. Chunn failed to report a $250 in-kind contribution and cash donations from individuals. Schwartz made a $250 personal loan to her 2005 campaign before appointing a treasurer and opening an account. She also failed to designate the seat for which she was running in campaign paperwork.
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