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Heritage Isles Supervisor Reveals Potential Conflict

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LAURA KINSLER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 2, 2008

HERITAGE ISLES - Community Development District Supervisor Jack Meehan sold insurance policies to two vendors that have contracts with the CDD, he said this week.

Meehan, one of the first homeowners to serve on the board, made the revelation after a homeowner questioned all the supervisors about whether they received financial gain from anyone doing business with the district.

Meehan said the policies had been sold since he was elected in 2004, but he would not reveal the clients' identities or the nature of the policies. He did say he is no longer working for the insurance firm that carries the policies.

Florida law prohibits elected officials from having any "contractual relationship with any business entity or any agency which is subject to the regulation of, or is doing business with, an agency of which he or she is an officer or employee."

The statute also says public officials cannot "solicit or accept anything of value to the recipient, including a gift, loan, reward, promise of future employment, favor, or service, based upon any understanding that the vote, official action, or judgment of the public officer, employee, local government attorney, or candidate would be influenced thereby."

Meehan has never raised the issue of a potential conflict before voting on CDD contracts.

District manager John Ricciardi said he was unaware of Meehan's business relationship until he revealed it at Monday's meeting. He said he did not know the details or the identities of the vendors.

Meehan said he would disclose the names of the vendors to CDD lawyer Tracy Robin.

Robin could not be reached for comment.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

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