Witness to a glorious conspiracy

So, I’m enjoying a normal Wednesday, when I get a hold of a bunch of paperwork.

It describes in detail accusations of election violations against Sheriff Dave Vincent that the state determined were unfounded. OK, that’s kinda interesting.

And then I see my name is on the accuser's witness list.

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Um…excuse me?

Turns out, a supporter of the former sheriff, with help from another supporter, made allegations to the Florida Elections Commission that claimed Vincent illegally promised former campaign opponents Doug Alexander and Calvin Adams Jr. jobs in his new administration if they'd step aside to support his candidacy.

And where, one might wonder, did this grand conspiracy take place? You guessed it: My dining room table.

Gary Bartell Jr. and Bobby Winsler reached that conclusion without actual evidence, unless we count a Just Wright Citrus blog (which the state didn't). These two gentlemen figured that the only way their guy lost was if the other guy cheated. 

The state’s response: Nonsense.

I’m quite familiar with both of these men. Gary’s dad, Gary Bartell Sr., was a popular county commissioner for 20 years. Gary Jr.’s name comes up frequently as a potential candidate. Both father and son have always been good people in my book.

Bobby was former Sheriff Mike Prendergast’s campaign manager. He successfully led Prendergast’s election for sheriff in 2016 and his re-election four years later. He's also taken on the campaigns of less successful candidates, but nearly every single one of them rave to me about how much Bobby taught them about running for office. They'd recommend him in a heartbeat.

According to the documents, Bartell filed the complaint in February with Winsler’s help. It essentially accuses Vincent of conspiring with the other two for them to drop their campaigns and pledge their supporters (and money) to Vincent. In return, both would receive jobs once he's elected. This all supposedly happened while I was walking the dog in midday 93-degree heat.

(Unfortunately, I have only a paper copy of the file. I know what you're thinking...Sorry!)

Now. Before you go all ga-ga, please read on.

This blog from last August is the subject at hand. Take a look at it for some perspective. I invited Adams, Alexander, and Vincent to Just Wright Citrus World Headquarters on the shores of Big Lake Henderson. They needed a private place to chat, which occurred at my dining room table when I took Buddy for a walk in the blazing heat.

On the final day of ballot qualifying, Adams and Alexander dropped out of the race, throwing their enthusiastic support behind Vincent during a Chamber of Commerce candidate forum. In August, voters overwhelmingly showed Prendergast the door in favor of Vincent, who STILL gets huge applause and is the most popular person in the room.

Bartell/Winsler claim the fact Vincent hired Adams, a retired colonel with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, as his Chief of Staff shows they colluded during the dining room table chat.

And what evidence do these gentlemen have that that happened? None. Zilch. Zero. Innuendo. According to the report, anonymous sources that are so anonymous, they can’t be listed as witnesses. The pair is lunging to conclusions.

“This complaint will demonstrate the delivery of a block vote through the means of a secret or otherwise private agreement is precisely what Vincent orchestrated…” Bartell wrote.

The complaint demonstrated little more than straw grasping. The state concluded not once, but twice, that the allegations were unfounded.

This is Vincent’s recollection of the World Headquarters meeting, according to his response to the complaint:

“The only truth in this complaint is that I did in fact meet with Mr. Calvin Adams and Pastor Doug Alexander prior to the Aug. 20 primary election to discuss our campaigns. I told them both that I would continue my candidacy in the primary election, and they also discussed their campaigns and the obstacles of overcoming an incumbent with four candidates in the race. Any decisions to exit the race were made by those candidates without influence from myself or anyone in my campaign.”

He concluded: “These allegations are baseless and, in my opinion, just an attempt by the former Sheriff and his followers to bring discredit to myself and those who supported my campaign against him…”

FEC Executive Director Tim Vaccaro agreed. In his letter declining Bartell’s request for an investigation, he wrote: “The (blog) post describes a meeting that took place at the blogger’s house. However, the blog does not mention what was discussed at the meeting and did not reference an alleged promise by Respondent to appoint anyone.”

He said Bartell’s conclusions were a “matter of opinion and speculation.”

Bartell was given time to respond. He did with more unfounded allegations, and then took aim at Vincent’s suggestion this is all politically motivated.

Bartell said he could have leaked the complaint to the press “to cause Vincent embarrassment,” but did not.

“I can only imagine how many cases you review that are grudges between former opponents, but please trust when I say my motives are in good faith," he wrote.

Um...OK.

Then there’s Bartell’s witness list.

Three names, obviously: Vincent, Alexander, Adams.

Then me. Why? “Host of meeting where Negotiations Occurred.” Sounds ominous.

Three other witnesses: Leon McClellan (“Vincent campaign activist"), Josh Wooten (“Vincent campaign activist"), and Stacey Worthington (“Alexander campaign manager”).

Alas, there will be no testifying as FEC Director Vaccaro denied Bartell’s claim a second time, and the matter is now closed.

Look. It's not my habit to get into stuff. As you can see, these are not easy to describe in this space. But this one mentions my name as a "witness." Its main point is centered around a gathering at my table and a blog that I wrote. So, you might say I'm a bit interested.

We went a little long today, and I appreciate your indulgence. Some things just need the light of day.

And with that, enjoy your Thursday, friends.

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