Fred Hawkins: Taxpayer Funds: $10K for the Boy Scouts Party?

 

From the Osceola.org website:

"Community Betterment Grants allow local groups to seek funds from Osceola County Commissioners for a variety of programs or events. Administered to all five County Commissioners, the funding is distributed through the Osceola County Human Services Department. $50,000 is set aside annually in each commission district and if the funds are not fully expanded, the funds carry over."

It's time to take the blinders off people.  When I hear about all the good that Fred Hawkins did during his 11.5 years as Osceola Commissioner for District 5, I wonder if those espousing his altruism understand that Fred isn't using his own money....it's OURS...you know, the taxpayers.

  

Every district except for District 5 enjoys a book bag and school supply giveaway. While I agree with Fred Hawkins that taxpayer dollars should not be spent on these types of giveaway, as he specifically stated via Facebook (shown above), I have taken a closer look at what these grants are supporting to find out exactly what Fred thinks ARE good taxpayer community expenditures.

In 2019 Fred okayed $10,000 requested by the Boy Scouts for an annual dinner when he was the Dinner CHAIRMAN.

  

I don't have anything against supporting the scouts per se, but I would think that there are non-profit organizations that the money would go further toward the end goal of meeting Osceola County needs. After all, according to their submission, only 34% of the funds actually go to recipients, 53% goes towards salaries and benefits and yes, I am aware that the "overhead myth" is not a strong argument to rule out any particular organization...you need to delve deeper. Yet, I am highly suspicious of any non-profit where the recipients receive less than 65% of the donations and tend to only give to places where 95% or better goes toward the end goals. 

 

Interestingly enough, Fred was the honoree a few years ago at this very dinner. It rather makes me question whether when it comes to Fred's choice of "betterment" it isn't really about community improvement...just Fred's personal betterment crusade, you know, photo ops, name exposure, looking like he is altruistic and such.  Rather a "one hand washes the other" scenario.  Other past honorees have included Dr. Debra Pace (2020), Ricky Booth (2018), Mary Jane Arrington (2015). Is it just me or is there a closed circle in Osceola of the same people over and over and over.

To me Fred is the classic snake oil salesman.  Big smile with an answer for everything...albeit sometimes little white lies get stuck in the mix as he justifies his illegal behavior. 

 

When Fred hosted the Boy Scouts' Golden Eagle Award Dinner, Junior Davis was the honoree. You know, the guy who's construction company consistently receives contracts from the County.  That's an eyebrow raiser all on its own.  

 

Fred sits on the board of directors for Boy Scouts of America Central Florida Council and as I said before, was the Dinner Chairman  for the event he earmarked $10,000 of the $13,000 taxpayer funds that Osceola County donated (Viviana Janer, Cheryl Grieb and Peggy Choudhry gave $1K each from their grant allotment).  Yet on their application(1) the scouts checked "no" for the "are their any related parties" question.  While I don't think there was a deliberate, nefarious omission, it does concern me that our taxpayer funds are going directly to an organization where our commissioner had a vote in the recipient organizations' decisions and more so since he was throwing the party. 

 

While many organizations who apply for Betterment Grants are very worthy, I'm also finding that many of Fred's betterment grants support dinners...NOT for the needy as one might expect, but dinners and cocktail parties that he gets to eat and schmooze at, and not even at businesses located in District 5.  

That Fred, he is slick....it almost seems like he is using our taxpayer betterment grants to fuel his campaign tour.  

Another reason I say #HellNoHawkins2020

I plan to ask our next commissioner to call for a revamping of the Community Betterment Grants Program in Osceola County.  Currently it wreaks of political self-promotion rather than to provide needed help to the community as it should be set up to do.  I'd even acquiesce to see taxpayer funds supporting school supplies for our children over feeding Fred Hawkins, and his inner circle, rubber chicken dinners several times a year.

Select resource:

(1) Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, Community Betterment Grant Application 2018-2019,  Osceola County, Florida

Note:  Documents are available via a public records request to Osceola County Public Information Office.

Re: Fred Hawkins: What's the Cure for this Cancer?

So, now Felony Fred (allegedly)(1) with his $200K+ war chest is the Republican candidate for Florida House District 42.  I'm stunned, but as a two time cancer survivor, I’ve learned that cancer can grow before it is brought to light and sometimes it comes back even after you think it has been removed.

It's unfortunate that good solid citizens don't appear have a level playing field when it comes to those backed by powerful special interest money.  They can print thousands upon thousands of misleading ads citing hot button initiatives that don't even apply to State level government to rile up the partisan political base. 

  Did Nancy move to Florida?

 

I believe our school system is failing us since voters actually seem to fall for that tactic.  As an aside, I wouldn't count on Fred pushing for education reform to make civics a high priority.  He counts on people that don't pay attention. He's like those old snake oil salesmen...shaking your hand while picking your pocket with the other; big smile while your quality of life diminishes as quickly as the trucks flew down the highways to add tons of Coal Ash to Hawkins Mountain in Holopaw.  

"Hawkins Mountain" aka JED Landfill
built by the public silence of Fred Hawkins as Osceola Commissioner, District 5

What is more unfortunate is that seemingly good solid citizens don't look at the overall picture of what is at stake when they decide to run for a region they supposedly care about.  As I see it, if you come into a game in the ninth inning and are unable to qualify by petition that should be a red flag that maybe it just isn't your time.  Perhaps ideology has a way of lending itself to not using your smarts in this type of situation. I admit to having a sick feeling in January, nearly giving into thoughts of conspiracy theories, but I pushed them aside since I tend to believe in the best of the human soul. 

Unfortunately, at this stage and given my experience with decisions made by my County leaders, I am hard pressed to do so with the likes of Fred Hawkins because I believe he serves as living proof that some people will just not take responsibility for their actions, as they appear completely devoid of moral compass.

We had a great shot at beating Fred because one candidate easily qualified by petition, showing they had strong support.  To me, for the good of the citizens it would have made sense for the January "late comer" to stand down rather continue on, resulting in a split vote which effectively gave Fred a win.  Sometimes having the illusion that you are doing the right thing while not putting in 100% effort is just as arrogant as continuing to run while under indictment on a felony.  And the citizens are the ones that lose in the long run. 

Fred Hawkins is a cancer, killing the quality of life of the citizens of Florida while being fueled by some of the very industries that he worked for in the private sector that continue to pave his way.  After he sat in and helped negotiate to bring Coal Ash to Osceola from outside the State, it is crystal clear where his allegiance will always lie. .. and that is not with the citizens he has sworn to represent.

So, it is what it is. I continue to say #HellNoHawkins2020 as I wrestle with how to make a decision I can live with in November.  I only pray that the Ninth Circuit Court can be the chemotherapy that our district needs to cure this cancer once and for all.

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 (1) STATE OF FLORIDA vs. HAWKINS, FRED WILBUR (Case # 2020 CF 002039)

Fred Hawkins' Endorsements: FFA's Curious Response to Me

I never paid much attention to endorsements in the political arena.  I do my own research and form my own opinions and I don't really want to spend a lot of time learning about what goes on behind closed doors in the organization providing any endorsement. 

But, after Fred Hawkins was indicated on felony charges in July, I became curious how the organizations which declared a choice prior to the arrest date, would feel about their endorsement decision at this stage.

I slowly went down the list, locating contacts and email addresses and sent out a few inquiries, including to Florida Family Action (FFA).

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I was a little taken back by their response the end of which sounded remarkably like it was written by the spokespeople who handled the news media regarding his arrest and subsequent suspension from his Osceola County Commission seat.  What was really interesting is they addressed me as "Ms. Setters" which is the pseudonym I use to write nature blogs to share via facebook.  That name doesn't appear on my email and is not the name I signed.  Now why heck would they address me as Ms. Setters????

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It looks like this organization has fallen for Fantasy Fred's "witch hunt" scenario and assumed I was a Democrat, which I am not. My main mission is to try and enlighten enough people so that Fred Hawkins is never elected to ANYTHING because Republican or not, he is BAD FOR FLORIDA.  He is hardly a conservative and caters to the wishes of his special interest donors which include the developers and waste industries that are trying to pave over most of Florida and poison the rest of it with their coal ash and biosolids.

So, I felt compelled to reply and added comments on why I really was surprised at Florida Family Action's endorsement in the first place given their motto includes "Fighting for ...Marriage...", which in the past Fred hasn't been known to do.

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"PAC"man's follow-up response was slightly contrite but this puppet organization is holding strong. At least the Orlando Sentinel had the guts to pull their endorsement of Hawkins.

  

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Do you homework people.  Don't think that a bunch of fancy endorsements stand for anything other than future favors owed.  Another reason I say #HellNoHawkins2020.

Democrats Heavily Promote Fred Hawkins for Florida HD42...but WHY?

This past week I noticed some individuals are filling the Facebook "airwaves" (so to speak) with Pro-Fred Hawkins postings.  I found this odd since they also are endlessly spamming timelines with Pro-Russ Gibson propaganda.  Hawkins is on the Republican Primary Ballots for a House seat and Gibson is on the Democrat Primary Ballots, running for Sheriff.


Hawkins, you might have heard was recently suspended from his Osceola Commission seat by the Governor of the great State of Florida.  Reason?  He is under indictment on felony charges for impersonating a law enforcement officer using an honorary "special deputy" badge issued by, who else? Sheriff Russ Gibson. He flashed it and threatened a citizen with arrest.

source: EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-182
(Executive Order of Suspension)

One Facebook participant, in a Polk County Political Group, made a snarky remark with reference to the FL_HD42 race about their "candidate of choice" being the most sainted person to walk planet Earth (ok, ok, I'm paraphrasing).  It dawned on me that I clearly remember all the Gibson promotions and comment banter coming from that profile in an Osceola group. That's when the light bulb went off in my head...

I looked it up and they are registered as a DEMOCRAT.  They don't have a horse in the Florida House District 42 PRIMARY race!  Ok, ok, I admit....sometimes I'm a tad slow....hey, I'm getting old.  😉

So why the heavy promotion of Fred Hawkins by DEMS?

My theory is that the Democrats know they have a good chance at winning that seat if Fred Hawkins is the Republican candidate in the November race. They know that many people would be willing to put up with two years of a Democrat just to ensure that Fred doesn't get to Tallahassee to vote according to the agenda of his special-interest handlers, while ignoring the best interests of his constituents.  The people of Osceola are quite familiar with this M.O. having experienced it first hand with Fred as a Commissioner.  The Democrat hopeful would certainly be the lesser of the two evils, although I have heard her referred to as "Fred in a dress". 

Fred wants Fred, the developer lobby wants Fred, the waste industry wants Fred and now the Democrats want Fred too!  Be smart and just say #HellNoHawkins2020 in the August 18th primary.

Fred Hawkins: Superman? or Con Man?

When Fred Hawkins defended his $40,000 salary increase by stating at a recent Osceola County School Board Meeting that he left his private sector job to devote full time to the Education Foundation of Osceola County (the "Foundation"), that raised a couple of red flags for me. 

As a resident of Osceola County District 5 that Fred represented prior to his recent suspension by the Governor, I follow what goes on, relative to his position as my representative.  I was pretty sure that Fred left his job with Waste Corporation of America (WCA) in 2018 shortly after the Florida Ethics Commission found there would be a conflict of interest if a commissioner stayed with a subsidiary of a corporation but "…if the commissioner terminates his duties for the subsidiary, there would be no conflict." [video link].(1)

Needless to say I was surprised by this epiphany that he was attempting to sell to the School Board.  Maybe I'm just naturally skeptical but it sounded like a load of bunk. As an aside, he is endorsing one School Board member as his replacement for County Commissioner given that Fred has chosen to move on to seek loftier goals at the state level.  When he was endorsing this same candidate for School Board a few years back, Fred's speech sounded almost as if he had handpicked him for the position.(2)

Back to Fred’s work hour numbers.  There is the Form 990 filed by the Foundation for 2017 which indicates that Fred Hawkins worked an average of 40.00 a week.  Perhaps that is something that needs to be looked into since Fred obviously wasn't performing as stated given his statement to the School Board.

That led me to go back and look at Fred's various Form6 filings over the past few years. 

While he claims to have left his private sector job to work full time at the Education Foundation, when his waste industry job at WCA went away in 2018, another waste industry-related job at a company called Brightmark magically appeared for 2019's Form6 submission.  So, it appears he didn't really "end that job", he merely traded it in for one that would arouse less curiosity from the Florida Commission on Ethics.

What may be more interesting is that his LinkedIn resume shows that he has worked at Brightmark since February 2015. Yet, there is no mention of it on any of his official Form6 filings prior to 2019. 

All right, we all fudge our resumes here and there and maybe he is a terrible consultant and just didn't make any money during 2015-18, but when you are running for public office, I believe transparency is paramount. What you put out there for public view shouldn't leave people questioning the integrity of your Form6 filings.

Adding up the Numbers

 So, using 2013 as an example, he listed employment income from Progressive Waste Solutions ($68,500); Osceola County BOCC ($74,000); Great St. Cloud Chamber ($50,000).

source:  census.gov

According to the Census, the median household income for Osceola County is $50,063.  So I will assume all three jobs are full time.  That's 120 hours based on a 40 hour work week….and I sure hope he was working at least 40 hours as my commissioner, given the pay grade.  That leaves less than 7 hours a day for sleep, eating, commuting, family time, personal hygiene, shopping, etc. 

For 2017 he listed employment income from WCA ($101,000); Osceola County BOCC ($78,000); Osceola Foundation for Education (no amount listed but their form 990s show 40 hours a week average); Preferred Government Trust (no amount listed).  I'll assume that at least three are full time...so, give or take 120 hours total...PLUS how ever many hours in that newly added part-time Insurance Job AND interest in a new business called H3Property Ventures which he apparently co-owns.  Again, less than 7 hours a day for all other activities INCLUDING the nightmare that is commuting in Osceola County traffic.

Form 6 for 2017

I know he frequently he has held positions on various Boards of Directors in seemingly unpaid capacities.  My question is, is he performing his altruism on the taxpayer's dime?  After all there are only 168 hours in a week.

Form6's for all other years have similar numbers of job and incomes listed. Perhaps there is a reasonable explanation of how he does it all.   To me the number of working hours simply don't add up.  Another reason I say #HellNoHawkins2020

You can search for any elected official's Form6 documents by their name.  Once you bring up their most recent submission page, click on "View Filing History" to see several years of documents available.  I highly recommend you vet the people you intend to vote for to get a clearer overall picture of their finances. 

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(1) Florida Commission on Ethics Meeting, July 27, 2018

(2) ”…We asked Ricky to go there and be a leader…” Fred Hawkins Jr. - Ricky Booth Testimonial, October 17, 2017