City of Chattahoochee Florida Chattahoochee Florida City Of Chattahoochee's City Manager Pleads Guilty to State Ethics Violations in order to avoid a public trial, Internet

Chattahoochee City Manager and Ethics Violations
Chattahoochee, Florida- July 30, 2012- 10:39pm

In 2010, the Florida Commission on Ethics says city manager for Chattahoochee, Lee Garner, accepted two Progress Energy box suite tickets to a North Carolina Tar Heels versus FSU football game.

He was not in violation for taking the tickets, but failing to report that he did, which violates Section 112.3148(8), Florida Statute, which requires him to do so. Those tickets were from a wholesale manager of Progress Energy and liaison to the city. Progress Energy currently has an electricity contract with Chattahoochee.

Garner's second violation came when he failed to report a dinner he and his wife had while at the Florida League of Cities annual conference. In all, he was investigated for seven violations but in a plea deal, he agreed to plead guilty to two, to drop other charges.

The Florida Commission on Ethics says they did not find what they call a 'corrupt intent' and say these types of cases are not uncommon. They also say this is not a case where they would ask for suspension of any kind, so Garner is still serving as city manager for Chattahoochee.