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Originally published February 8, 2010
Dockery calls for Republican Party of Florida 'to come clean' on expenditures
Declaring that "it's time to come clean," state Sen. Paula Dockery today called on candidates for her party's chairmanship to endorse full disclosure of the Florida Republican Party's troubled finances.
Republican National Committeewoman Sharon Day of Fort Lauderdale, who is challenging state Sen. John Thrasher of Jacksonville for the GOP chairmanship, said she would have a thorough audit of the party's books if she is elected at a meeting on Feb. 20.
She said she doesn't know if disclosing all credit-card charges and other financial matters is required by months of controversy over spending by outgoing Chairman Jim Greer and his staff.
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Thrasher could not be reached early this afternoon.
Greer last month announced his resignation amid demands from state committee members and major donors, many of whom said they would not raise money for the state GOP as long as he remained at the helm. Since then, a secret contract paying former GOP executive director Delmar Johnson nearly $200,000 for fund-raising has come to light.
Greer recalled all party-issued American Express cards last year after subpoenaed records indicated that former House Speaker had charged nearly $174,000 in questionable expenses on his. But Greer has steadfastly refused to open charge records of other party officials.
Dockery, R-Lakeland, is running for governor against Attorney General Bill McCollum. She wrote to Day and Thrasher Monday, saying the party has to release charge slips of elected officials and party officials who were given GOP credit cards for political expenses. Even though it is not legally required, she said, full disclosure is necessary to rebuild confidence in the party.
"It's time to come clean," Docker wrote. "You know the anger that exists among Republicans across Florida about our party's free-spending ways. Seriously, how do you ask everyday folks to contribute whatever they can, then refuse to let them see the credit-card costs for communicating our message?"
Thrasher's district office said he was in Tallahassee on business. Day said she was not sure if the party should release all of its credit records but that, if elected chairman, she would order an audit of all finances. She did not say whether she would then release that audit.
"I don't know if there's a downside or an upside to releasing the records," said Day. "Releasing everybody's American Express records may be the right decision. We need to do an audit of the books because we really don't know how bad the situation is."
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| Florida Capital Bureau Staff
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