- November 14, 2024
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Flagler County Sheriff James L. Mafre will not fight a $6,200 fine issued against him by the Florida Commission on Ethics, he said in a statement released to the local press May 24.
Manfre has changed his mind before on whether to appeal the fine, saying before the Ethics Commission ruled that he would not appeal its decision, then saying in March that he would appeal if the commission ruled against him, and now, after the deadline to appeal has passed, saying he has decided not to.
"I believe strongly that based on the circumstances in this case, ones that have been unfair, unjust and far-reaching, that I would have prevailed at the district court of appeals. Although it is in my nature to fight against injustice, there is also wisdom in knowing when to move on," Manfre wrote in the statement.
Manfre pointed out the apparent discrepancy between the $6,200 fine levied against him and the $500 fine levied against former sheriff Don Fleming, and noted that the amount the Ethics Commission had considered fining him had changed several times.
"I also ask people to look at the stark differences between what I experienced and what others have experienced with the Florida Commission on Ethics," he wrote. "In my case, the commission gave me a $6,200 fine and a public censure. Remember, this was a proposed fine that began at $1,500 and rose as high as $19,000 during the commission process."
Read his full statement below.
