ICYMI: FL GOP on the Warpath

Ortiz complaint dismissed; GOP goes on the warpath

Florida House lawyers have dismissed a complaint filed against Republican Senate candidate Belinda Ortiz by a Rollins College student, deciding there was no evidence she had improperly lobbied lawmakers.

The complaint was filed Monday by John Watson, a college student who has been active with the college's Young Democrat club, who alleged she had lobbied without registering with the state based on her biography on the campaign Web site. Ortiz is running against Democratic Orlando Sen. Gary Siplin, whose campaign refused to comment on the complaint.

After the Sentinel reported the complaint, Florida Democrats put out a statement Tuesday that read "It's a shame to see that the Culture of Corruption remains alive and well with Belinda Ortiz and the Republican Party."

But a day after the ink dried, House Rules Chairman David Rivera, R-Miami, dismissed the complaint Tuesday afternoon, writing to Watson that it was "based entirely on a political camapign web page, not on your personal knowledge."

Immediately, the state Republican Party went on the warpath accusing the Siplin campaign of "taking advantage of a college student."

“Gary Siplin is the last person who should be hurling ethics accusations against someone else,” said RPOF spokeswoman Erin VanSickle in a statement. “While Belinda Ortiz is clearly innocent of these misleading complaints, Gary Siplin is far from being vindicated of his charges—including a felony conviction.”

“Gary Siplin and the Florida Democrats should explain to Florida taxpayers why they are spending time fabricating complaints against others instead of working to pay back the money he owes Floridians,” she continued. “A convicted felon who refuses to pay child support simply cannot use the words ‘ethics’ and ‘culture of corruption’ and expect people to take him seriously, and both he and Karen Thurman should be ashamed of themselves.”

In an e-mail to the Sentinel, Watson said he was a registered Republican and had filed the complaint because "I believe in good government."

But Rollins College Democrats President Jonathan "Yoni" Binstock said Tuesday that Watson is a member of the group. Binstock said the group has not been involved in local races, and is focused on the presidential contest. Binstock said his group also did not sanction Watson's effort to file a complaint against Ortiz.

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