State Rep Candidate Explains His Criminal Record !
Politics is one nasty business.
And for one of the candidates for State Representative, District 92, this week proved just how nasty it can get.
I received a call. It was a well known, behind the scenes political operative.
He had the goods on State Representative Candidate Mark LaFontaine, and he wanted me to have them - (I guess it had something to do with this blog!) He asked if he could meet up with me and give me the documents.
I told him to meet me at a local coffee shop in twenty minutes. If the matter was bull, at least I'd get a cup of Joe out of it. It wasn't bull. It was pretty serious stuff.
LaFontaine's most recent problems were in 2005 and 2006 : A Default Judgement in a civil lawsuit, an eviction from a rental apartment, and driving on a suspended licence.
The most serious charges are old, from 1992, and include an arrest during a domestic dispute for Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting Arrest with Violence, and Trespassing.
I know Lafontaine, and I like him. He has been a civic activist for a long time. He is mostly known as the Boy Scout / Eagle Scout that fought the Boy Scouts of America for keeping gays out of their organization. He has guts.
When I called him to tell him what I had been given, he didn't collapse, and didn't seem all that surprised. I offered him an opportunity to explain, through this blog, why voters should still vote for him knowing of the problems in his background.
His explanation follows:
Character Counts
By Mark LaFontaine,
Candidate for Florida Legislature, District 92
It's always interesting to see the type of character a person exudes as an individual, especially when that person is a candidate for public office.
As an Eagle Scout and military veteran, I want to be sure that voters know that I am an open book when it comes to my past. Since I filed for the District 92 House seat last year in March, I have invited voters to research me on the Internet, and to read about my past history, my present civic activities and my future goals for the community when elected as the next Florida State Representative for District 92.
The character traits that I cherish most about myself are my honesty and integrity.
I admit, and this is not news: I have a few knocks against me. But in the interest of full disclosure, let me be up front about what they are, lest voters get swayed by misleading direct mail.
The truth on Mark's "domestic dispute".
In 1992, I had a domestic dispute with my longtime partner over a personal issue, which was verbal in nature. The police arrived at our apartment and asked me to leave -- I refused. I was then jumped on, beaten (suffering two cracked vertebrae) and arrested, spending about 5 days in jail, clothed only in a pair of jogging shorts and placed in the "AIDS faggot" cell. The police report indicated a series of events that did not take place, resulting in 4 serious charges. In fact, my partner at the time was told to sign the statement or face imprisonment himself.
The two most severe charges were dropped because they never happened, and I plead "no-contest" to the others based upon the advice of counsel. There was no conviction under the plea deal and adjudication was withheld. I dispute the charges in the original report and have a sworn affidavit from my former partner declaring what happened and what didn't, although I agree there was no excuse for those actions that happened when I was in my early 20s.
The truth on Mark's "traffic issues".
In 2003, I was involved in a car accident where my vehicle was "T-boned." At no time was I cited, ticketed or arrested. I had had a drink or two for my birthday, but no DUI was reported. The police officer at the scene stated that he smelled no alcohol and that I was coherent and alert.
As is typical in these situations, there was a judgment against me personally from the other drivers' insurance company, and my license was suspended and my registration delayed. I was not made aware of this judgment until 2006 and in fact was led to believe that my insurance company - which is now out of business -- would pay the claim. Once notified, I took immediate steps to make monthly payments and am pursuing my legal options against my insurance company for full settlement of the claim.
The truth on Mark's "eviction situation".
After Hurricane Wilma, several tenants, myself included, told the management company of our Fort Lauderdale apartment that we were not able to pay our rent due to the lack of business/work immediately following the hurricane and its devastating effect on the local economy. Everyone who was here then remembers what it was like for several weeks - no school, no work, no electricity or phones. I knew my clientele of mainly small businesses would be back on their own feet themselves and all would be taken care of within the month. The management company took an unusually hard line against us tenants, and said that anyone who was late would be evicted. The management company had my last month and security deposit for the outstanding rent, which they kept. No funds were outstanding when I moved out of the building. I will note that my subsequent landlords have always been paid on time, as they will all attest.
What this all means.
Let me be clear, I take full responsibility for my actions and what has happened to me over the years. I'm human and I've made mistakes. I get kicked down and pick myself up again. That's why I have a direct connection to the voters. Real people have real problems, and they want to support someone who has lived and understands their problems.
As an accountant, my clients rely upon me to manage their financial situations and to guide them in their decisions. While my personal life has had some bumps, my clients have praised my professionalism and dedication to my work. This will be true of the community as well.
I can stand before the voters and say, "Here's the situation. And here's how I fixed it." That's the approach I'll take if you elect me.
I could have had my records expunged or sealed so they were hidden, but actively chose not to. I have nothing to hide.
I'm proud of the campaign I have been running -- a positive, issues-oriented campaign that has reached out to voters throughout the district. I have major supporters, including US Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, who recognizes that my accounting and financial experience, my military service, and my work in the Broward community will provide District 92 with a well-rounded representative.
As a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, I needed to pass an intensive background screening by the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Coast Guard in order to receive my security clearance. All of these issues were raised, discussed and deemed not worthy of concern at the highest levels of the US Government.
The bottom line: If you want a Representative who is honest and with content in his character, then vote for me.
Mark LaFontaine
So there it is. I'll be interested in your comments.... ciao, Tim
I try hard not judge personal lives of anyone. I place private personal issues of Public Servants as not my business and what I have read in this story- Mr Lafontain has explained and it reads believable. I only judge issues that effect there duties as a public servant. But, if a public servant lies or is proved to be dishonest, I would be concerned what they may do concerning serving the public.
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Tim,
If you wanted to be taken seriously, as a blogger, you should not use words so loosely ie: Criminal, the meaning of which according to the dictionary is:
a person guilty or convicted of a crime
check you facts there is no record of a conviction. Where do you get off using the word CRIMINAL?
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"was a well known, behind the scenes political operative"....
I think that kind of says it all - if this operative is working for one of the other candidates in this race, that candidate should be ashamed of themselves and is not worthy of a position of trust in the Florida legislature.
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Criminal record? The headline is extremely misleading and wrong. Maybe it should have said: "Honest discussion with Mark."
If this is the best his opponents have on him, then Mark shouldn't be worried. Mark is the hardest working candidate I have seen in this race. He is honest, knowledgeable, and smart. Nothing in this blog post changes my view about him.
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Lafontaine did PLEA GUILTY
Mark did you not try to bite a cop knowing you had HIV? You plead out to Assaulting a Police Officer despite what you said, that is a serious charge.
92-12969 CF 10 A that is the clerks case # why did you have your name spelled wrong on it? Guess you thought no one would find it that way?
If you didnt do it why plea guilty? Did you not plea guilty? If the police battered you why didnt you sue them? IA complaints? Nope.
You are a criminal and a deadbeat.
I do know that neither of your opponents have such histories in the Court system.
How could you put $16,000 into your campaign when you have two judgments against you for $18,000 a piece.
Despite what you say most people do not get arrested and/or have thousands of judgments against them nor have their driving privleges suspended for it.
Do your opponents have such problems as this?
How about answering some real questions...
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Your comment "bite a cop knowing you had HIV" is one of the most ignorant comments I have heard in a long time. This ignorance and fear of gay people is still alive today, as was during a the "domestic abuse" in 1992. I have a hard time believing the cops treated gay couples fairly (and I am being generous with my language here) back in 1992 considering what they do to gay people 16 years later.
If this is coming out of the Newton camp, who claims to be gay-supportive, then every gay person who supports Newton needs to think twice. We need gay leaders, and not "gay-supportive" people who will throw us under the bus when we are no longer helpful to them.
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There are more HIV/Aids affected citizens within the black culture, drug users & the street walkers. (much less in the gay community)
Why should one base an opinion on one because he/she is "Gay." No I am not gay but have a couple of true friends that are.
Why must it always be a gay issue? As I am not "gay" I have friends that are & I would support them in any fund raiser if I was capable of doing so.
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This sounds like a complete case of desperate, dirty politics on the part of LaFontaine's opponents. I applaud him for standing up and being honest. It makes me respect him even more.
It seems obvious that his opponents (and the "well known, behind the scenes political operative") could learn a lesson or two from LaFontaine. I wonder if the other candidates will denounce these kind of under-handed, dirty attacks and stick to the real issues in the campaign. Perhaps they know they would lose if they did.
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Tim, Tim, Tim: What a soap opera of an interview. I hope the coffee was worth your time! One of those he said, he said affairs. When at long last will you learn that there are three sides to every story: yours, mine and the truth. Heaven knows which side you got for your coffee.
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Gaskill must be working overtime on that statement.
Sadly the police report will be published soon and the people can decide on who's version to believe.
For someone who claims to accept responsibility you sure like to blame others....
Its the cops fault... so they showed up at your house unannounced NO. your boyfriend called them I would imagine.
Its the insurance companies fault, you were served with a lawsuit and you failed to contest it it looks like. Again someone elses fault. Did you have insurance to cover the other persons car? If so lets see it.
The landlords fault. You didnt pay your rent you were evicted. You could have gone to court to fight it or at least fight for your security deposit and you didnt. Sound like you knew you were wrong again, but its someone elses fault.
I am sorry taking responsbility is not putting your spin on it to make it look good for you. Its saying "I" was wrong.
I am sorry but despite what you say most people have not been on probation, plea guilty to things they didnt do, drive around without insurance, welch on debts, drive on a suspended license etc.
I hear you have another judgment in Broward as well for almost $20,000 from Ford. How do you explain that one? Whose fault is that debt?
Mark how do you explain owing these people money yet you can put $16000 of your own money into the race?
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Gaskill is that you?
If this information is public record then the public has the right to know about it and judge it accordingly. Tim if these are documented public records then if you have them you should publish them and let the electorate decide.
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At least, LaFontaine admitted to his past before the elections, so that the citizens know before hand. I give him "credit" for this. You as a voter within this district has to decide who you want to represent you.
We have "Politicians" across the country that get voted for & than the "dirty laundry" comes out! I would rather know up front.
Mark is so correct~ he is a human being & all of us makes mistakes, some worse than others but the fact is we learn through our mistakes, & try our best to grow from them. I am a great believer of giving one a second chance.
As I do not live in Mark's district I wish all that do the best. It is your voice that will be heard come election day.
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He didn't "admit" anything until confronted about it by Tim. That is why the "operative" did nothing wrong if in fact these are public records. The people have the right to know and make an informed decision. I am sorry I do live in this District and while I believe a person should not be hung for one's life mistakes these are very serious mistakes. People that get in car accidents and leave insurance companies holding the bag are part of the reason my rates goes up. As well anyone who drinks and gets behind the wheel of a car is not a responsible person, just because they didn't get arrested for DUI does not make drinking a driving right. Mark has claimed that he can be a good Representative because of his ability to responsibly manage his business and his clients finances. This seems suspect if he has financial judgments against him in the recent past. As well, successful business people usually do get elected. The criminal thing, a youthful indiscretion this is not, he apparently (based on the clerk of court computer system) plead guilty to assaulting a police officer. Youthful indiscretions may be getting caught with a joint or a beer or peeing in public, not assaulting a police officer.
Did Mr. Lafontaine write that response or was it a campaign person. Seems very similar to Cindy's first denial that she didn't steal the postage. Why would someone reference themselves in the third person?
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I can't believe Tim you would allow someone to come on here and smear Mark saying he had HIV let alone knowingly try to infect an officer by biting him. Is there any proof to any of this?
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I would not have allowed this comment had it not been backed up by public records..........Tim
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Tim, I know that within my heart that you would never post anything in this blog if you did not have the information or facts to back it up. Your an honest man, maybe the only honest "politican" I know that is up front & honest (other than Jack Seiler)
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Absolutely. I've been an avid reader of this blog since it first started and I for one know that Tim wouldn't publish something unless he "had the goods".
Given the environment back in 1992, I am shocked that this guy would bite a police officer knowing he was HIV positive at the time. Notwithstanding what's been written bashing Tim and supporting Mark on this issue, the fact remains that act alone could have resulted in much more serious charges. I remember that there was an attempted murder prosecution of a woman who was sleeping with dozens of men after she knew she had been infected with HIV.
Mark should be ashamed of himself.
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Tim
I am sorry, you are an honest guy. I just thought it was more dirty politics.
Rico
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this is obviously being pushed by naugle types. god forbid a gay man gets elected to a position of power. fort lauderdale has treated gay domestic violence just as mark described. so someone had some debts, what's the big deal he says he is making payments. Its time this growing gay area is represented by a good gay man. This is why I am voting for Mark and Cindi for Mayor against that turncoat Sieler.
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Right on. This is an obvoius attempt to smear Mark because he is gay. People will have to accept that the gay community is the backbone of Fort Lauderdale and will show this on electiond day. Keep your chin up Mark. The gay community is well aware of the police harassment you described. Once you are elected you can pas laws to show these cops a thing or two.
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Truth seeker, sounds like that loser, the failed, gay publisher and Newton operative. If Newton is in anyway close to this it could cost him this race. The blow back from this is going to be huge. Go ahead K & Mark K you are going to lose too. The Gay blow back will cost the Mayor who went sleaze his career and the career of a few more too.
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I don't get how this is sleeze, these appear to be matters of public record. It is for the people to decide if they care or not. I would understand this stuff being called sleeze if it was based on rumor or innuendo but Tim has said its all public record. Don't the people have the right to know the background of the people they are voting for whether good or bad?
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Who is fabricating all these "fort lauderdale cops hate gays" comments? I haven't lived down here my entire life, but when has there been a publicized incident of the police harassing gays? Don't confuse Naugle with the police.
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Having lived in here in the early 1990's there was a time when the FTL PD wasn't kind to GLBT folk. Same with the Sherriff's office.
Remember the Nick Navarro "Raid" on the Copa with all the TV cameras and the TV show "Cops" there?
To their credit they have gotten much better. But like any large organization, it only takes one or two to bring discrace on an entire organization.
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Everyone who reads this should contact all of LaFountaine's opponents, to tell the nut job who keeps posting this garbage link to all of the other blogs, to STOP. They all should campaign with out the slime and campaign on their own record, not their opponent's record. If Newton knows this fool, he should shut him down, or suffer the blowback
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Blowback? Isnt that the root of all the problems?
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Anyone who knows Scott Newton knows that he would never condone such activities. Scott has been the frontrunner in this race since day one he has no need to get invovled with dirty business. I for one am glad that someone posted this on a sun sentinal article as I would have never seen it otherwise. I was going to vote for Scott anyway but learing what I did about Lafontane on here confirms for me that Scott is the better man for the job.
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The gay community has double standards. When a straight guy bites a police officer during a confrontation with a girlfriend, there is Hell to pay. Two gay guys fighting is called foreplay.
Lafontaine is not qualified to represent the people of Broward County. He should focus on getting his life together.
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Little doubt this was Richardson.
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BTW To- Scott's Shill, Newton has never been the front runner, he is even way behind Clark-Reed,he is not even getting 10 percent in the polls
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Dear Mr. Smith
I found a link to your Blog on the Sun Sentinal website. While I dont live in the District (PB County) I thought the way you addressed this issue by giving the candidate his say was very professional. I think you have done a great job here and it seems odd that the real newspapers have not picked up on this story. While I dont know what to believe, I agree with a previous poster who says the public has a right to be informed of public record and make their own decision. As someone who voted for former Cong. Mark Foley twice I sure wish I knew then what I know now.
Keep up the good work.
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Give it up Harris, you are making a fool out of yourself and Scott
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who is harris?
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oppoman123@gmail.com
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what is that? harris who? If you know who it is that is doing this why dont you just say so. Seems like someone is just making all this up
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Typical behavior. Broward County doesn't need this Nutcase in politics.
Go play footsie with your buddies and leave serious business to others.
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In my old age I have learned that not every arrest is righteous and not every charge is on the up and up. Being Gay is not a battle I indulge in...but I dont like Drama Queens. Naugle has taken the play out of the pup in that arena. Quite frankly, I have to wonder what motives almost any candidate has? If its just to further the Gay agenda, I am over that too..Candidates need to understand their constituents run the gambit of concerns..old, young, straight, gay or purple all of us have agendas. But more than that, any person who is gonna throw their hat in the ring had better stand up to the old guard in my book..The sitting powers that be have gotten us in a fine mess, and I say boot them..They are self serving power hungry and usually beholding to people who dont have "Joe Blows interest at heart. In fact one really has to wonder why someone would willingly jump into the pit of vipers that sits in Ft. Lauderdale.
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A lot of good it did Scott Newton to send out mailers attacking Mark's past. Perhaps, if he had stuck to the issues he would have performed better than a distant 2nd. It was a shameful and ugly attack campaign that got him nowhere. I hope he is proud of himself. Alas, many of us are disgusted with him. Thank goodness for term limits.
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Unfortunately, I learned that Scott Newton is not term limited in his current role as Mayor of Wilton Manors. He will need to be replaced.
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