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Charges Dropped In PAC Complaint

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 3, 2008

PORT RICHEY - The Florida Elections Commission has dismissed all but one count of an eight-count complaint against two members of a now-defunct political action committee, accused of violating state laws in the run-up to the 2006 municipal elections.

At a May 16 meeting, the nine-member commission ruled that Robert Goluba, a dentist and co-founder of Port Richey Citizens for Lower Taxes, had not willfully violated state election laws and ordered the four-count complaint against him dismissed in its entirety.

PAC co-founder Steve Johnston, a radiologist, was found to have violated one count in a four-count complaint and ordered to pay a $211 fine. The other counts were dismissed.

The results of that hearing in Tallahassee were released Monday.

The ruling went against an FEC staff recommendation and a finding of probable cause that concluded the pair had failed to report contributions to the PAC, among other allegations.

A 14-count elections complaint, filed by city employee Samuel Patrick Mullican, alleged Johnston and Goluba had failed to report PAC contributions in a timely manner, filed inaccurate reports and authorized expenditures without sufficient funds in the account.

On Nov. 14, the FEC found probable cause both men had violated four counts each.

Both faced possible fines of as much as $1,000 for each violation.

Their attorney, Mark Herron of Tallahassee, could not be reached for comment.

Previously, Johnston and Goluba claimed they had done nothing wrong and alleged the elections complaint was orchestrated by opponents of efforts to dissolve the city.

Like candidates for public office, political action committees are required to maintain campaign accounts and report their donations and expenditures on a quarterly basis.

In its ruling, the commission said Johnston had willfully signed a check for $2,119 for legal services knowing there were insufficient funds in the account.

At the time, the committee's account balance was $90.89. Johnston made a deposit to the account the next day to cover the expenditure, but the over-written check was listed on the PAC's financial statements and submitted to the county's elections supervisor.

In the 2006 elections, the group, which for several years advocated dissolving this waterfront city of 3,200, supported a drive to oust three incumbent council members who opposed dissolution by raising money and support for a trio of challengers.

Voters responded in the biggest election upset in Port Richey's 82-year history.

But the election never resolved the thorny question of disbanding the city, and one year later, two members of the political action committee ran for seats on the city council.

Johnston campaigned on a pro-dissolution platform against Richard Rober, while Mark Hashim, also a PAC member, ran against three-term council incumbent Phyllis Grae. Hashim, an anesthesiologist, won by 11 votes. Johnston lost by 56 votes.

Voters also rejected a nonbinding referendum on dissolution by 55 percent. If the straw poll had been approved, it would have begun the process of doing away with the city.

The PAC disbanded shortly after the elections.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at cwade@ tampatrib.com or (727) 815-1082.

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