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2 Political Activists FaceElectionPanel

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 10, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Two members of a now-defunct political action committee are expected to appear before the Florida Elections Commission next Thursday to face charges that they violated numerous state laws in the run-up to the 2006 municipal elections.

At a Nov. 14 closed-door hearing, the nine-member commission found probable cause that Steve Johnston and Robert Goluba, co-founders of Port Richey Citizens for Lower Taxes, had failed to report campaign-related contributions, among other allegations.

Under state law, Goluba and Johnston are entitled to appear before the commission to challenge the findings. Both men face up to $1,000 in fines for each violation.

"They have the right to file an appeal and appear before the commission or they could just settle the matter and pay the fines," said Patsy Rushing, an FEC spokeswoman.

Johnston, a radiologist, and Goluba, a dentist, could not be reached for comment Friday and their attorney, Mark Herron of Tallahassee, did not return a telephone call.

Previously, both defendants claimed they did nothing intentionally wrong.

The PAC, which for several years advocated dissolving this waterfront city of 3,200, disbanded after the 2006 spring elections in which Johnston lost a mayoral bid.

A 14-count FEC complaint, filed by part-time city employee Samuel Patrick Mullican, alleged that Johnston and Goluba failed to report PAC contributions to the state in a timely manner and filed inaccurate reports to the state dealing with its expenditures.

The FEC found probable cause that both men had violated four counts each.

For years, Port Richey Citizens for Lower Taxes had pushed the city council to hold a referendum asking residents whether they supported dissolving their government.

The group argued that city residents pay more in property taxes and for water and other services than do people living in unincorporated Pasco County. The answer, Citizens for Lower Taxes said, was to disband the city government and to become unincorporated.

In the elections, the group supported a drive to oust three incumbent council members by raising money and support for a trio of challengers the committee thought backed the cause. Voters responded with the biggest election upset in Port Richey's 82-year history.

The newly elected council members, however, backed away from campaign pledges to support dissolution. A year later, members of the political action committee ran for office.

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.

Voters also rejected a nonbinding referendum on dissolution by 55 percent. If the straw poll had been approved, it would have set into motion the process of disbandment.

Several months after April's election, the PAC disbanded.

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

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