Tampabay.com
DECEMBER 18, 2008

Thurman wants feds to investigate Sansom

Thurmanletter Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman today sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney in Tallahassee requesting an investigation into Ray Sansom's dealings in a $6-million airport project that may have been designed to help a private developer.

In a letter to the Acting United States Attorney for Northern Florida Thomas F. Kirwin, Thurman wrote: "The Times/Herald reported that more than $6-million of the money he delivered to the college was to build a hanger at the Destin Airport, on land controlled by Sansom's friend and major donor Jay Odom. Despite being funded by taxpayer dollars, this hanger would be used by Odom most of the time to store his jets according to the Times/Herald, citing documents and Odom's airport operations manager. On Dec. 14, 2008 the Times/Herald reported that they obtained emails between NFSC President Bob Richburg and Sansom, where "Richburg suggested that when they all were together, Sansom should thank the board for "accepting responsibility" for an emergency training center at Destin Airport," further suggesting that the airport building was to be used by Odom."

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