Florida lawmaker steered extra millions to college he now works for

TALLAHASSEE — Last spring, the agency overseeing Florida's colleges made a list of budget requests in what was one of the leanest years in modern history.

Northwest Florida State College was slated to get $1-million for a building project.

Yet when lawmakers signed off on the budget in May, the school had snagged $25.5-million — the single largest project of any college.

For that, it could thank state Rep. Ray Sansom, the Destin Republican who controlled the House budget.

The assistance, documented in a memo the St. Petersburg Times obtained this week through a public records request, highlights the close relationship between Sansom and the college president, Bob Richburg.

Last week that affiliation burst into public view when Sansom was given a $110,000 job as a vice president at the college.

It came on the same day Sansom was sworn in as speaker of the Florida House, a juxtaposition that has elicited cries of cronyism.

Sansom, who has a master's degree in education, denies any correlation and says he was merely doing his job as a citizen legislator.

But the extra $24.5-million was not the only boon to the school, renamed Northwest Florida State College in July under legislation Sansom supported that boosted the school's ability to offer bachelor's degrees.

State records show the college received $1-million more than initially budgeted for an extension center in Walton County and $105,000 more than initially budgeted for general renovation.

Sansom also got $750,000 added to the budget for "startup funds" for the college's leadership institute, according to records the House released Wednesday. The Times reported last week that it got $200,000, but that was based on a preliminary request.

The amount ballooned some time before a Dec. 5, 2007, meeting between Sansom and college president Richburg. A memo from the meeting details how the two discussed accelerating funding — hence $1-million becoming $25.5-million.

That was the single-largest public education capital outlay (PECO) award for community college projects this year.

Not even Miami-Dade College, which has 160,000 students to Northwest Florida State College's 15,000, fared better in a single budget line.

The $31.1-million in overall PECO funds the college secured this year topped the $23-million awarded to Pasco-Hernando Community College and the $16.8-million given to St. Petersburg College.

It is important to consider that building projects have different time lines, so a one-year snapshot only tells part of the story. And the money provided this year could have come down the road, though the budget crisis could have hurt those prospects.

Nonetheless, Northwest Florida State College's success is notable given controversy surrounding Sansom's hiring last week. He is expected to become a full-time employee next summer.

It comes as lawmakers will likely have to return to Tallahassee next month or in January to cut hundreds of millions from the current budget due to rapidly declining tax revenue. And next spring, when a new budget is assembled, lawmakers face a shortfall approaching $6-billion.

Sansom has already said that no money for pet projects will be approved in the coming year.

Sansom and Richburg deny a quid pro quo. "I'm qualified for this job. I'm well qualified," Sansom, 46, said last week.

At the college, Sansom will oversee development and planning, including oversight of grant acquisition, fostering relations with the business community and overseeing a training school for emergency response teams.

He has a long relationship with the school. In the 1980s, he put himself through what was then Okaloosa-Walton Community College. His wife also attended.

Sansom said the college, located in Niceville near his hometown of Destin, is a vital player in the emergence of the region and can train a legion of new professionals, boosting the economy.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity," Sansom said. "I term out in two years, and I want to make my permanent home there at the college."

Comments on this article

by Sentinel	Nov 30, 2008 12:00 AM
Charlie Crist is useless as a governor, All talk not action. Let's juast keep screwing the florida residents so they can move to other states.

by Richard	Nov 29, 2008 11:49 PM
What else is new A crook Put him in jail Hang onto your wallet taxpayers It just started, waiit until the Bailouts kick in The pigs will be feeding at the trough

by jes	Nov 29, 2008 11:49 PM
Jail the CROOK

by Eric	Nov 29, 2008 9:01 PM
His quote at the end says it all - I'M very excited...I term out....I want to make MY permanent home - it's all about him - You know Mr. Sansom, you can't get your reputation back (if you had any)

by Karlos	Nov 29, 2008 8:59 PM
Got to get that "high five" up for his retirement. A few years at $110,000 will do the trick.

by James	Nov 29, 2008 8:54 PM
it's working - the self-interested politicians are succeeding in making people opt out and not participate. don't let their selfish, greedy behavior scare you.. vote the bums out, call their office and complain, write letters

by Rodger	Nov 29, 2008 8:49 PM
This gives all of Florida politics a bad name. Sansom should be made to give ALL of it back and do public service hours.

by Buster	Nov 29, 2008 8:41 PM
JH @ 9:41A, ...this is the StPeteTimes for crying out loud. You know, State Politics. We are in Florida, people are suffering here and that is the topic and concern for me right now.

by m48tanker	Nov 29, 2008 8:38 PM
typical repub way of doing business.

by JT	Nov 29, 2008 8:37 PM
Florida is 50th in per pupil funding. Jeb came into office with two things in mind defund public education and privatize. Marco Rubio was set up at FIU as a fundraiser after FIU cut some 36 programs due to the budget shortfall. Can you say SHAMELESS!

by Fred	Nov 29, 2008 8:36 PM
Hey VOR, he is a Republican, not that it matters, he is pond scum

by gator	Nov 29, 2008 8:34 PM
Another example of olde time politics that needs CHANGE. We need CHANGE in Tallahassee and in Washington both!!!

by gator	Nov 29, 2008 8:34 PM
Another example of olde time politics that needs CHANGE. We need CHANGE in Tallahassee and in Washington both!!!

by attentive	Nov 29, 2008 8:28 PM
Hey Leary; Try investigating the honorable?? C.W. Bill Young and/or Formar honorable?? state senator Sullivan and their relationship to bacon, jobs and St. Petersburg College. Go over to the Seminole campus and ask to see Young's palatial office.

by Jess Wonderin	Nov 29, 2008 1:17 PM
"I term out in two years, and I want to make my permanent home there at the college." . . . if only WE ALL could handsomely "FUND" our retirement at TAXPAYER expense . . . way to go Florida!!!!

by JH	Nov 28, 2008 9:41 PM
Where was the Times when Michelle Obama's employer got a 1 million dollar earmark, then she got a 100k raise?

by Scott	Nov 28, 2008 9:40 PM
"A system unchecked, is a system run amuck." The check exists -- its called democratic elections. However, as long as the majority of the electorate relies on the R or D next to the name rather than educating themselves, things will remain corrupt.

by Mary	Nov 28, 2008 9:38 PM
Oink, oink, oink, oink, as he feeds from the trough ang as he readies himself to slash services to the needy and jobs in the next special session.

by Tim	Nov 28, 2008 7:55 PM
These guys (elected crooks) they don't even try to hide it any more. When caught they take pride in their actions. Shame on you Sansom you make used car salesman look honest. What about the rest of the Florida house is anyone going to speak up.

by Reality	Nov 28, 2008 7:40 PM
Now that Sansom has made himself a laughingstock in Florida I wonder what stunt he'll pull next to embarrass himself nationally?

by Larry	Nov 28, 2008 7:40 PM
Its about time these guys should be getting some hard jail time for their actions. Thats the only way to stop them from stealing from the citizens both in Florida and in Washington.

by Gilbert	Nov 28, 2008 7:39 PM
A system unchecked, is a system run amuck.

by Chip	Nov 28, 2008 5:34 PM
Gov. Crist definitely needs to become involved in this fiscal hijacking. Congratulations to Alex Leary for breaking this sleazy misappropriation of funds. Keep digging on these two weasels, Alex. Sansom certainly wrote a sweet ticket for himself.

by CKuttler	Nov 28, 2008 5:34 PM
I have been hiring you Tallahassee guys for years and you have to go and show me up like this just when I got cleared about $64,000.00 a year.

by Glenn	Nov 28, 2008 5:30 PM
Crilly @ 10:39 AM. Oh, Democrats are 100% perfect. I think, we, the tax paying citizens, need to start reevaluating how our gov't does business / is run. A lot of politicians have got to be the most unethical people in a professional industry.

by Glenn	Nov 28, 2008 5:30 PM
Issywise @ 8:56 AM said it best. Party affiliation does not dictate character.

by tom	Nov 28, 2008 5:29 PM
By the way....WHAT is a Leadership Institute ??? AND, WHAT do I get out of it as a TAXPAYER ??

by Melinda	Nov 28, 2008 5:29 PM
I love the comments from people trying to make cronyism and greed into either Republican or Democratic party traits. This type of behavior is human nature and is quite bi-partisan, people.

by sam	Nov 28, 2008 5:29 PM
I would like the writer to ask the President of NWFC how many OTHER people he intervied besides Sanson ? If he didn't interview others it is against the law and the Univ Pres should resign ride along with Sanson.Morals gut check for the house IMPEACH

by RICK	Nov 28, 2008 5:29 PM
Since Sansom was given a $110,000 job as a vice president at the college and has all kinds of ties to Northwest Florida State College;Therefore he should not be giving them anything and declare a conflict of interest,if not he's just a crook,simple!

by Tommy	Nov 28, 2008 10:39 AM
The Board of Regents kept politics out of college funding. Jeb Bush led the battle to abolish the Board of Regents and it has been wastefull spending ever sicne, like another medical school at FSU meaning we fund three, UF, FSU and Miami, yes Miami.

by Dale	Nov 28, 2008 8:57 AM
Republican cronyism at its finest. We need to have split government. Dems should control one legislative house after the 2010 elections. Either that or vote for a Dem for governor.

by Todd	Nov 28, 2008 8:57 AM
How can this be? $25 Million!?! A 3rd grader could determine that there is much more urgent need for that money. We should bombard Charlie Christ w/ letters and phone calls of outrage!!!

by Issywise	Nov 28, 2008 8:56 AM
Government is a natural resource to be tapped and exploited for the benefit of insiders: The public treasury is a like a precious metal mine. Government's power to regulate is like a river that just keeps on giving---so saith the modern politician.

by VOR	Nov 28, 2008 8:56 AM
People get used to this. The Democrats are in control now...