The question never may be answered because of a prolonged silence by the people with the power to judge Sansom: his colleagues in the Florida House.
On Nov. 18, the day Sansom became speaker, he got an unadvertised $110,000 job at a local college that looks like a thank-you for his skill at earmarking public money for the school in Niceville. Sansom has been under intense criticism for weeks, following revelations that he secured millions more than expected and that public college money aided a private businessman's aviation project.
Something else happened Nov. 18. Sansom and the House re-enacted procedural rules, including those governing members' conduct.
Rule 15.1 states: "Legislative office is a trust to be performed with integrity in the public interest. … By personal example and by admonition to colleagues whose behavior may threaten the honor of the lawmaking body, the member shall watchfully guard the responsibility of office. To this end, each member shall be accountable to the House for violations of this rule."
Rule 15.4 (b) states: "A member shall not allow personal employment to impair the member's independence of judgment in the exercise of official duties."
House Democratic leader Franklin Sands two weeks ago urged Sansom to explain his actions on using the budget to help the college, lest they "fester" and "cast a haze over the Legislature and its work."
Sansom's fellow Republicans have said nothing. A rare exception is freshman Rep. Rachel Burgin, 26, of Brandon, who told BayNews 9's Political Connections: "To be honest, it's a little bit difficult. People hold us responsible for actions, regardless who the leader is."
The silence is not surprising. After all, the Florida Legislature is a closed society with its own rituals and rules. But a public already outraged over Sansom's conduct appears to be now growing more impatient with his colleagues' refusal to even address it.
"Our household is so disgusted with the current Florida legislators for not speaking out and condemning what Speaker Sansom has done in enriching himself and bestowing favors to his college," Marilyn Weaver wrote to two Pinellas lawmakers.
"Why isn't he being investigated?" Arnold Gundersen pointedly asked Rep. John Legg, R-New Port Richey.
Fred Buchholtz of Safety Harbor wrote: "I had hoped that some action would have been taken by now to end the embarrassment to the Florida Legislature and the affront to Florida's taxpayers."
Dave Mulholland of Spring Hill wrote to lawmakers to praise MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, who excoriated Sansom. "(He) said what all of the cowards in Tallahassee have been afraid to say."
This prolonged silence by Sansom's colleagues can be viewed in one of two ways.
As speaker, Sansom holds life-or-death power over members' lives, from parking spaces to committee assignments, so they fear retribution if they criticize him.
By staying silent, however, Republicans in closely contested districts run the risk of handing a juicy political issue to Democrats in 2010.
On the other hand, the legislative silence is troubling for Sansom, too, since nobody will publicly defend him in a time of crisis.
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