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Does Pursuit of Public Office Make You Fair Game for Investigation?

Trippy Trekker

Trippy Trekker

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Oct 26, 2016
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Location
Tampa Bay area
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Political Leaning
Slightly Liberal
2 out of 5 of the School Board members in my district acquired positions on the Board without receiving a single vote.

Our five School Board members sit in oversight of a Public System with an annual budget of $420+mil, close to 50,000 students, 80+/- schools (including Charters) and more than 6800 employees.

Florida Governor Scott appointed two of the Board Members. I have ardently sought to find out the Education Credentials of one of them: John Colon.

New Manatee School Board member John Colon at a glance | Bradenton Herald

My email to Mr. Colon went unanswered. My personal letter to Mr. Colon went unanswered. I contacted the Public Record Department asking if Mr. Colon went to college, what college and did he graduate? The Department closed the file on my request without answering any of my pertinent questions.

I spoke by phone to the Communications Director. He cited a Privacy Act and differentiated my request from a Public Record. I exchanged emails and spoke by phone to the main reporter of the most prestigious local newspaper about my concern over Public Access to information. I emailed all the County Commissioners and sent a letter or emailed countless other influential people hoping to have my pertinent questions answered. More than 2 months after initiating this project, my questions remain unanswered.

I consider my questions of Public Interest even if they do not meet a Public Record statutory threshold.

Did Mr. Colon go to college? If yes, when and where? Did Mr. Colon obtain a college degree?

I challenge you to provide and post accurate answers to my questions! Thank you in advance for your research and interest!
 
I'm all for it. If you're running for any public office from dog catcher to president you should have to go through a one year inpatient mental health evaluation, a complete criminal background investigation, a complete national security evaluation and a complete financial evaluation. If ANYTHING turns up you should be prohibited from ever running for any public office again and suffer the legal consequences of any actionable offenses discovered in the background checks. Payment for all these evaluations should have to be out of your own pocket too. This law MUST be retroactive to all current elected officials.

If that doesn't drain the swamp and keep it drained then nothing short of blood in the streets will.
 
Bonus Points (as in a minimum double digit donation to DP in the current month) if you provide with reasonable certainty John Colon's birthdate. My search has narrowed it down to 1951 between March 1 and September 15th.

Again, thank you in advance for your help!
 
Lutherf said:
I'm all for it. If you're running for any public office from dog catcher to president you should have to go through a one year inpatient mental health evaluation, a complete criminal background investigation, a complete national security evaluation and a complete financial evaluation. If ANYTHING turns up you should be prohibited from ever running for any public office again and suffer the legal consequences of any actionable offenses discovered in the background checks. Payment for all these evaluations should have to be out of your own pocket too. This law MUST be retroactive to all current elected officials.

If that doesn't drain the swamp and keep it drained then nothing short of blood in the streets will.
Click to expand...

Off the cuff, I think school board candidates in my district must meet the minimum requirements to vote, live in the district, post $3600 (10% of the annual salary) or obtain a certain threshold of voter signatures ahead of the election.

I certainly think your ideas merit further discussion and debate! Thank you (a LIKE coming if and when available)!
 
Nothing listed on his LinkedIn or Wells Fargo accounts.

https://home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/john.a.colon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-colon-713bba36/

And, if he didn't list in on LinkedIn, I doubt it exists.

Hold up there -- he has a second Linkedin account, which is odd:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-colon-b82b7153/

This one lists Queens College, which is in the CUNY network of colleges. He also lists Queensboro Community College. No degree listed.

I find it odd that he didn't list that on his original Linkedin account.

You have a mystery on your hands.
 
HowardBThiname said:
Nothing listed on his LinkedIn or Wells Fargo accounts.

https://home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/john.a.colon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-colon-713bba36/

And, if he didn't list in on LinkedIn, I doubt it exists.

Hold up there -- he has a second Linkedin account, which is odd:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-colon-b82b7153/

This one lists Queens College, which is in the CUNY network of colleges. He also lists Queensboro Community College. No degree listed.

I find it odd that he didn't list that on his original Linkedin account.

You have a mystery on your hands.
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He served on the Sarasota Housing Authority beginning 6/2/08. His online application included a resume-like letter in which he makes oblique reference to being a product of Queens College Political Science Department.

He really meets my notion of a carpetbagger... moving to Florida in 2000 and reinventing himself. I believe he serves as a puppet for prominent real estate developer Carlos Beruff.
 
To answer your question - yes, if you're pursuing public office you should be the subject of investigation. That's why I'll never run for office. Like others, I have a few skeletons in my closet.

That said, as an SVP with Wells Fargo, you should be able to find good information on him. What is it you're mostly interested in - college?
 
tres borrachos said:
To answer your question - yes, if you're pursuing public office you should be the subject of investigation. That's why I'll never run for office. Like others, I have a few skeletons in my closet.

That said, as an SVP with Wells Fargo, you should be able to find good information on him. What is it you're mostly interested in - college?
Click to expand...

What college? When? Did he obtain a degree? Birthdate?

Gov. Scott previously appointed Mr. Colon to the Florida State Board of Education.
 
Trippy Trekker said:
He served on the Sarasota Housing Authority beginning 6/2/08. His online application included a resume-like letter in which he makes oblique reference to being a product of Queens College Political Science Department.

He really meets my notion of a carpetbagger... moving to Florida in 2000 and reinventing himself. I believe he serves as a puppet for prominent real estate developer Carlos Beruff.
Click to expand...

I had run ins with the Sarasota housing authority in....2004, I think, when I worked with habitats for humanity. My impression? They couldn't find their dick with both hands, lol.

As for this guy, I did a quick search, couldn't find anything more than what Howard found. I'll say this, though. There are people in Tampa who'll find out everything there ever was to know about this guy for 200 bucks, if it's something you're REALY after.
 
KevinKohler said:
I had run ins with the Sarasota housing authority in....2004, I think, when I worked with habitats for humanity. My impression? They couldn't find their dick with both hands, lol.

As for this guy, I did a quick search, couldn't find anything more than what Howard found. I'll say this, though. There are people in Tampa who'll find out everything there ever was to know about this guy for 200 bucks, if it's something you're REALY after.
Click to expand...

Thanks! For now I prefer to spend $200 other ways. By now John Colon probably recognizes my name. IMO, his stonewall tactics stand little long term chance against my steady effort.
 
Today, I had a major breakthrough! School Board Member John Colon spoke to me by phone and admitted he does not have a college degree. No surprise there.

What it took for John Colon to disclose his lack of Education Credentials -

The three school board members elected by voters want voters to approve a one mill property tax increase to boost annual revenue by about $33Mil. They already have an annual operating budget of $420+Mil and additional $450+/-Mil in a Capital Budget. This measure would sunset after 4 years. The two school members appointed by Gov. Rick Scott oppose the measure.

I used a Microsoft Word template to make a simple Anti-Tax Trifold Brochure, made 100 hard copies for ten dollars, and emailed the flier/brochure to some of the heavyweights opposing the tax increase. Voila! Doors opened. One of the heavyweights hooked me up on a three way call. Both John Colon and I oppose the one mill increase. John expounded at length about his intelligence. Eventually and reluctantly when pressed, disclosed he does not have a college degree.
 
Yup.

Sent from my LG-H910 using Tapatalk
 
[video]https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AIrDmDlGU85OTdk&cid=3239BD995A33C44D&id=3239BD995A33C44D%217278&parId=3239BD995A33C44D%211282&o=OneUp[/video]

Trippy Trekker speaks to Board Members
 
SPECIAL ELECTION RESULTS MARCH 20, 2018 FOR PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

One Mill Increase passes-

YES - 28,949...... 51.38%

NO - 27,392...... 48.62%

23.98% Turnout .... out of 235,388 Eligible Voters

My side lost. No Biggie. Their 1557 vote Margin of Victory does not speak to a Mandate. We who lost can apply pressure for increased accountability and transparency.

Children First!
 
Trippy Trekker said:
SPECIAL ELECTION RESULTS MARCH 20, 2018 FOR PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

One Mill Increase passes-

YES - 28,949...... 51.38%

NO - 27,392...... 48.62%

23.98% Turnout .... out of 235,388 Eligible Voters

My side lost. No Biggie. Their 1557 vote Margin of Victory does not speak to a Mandate. We who lost can apply pressure for increased accountability and transparency.

Children First!
Click to expand...

That stinks but at least you did your part which is more than most of us can say. Did you really put DP member on the brochure? :lol:
 
americanwoman said:
That stinks but at least you did your part which is more than most of us can say. Did you really put DP member on the brochure? :lol:
Click to expand...

No. I modified the pamphlet for a minute and took a screen shot for a giggle. Thanks for noticing!
 
Trippy Trekker said:
2 out of 5 of the School Board members in my district acquired positions on the Board without receiving a single vote.

Our five School Board members sit in oversight of a Public System with an annual budget of $420+mil, close to 50,000 students, 80+/- schools (including Charters) and more than 6800 employees.

Florida Governor Scott appointed two of the Board Members. I have ardently sought to find out the Education Credentials of one of them: John Colon.

New Manatee School Board member John Colon at a glance | Bradenton Herald

My email to Mr. Colon went unanswered. My personal letter to Mr. Colon went unanswered. I contacted the Public Record Department asking if Mr. Colon went to college, what college and did he graduate? The Department closed the file on my request without answering any of my pertinent questions.

I spoke by phone to the Communications Director. He cited a Privacy Act and differentiated my request from a Public Record. I exchanged emails and spoke by phone to the main reporter of the most prestigious local newspaper about my concern over Public Access to information. I emailed all the County Commissioners and sent a letter or emailed countless other influential people hoping to have my pertinent questions answered. More than 2 months after initiating this project, my questions remain unanswered.

I consider my questions of Public Interest even if they do not meet a Public Record statutory threshold.

Did Mr. Colon go to college? If yes, when and where? Did Mr. Colon obtain a college degree?

I challenge you to provide and post accurate answers to my questions! Thank you in advance for your research and interest!
Click to expand...

I have served on a school board as an appointee to fill a vacancy created by a member who resigned. Two of the members did not have college degrees but did have valuable experience to offer. The others all had degrees, some advanced degrees, in various disciplines--a couple of lawyers who were especially useful--but only two had education degrees. But I was so impressed at the integrity of the combined membership of the board, how knowledgeable they were, and how competent they were in seeing the needs and setting policy. And that school district had maybe the best schools in the state and little or no opposition to that policy from the rank and file citizens of that school district.

I don't know that it ever happened, but I would imagine that if a citizen was inquiring about the credentials of somebody on that board, they would have seen that as a political opportunist intent on creating trouble and would have ignored the request.
 
AlbqOwl said:
I have served on a school board as an appointee to fill a vacancy created by a member who resigned. Two of the members did not have college degrees but did have valuable experience to offer. The others all had degrees, some advanced degrees, in various disciplines--a couple of lawyers who were especially useful--but only two had education degrees. But I was so impressed at the integrity of the combined membership of the board, how knowledgeable they were, and how competent they were in seeing the needs and setting policy. And that school district had maybe the best schools in the state and little or no opposition to that policy from the rank and file citizens of that school district.

I don't know that it ever happened, but I would imagine that if a citizen was inquiring about the credentials of somebody on that board, they would have seen that as a political opportunist intent on creating trouble and would have ignored the request.
Click to expand...

My state of origin and residence, Florida, has Government in the Sunshine and Public Record Statutes that require Public Entities to operate with a high degree of transparency and provide the Public access to Public Records (even if the request comes from someone you and others might deem Trouble Makers).
 
James Golden unseats Scott-appointee John Colon from Manatee School Board
BY GIUSEPPE SABELLA

gsabella@bradenton.com

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August 28, 2018 08:26 PM

Updated August 29, 2018 08:36 AM

MANATEE
Former Bradenton city councilman James Golden unseated John Colon from the District 5 seat on the School Board of Manatee County in Tuesday’s primary election.

Colon, a former State Board of Education member and the vice president of investments for Wells Fargo Advisers, in Sarasota, was appointed to the board by Gov. Rick Scott in 2015.

But in his first attempt to have that appointment confirmed by the voters, Colon fell short.
Click to expand...

https://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/election/article217446645.html

So much for John Colon's ambition to win an elected office.
 
Pursuit of public office does make one fair game. There are laws. That's why reporters are eager to ask (and even kinda threaten), "are you running for President". If someone answers, "yes", they lose privacy.
 
Trippy Trekker said:
What college? When? Did he obtain a degree? Birthdate?

Gov. Scott previously appointed Mr. Colon to the Florida State Board of Education.
Click to expand...

His facebook says he studied at Queens College and C.W. Post College of LIU. Doesn't say he graduated.
 
Demon said:
His facebook says he studied at Queens College and C.W. Post College of LIU. Doesn't say he graduated.
Click to expand...
He reluctantly owned up to not ever obtaining a college degree in a 3-way phone call with me.

Gov. Rick Scott (before DeSantis), appointed John Colon. I sent emails and letters out to 100s of influential voters exposing his lack of forthrightness. I believe my efforts helped lead to his defeat at the next election.
 
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