TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Former Tallahassee city manager Ric Fernandez has agreed to pay thousands of dollars to settle an ethics complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics.
The settlement comes after claims that Fernandez used his position to accept both a catering discount from The Edison restaurant and FSU football tickets.
In August 2017, the Commission found probable cause relating to 20 of the 24 allegations. Fernandez ultimately resigned in January of this year.
In new documents obtained by WTXL, Fernandez admits that he failed to report receiving the discount and the tickets. He also agrees to pay a $6,000 civil penalty.
The commission is set to discuss the proposed settlement during a meeting on January 25.
Erwin Jackson. the man who filed the original ethics complaint, responded to the news of the settlement offer:
“It is very disappointing that after admitting taking gifts, Fernandez is only fined a few thousand dollars. I spent more than that in legal and investigative costs. The State’s cost to investigate his crime should be paid for by Fernandez at a minimum!”
You can read the full documents obtained by WTXL here.
