PBC Commissioner Newell resigns amid scandal

[RockaFowler]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local_news/epaper/2007/07/17/0717newell.html

WEST PALM BEACH — Palm Beach County Commissioner Warren Newell resigned today under the cloud of a federal investigation into his involvement in two land deals that required government approval.

He wrote to the governor that he would plead guilty to an unspecified charge.

SNIP

Newell drew the attention of federal investigators after The Palm Beach Post published a series of stories about him. The stories concerned Newell's connection to a couple of land deals that required commission approvals.

On Feb. 4, The Post reported that Newell, while spearheading a $50 million taxpayer initiative to protect public access to the waterfront, steered $14 million to the Palm Beach Yacht Center, a private Hypoluxo marina where he docked Long Shot, his personal yacht. While pushing the deal in 2005, Newell owed the marina $35,900 in unpaid dockage and maintenance fees, financial filings in his divorce showed.

At the time, Newell also was an investor with one of the marina owners in Legacy Bank of Florida, a start-up venture. His engineering and surveying firm also did work at the marina, county records showed.

More at link . . .

As a side note, this is like the 5th corrupt Republican in Palm Beach County that has been caught this past year. Newell even said that he wanted to change his party affiliation on the next election, so he wouldn't have anyone running against him. He should have lost to Harriet Lerman in the 2004 election. There were some shenanigans in that race. Harriet was in the lead and then overnight they were tied. The next morning she lost the election by 150 votes. She deserved a recount, but Oh No we have electronic voting and there is no recount. I could rant all day, but I am glad he's gone!