By TaRhaun Russ
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-959158.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Former Governor Charlie Crist was back in the Capital City today Wednesday to testify in the trial of former House Speaker Ray Samson- who is charged with grand theft. TaRhaun Russ tells us what happened when he was called to the stand.
When Florida's former governor approved the 2007 budget, it came with an item for the allocation of $6 million for an emergency operations center at Okaloosa-Walton College in Destin now known as Northwest Florida State College. While testifying on the stand, Crist recalled what he was told a few years ago about the need for this lump sum.
"Basically I was told that it was to be used for emergency operations and possibly training as well."
At the time, Ray Samson was the Speaker of the House. He's accused of attempting to appropriate the $6 million in state funds for an airport hangar that was to be built for his friend, Jay Alan Odom. This is the same money that was to be used for the supposed new emergency center.
Crist says he asked for the money back when he saw, from newspaper articles, that it was not going to go to where he thought it was going.
"And I think what was right for the people of Florida, is that if it was going to be an emergency operations center, as described to me, then that's what it should be. And if that was not the case and it was for some other purpose, then that money ought to be returned to the people of Florida and ultimately it was."
Prosecutors say Sansom would have given the money to the college. After that they would've built a hangar with some added classrooms attached to it just so they can call it an "educational facility". Sansom then would be able to lease the hangar to his friend.
At the time the budget was being drafted, Sansom was a top official in the Legislature as he was making his way to become the next Speaker of the House. He also chaired the House Appropriations Committee which made it easier to secure funding for his project.
Crist admitted he treated Sansom with deference because of his senior position.
"I think most governors do and certainly I think that is part of it, and you hope that when you do that it's appropriate and when you find out that it's not, you fix it."
Public Education Capital Outlay or PECO funds is the main source of funding for schools for maintenance and construction. This pot of money carried the funds being put into the project until Crist asked for it back.
As soon as the former governor stepped down from the stand, he says the case is up to the jury whether to believe his testimony or not.
"I'm here just to tell the truth and recall the facts as I know them and whatever weight is given to it is given to it by the jury. I'm just a citizen."
In 2008, Sansom resigned from being president of Northwest Florida State College and then stepped down from being Speaker of the House. Sansom is facing grand theft, conspiracy to commit grand theft, and official misconduct charges. If convicted, he can face up to 30 years in prison.