Former Tallahassee City Manager Rick Fernandez will be fined $6,000 by the Florida Ethics Commission. That settles a two-year ethics case over Fernandez’s acceptance of Florida State University football tickets.
Tallahassee Businessman Erwin Jackson initially filed the complaint against Fernandez in 2017. He accused the former city manager of violating the state’s gift ban which bars lobbyists from exchanging gifts with public officials and employees.
Jackson also claimed Fernandez failed to report a catering discount from the Edison restaurant that he received for his daughter’s wedding. The Edison is owned by lobbyist Adam Corey.
The Ethics commission says Fernandez should have known the FSU football tickets for skybox seats were worth more than $100, the state limit on what public officials are allowed to accept.
Fernandez resigned from the city last year. The commission dismissed 14 other violations but upheld six.
