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Sink calls on Crist to investigate “Wafflegate”

Posted Dec 15, 2009 by Catherine Whittenburg, Tallahassee bureau

Updated Dec 15, 2009 at 04:07 PM

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink just released the following letter in which she is urging Gov. Charlie Crist to investigate “Wafflegate,” as the brewing scandal over SunRail emails has recently been dubbed in the press.

A firestorm of criticism has erupted in recent days since the Palm Beach Post reported late last week that state transportation officials typed words like “waffle” and “pancake” into the subject lines of email messages pertaining to the state’s SunRail deal. Sink has joined Sen. Paula Dockery and anti-tax activists in accusing DOT of using the words as a code, possibly to keep the messages from surfacing in public records searches for SunRail-related correspondence. DOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos has denied that allegation.

Dockery, Enemy No. 1 in the state Legislature of the SunRail commuter rail project, received the breakfast-themed messages along with thousands of others when DOT belatedly responded to her records request.

Here’s Sink’s latest missive to Crist, who is reportedly defending his DOT secretary (Crist is also preparing for two ceremonial bills signing tomorrow, in Tampa and Orlando, to jump-start the next phase of SunRail):

Dear Governor Crist:

It has been brought to the public’s attention that employees with the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT), including DOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos, used “code” words in state emails.

Given our state’s proud and comprehensive public records laws, I remain concerned that DOT employees may have deliberately used these code words in an attempt to disguise their actions from the people of Florida. We live in the Sunshine State, and this is not the way the people’s business should ever be done.

Since the Office of the Chief Inspector General is “responsible for promoting accountability, integrity, and efficiency in the agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor” (Section 14.32, F.S.), I am requesting that you initiate an investigation by your Chief Inspector General into the conduct of all DOT employees who were engaged in this activity.

If anyone deliberately attempted to subvert our state’s sunshine requirements, they should be held accountable. An independent investigation by your Inspector General looking into DOT’s activity is the best way to ensure this accountability.

Sincerely,

Alex Sink

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