E-mails to Fort Lauderdale commissioner mostly forgiving for mistake

By Brittany Wallman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

May 12, 2008

FORT LAUDERDALE - "Thank you so much for thinking of me. I'm doing good. The ticket is forgiving yourself for making the mistake."

City Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson wrote that short e-mail to her former political colleague, Dean Trantalis, in the aftermath of her ethical slip-up and subsequent public apology.

A month after Hutchinson admitted she used public resources for her political campaign — and that she initially lied about it — she's not sure whether the episode will set back her campaign to be Fort Lauderdale's mayor. The elections are in spring 2009. State Rep. Jack Seiler and local attorney Steve Rossi also are running.

"I've got a long way to go," said Hutchinson, a three-term commissioner.

A review of a month's worth of Hutchinson's e-mails reveals a forgiving audience, mostly.

E-mails like this one from Gloria Reese made her feel better:

"Subject: HI, CINDI.

Dear Cindi,

I'm writing to let you know that I am not alarmed by your recent mistake. I've not agreed with everything you have done or said while in office, but I have consistently felt that your heart is in the right place. ... One misdeed does not change that history in my eyes. ..."

Hutchinson admitted she used her public office to advance her political campaign when, in late March, she dropped a packet of postcard invitations to a fund-raiser into the city's mail system at City Hall, in a city envelope, with a City Commission return-address label.

The postage and materials cost taxpayers an estimated $4.32, which the commissioner paid back April 4.

But Commissioner Christine Teel, who brought the episode to light, thought the matter was deeper than a $5 abuse of position. Teel had pushed successfully for new city ethics laws last year after she found out Hutchinson regularly used her official position to convince people doing business with the city to spend money on charities or nonprofit projects.

Commissioners adopted ethics restrictions in March and December 2007. Hutchinson voted against the March ban on soliciting donations using city resources.

On Friday, she said she's still struggling with her lapse.

"The postage is paid," she said, "but it's harder for me to get over the fact that I didn't just say it to begin with, and I'll crucify myself for a long time over that because it's not my character."

Be sure to mention the small amount, one writer, George Bishopric, told her in an e-mail: "It would concern me that not mentioning the amount made the error seem more severe, something Miami/Dade-like in its magnitude."

Jim Naugle has held the mayor's position in Fort Lauderdale for 17 years. Next spring, the seat will be wide open for the first time since 1991.

Seiler and Rossi both lived in Wilton Manors when they opened campaign accounts. Seiler has since established Fort Lauderdale residency by renting a house from his law partner, though his family still lives in a two-house compound in Wilton Manors.

Rossi hasn't moved yet.

Trantalis told Hutchinson in his April 7 e-mail that "you shouldn't let the world get to you, especially Mrs. Teel. Not a nice person. Take care."