Mayor accused of election violations

The Port Richey mayor faces 10 counts of breaking state election laws.

Mayor Mark Abbott is facing 10 counts of state election law violations, including making an illegal contribution to himself, according to a report released Monday by the Florida Elections Commission.

The investigation stems from a complaint filed this year by former Mayor Eloise Taylor; Abbott defeated her by 63 votes on April 12. Abbott has 30 days from the time he is served papers from the FEC to respond, said Florida Elections Commission clerk Patsy Rushing. By law, Abbott is entitled to an FEC hearing to address the violations, she said.

If found guilty on any or all of the charges, Abbott could be fined, Rushing said. But Rushing said she didn't know how high those fines could go. Abbott, 44, said Monday that the complaints against him were unfair.

"This is the reason I am trying to get away from the style of politics where people can run and not be overscrutinized for things," he said. "I think I'll have a footlong hotdog roast to pay for airfare for people who are opposing me. I think we could all chip in, rent a motor home and go to Tallahassee (for the hearing)."

City Building Official Ed Winch said he heard about the commission report, adding, "When you're in that position, you have to be clean and above the board."

Council member Phyllis Grae was fined $200 in September by the FEC as a result of a "minor violation" for failing to put a paid political advertisement disclaimer on an endorsement letter from state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, before it was sent to voters.

In a separate complaint against Abbott, Port Richey resident Dennis McGill said Abbott failed to report money he took in during an April 2 "meet the candidate" party. The FEC has not released its findings on that complaint. The FEC report released Monday stated there is probable cause that Abbott committed the following violations:

COUNT 1: On March 11, Abbott incorrectly reported a $100 check from his company, Tech Net Electronics, as a cash loan from himself.

COUNT 2: On April 11, Abbott failed to list the occupations of five contributors who contributed in excess of $100, failed to include complete addresses for four contributors, failed to include complete expenditure addresses eight times, failed to include expenditure purposes four times and did not include complete expenditure type six times.

COUNT 3: On April 6, Abbott violated a state statute by accepting a cash contribution in excess of $100 when he accepted a cash contribution for $100 from himself after already accepting a cash contribution from himself on Feb. 11.

COUNT 4: On March 11, Abbott incurred an expense for the purchase of goods or services without sufficient funds in the primary depository account when he placed an order for signs with Frames and Things for $949.92.

COUNT 5: On March 22, Abbott incurred an expense for the purchase of goods or services without sufficient funds in the primary depository account when he placed an order for signs with Frames and Things for $1,001.25.

COUNT 6: On March 11, Abbott authorized a $949.92 expenditure to Frames and Things without sufficient funds in the campaign depository.

COUNT 7: On March 22, Abbott authorized a $1,001.25 expenditure to Frames and Things Manufacturing without sufficient funds in the campaign depository.

COUNT 8: On April 8, Abbott failed to prominently mark the political advertisement with the correct disclaimer when he mailed an endorsement letter from the Republican Party of Pasco County with a disclaimer saying it was paid for and approved by Abbott and council member Phyllis Grae, who failed to pay her share of the postage.

COUNT 9: On April 8, Abbott failed to prominently mark the political advertisement with the correct disclaimer when he mailed a letter, which was used as a political advertisement, from Fasano supporting Grae's election that failed to contain a disclaimer.

COUNT 10: On April 8, Abbott violated a state statute by giving, paying, expending or contributing money or other things of value to another candidate when he mailed an endorsement letter from the Republican Party of Pasco County containing a disclaimer stating it was paid for and approved by himself and Grae, who failed to pay her share of the postage.

Although counts four, five, six and seven are very similar, no one from the FEC was available Monday to clarify.

The FEC report is one of many personal and public woes Abbott is facing.

Abbott said Tech Net, which repairs and sells color scanners to the newspaper and printing industry, is making so little profit that he might close the company in six months. He is the sole employee at the business, housed in a tiny white building on Pine Hill Road with a crooked awning. It once had 10 employees.

Abbott said he is going to real estate school at night as a "change of careers."

Abbott's ex-wife, Rhonda O'Dell, had pursued him for $2,000 he failed to make in child support payments since their 1998 divorce, records show. Abbott said he and O'Dell have come to a private financial agreement.

In November, after voting at a City Council meeting in favor of the placement of a cooker for a charity turkey roast held outside Alex's Place restaurant by the West Pasco Sertoma Club, Abbott and owner Alex Babazadeh each received a $30 ticket at the pre-Thanksgiving event for "parking a vehicle, a wood-burning and cooker, on a public right-of-way." Two weeks ago, Citimortgage Inc. filed to foreclose on Abbott's home at 5346 Bluepoint Drive, records show. Abbott also faced foreclosure in March of 1999 from a Federal National Mortgage Association filing, records show. According to documents filed by Citimortgage, he missed the Aug. 1 payment and all subsequent installments. Abbott owes $172,593.11 on the home he bought March 22, 2002.

Abbott, who earns $4,320 annually as mayor, said last week that he "had other bills to pay."

"I didn't realize I was so far behind," he said. "I'll just refinance."

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.