Mascara, FDLE, Ethics Commission All Agree on 2020 Program Fine

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Commission on Ethics unanimously approved Friday sanctions for former St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara, a Democrat, in connection with his recruitment and support of a favored Republican opponent in the 2020 election.

The penalties, a $5,000 fine plus a public reprimand and a verbal warning, had previously been agreed to by both parties in a joint plea agreement in which Mascara admitted to participating in the so-called “ghost candidate” scheme that was the subject of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report released last year.

Ultimately, prosecutors declined to bring criminal charges against Mascara — or any of the other individuals named in the report, including current sheriff and candidate Keith Pearson — citing a lack of sufficient evidence. FDLE subsequently filed a complaint against Mascara with the Ethics Commission. The commission said it had probable cause to investigate after a meeting last month.

A separate complaint against Pearson, filed by St. Lucie County Republican Executive Committee Chair Kenny Nail, was dismissed in April, with the committee arguing it lacked jurisdiction to investigate. Pearson was appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in December to replace Mascara, and he has since qualified, as a Republican, to run for a full term this year.

According to the FDLE report, the origins of the ghost candidate plot against Mascara date back to the 2016 and 2020 elections.

In 2016, Mascara ran against Rich Williams in the Democratic primary. According to the FDLE report, Mascara felt there were personal attacks.

In 2020, Williams ran as a Republican, potentially setting him up for a showdown with Mascara in the general election.

At that point, the FDLE report indicates, Mascara and his allies began efforts to recruit a more preferable candidate to run against Williams as a Republican. Eventually, former St. Lucie County deputy Kevin Carter filed a candidacy. The FDLE report indicates that Mascara and others in the Sheriff’s Office, including Pearson, supported Carter’s campaign.

Carter ultimately defeated Williams in the Republican primary and lost to Mascara in the general election.

More: Former St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara Admits Role in 2020 ‘Ghost Candidate’ Case

More: Ethics Commission Dismisses Complaint Against St. Lucie Sheriff Filed By Local GOP Leader

Pearson, in turn, told FDLE investigators that he supported Carter, including allowing yard signs to be placed on his property, because he believed Carter was the best Republican candidate in the race. Pearson’s attorney reiterated that point to the Ethics Commission after Nail’s complaint earlier this year.

The eight-member Ethics Committee voted unanimously on Friday to approve the joint provision without further discussion, after a brief explanation of the allegations and sanctions.

Wicker Perlis is TCPalm’s Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at [email protected].