Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Robinson's Conflict of Interest: Step down from Argus or the County Commission
Final supporters
The obligation of a Sarasota County Commissioner to serve the public interest must not be compromised by competing responsibilities to a special interest group. We the signatories call upon Christine Robinson to step down as Argus Foundation Executive Director, or resign the Sarasota County Commission. It is an unacceptable conflict of interest to do both jobs at the same time.
Background: Last November, Christine Robinson accepted an offer to serve as executive director of the Argus Foundation in 2015. The Argus Foundation represents the interests of over 170 members from development, legal, financial and other business sectors. Argus lobbies County government on a variety of issues, including impact fees, land use decisions and SRQ Airport governance. Argus also lobbies the City of Sarasota on issues including elected mayor, strong City manager, Newton redevelopment, and Downtown development. The executive director of Argus frequently weighs in with City and County Commissioners on these and other issues.
The Argus website states "The Argus Foundation has established liaisons with city, county, state and federal governments.....Activities of the various governmental bodies are monitored and positions are taken on selected issues. With the broad background and practical expertise of the members of The Argus Foundation, we are in a position to advise and assist public officialsin decisions that will affect the life-style, environment and economic well-being of our area now and in the future." http://argusfoundation.org/
Argus is a long established local lobbying organization. This is Conflict of Interest 101. In DC elected officials leave office before working as lobbyists. This ill-considered move by a Sarasota County Commissioner sets a much lower standard.
As Mollie Cardamone, former Mayor of the City of Sarasota put it "Christine Robinson cannot represent both the citizens who elected her and the Argus members, the employers who are paying for her support and leadership in accomplishing their goals. Will she go out front to thepodium and state the case for Argus like [former Argus Executive Director] Kerry [Kirschner] did and then run around to her commission seat and vote? It is my opinion she cannot serve two masters!"
Mrs. Robinson cannot faithfully execute her duties to the public free from undue influence while she is also Executive Director of Argus. We call on Christine Robinson to do the right thing. Embrace sound ethical standards. Resolve this conflict of interest. Step down as Argus Foundation Executive Director, or resign the Sarasota County Commission. It is an unacceptable conflict of interest to do both.
More like this
Petition for the Resignation of Alyson Powell
Brad Dwenger to not seek re-election
Updates
April 1, 2015
Reaching 500 signatures confirms that my neighbors are just as concerned about these competing loyalties as I am. This conflict of interest fundamentally undermines the integrity of our commission and the work we deserve to have done on our behalf.
Reached 500 supporters
March 30, 2015
March 17, 2015
I have spent the last few days reviewing the local development filings and it is clearer than ever that these dual roles cannot coexist. Public trust is eroding while Christine Robinson remains tied to the interests of the Argus Foundation. I am currently preparing a formal inquiry to the ethics committee regarding these specific land use decisions.
Reached 100 supporters
March 3, 2015
326 Comments
It is so important that the people's business be conducted by someone who puts them first above special interest groups. It would seem that Commissioner Robinson's ability to be impartial would be seriously compromised by holding both positions.
The fact that citizens have to resort to a petition to demand that this individual steps down from one of these 2 positions demonstrates the degree of arrogance and poor judgement that Ms. Robinson appears to have.
Although Ms. Robinson is a very capable person and has been a good county commissioner for Sarasota County, I do not believe she should hold both positions at the same time as there is if not an actual, a perceived conflict of interest.
This should never have been considered by Christine Robinson. She cannot serve the public while leading a special interest lobbying entity that routinely advocates before the BCC. It is the clearest of conflicts.
Difficult to think of a more obvious case of sticking a thumb in the public eye. Pure hubris on the part of Ms. Robinson and Argus. What happened to the balanced vision of governance of, by and for the people?
Just before Robinson was hired by Attorney Bill Merrill of Argus, just before she allowed her client Carlos Beruff to put 200 homes on a toxic landfill. Stop this insanity!
Black money elected these incompetents!!
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Robinson's Conflict of Interest: Step down from Argus or the County Commission
Final supporters
The obligation of a Sarasota County Commissioner to serve the public interest must not be compromised by competing responsibilities to a special interest group. We the signatories call upon Christine Robinson to step down as Argus Foundation Executive Director, or resign the Sarasota County Commission. It is an unacceptable conflict of interest to do both jobs at the same time.
Background: Last November, Christine Robinson accepted an offer to serve as executive director of the Argus Foundation in 2015. The Argus Foundation represents the interests of over 170 members from development, legal, financial and other business sectors. Argus lobbies County government on a variety of issues, including impact fees, land use decisions and SRQ Airport governance. Argus also lobbies the City of Sarasota on issues including elected mayor, strong City manager, Newton redevelopment, and Downtown development. The executive director of Argus frequently weighs in with City and County Commissioners on these and other issues.
The Argus website states "The Argus Foundation has established liaisons with city, county, state and federal governments.....Activities of the various governmental bodies are monitored and positions are taken on selected issues. With the broad background and practical expertise of the members of The Argus Foundation, we are in a position to advise and assist public officialsin decisions that will affect the life-style, environment and economic well-being of our area now and in the future." http://argusfoundation.org/
Argus is a long established local lobbying organization. This is Conflict of Interest 101. In DC elected officials leave office before working as lobbyists. This ill-considered move by a Sarasota County Commissioner sets a much lower standard.
As Mollie Cardamone, former Mayor of the City of Sarasota put it "Christine Robinson cannot represent both the citizens who elected her and the Argus members, the employers who are paying for her support and leadership in accomplishing their goals. Will she go out front to thepodium and state the case for Argus like [former Argus Executive Director] Kerry [Kirschner] did and then run around to her commission seat and vote? It is my opinion she cannot serve two masters!"
Mrs. Robinson cannot faithfully execute her duties to the public free from undue influence while she is also Executive Director of Argus. We call on Christine Robinson to do the right thing. Embrace sound ethical standards. Resolve this conflict of interest. Step down as Argus Foundation Executive Director, or resign the Sarasota County Commission. It is an unacceptable conflict of interest to do both.
Updates
April 1, 2015
Reaching 500 signatures confirms that my neighbors are just as concerned about these competing loyalties as I am. This conflict of interest fundamentally undermines the integrity of our commission and the work we deserve to have done on our behalf.
Reached 500 supporters
March 30, 2015
March 17, 2015
I have spent the last few days reviewing the local development filings and it is clearer than ever that these dual roles cannot coexist. Public trust is eroding while Christine Robinson remains tied to the interests of the Argus Foundation. I am currently preparing a formal inquiry to the ethics committee regarding these specific land use decisions.
Reached 100 supporters
March 3, 2015
326 Comments
I have much respect for the volume of knowledge and hard work which Commissioner Robinson brings to her work: but the appearance of impropiety is undeniable and should be eliminated. One job on behalf of her constituents is all the people of Sarasota require -- and desire.
It is so important that the people's business be conducted by someone who puts them first above special interest groups. It would seem that Commissioner Robinson's ability to be impartial would be seriously compromised by holding both positions.
The fact that citizens have to resort to a petition to demand that this individual steps down from one of these 2 positions demonstrates the degree of arrogance and poor judgement that Ms. Robinson appears to have.
Although Ms. Robinson is a very capable person and has been a good county commissioner for Sarasota County, I do not believe she should hold both positions at the same time as there is if not an actual, a perceived conflict of interest.
This should never have been considered by Christine Robinson. She cannot serve the public while leading a special interest lobbying entity that routinely advocates before the BCC. It is the clearest of conflicts.
Difficult to think of a more obvious case of sticking a thumb in the public eye. Pure hubris on the part of Ms. Robinson and Argus. What happened to the balanced vision of governance of, by and for the people?
Just before Robinson was hired by Attorney Bill Merrill of Argus, just before she allowed her client Carlos Beruff to put 200 homes on a toxic landfill. Stop this insanity!
Black money elected these incompetents!!
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I have much respect for the volume of knowledge and hard work which Commissioner Robinson brings to her work: but the appearance of impropiety is undeniable and should be eliminated. One job on behalf of her constituents is all the people of Sarasota require -- and desire.