State ethics commission finds North Bay Village Mayor Brent Latham’s London trip was a prohibited gift, but decides ignorance of law is an excuse

North Bay Village Mayor Brent Latham

By Francisco Alvarado, FloridaBulldog.org

In a three-month span, North Bay Village Mayor Brent Latham’s relatively controversy-free tenure has sustained a few dings. He was found to have likely violated state law barring public officials from accepting expensive freebies from people doing business with governments they represent. And he was busted for building an illegal boat dock at his waterfront home.

The Florida Commission on Ethics disclosed on Aug. 2 that there was probable cause to believe that Latham’s free trip to London last year constituted a prohibited gift valued at more than $100. But instead of seeking sanctions against Latham, the commission that touts itself as “the guardian of the standards of conduct for officers and employees of Florida,” lifted him off the hook “because the investigation revealed Mr. Latham received inaccurate guidance from his agency's legal counsel before taking the trip,” according to a commission press release.

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State ethics commission finds North Bay Village Mayor Brent Latham’s London trip was a prohibited gift, but decides ignorance of law is an excuse

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