Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom: just another corrupt Republican

It hasn't even been two weeks since the story broke about Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom (R-Destin) and his sweet $110,000 gig at a college that, through his government connections, received millions of dollars from an otherwise tight state budget. Now, it turns out Sansom wasn't even discreet about exploiting his political position for personal gain.

House Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin, sought a $110,000-a-year job at Northwest Florida State College by faxing in his application from his state office.

[...]

Public records provided to The Palm Beach Post also show that no other candidate was considered for the position of vice president of planning and development and that Sansom's application was a late addition to the board of trustees' consent agenda, which means it was not included on a public notice of the meeting. Both actions are acceptable under state law but generally frowned upon by good-government advocates.

A job description shows that Sansom will, among other tasks, help the school in its transition into the state college system. Formerly known as Okaloosa-Walton Community College, it was given a state college designation under a bill that Sansom guided through the legislature this year.

The job description also includes a doctorate as a preferred qualification; Sansom's highest degree is a master's in education.

[...]

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman has called on Sansom to give up his speaker's designation or resign from the college position.

Ben Wilcox, of Florida Common Cause, said faxing the college application from the state office, which prints on each page of the document that it was sent from the "Office of the Speaker," could be seen as a reminder to the school of his powerful position.

"The fact that he steered millions to the school and then sent an application from the speaker's office, I find that unbelievable," Wilcox said.

Like most Republicans, Sansom engages in corruption as easily as he breathes. I mean, I know from personal experience that the Florida community college -- or state college (whatever) -- system is hyperpolitical, but this is beyond the pale even in an environment where who you know is far more important than what you know.

Shorter me: Sansom's got some 'splainin' to do.