Ex-Lake commissioner files defamation suit

Former Lake County commissioner Jimmy Conner, who lost his re-election bid last year, filed a defamation lawsuit this week against three people he accuses of smearing him with “maliciously false allegations” during the campaign.

The lawsuit alleges he was targeted for defeat because he voted against a permit that would have allowed Cemex to build a 2-square-mile sand mine in south Lake.

Defendants include Amanda Wettstein Talmage, a public and government relations consultant who has done work for Cemex, a building materials corporation based in Mexico. After Lake commissioners rejected Cemex’s application, she wrote a letter-tothe-editor for the Leesburg Daily Commercial accusing Conner of bullying women.

She also “falsely stated [Conner] shook down vendors in exchange for donations to a pennysales-tax campaign,” the lawsuit says.

Talmage did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Others named as defendants are William Jones, listed in election records as treasurer of Citizens Speaking Out, a Tallahassee-based political action committee that mailed anti-Conner postcards to voters, and Don Magruder, chairman of Citizens for Better Government LLC, a Leesburg-based political action committee.

Magruder also serves as general manager of Ro-Mac Lumber, which is owned by Dan Robuck, sister of Wendy Breeden, who won 52 percent of the vote in her Republican primary triumph over Conner. Breeden, a former county department head, won the general election, too, as Democrats offered no opponent and she faced only a write-in candidate.

Jones could not be reached at the Washington, D.C., telephone number listed on election documents.

Magruder dismissed Conner’s lawsuit, though he hadn’t read it yet.

“I’m not going to comment on a frivolous lawsuit,” he said.

In the complaint, Conner alleged he was defamed by the defendants who accused him of taking kickbacks and skimming money.

The lawsuit lists a series of messages in anti-Conner campaign mailers and web postings, which it described as false and slanderous.

“Unfortunately dirty campaigns are too often part of running for office today, but when you defame someone and accuse them of selling votes and taking kickbacks — those are serious crimes — you’ve crossed the line,” said Conner, who served eight years as a commissioner after serving 12 years on the Lake School Board.

The lawsuit also alleges the defendants’ slander cost him the election and destroyed his business relationships.

Conner seeks unspecified equitable relief and a judgment that includes attorney fees and costs.