Public official or not?

Board member seeks legal fee compensation

POMPANO BEACH — Vicente Thrower successfully defended himself against unlawful compensation charges in 2014 by arguing that he’s not a public official. But that argument could now cost him.

Thrower, the former vice chairman of the Northwest Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Committee, wants to be reimbursed the $483,778 cost of defending himself in the case. But the city’s lawyers say that since Thrower wasn’t a public official, he is not entitled to public compensation for his defense.

Thrower declined to comment on the case, but said the experience has put him off on serving as a city volunteer ever again.

“Who would want to serve on any board when a municipality doesn’t have your back?” he said.

State law requires municipalities to pay the legal fees of public officials who were charged but then found innocent of corruption in the course of performing official duties. “Public officer includes any person elected or appointed to hold office in any agency, including any person serving on an advisory body,” according to state statutes.

Johnny McCray, his at-

torney suing for the legal fees, said that the defense arguments in Thrower’s criminal trial should have no bearing on the city’s decision to cover his legal fees. A legal opinion from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi makes it clear that Thrower was a public official, he said.

Thrower, 37, was accused of taking more than $50,000 in 2008 for influencing business deals with the city’s redevelopment agency. He was also accused of seeking a $2,000 monthly bribe from a consultant who wanted to renew a city contract. Thrower’s attorneys said both sides agreed it was the first time an appointed advisory board member had been criminally charged. Usually the accused goes before the state Ethics Board, said Michael Hursey, who represented Thrower in the criminal case.

Pompano Commissioner Mike Sobel asked the city to consider providing city advisory committee members with the same Sunshine Law and ethics training that commissioners receive.