Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Broward lawmaker involved with lobbyist
Senators said Farmer informed them about romantic relationship
State Sen. Gary Farmer, the Broward Democrat chosen by his colleagues to be the party leader after the 2020 elections, recently told them that he’s been involved with a woman who lobbies the state Legislature.
Senators said they’d been phoned by Farmer — some a couple of weeks ago, others last week — to let them know about the relationship with the lobbyist.
State Sen. Perry Thurston, a Broward Democrat whose district borders Farmer’s, said that based on what he knows, he did not see a professional or ethical concern.
“As far as our [Democratic] caucus is concerned, I don’t see this being an issue at all,” Thurston said. As far as a potential conflict of interest, “I don’t see it on its face, but I guess we’ll have to evaluate it. But I don’t see it as being a conflict.”
Thurston said his response to Farmer was personal, rather than political or governmental.
State Sen. Kevin Rader, a Democrat who represents southern Palm Beach and northwest Broward counties, said Farmer called him last week.
Rader said there is the potential for a concern with “any member who’s having dealings with a lobbyist that are not professional.” But, he added, “I think
Gary has been enormously forthcoming. And because of that it’s been out in the open and everyone knows. I think he’s very transparent. I believe he’s not looking to do something wrong or illegal.”
Thurston, a former state representative who once served as the House Democratic leader, was a supporter of Farmer’s when he was competing with state Sen. Lauren Book, another Broward Democrat, for the job of Democratic leader after the 2020 election.
Rader was a Book supporter and critical of Farmer during the time Democrats were choosing their next leader.
Farmer, in a telephone interview last week, declined to comment publicly about whether he’s having a relationship with the lobbyist or whether he believes there is anything inappropriate about a legislator being involved with a lobbyist whose job is influencing lawmakers’ actions.
Most of Farmer’s district is east of Interstate 95 from Palm Beach County in the north to Miami-Dad e County on the south. A few areas east of I-95 are in another Senate district, and Farmer’s territory runs west of the highway at Deerfield Beach and Hollywood.
Lobbyist and rules
The lobbyist with whom Farmer has the relationship represents several interests, including the Florida Justice Association, which represents trial lawyers, a major charter school operator and the city of Hialeah.
Farmer, a member of the Senate since 2016, is former present of the trial lawyers’ association and is wellknown as an ally of the organization. He’s consistently argued against charter schools, including declaring one measure benefiting the charter school business as a “monstrosity.” There is no indication that any of his votes or actions to date have been influenced by his connection to the lobbyist.
Florida law and Senate rules don’t ban such relationships. A senator can’t “vote on any matter that the officer knows would inure to his or her special private gain or loss,” or to the benefit of a relative, defined as “father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, fatherin-law, mother-in-law, sonin-law, or daughter-inlaw.”
Senators may not “corruptly use or attempt to use his or her official position or any property or resource which may be within his or her trust, or perform his or her official duties, to secure a special privilege, benefit, or exemption for himself, herself, or others.”
Senate rules require disclosure of a conflict if the special private gain or loss applies to an immediate family member or business associate.
Farmer foes
Peter Schorsc h, the president of the company that publishes the Florida Politics website that first disclosed the relationship, has been critical of Farmer. He wrote on the website last year that “anyone who reads this site [or my tweets] will know, I’m no fan of Democrat state Sen. Gary Farmer.”
Farmer won two heated primaries for the Democratic nomination for the state Senate, in 2016 and 2018. In 2018, when Farmer and challenger former state Rep. Jim Waldman were interviewed by the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Waldman brought up rumors of Farmer having an affair with a legislative aide, which Farmer vehemently denied.
“It’s denigrating to me and my wife of 30 years,” Farmer said. “It’s insulting. It’s disgusting that he would even bring this up.”
Farmer, in a telephone interview last week, confirmed he is now separated from his wife. “It’s a very painful time for my daughters and especially my wife, and I’m asking people to respect my privacy,” he said.
In early 2018, then-Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon II of Miami Gardens and state Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, acknowledged their extramarital affair after a website posted video purporting to show her entering and leaving an apartment he rented.
In 2017, state Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, resigned after acknowledging an extramarital affair with a lobbyist. Until his resignation, Clemens had been slated to become Senate Democratic leader for 2019 and 2020.
Instead, state Sen. Audrey Gibson, D -Jacksonville, got the job, and Farmer is slated to take over after the 2020 elections.
I think Gary has been enormously forthcoming. And because of that it’s been out in the open and everyone knows. I think he’s very transparent. I believe he’s not looking to do something wrong or illegal.”
— State Sen. Kevin Rader