Ethics Commission: Insufficient evidence for most complaints against Atlantic Beach Commissioner

Insufficient evidence to show he used his political position for private gain- the conclusion from an ethics investigation in to Atlantic Beach Commissioner Jonathan Daugherty.

Several complaints were filed against Daugherty in June dealing with occasions where the complainant claimed Daugherty used his position as a Commissioner to get out of several traffic citations or vehicle registration issues. Some of the complaints were discarded during the investigation, and today, the Florida Ethics Commission voted on the remaining ones.

A “Joint Stipulation of Fact” has been approved in which investigators found “evidence of a special private gain is insufficient” for complaints that he used or attempted to use his position to get out of traffic tickets because he ultimately received a citation from each stop.

“There’s a relief that’s associated with that, but the damage is done,” Daugherty tells WOKV.

Under the agreement, he did agree to admit to gaining access to a restricted parking area during Marsh Fest in 2012. Daugherty says he had a parking pass to be there for a fishing clinic, but wasn’t able to print it because he ran out of ink. He says he didn’t think it would be a problem.

Daugherty has agreed to pay a $1500 civil penalty dealing with the parking charge, telling WOKV it was easier to settle the claim than to fight it, which he believes would have cost thousands of dollars and drawn out the pain for his family.

“It used to be if you Googled my name, you would find something about a charity clothing drive or going on mission trips, things like that. Now, you see ethics charge,” Daugherty says.

He says he has already moved forward, focusing on his work in the community.

“Anybody who knows me knows that I am the last person that you would even think would have a charge like this,” he says.

Documents we’ve obtained further say Daugherty will participate in an ethics training class.