Lars Hafner: Democrat of the Week
Did State College of Florida President Lars Hafner, a former Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, forge signatures on college documents? The investigation into whether he did or didn't became a formal criminal probe when the case was referred to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Friday.
In June, College trustees reported Hafner to the commissioner of education after a former employee claimed in an affidavit that Hafner forged the signature of former BOT Chairman Steve Harner.
A particularly incriminating piece of evidence: The whistleblower saved a document that appears to show Hafner practicing the signature before signing it.
According to the story from Saturday's Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Hafner admits he signed Harner's name on a few occasions but said he had permission from the Venice restaurant and marina owner.
Hafner has been president of the college in Manatee and Sarasota counties for four years. Before that, he spent 12 years as a Democratic House member from Pinellas County.
In June, College trustees reported Hafner to the commissioner of education after a former employee claimed in an affidavit that Hafner forged the signature of former BOT Chairman Steve Harner.
A particularly incriminating piece of evidence: The whistleblower saved a document that appears to show Hafner practicing the signature before signing it.
According to the story from Saturday's Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Hafner admits he signed Harner's name on a few occasions but said he had permission from the Venice restaurant and marina owner.
Hafner has been president of the college in Manatee and Sarasota counties for four years. Before that, he spent 12 years as a Democratic House member from Pinellas County.
Previous
Next
1 comment
Comments (1)
7:43PM JUL 15TH 2012
A little common sense here (taken from the Sarasota article, but which for some strange - partisan? - reason wasn't alluded to here):
(1) "Harner confirmed in an affidavit this month that he had given Hafner permission to sign his name at least two times"
(2) "Attorneys indicated that prosecutors would have to show Hafner benefitted personally from duplicating Harner's signature to convict him of criminal forgery."
I guess fair and balanced reporting just doesn't include reporting key facts of the other side of the story.
(1) "Harner confirmed in an affidavit this month that he had given Hafner permission to sign his name at least two times"
(2) "Attorneys indicated that prosecutors would have to show Hafner benefitted personally from duplicating Harner's signature to convict him of criminal forgery."
I guess fair and balanced reporting just doesn't include reporting key facts of the other side of the story.
