Tuesday, January 3, 2023
The New Pelican Newspaper
By Judy Wilson | Associate Editor
Pompano Beach – Broward Inspector General John Scott has found that City Commissioner Beverly Perkins violated Florida’s election laws by “willfully” filing incorrect and incomplete financial campaign reports and failed to report some expenditures in her successful 2020 run for the commission.
The reports were filed by her campaign treasurer Robert Holmes who is also named in Scott’s report.
Scott’s findings will be turned over to the Broward State’s Attorney’s Office and the Florida Division of Elections for review and possible further action.
The Inspector General’s office further charges that Perkins donated $3,322 in excess campaign funds to the New Creation Baptist Church in Deerfield Beach after her final campaign report was filed, and after the deadline to dispose of those funds. Additionally, the OIG claims she did not report $3,810 she paid herself for campaign expenses.
In all Scott’s office tallied $7,381 in unauthorized expenditures.
Scott also states that, during her campaign, Perkins also violated the law by cashing a $9,500 donation check and making cash payments for expenses rather than writing checks using the campaign bank account. For $5,125 of those expenses there is no documentation.
Larry Davis, Perkins’ attorney, said “These were bookkeeping errors on election paperwork. There is no indication of any financial benefits [to Perkins]. It didn’t go into her pocket.”
Perkins’ financial reports show $27,000 raised for the 2020 campaign. Of that amount, $15,524 was reportedly spent. Florida law requires leftover campaign funds be returned to the contributors, donated to a registered charity, or given to a political party for campaign activities.
Perkins was re-elected in November to represent Pompano Beach District 4 by a margin of 43 percent in a three-person race.
Scott’s office, approved by voters in 2010, is charged with uncovering misconduct or gross mismanagement on the part of public officials, elected or appointed. Entities providing goods and services to government agencies are also subject to scrutiny.
A longtime community activist who has held seats on many city boards, Perkins now heads a consulting firm that advises on government relations, community revitalization, and economic development. She currently serves on the Broward County Consumer Protection Board. At one point early in her career she was an aide to the late Congressman Alcee Hastings.
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