On or about September 25, 2014, the prior finance director, Linda Bolante, filed a complaint in Flagler County Circuit Court claiming status under the Florida Whistle-blower’s Act enumerated in Florida State Statutes. Linda Bolante had been employed by the Flagler County sheriff as the financial director responsible for overseeing the total budget of the sheriff’s office including payroll and accounts payable and receivable. According to the complaint filed, Bolante became aware of certain unethical and unlawful employment practices by Sheriff Manfre involving his personal use of public funds and county owned vehicles” (Bolante v. Manfre, 2014, pg. 2). Bolante v. Manfre (2014) alleged several violations of ethical standards which involved improper expenditures on an agency issued credit card concerning meals and alcohol totaling $344.03 and also demanded reimbursement for $1,100 worth of interior decorating for his office. As a result of her bringing the allegations forward, she alleged she began to be treated in …show more content…
Along with going into greater detail about unauthorized credit cards usage, the complaint also contained allegations the sheriff use his county owned vehicle on personal trips. On one occasion, the sheriff had traveled to the panhandle of Florida on a business trip and upon conclusion of the trip, traveled with his wife in his county vehicle to New Orleans during Super Bowl Weekend. During the trip, the sheriff was stopped for a traffic violation in Louisiana which necessitated the sheriff calling Bolante to confirm the registration on the vehicle as she was responsible for maintaining fleet records. On another trip to Virginia to visit family, the county vehicle was involved in a minor traffic accident. Upon returning, he had the repairs done at taxpayer