Tallahassee Democrat by Jeff Burlew
January 2, 2019
Local businessman Erwin Jackson is suing the Tallahassee City Commission in an attempt to block the appointment of its newest member, Elaine Bryant.
Jackson, in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Leon Circuit Court, alleged commissioners violated the Sunshine Law when they narrowed down a list of applicants for the post outside of a public meeting. He is asking a judge to overturn Bryant’s appointment and allow the governor to fill the vacancy.
During a special meeting on New Year’s Eve, city commissioners voted unanimously to name Bryant to Seat 1, which was left vacant by the suspension Scott Maddox. Maddox was arrested by the FBI on public corruption charges and suspended from office by Gov. Rick Scott on Dec. 12.