by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Harry Reagan, the public information coordinator for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Nat Glover’s mayoral spokesman, is trying his best to juggle both jobs.
Section 106.15 (3) of the State of Florida election law states “A candidate may not, in the furtherance of his or her candidacy for nomination or election to public office in any election,use the services of any state, county, municipal, or district officer or employee during working hours.”
Reagan defended his role as campaign spokesperson, explaining that he works from his JSO office in the morning and uses some his annual leave in the afternoon to work on the campaign.
“I put in a leave slip every day,” said Reagan, adding he has only served as the official spokesperson for Glover since Glover won the primary April 15. “I generally split my day — mornings at the JSO and afternoons with the Glover for Mayor campaign. I am very careful about keeping track of this. I can get leave records for you. I have always been a stickler on ethics issues.”
Ed Kast, director of the state Division of Elections, said Reagan speaking for the campaign from his JSO office, or speaking on behalf of Glover, during normal hours (Reagan was quoted by this paper on Monday about 1:30 p.m.) — and the fact he lists his JSO phone number as a campaign contact number — could be viewed by the Florida Elections Commission as a violation.
There would be no violation if Reagan was on a leave of absence. However, when reached Wednesday afternoon at his JSO office, Reagan indicated that wasn’t the case.
“I wear both hats. I try to keep them separate,” said Reagan.