BREAKING: Kaufman Denies Allegations, Seeks Evidence in Dispute With City Manager
Commissioner says allegations are unsupported and requests records before any further action is taken.
KEY WEST, Fla. — An email obtained and reviewed by Above the Fold shows that Key West City Commissioner and mayoral candidate Sam Kaufman formally denied allegations raised by City Manager Brian Barroso concerning the alleged misuse of City Hall facilities and city resources, while demanding the release of evidence supporting the claims before any further action is taken.
Kaufman sent the email to Barroso and part-time City Attorney Mayanne Downs on Monday afternoon in response to correspondence from the city manager regarding Kaufman’s access to City Hall after hours and the use of city facilities in connection with campaign-related activities.
In the email, Kaufman rejected allegations that he violated city policies, ethics rules, election laws, improperly used city resources or damaged city property.
Barroso’s claims are intertwined with Kaufman’s ethics complaint filed Monday morning alleging that Barroso and Mayor Danise Henriquez have been using tax-payer funded social media accounts to assist the mayor’s re-election campaign.
That complaint stemmed from a a citizen complaint lodged by a longtime Bahama Village resident and community activist
“I respectfully disagree with the characterization of events contained in your letter and deny any violation of law, policy, ethics rules, election laws, misuse of City resources, or damage to City property,” Kaufman wrote.
Kaufman said he did not bypass security, force entry or knowingly attempt to gain unauthorized access to City Hall.
“I did not bypass security, force entry, or otherwise knowingly attempt to gain unauthorized access to City facilities,” Kaufman wrote.
Kaufman noted that his office is located inside City Hall and that he has authorized access, including after-hours access. He said a city-issued key card failed to provide entry because of a security-system update that commissioners had not been informed about.
“The City-issued key card did not allow access as a result of a City security-system update for which commissioners had not been advised,” he wrote.
Kaufman also denied allegations that he damaged city property, including the commission dais and nameplates.
“I also specifically deny causing any damage to the dais, nameplates, or other City property,” he wrote.
According to the email obtained and reviewed by Above the Fold, Kaufman requested records and evidence he said are necessary to evaluate the allegations and provide a meaningful response.
Kaufman requested the following records and materials:
Access logs
Security footage
Photographs or video of the alleged damage
Repair estimates, invoices or work orders
Communications regarding the city’s credential-system upgrade
Notices provided to commissioners regarding credential reprogramming
Written policies governing after-hours commissioner access
Written policies regarding filming or campaign-related use of city facilities
The identities of any individuals who initiated complaints or allegations, to the extent permitted by law
Communications, witness statements and other materials relied upon in reaching the conclusions outlined in Barroso’s correspondence
The commissioner argued that he cannot adequately respond to allegations or any potential reimbursement request without first reviewing the evidence.
“Before I can meaningfully respond to the allegations or any asserted reimbursement request referenced in your correspondence, I respectfully request production of all evidence and materials supporting the allegations,” Kaufman wrote.
Barroso’s original correspondence reportedly referenced the possibility of seeking reimbursement for damages and referring the matter to outside agencies.
In his response, Kaufman requested that all supporting materials be produced before any public discussion or outside referral occurs.
“Given your stated intention to potentially refer these matters to outside agencies and/or discuss them publicly, I respectfully request that the above-referenced materials be provided as soon as reasonably possible,” he wrote.
Kaufman also suggested that Barroso’s correspondence appeared to reach conclusions before a formal review had been completed.
“I also respectfully note that your correspondence appears to presume conclusions before completion of any formal factual review or investigative process,” Kaufman wrote.
The dispute comes as Kaufman is challenging incumbent Mayor Danise Henriquez in the Aug. 18 municipal election.
In the closing section of his email, Kaufman raised concerns about the political context surrounding the allegations and called for any review to be conducted impartially.
“Given the pending mayoral election and my status as Mayor Henriquez’s current opponent, I respectfully request that any review, referral, or public discussion of these matters be handled in a neutral, evidence-based, and politically impartial manner, and in a way that avoids even the appearance of selective enforcement or use of City processes for political purposes,” Kaufman wrote.
Kaufman said he intends to preserve all rights related to the matter.
The city has not publicly released the evidence referenced in Barroso’s correspondence. The allegations and Kaufman’s response are detailed in documents obtained and reviewed by Above the Fold. It was not immediately clear Monday whether the requested records would be provided or whether the matter would be referred to outside agencies.