Former Miami Beach commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez is facing allegations that she lobbied senior city staff to give government work to three construction companies that had previously donated to her campaign, violating the county’s ethics rules.
An ethics complaint was filed this week against Rosen Gonzalez, focusing on a meeting she had at Roasters ‘N Toasters deli with Miami Beach Assistant City Manager Eric Carpenter and Public Works Director Roy Coley, according to the Miami Herald. Rosen Gonzalez allegedly invited Emmanuel Pacin, the president and CEO of marine contractor Pac Comm Inc., to join their table.
At the meeting, Rosen Gonzalez allegedly asked city staff why the city wasn’t doing business with the Pac Comm, according to the Miami Herald. She also inquired about why Miami Beach hadn’t paid invoices to two companies, Ric-Man and David Mancini & Sons.
Rosen Gonzalez served on the city commission from 2015 until January, when she stepped down to run for Congress. She lost in the congressional primary election and is currently running for another term on the city commission.
She requested the meeting with the Miami Beach officials on the same day she secured a $1,000 donation from Pacin’s 18-year-old son, the Herald reported. It was also just a week after she took in a $1,000 donation made in the name of Pacin’s 4-year-old son, Emmanuel N. Pacin Jr.
Former city officials are prohibited from engaging in any lobbying for two years after they leave office, according to the Herald. [Miami Herald] — Keith Larsen