Orlando taking illegal communications between public officials seriously.
State cops collect Orange leaders' cellphones in text investigation
Several Orange County officials involved in the "textgate" controversy have turned over their personal cellphones to state investigators looking into possible violations of open-government laws.
Mayor Teresa Jacobs, her chief of staff, Graciela Noriega Jacoby, and County Attorney Jeff Newton have yielded their phones, a spokesman said Monday. Commissioners Fred Brummer, Jennifer Thompson and former Commissioner John Martinez confirmed they had, too, while Scott Boyd would not comment.
Commissioner Ted Edwards initially say he would not, citing short notice and concerns over attorney-client information, but he said he would surrender his phone soon. Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell refused to turn over hers. She said previously she does not use her own phone to text about public business
Several officials, including Brummer, Thompson, Martinez and Noriega Jacoby, have deleted or lost texts from opponents of a sick-time referendum that could include public records. Orange-Osceola State Attorney Jeff Ashton asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate whether state law was violated.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-sick-time-cellphones-20130225,0,7557399.story