Gruters files ethics complaint against Crist

Former Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Sarasota GOP Chairman Joe Gruters to the board of the Florida Sports Foundation in 2008 — that was back when Crist was a Republican.

Now a Democrat and running for governor again, Crist faces a complaint Gruters filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics that contends he failed to fully report his income as part of his financial disclosure filed last month. The commission will consider the case during its July 25 meeting, after which Crist could face fines.

Using a June 18 story in the Miami Herald as evidence, Gruters wrote in the complaint that Crist did not list the details of the lease for a Jeep Grand Cherokee mentioned in the article. “As a result of this failure to substantially comply with financial disclosure obligations, Florida voters do not have an accurate picture of (Crist’s) actual wealth.”

Further, the complaint alleges Crist didn’t report income from his consulting firm, Charlie Crist LLC, and didn’t accurately report payments from real estate firm the St. Joe Company, for which he served on the board of directors.

“I trust that these matters will be thoroughly investigated and that (the) commission will apply and appropriately sanction (Crist) for his failure to comply with your rules, statutes and Florida’s Constitution,” the complaint concludes.