The St. Pete Times questions the coziness between Supervisor of Elections in Hillsborough,FL, (R) Buddy Johnson, and contractor GOP candidate for County Commission, Al Higginbotham...Higginbotham helped Johnson get his elections job and is co-owner of the company that built Johnson's new home. (Jeb Bush appointed Johnson)
The elections supervisor built the three-bedroom, two-bath home on land in the Thonotosassa Lake area that he purchased from his parents three years ago for $45,000. He used a $213,000 mortgage loan for construction.
When the home was nearly complete, Johnson valued it at $340,000, according to his most recent financial disclosure statement. The 2,004-square-foot home is now his most valuable asset.
Higginbotham claims he didn't know he owned the company but his financial discloure statement states he owned 25%. *His wife owns the other 75*...Democrat Rodriguez says she feels handicapped in a race where her opponent is closely tied to the elections chief and east Hillsborough Republican power brokers.
