FLORIDA POLITICIANS,
GOVERNMENT  OFFICIALS
 

& SCIENTOLOGY

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CONTRIBUTIONS LEAD TO CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION

May 2005:  Florida State Representative Gus Barreiro of Miami has been working to insert Scientology beliefs into Florida's law and to fund Scientology programs in prisons.  Legislation dealing with mental health issues and how children are prescribed psychotropic drugs was sharply limited, but had it been enacted as it was presented by Representative Barreiro, would have mirrored Scientology beliefs on psychiatry and drugs used to treat mental illnesses.   Governor Bush is expected to veto the other item placed in the state budget by Barreiro, a provision to spend $500,000.00 on Scientology's Criminon program.  Representative Gus Barreiro has coincidentally received significant campaign funds from very prominent Scientologists, including some of the very people responsible for break-ins of Federal government offices in the 1970's during the infamous "Operation Snow White."  Click here for an extensive review of Scientology-connected contributions to Barreiro.

Florida Representative Gus Barreiro

FORMER CLEARWATER MAYOR SPEAKS OUT

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TAMPA BAY MAYORS AND LEGISLATORS TOO ACCEPTING OF SCIENTOLOGY

"While constant conflict between Clearwater officials and Scientology would serve no good purpose, there are hazards in becoming too accepting, including failing to represent the majority public view of the church and forgetting that skepticism is warranted when it comes to Scientology.

Some Tampa Bay area public figures who lately have sounded like supporters and defenders of the church - including Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala and political consultant Mary Repper - should know of those hazards. So should Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who accepted campaign support from Scientologists earlier this year and recently had dinner with actor Tom Cruise, a celebrity Scientologist, at Repper's house.

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio

Perhaps it was the city of Clearwater's accommodating attitude that recently led the church to believe it had the standing to start recruiting national retailers to downtown Clearwater. Such recruitment campaigns are traditionally government's role; indeed, Clearwater has such a campaign under way now. Despite that, the church prepared a brochure spotlighting the city's demographics and benefits (including a section touting the positive presence of the Church of Scientology downtown) and sent it to retailers such as the Gap and Banana Republic. Because no author is listed, the brochure promotes the mistaken impression that it comes from city government. Yet asked about this presumptuousness by the church, Mayor Brian Aungst said merely, "I don't know that it hurts anything. It's probably helpful, but we'll find out."

Clearwater  Mayor Brian Aungst

Clearwater officials would do well to review the results of the Scientology survey and consider whether an informed and wary public would be comfortable seeing them hold hands with the Church of Scientology."

May 2004:  Clearwater mayor Brian Aungst ran for the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Florida, according to this St. Petersburg Times article.  He stated that he would continue to serve as Clearwater's mayor until 2005 if he was elected to the clerk's position.   I feel that, based on his track record, Brian Aungst would not be suited for a postion such as Clerk of the Circuit Court.  There is a significant amount of responsibility to the security and accuracy of court records, and a person with a history of any subservience to Scientology cannot be trusted in such a position.  Scientology and its agents have been repeatedly found to have stolen, altered or destroyed court records that are unflattering or damaging to them.  Fortunately, Aungst was not elected to the Clerk's office.

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CLEARWATER CITY MANAGER SUPPORTS REDEVELOPMENT TO BENEFIT SCIENTOLOGY

Despite its repeatedly being voted down by Clearwater residents, Clearwater City Manager Bill Horne continues to promote a redevelopment plan for downtown Clearwater.  In a May 29, 2004 St. Petersburg Times article about Scientology settling a wrongful death lawsuit with the estate of Lisa McPherson, Horne stated that he was "pleased with the settlement of such highly visible and controversial litigation, especially in light of the City Council's intent to bring redevelopment plans back before voters sometime next year."

Clearwater City Manager Bill Horne

Downtown Clearwater is almost entirely owned or controlled by Scientology, and voters have rightfully avoided giving their hard earned tax dollars to a plan that would almost entirely benefit the cult.  But the City Council and Bill Horne appear to not trust the voters and continue to promote this redevelopment plan.  Horne also shows incredible insensitivity in his seeing the settlement of the McPherson lawsuit as being a good thing for his ambitions for downtown.  A previous Clearwater City Manager, Mike Roberto, was a shameless promoter of Scientology's agenda, and it appears Bill Horne is continuing that legacy.

Mike Roberto

CLEARWATER COMMISSIONER SUPPORTED BY SCIENTOLOGY

March 10, 2004:  Clearwater city commissioner Carlen A. Petersen is evidently a Scientology favored politician, based on an analysis of donations to her campaign.  See this article by former Clearwater mayor Gabe Cazares for details.  

Clearwater commissioner Carlen A. Petersen

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CLEARWATER POLICE AND SCIENTOLOGY

Scientology Executive Director Mike Rinder (L)
and Clearwater Police Chief Sid Klein (R)

The Clearwater  Police Department has had a varied history in regards to Scientology.  Historically, the relationship has been rocky, with a lengthy investigation by Lt. Ray Emmons, now retired, culminating in a recommendation that Federal authorities investigate Scientology for many criminal violations.  However, this was never done, as it was determined that Scientology would likely bankrupt even the Federal Government if charges were ever filed.  Click here for more details on this story.

Current Clearwater Chief of Police Sid Klein has cultivated a more accomodating relationship with Scientology.  While a Scientology watchdog group was located in Clearwater, Chief Klein allowed off-duty officers to work for Scientology as security personnel.  He has also been less than proactive when dealing with complaints arising from confrontations with Scientologists in the city.  Sid Klein is more of a politician than a law enforcement official in the way he deals with the Scientology organization.

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September 4, 2003- A  release form has surfaced that gives Scientology the right to hold its members in isolation indefinitely, and absolves it of any responsibility for a member's injury or death as a result -- the "Lisa McPherson clause". (Thanks to Scientology PR spokesperson Linda Simmons Hight for confirming the document's authenticity to Fox News).   In December 2003 Razor Magazine featured an in-depth article about this "release form" and the story of Lisa McPherson.

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LEGISLATOR SUPPORTING SCIENTOLOGY'S INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

Scientology has been attempting to gain legal religious recognition in various countries, to cloak their questionable practices in the guise of religion.  Germany and France are rightfully suspicious of Scientology and have not granted them any special status.  In fact, in Europe Scientology is commonly acknowledged as a mind control cult.  They have lobbied U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is furthering their efforts.

From an August, 2003 newsletter, International Scientology News Issue 25:

"...Among them is US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida. As chairperson of the International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee, she held a congressional hearing into religious intolerance in Germany and France. After hearing testimony from Catherine Bell and Isaac Hayes, the Congresswoman wanted to know more about Scientology and traveled to Los Angeles, touring our churches and ABLE International and commending the church for "incredible service to the community, including the saving of lives through drug rehabilitation."

U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

That's not all. She has now drafted a bill to be introduced into the United States Congress known as the "Trans-Atlantic Religious
Protection Act." This will penalize European governments that discriminate against US-based institutions and companies and give real teeth to the United States' commitment to religious freedom across Europe."

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has received significant donations to her campaigns from Scientologists, often from outside of Florida.  Click here for an in-depth review of Scientology donations to Ros-Lehtinen. 

Ros-Lehtinen is also a supporter of a controversial organization named Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an Iranian opposition group based in Iraq, according to this article in The Hill, "The newspaper for and about the U.S. Congress."  On August 15, 2003, the U.S. State Department amended their designation of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) as a foreign terrorist organization in order to include two of its aliases in the designation.  Citing an anonymous quote in a 1997 Los Angeles Times article, Ros-Lehtinen has said the MEK was named a foreign terrorist organization “as a goodwill gesture to Tehran” by the Clinton administration and that its continued designation was a “holdover policy.”   However, most websites continue to list the MEK as a terrorist organization.

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 I am opposed to our representatives doing the bidding of Scientology  with the furtherence of legislation such as the "Trans-Atlantic Religious Protection Act."   Scientologists often complain of "religious persecution" or "bigotry" whenever their practices are questioned or criticized, but they have never submitted to independent study or review for effectiveness or to address safety concerns.  Other nations and governments recognize that Scientology and its programs are dangerous and untested, and rightfully place them outside of what is considered "religious."  Scientologists often claim that they have religious recognition in the United States, but in fact only the Internal Revenue Service has granted tax free status to them, as a "charitable organization."  This status was granted in a secret agreement between the I.R.S. and Scientology, which was later leaked to the press.  It appears the primary reason this was granted was to halt the countless frivolous lawsuits filed against the I.R.S. by Scientologists.  In fact, the religion label is used by Scientology only when it suits them.  Often, they will deny that a program is religious in nature in order to attempt to obtain funding, as is the case with Narconon, which is based entirely on Scientology principles and practices.

Protesters of Scientology in Clearwater

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Scientology's literacy program is called "Study Technology," and is promoted in schools through their front group Applied Scholastics.  This program is also utilized in Scientology's Delphi Schools.  For a thorough analysis of Study Technology, see this essay by Dr. David Touretzky.   ABLE International (Association for Better Living and Education) is yet another Scientology front group.  

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COUNTY COMMISSIONER DEFENDS NARCONON

September 10, 2003 - Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala was sent this email about a local citizen's concerns:

"... I am deeply concerned about your involvement with the Scientology organisation. I would strongly suggest you take an inside look at their views and read the numerous statements of former parishioners, that suffered for long years and had a long struggle to get out of the claws of this organisation. (i.e. www.xenu.net )"

To which Latvala replied:

"Thank you for your email. I want to assure you that I am not involved with the Scientology organization. I have done quite a bit of research on this organization and have visited their drug treatment program because of my involvement with a local drug treatment program and my curiosity about their program. It turned out to be very similar to programs that I am familiar with.

 

I have taken a position as an elected official to represent all of the citizens of our county and I will not be a party  to discrimination and the promotion of hatred.  I do not understand "the Church" but recognize that there are  church members who live, work and pay taxes in our county. These people have the same rights as anyone else.
 

I have struggled and will probably continue to about this issue, the press has written much about their presence in our community and appears to wants to label anyone who doesn't rail against them.
 

Again, I appreciate your comments and would be happy to discuss this with you further if you so desire. Please call my office if you want to talk.
 

Sincerely,

 

Commissioner Susan Latvala"

Pinellas County Commission Vice-Chairman Susan Latvala

I would suggest that Commissioner Latvala do some serious research on the Scientology-based programs she has been shown, and ask those presenting these programs to her about any independent testing or verification of the success rates of these programs.  It is one thing to claim success rates, it is another entirely to prove success based on a thorough, independent review.  Concerns about her affiliation with Scientology have nothing to do with "discrimination" or "promotion of hatred."  They have everything to do with our public representatives seemingly supporting dangerous and untested programs.

Click here to read an open letter to Commissioner Susan Latvala, posted to the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology on September 11, 2003.

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SCIENTOLOGY EVENT DRAWS AREA POLITICIANS

An event held at the Belleair Country Club in Belleair, FL on September 27, 2003 was touted by a Scientologist front group called Clearwater Community Volunteers as "safe pointing" Scientology expansion in the Tampa Bay area.  This event  was described as a fashion show featuring local politicians and VIPs, with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club of Clearwater and Scientology's Winter Wonderland.  One of the sponsors of this event was listed as being Progress Energy, the local electric utility.  According to the webpage of the national Boys & Girls Club, there is no "Clearwater Boys & Girls Club," although there is a regional Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast, which appears to be based in Clearwater.  Scientology spokesperson Mary Story lists herself as a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Clearwater.

Scientology's "Winter Wonderland" display

Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala, political consultant Mary Repper, and State Representative Kim Berfield were listed as expected participants in this event.  Cat Coates, the wife of Pinellas Deputy Sheriff Jim Coates, and Teresa Hibbard, the wife of Clearwater Commissioner Frank Hibbard, were also named in the promotional material.

State Representative Kim Berfield (R)

Clearwater Commissoiner Frank Hibbard

The Clearwater Community Volunteers is described on a Scientology webpage as being the primary group under whose banner many "volunteer" groups work in the area.  Included under this banner are Volunteer Ministers, "CERT Volunteers" (a division of Volunteer Ministers working with fire rescue groups in Clearwater), the Clearwater Business Association, and individual Scientologists offering their personality tests.  They also sponsor such events as an Easter egg hunt in downtown Clearwater.

"Safe pointing" is Scientology's term for how they create positive impressions in the community by associating themselves with politicians and groups in the community that are perceived as charitable or beneficial.  While donating proceeds to a group as benign sounding as the Boys & Girls Club may be a fine thing, the true purpose of this event is to further Scientology's effort to expand their control and presence in the Tampa Bay area.  They are using the vanity of these politicians and wives of influential officials to further their goal of expansion in the community. 

Scientology's Tampa/Ybor City facility

The fact that they have somehow convinced the powerful local electric utility that they are a charitable organization instead of a front group for Scientology is  yet another example of the deceitful nature of Scientology.  I believe that if Progress Energy knew that Clearwater Community Volunteers was in fact a Scientology front, they would not have donated to this event.  It disturbs me that money I have paid this utility for my electric service is going to further the goals and ambitions of  Scientology.

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Scientology's drug program is called Narconon, a not too subtle attempt at imitating the name of a legitimate program, Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.).   For a detailed investigative page on Narconon see Narconon-Exposed. 

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FLORIDA GOVERNOR JEB BUSH MEETS WITH SCIENTOLOGISTS

According to a June 1, 2003 post to the website Beliefnet, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, "graciously accepted" a copy of the book "Learing How to Learn" from a group of Scientologists in Florida.  While this may sound like a minor event, it is notable that this webpage is #2 hit on search engine Google for the search terms "Scientology Jeb Bush," and by very small steps such as these it appears that Scientology is attempting to work its way even further into taxpayer's pocketbooks.  Often the more benign of the books by L. Ron Hubbard are used initially, to slowly introduce Scientology terms and concepts to a reader and to indoctrinate them into the Scientology mindset.  Narconon and Applied Scholastics are angling for state funds from school districts and for drug treatment, and now it appears that even the governor has met with Scientologists promoting these questionable and controversial programs.

Florida Governor Jeb Bush

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FLORIDA SENATORS & OTHER OFFICIALS ATTEND SCIENTOLOGY EVENT

Excerpted from an internet newsgroup post of "WINNING!" , The Scientology Office of Special Affairs newsletter, regarding another event attended by state Senators and representatives:

"On January 18, 2003, more than 540 dignitaries and guests from throughout the Tampa Bay area arrived to celebrate the 76th Anniversary of the Fort Harrison...

The guests included the Mayor (Brian Aungst), Deputy Mayor and City Commissioner of Clearwater, the Clearwater and Hillsborough County Commissioners, the Sheriff (Everett Rice) and Deputy Sheriff of Pinellas County, mayors from seven surrounding cities, a representative from the Florida State Attorney's office, two former state senators, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (Johnnie Byrd), hundreds of local judges, attorneys, top business executives and other opinion leaders from throughout the community.

Florida Speaker Johnnie Byrd (R)

The keynote speaker was Stuart Rogel, president of the Tampa Bay Partnership, one of the top ten economic development groups in South Florida. Rogel validated the Church for its literacy and anti-drug programs, and presented Mary (Story) with a special plaque..." (emphasis added)

The Tampa Bay Partnership has the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc. listed on its "Council of Governors,"  with Scientology's public relations person, Mary Story, listed as the contact person.  This "prestigious" position in the business community was evidently purchased by Scientology for the low, low price of $50,000.00. 

Scientology "VP Director of Community Affairs" Mary Story

Comments and quotes from the newsletter:

"You guys did an awesome job," said the Sheriff, echoing those same sentiments. "I had a great time!"

(Former) Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice

"I had an even better time than I had last year," said the Pinellas county Sheriff's Chief Deputy.

A former State Senator expected to run for Congress said he "had an even better time this year than last year. If you ever need anything at all, just call me." (emphasis added)

A Hillsborough County Commissioner who attended described the event as "off the charts."

"Scientology has an enormous impact in the community because of its positive effect on people," said a local judge. "

Especially disturbing about this internal Scientology report is the attendance of the Sheriff, a member of the State Attorney's office, a judge, and a "former State Senator" saying they can just call him if they ever need anything! This is simply unacceptable conduct for our representatives, and I hope to find out who the unnamed politicians are, and will include photos and links on this page at a later date.

Scientology's "Second Chance Program"  is licensed by Criminon International, a division of Narconon. Both groups employ L. Ron Hubbard's teachings in their rehabilitation efforts.

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FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN ACCEPTS SCIENTOLOGY AWARD

Celebrity Scientologist Tom Cruise

For starters, try the Church of Scientology's plans for expansion in Tampa.  Indeed, the church has hired a lobbyist to represent its interests before city government. The church needs city approval to use its center on Habana Avenue for some church purposes.   Lobbyist Todd Pressman filled out a lobbyist registration form to report a meeting with city officials on the project..."

Actor Tom Cruise has been aggressively lobbying politicians and working with the media, promoting Scientology's agenda and claiming it helped "cure" his dyslexia.  According to a June 27, 2003 St. Petersburg Times article,  in addition to Iorio, he has recently met with Pinellas county commission chairperson Susan Latvala and her husband former senator Jack Latvala, state senator Tom Lee, Pinellas county budget director Mark Woodard (who is also Pam Iorio's husband), Judge Linda Allan, public defender Robert Dillinger, Tampa Airport board member Stephen J. Mitchell, and a Manatee county commissioner.

Florida Senator Tom Lee


Tampa Airport board member Stephen J. Mitchell


Former Senator Jack Latvala

One must wonder about all this "wining and dining."  Is there really such thing as a free lunch?  What does Scientology hope to gain from this lobbying and contact with their "star" member Tom Cruise?  And since when does a "CHURCH" need a lobbyist?  For that matter, why does a "church" need Private Investigators, as has been widely documented with Scientology?  It would appear that Scientology is continuing to operate under the exclusive orders of founder L. Ron Hubbard who said that the goal is for Scientology centers to be in total control of the government, and that any critics or dissenters are to be destroyed by any means necessary.

Please help hold these politicians and officials accountable for their actions!  Email, phone or write to them, and let them know that they are supporting dangerous, untested and controversial programs, and pass on the link to this webpage to anyone you feel would be interested in these officials' dubious associations with Scientology recruiting fronts.

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For the most extensive critical source of information about Scientology on the internet, see Operation Clambake.