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ETHICS COMMISSION INVESTIGATION
BLOG - 09/04/2007

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Listen to the Council Meeting from 6-21-07


Hometown News / Palm Bay

Lobbyist's woes muddy city political waters


By G.W. Pomichter

Staff writer


Political intrigue continued to surround Palm Bay officials last week, as the ongoing battle
over lobbyist Bill Barrett came to a head on two fronts.

Early in the week, Mr. Barrett was in a Brevard County courthouse as the alleged victim in
a verbal assault case against Palm Bay's David Isnardi.

Mr. Isnardi, 47, is accused of assaulting Mr. Barrett on Aug. 18, 2006 outside City Hall
during the highly volatile debate over illegal immigrant workers in Palm Bay.

Mr. Isnardi, an associate of Palm Bay councilman Andy Anderson, first suggested the
ordinance, which failed in a 3-2 vote of the council.

Mr. Isnardi is presently managing Mr. Anderson's bid for Brevard County's District 5
commission seat, which is being vacated by Commissioner Jackie Colon.

Palm Bay Police reports indicate that Mr. Isnardi may have verbally assaulted Mr. Barrett
after comments the lobbyist made following the debate.

"This whole thing is very political," said Mr. Isnardi, who pled not guilty to the charge last
week.

"I don't remember when a verbal assault case received this much attention," said Mr.
Isnardi, who works as a supervisor in the Brevard County Clerk of the Courts' office.

Mr. Barrett, who is closely tied to Palm Bay Councilman Pat Woodard's campaign for the
same county commission seat, said Mr. Isnardi's comments and posture caused him to fear
for his safety, but he did not specify exactly what was said.

Brevard County judge Ali B. Majeed, accepted Mr. Isnardi's plea and set a July 16 trial
date for the matter to be decided.

Mr. Barrett has continued to have his share of problems on another Palm Bay front as well.

Just two weeks ago, Mr. Anderson called for Mr. Barrett's resignation or removal after
discovering he wasn't registered with state officials as a lobbyist for 2007.

Mr. Anderson said his primary concern was that Mr. Barrett had been "paid for services he
could not legally provide."

Mr. Barrett has been paid more than $30,000 for lobbying services.

The Florida legislature's Lobbyist Registration Office confirmed that Mr. Barrett has not
been registered since January 2007, but that he has now submitted the appropriate
documents.

A question about nearly $10,000 in fines Mr. Barrett reportedly owed for late filings
remains, however, and Mr. Barrett said he would pay the fines to if it was required to
renew his credentials.

Despite the controversy, the Palm Bay City Council voted against firing Mr. Barrett last
week.

Mr. Anderson motioned to terminate Mr. Barrett as of July 1, and found a second with
Palm Bay Mayor John Mazziotti, but the motion failed when the remaining three council
members voted against the action.

Mr. Anderson's wife, Sabrina, questioned the vote during public comments, pointing to Mr.
Barrett's association with Mr. Woodard's campaign as reason for the councilman to abstain.

"As a citizen, I would like to know how can you vote, when Barrett is working on your
campaign, and you stand to gain financially from his help?" Mrs. Anderson asked.

Mr. Woodard would not comment on the charge during or after the meeting.

Mr. Barrett said he had never been a paid part of Mr. Woodard's campaign, but he admitted
to volunteering his assistance to the County Commission hopeful.

Brevard County campaign records confirmed Mr. Barrett's claims.

Christine Isnardi said she, too, was upset with the vote.

"I can't understand how you can vote to keep paying anyone who can't provide the services
they're paid to provide," Mrs. Isnardi said.

Palm Bay residents continued to question the council's decision until the end of last week's
meeting.

Councilman Ed Geier defended his vote against firing Mr. Barrett saying he did not believe
that it was the city's responsibility to punish Mr. Barrett for failing to register.

"No one has shown me that he didn't do what he has been asked to do by Palm Bay, and it's
the state legislature's responsibility, not the city's, to punish him for not registering," Mr.
Geier said.

Mr. Anderson said he was disappointed with the vote, but that the "council's bosses would
have the last word."

"I've done all I could. Now it's up to the voters to decide if their elected officials acted
appropriately," he said following the meeting.

If no council action is taken against Mr. Barrett, he will be retained until his contract expires
in November, and the remainder of his $58,000 annual fee will be paid.


Contact G.W. Pomichter at (321) 759-6362 or e-mail him at
pomichter@hometownnewsol.com.
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