Sansom steps aside as Speaker

Sansom State Rep. Ray Sansom, a Republican from Destin whose district includes parts of Santa Rosa County including Navarre, stepped aside as Speaker of the House last Friday because of a grand jury ethics inquiry.

Sansom previously stepped down from a high-level administrative job at Northwest Florida State College after revelations that the representative purportedly steered $35 million to the school before taking the post. In addition, it's alleged that Sansom helped fund a building at the Destin airport for a political contributor and arranged for a secretive meeting of the college's board in Tallahassee.

"Ongoing legal proceedings have temporarily created an inability for me to carry out my responsibilities as Speaker," Sansom told members of the House in a memo last week. "The allegations and reports associated with these proceedings have caused my family grave pain, and this has prompted my decision. I expect positive outcomes and am confident that when the facts are known, my honesty and integrity will be confirmed."

On Nov. 18, Sansom, 46, was sworn in as Speaker. That very day, Northwest Florida State College announced that Sansom had been hired as vice president for development. Sansom, a Fort Walton Beach native, will continue in his role as District 4 representative. He appointed Larry Cretul of Ocala to fill the Speaker's role, an unprecedented move that at least one fellow lawmaker, J.C. Planas of Miami, contends was not legal.

Cretul

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