The Political Whore

By George Niemann
PoHo contributor and R-LAND and UCAN activist

Wednesday’s proceedings were like riding a roller coaster. Here’s the highlights:

• Alyssa Ogden’s mother cries as she tells about learning of the sexual harassment.
• White’s father badmouths the alibi-busters who didn’t corroborate White’s story.
• Alyssa’s sister tells about how White lusted after her, also.
• Whites lawyers file a motion to throw the case out of court.
• White goes back on the stand, and his testimony causes a firestorm of protest from Alyssa’s attorney, as well as the judge.

The details:

Read the rest of this entry »

By George Niemann
PoHo contributor and R-LAND and UCAN activist
The second day of Commissioner Kevin White’s sexual harassment trial covered a lot of ground.

Two very important things happened today. White himself testified. In addition, the video depositions of his uncle, Andre Moses White, and his longtime family friend C. Blythe Andrews were entered into evidence and viewed by the jury.

The bottom line on White’s testimony: His testimony was far from plausible.

The bottom line on the Andre White and Blythe Andrews testimony: They blew away White’s alibi. Read the rest of this entry »

By Kelly Cornelius
PoHo contributor & R-LAND activist

Construction might be down but Commissioner Kevin White (D-Shovel-Ready) just keeps digging. He is currently in the middle of a trial for a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former aide. This article not only describes White’s history but indicates that taxpayers are on the hook for $100,000 of his in legal fees so far, and the article says that was approved by our current commissioners this past June……..WTF? His trial began Aug. 17 and the jury was picked Monday.

After this year’s budget brawl is over you will probably pay more for parks, dog tags, and other services and now you can add this costly lawsuit to the tab. That’s because the county has been named a defendant in the lawsuit, as well, so it is spending tax dollars for legal defense of its own interests, outside of White’s personal legal tab. Read the rest of this entry »

By George Niemann
PoHo contributor and R-LAND and UCAN activist

(This is installment one, which coincides with day one of the trial. I plan to provide day-to-day coverage of this trial in installments until the day that it goes into the hands of the jurors for deliberation, which is expected to be Friday.)

The civil trial in Ogden v. White began Monday in US District Court-Middle Trial District of Florida-Tampa Division. Judge Richard Lazarra is presiding. Alyssa Ogden is accusing Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White of firing her for not agreeing to have a “relationship” with him, thereby creating what she is calling sexual harassment.

White has two lawyers representing him and Hillsborough County has two lawyers representing the county’s interest in defending the case.

Alyssa Ogden, had one lawyer, Ronald Fraley, presenting her case.

The courtroom was large but with a small viewing gallery. The viewing gallery was filled with members of the press on one side and what appeared to be supporters/family of White on the other side, including White’s wife, Jenny.

It took the morning to pick the jurors. Six women and two men are on this jury. It might be that the preponderance of women may give the plaintiff the edge as far as favorable jurors go.

In the afternoon the case began. In his opening statement, Alyssa’s attorney told the jury that his client was so distraught over what happened that she was traumatized and had to seek help from a psychologist to cope with it. The cost of therapy so far is $15,300. The anticipated damages being sought so far is $100,000. He said he would prove that she was hired for one reason — that the commissioner had more interest in her than her ability to answer phones and maintain a schedule.

White’s primary attorney, Steven Wenzel, began his opening statement with the words, “It didn’t happen.” He said he was going to prove that Ogden couldn’t do the job and after she got fired decided to make a sexual harassment case out of it. According to Mr. Wenzel the motivation for this case was money. In an attempt to question her credibility, he says that she had the opportunity but never told County Administrator Bean or County Attorney Renee Lee or Commissioner Rose Ferlita (all strong women that might be supportive of a harassed female employee) of her ordeal.

Then came Ogden’s testimony, which was sizzling.

Read the rest of this entry »