Broward Inspector General Carol J. Breece has filed a formal complaint against Tax Collector Abiodun “Abbey” Ajayi, accusing her of misusing county resources during her run for office two years ago.
Breece is asking a hearing officer to impose a $10,000 fine and issue a public reprimand. The complaint alleges violations of the county code and does not accuse Ajayi of committing a crime.
The official complaint follows up on a report issued last May, when Breece’s office accused Ajayi of promoting her campaign during working hours at her taxpayer-funded job as operations manager of the County’s Records, Taxes and Treasury Division.
The Tax Collector’s Office is a newly created elected position, and Ajayi is the first to hold the office. It was also her first run for elected office.
“In addition to establishing that she participated in one podcast during office hours, the OIG investigation found that she appeared in a second podcast from her office after hours and used the County’s email system for 44 campaign-related emails,” the Inspector General’s Office alleged.
Her attorney, Larry Davis, did not dispute the allegations. “They were unintentional acts caused by the challenge of wearing two hats at the same time: one campaigning for public office and the other continuing her commitment to her county job.”
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.