{"id":153298,"date":"2026-02-12T18:30:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T18:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/153298\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T18:30:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T18:30:06","slug":"ethics-complaint-against-somo-walls-owner-dismissed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/153298\/","title":{"rendered":"Ethics complaint against SoMo Walls owner dismissed"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – An ethics complaint surrounding the approval of a Tallahassee mural project<\/a> has been dismissed.<\/p>\n

The complaint was filed by former Mayor Dot Inman-Johnson and alleges a conflict of interest as the owner of SoMo Walls, Bugra Demirel, sits on a subcommittee of the Community Redevelopment Agency. <\/p>\n

The city commissioners, acting as the CRA board, voted 3-2 to approve a mural project that would be drawn at SoMo Walls. The CRA would provide $30,000 and SoMo Walls would match that, totaling $60,000 for the project.<\/p>\n

Bugra did recuse himself from the subcommittee vote, however, Inman-Johnson argues the ethics code requires him to not participate at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cBugra Demirel is a member of the Frenchtown\/Southside CRA CAC and committed a clear conflict of interest for lobbying the CAC to approve the request for which he is the beneficiary,\u201d part of the complaint reads.<\/p>\n

More Tallahassee news: <\/p>\n

Now, that ethics complaint has been dismissed. <\/p>\n

A letter from the Ethics Board said the complaint alleging misuse of position and solicitation or acceptance of gifts was found to be \u201clegally insufficient.\u201d <\/p>\n

The letter reads in part \u201cOur rules provide that a complaint is deemed sufficient if it alleges facts that, if true, would constitute a violation of the Tallahassee Ethics Code. Based on the facts provided, the local ethics code, and applicable ordinances, your complaint does not meet this standard.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Board\u2019s attorney reviewed the complaint and explained that the subcommittee Demirel sits on, the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) does not have authority over final decisions.<\/p>\n

The complaint raised issues about the vote taken by the CAC Board. Demirel publicly announced his conflict of interest and abstained from the vote. The complaint said he did not leave the room during the discussion and vote.<\/p>\n

According to the findings of the Board\u2019s attorney, state law requires the member \u201cdisclose the conflict and abstain from the vote but is not required to leave the room.\u201d<\/p>\n

The findings also state that the law nor the local ethics code prohibits an advisory board member who had disclosed the conflict of interest and abstained from voting, from participating in the discussion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that Mr. Demirel encouraged board members to vote for an issue that would benefit himself or another is not enough to show that he acted in a manner inconsistent with his duties,\u201d the findings read.<\/p>\n

WCTV has reached out to Inman-Johnson and Bugra for comment.<\/p>\n

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