Two years ago, multimillionaire venture capitalist Tim Mahoney, 52, successfully ran on a "family values" platform after six-term Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) abruptly resigned on Friday, 29 September 2006. Foley's resignation came in the wake of media questions about his relationship with male Congressional pages.
Last week, Rep. Mahoney admitted to "multiple" extramarital affairs. However, the one that the House Ethics Committee is investigating relates to "his settlement of a sexual harassment allegation made by a female aide with whom he had an extramarital affair."
According to the Post, the House Ethics Committee does not normally take up a case so close to election day. (It's two weeks away!) However, both Mahoney and Speaker Nancy Pelosi have called on the Committee to act. What they can possibly determine in two weeks -- when Committee members themselves are at home campaigning -- is not clear.
The Case Of Patricia Allen
In 2004, Mahoney changed his party allegiance from Republican to Democratic.
Mahoney met Patricia Allen, 50, during his 2006 campaign against Foley. She volunteered for the campaign; he subsequently hired her as part of his Congressional staff.
In June 2007, she began working on his reelection campaign. According to the Washington Post, her last paycheck was in February. Mahoney says he fired her for "performance" reasons. However, she reportedly threatened him with a sexual harassment suit. His preemptive settlement ($61,000 for Allen; $60,000 for her lawyer; and $20,000 for his lawyer) came out of his own pocket.
Current Campaign Status
Back in 2006, Mahoney barely defeated state Rep. Joe Negron, chosen by the state Republican Party to fill Foley's spot on the ticket. Because it was so close to election day, Foley's name remained on the ballot. Despite this handicap, Mahoney won by only 1.8%.
In his 2008 reelection bid, Mahoney faces Republican Tom Rooney. Last month, the Treasure Coast Palm noted (emphasis added):
As Republicans question Congressman Tim Mahoney’s use of a horse barn for his voting address, Democrats have returned the latest non-issue volley by pointing out that his challenger was once registered to vote at a dog track....
On Sept. 18 it was reported that Mahoney uses his Palm Beach Gardens home, which was redistricted out of District 16 in 2002, for his homesteaded property, while an apartment in a barn at a horse farm in western Palm Beach Gardens is used by the congressman for his voting address.
What, you might reasonably ask, is a "homestead property"? From Jonathan B. Alper, P.L.C., "The Constitution defines homestead as one’s principal place of residence up to one-half acre within a municipality and up to 160 contiguous acres in any county in Florida."
In other words, a "homestead property" is the place that you tell the state is your primary residence. You know. The place where you live. And, one supposes, vote. Yet Mahoney's is a district other than the one he represents in Congress.
Clearly, the voters in Palm Beach, FL (Martin County) deserve better.
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