Ethics Commission rules on Levy Commissioner John Meeks and former Inglis Mayor Michael Andrew White

Tallahassee, Florida - On Friday, March 7, 2025, the State of Florida Commission on Ethics held a closed meeting that took action on 47 matters, two of which involved Levy County Commissioner John Meeks and former Inglis Mayor Michael Andrew White. The meeting was held in the Third Floor Courtroom of the First District Court of Appeal, located at 2000 Drayton Drive, Tallahassee, Florida.

The Florida Commission on Ethics is an independent nine-member commission, formed in 1974 to review complaints filed under the statutory Code of Ethics and to answer questions from public officials about potential conflicts of interest through its issuance of advisory opinions. If the Ethics Commission believes a violation of the law may have occurred, it may decide to hold a public hearing. If it concludes a violation has been committed, it may recommend civil penalties including removal from office or employment and fines up to $20,000 per violation.

The ethics commission press release stated "Eighteen of those (forty-seven) matters were probable cause hearings. A finding of probable cause is not a determination that a violation has occurred. Such a determination is made only after a full evidentiary hearing on the allegations."

John Meeks, Levy County, Florida Commissioner
"The Commission rejected the recommendation of its advocate and found no probable cause on an allegation that JOHN MEEKS, Levy County Commissioner, violated Florida's Constitution and financial disclosure laws by filing an inaccurate 2020 Form 6 disclosure."

Michael Andrew White, former Town of Inglis Mayor
During its PUBLIC SESSION, "The Commission also adopted a settlement agreement between the Commission Advocate and MICHAEL ANDREW WHITE, former Town of Inglis Mayor. The agreement finds Mr. White had a conflicting contractual relationship because of a land purchase agreement he had with the Town. A civil penalty of $500 will be recommended for imposition by the Governor."

Link to the Commission on Ethics meeting agenda:
https://ethics.state.fl.us/Documents/Ethics/MeetingAgendas/03-07-25_AmendAgenda.pdf?cp=2025313

Link to a video of the Commission on Ethics hearing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EUrqL83wIU

Link to the Commission on Ethics press release:
https://ethics.state.fl.us/Documents/Ethics/PressReleases/Mar25pres.pdf?cp=2025313