ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – After allegations first surfaced in March accusing St. Johns County Airport Authority Board members of violating Florida’s Sunshine Law, the State Attorney’s Office officially filed charges against three members this week.
Board Chairman Reba Ludlow, and board members Dennis Clarke and Len Tucker are accused of attending private meetings to discuss issues meant to be up for public discussion and working together to control the five-member airport board. Tucker also faces a possible felony charge of tampering with a witness in a misdemeanor proceeding.
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All face the possibility of fines or jail time if found guilty.
The Sunshine Law requires public boards with elected officials to conduct business openly, prohibiting private discussions between members about potential actions.
The State Attorney’s Office said the meetings happened over years, and each member was well aware of Sunshine Laws.
According to the charging affidavits, on Jan. 5, 2023, Ludlow and Clarke started speaking privately before the start of an official board meeting. Former Interim Northeast Florida Regional Airport (NFRA) Executive Director Kevin Harvey, admonished them, telling them to stop discussing board business.
On multiple occasions, Harvey said he heard Clarke say the Sunshine Law was too restrictive and prohibitive in allowing him to speak with other board members privately and pointed out the penalty is only a $500.00 fine.
In 2022, Ludlow and Clarke were also seen in the airport administration building conference room in private meetings with what appeared to be airport finances in an accounting software program displayed on a big screen. Ludlow said they were “just trading recipes,” according to a sworn statement from a witness.
In 2024, Courtney Pittman, current NFRA Interim Executive Director, said he met privately with Ludlow and Tucker at the Airport Administration building outside an official board meeting where they discussed the agenda item another board member had requested that he add to the agenda.
On March 10, the Northeast Florida Regional Airport hosted a contentious Airport Authority Board meeting as members addressed the accusations publicly for the first time.
Ludlow, however, pushed back against the allegations, saying it is speculation.
“Until there are some charges, we have nothing,” Ludlow said. “Absolutely nothing except rumors.”
At the center of the controversy is a letter from the Douglas Law Firm, which alleged that Ludlow and Tucker engaged in a pattern of Sunshine Law violations and other ethical missteps.
As a result, the firm decided to withdraw as the airport’s legal counsel.
According to the charging affidavit, on or about March 10, leading up to that meeting, Pittman stated that he witnessed Ludlow and Clarke meet privately at the airport administration building outside of an official board meeting where they discussed removing the Douglas Law Firm withdrawal from the NFRA agenda.
According to statements, Clarke said the Douglas Law Firm needed to show proof of their assertions or be sued for defamation and Ludlow agreed in a taunting manner.
Ludlow then admonished Pittman for releasing the agenda in advance without her approval, according to the affidavit.
Tucker is accused of trying to intimidate Pittman into withholding testimony, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
According to state law, penalties for violations of the Sunshine Law may include:
- Decisions taken at meetings may be voidable
- Removal from office
- A knowing violation is punishable as a second-degree misdemeanor which includes imprisonment up to 60 days and/or fines up to $500
- Unintentional violations may be punishable by a fine of up to $500
- Attorneys’ fees can be awarded
