Allen Cox, the vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, is demanding a copy of a secret agreement said to be reached between outgoing chairman Jim Greer, incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, and state Sen. John Thrasher -- the legislators' choice to take over the party.
Cox said the general counsel for the state party, Jason Gonzalez, told him that the agreement included severance and other benefits, as well as protections against future liabilities. After Greer's confidential deal with former executive director Delmar Johnson came to light, Cox said Gonzalez told him the agreement was no longer valid.
"The executive board plans to fully investigate this and take whatever actions are necessary to invalidate any contract or other agreement which has been made without the authority of the party's officers or executive board,'' Cox said.
Meanwhile, Haridopolos and Thrasher deny that there was any such agreement. Haridopolos told Herald/Times reporter Marc Caputo: "We have not signed anything. There were a lot of papers going back and forth. We want to clean up this party...There is nothing out there that binds anybody to anything. Thrasher told Herald/Times reporter Steve Bousquet: "There is no document to that effect to my knowledge. To my knowledge."
Party spokeswoman Katie Gordon also denies the existence of any agreement between the party and Greer and says his salary and benefits will end this month.
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