Boca Mayor Susan Haynie Booked On Criminal Charges

BOCA RATON, FL — If any of her city's 93,000 residents had bothered to check the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Booking Blotter Tuesday night, they might have seen a less than flattering mug shot of Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie. That's a sharp contrast to the photo she retweeted in March of 2017 after Haynie won re-election to a second term in office to represent her affluent Florida city that earns frequent mentions in Hollywood sitcoms and movies for its influx of well-heeled retirees. In this case the mayor was formally accused of official misconduct, perjury and misuse of her office among other offenses.

The investigation began in March 2017, according to court documents filed by the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office, which said that prosecutors received complaints that Haynie used her position to vote on issues that had a "favorable financial impact" on a developer who owns a "substantial amount of property" in Boca.

"Moreover, the complaints alleged that Susan Haynie failed to disclose income she received from the developer, James Batmasian, while conducting business with him and his companies through a company she owned with her husband," according to court documents.

As she made her way out of the Palm Beach County booking facility Tuesday night, Haynie insisted through her attorney that she would fight the charges.

"Mayor Haynie is innocent of these charges," her attorney told reporters as he walked with the mayor. "We look forward to challenging these accusations and that's all they are right now, just accusations."

Deputy Boca Raton mayor Scott Singer told CBS 12 in West Palm Beach that city officials were "stunned by the news" but he stopped short of calling for the mayor to step down.

"We'll see what the mayor will do for the good of the city," he told the news station.

Prosecutors charged that Haynie failed to disclose voting conflicts on Sept. 13, 2016; Jan. 10, 2017; Feb. 28, 2017 and June 13, 2017 while she and her husband allegedly received $77,843.13 in 2016 and $36,835.39 in undisclosed income from the people benefiting from the outcome of the votes in question.

Haynie is also a candidate for the Palm Beach County Commission but news reports said she is expected to drop out of the race.

Photo courtesy Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office