“I sold my stock — now you stop the MegaMall Development.“
Democratic gubernatorial candidate and entrepreneur Jeff Greene this morning sold stocks Gwen Graham criticized him for holding, making good on a move he had vowed to make upon being elected Governor.
“I sold my stock – now you stop the MegaMall development,” said Greene, in a challenge to Graham. “I promised voters I would resolve any real or potential conflicts of interests, and I’m keeping my word today. Will you?”
The stocks sold represented six tenths of one percent of Greene’s net worth – but no matter how small the holdings, today’s move eliminates what Graham has called a potential conflict of interest. In contrast, Graham refuses to address the conflict she’s facing with the development of the American Dream MegaMall and theme park, being developed on Graham family land at the edge of the Everglades.
Graham points to her use of a “transparent trust” to prevent conflicts of interest, but she still stands to make millions off the development of the mall and adjacent properties that edge into the Glades. In contrast, Greene has declined to set up a blind or transparent trust, calling the practice “dubious.” He has instead pledged to play it straight and outright sell anything that could be perceived as a conflict of interest. His actions today show he will remain true to his word.
Greene is the only candidate self-funding his campaign, and the only candidate who won’t owe favors to lobbyists or special interests. When he gets to Tallahassee, the only interest Greene will serve is the public interest.
However, Graham’s conservative Congressional voting record has left Florida Democrats questioning whose interests she represents. Elected to defend Democratic values and protect the environment, Graham betrayed Democrats by voting against President Obama more than 600 times. Within weeks of getting to Washington, she voted to approve the Keystone pipeline – an environmental disaster in the making. She voted with big banks to roll back Dodd-Frank and help Wall Street banks to rob everyday Floridians of their hard-earned money. Graham voted to cut back Obamacare, President Obama’s signature accomplishment that gave millions access to quality affordable healthcare.
Greene has never declined to disclose his holdings, as falsely alleged by Graham. He strongly opposes offshore drilling, fracking, and any such practice that threatens Florida’s world-class environment.
In response to inquires about what was sold:
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Exxon Mobil Corp. – 75,000 shares @ $80/share
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Hess Corp. – 150,000 shares @ $65/share
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Kinder Morgan – preferred spot bond – 10,000 shares @ $33/share
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Apache – 9,800 shares @ $46/share
Note: Graham had not listed this holding in her news release
These holdings represent less than six tenths of one percent of Jeff Greene’s total net worth.
Of the other items Graham listed:
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California Resources Corp. – Jeff does not own any shares in this; it was listed in an abundance of caution as he had owned them in the previous calendar year
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Ness Energy Inc. – Jeff does not own any shares in this; it was listed in an abundance of caution as he had owned them in the previous calendar year
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Occidental – Jeff does not own any shares in this; it was listed in an abundance of caution as he had owned them in the previous calendar year
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Blackburn Partners, LP and Tujunga Partners, LP – Jeff derives no income from these stocks; he has not done so in more than 5 years
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Quantum Energy – this is a hedge fund with a 10 year term that will self-liquidate by September 2019
About Jeff Greene
Greene entered the Governor’s race on June 1, launching a campaign to offer a breakthrough voice and vision for Florida after polls revealed most Democratic voters remained undecided. Greene comes from humble beginnings – the struggling busboy-turned-successful entrepreneur attended public schools, worked three jobs throughout college, lived essentially out of the back of his Pontiac Grand Am selling circus tickets across the country, and took out student loans to get through college and Harvard Business School. He is running for Governor to give every family in Florida the same tools and opportunities to succeed that he had. Greene is focused on transforming public education and providing access to comprehensive pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds. He will stand up to Trump’s divisive rhetoric and dangerous policies, as seen in two of his recent television ads – one of which features video of Greene and Trump in a confrontation at a Trump property. Florida Democrats understand Greene’s unique ability to spend whatever it takes to go toe-to-toe with what have been overwhelmingly better-funded Republicans in the general election. Jeff Greene is poised to regain Democratic control of the Governor’s office for the first time in 20 years, without being beholden to any special interest groups whatsoever.
