danny leeper

by AMELIA A. HART

amelia.hart@mynassausun.com

Danny Leeper tendered his resignation as Fernandina Beach fire chief at 4:45 p.m. today, meeting a deadline set by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

The office ruled June 20 that Leeper’s run for the Nassau County Commission put him in violation of the federal Hatch Act, which restricts partisan political activity by government workers whose jobs involve programs funded by the federal government, and gave him until today to end his candidacy or resign his job.

"I choose not to disregard the opinion or disregard the law. I don't want to be in violation of the law. I'll just find another way to change the law,” Leeper said this afternoon.

The office found Leeper in violation because he is listed as a contact person on a grant application to the Department of Homeland Security for a pair of night-vision goggles and because he supervises the applicant, then Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Bunch.

The grant was awarded in December, but the goggles have not yet been delivered, so the grant is still considered open.

By WENDI ZONGKER
wendi.zongker@mynassausun.com

FERNANDINA — Jeffrey Bunch turned in his radios and uniforms and cleaned out his office today, officially resigning as the Fire Department's Deputy Chief.

Bunch, who tendered his resignation last week, planned to stay on staff until the end of the month. However, he said he went to work this morning knowing he would resign today after being disappointed with last night's City Commission meeting.

At that meeting commissioners discussed at length a grant Bunch wrote for a pair of night vision goggles that has led to Fire Chief Danny Leeper being told by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel he must resign from his position or withdraw his candidacy for the Nassau County Commission.

The commissioners took no action on a plan to alter the grant to help Leeper keep his job.

Bunch said he is now looking at local job opportunities as well as some abroad.

by AMELIA A. HART

amelia.hart@mynassausun.com

FERNANDINA BEACH -- City commissioners declined tonight to either reject or alter a federal grant for night-vision goggles that is forcing Fire Chief Danny Leeper to resign his job next week or give up his run for the Nassau County Commission.

Commissioner Ron Sapp asked fellow commissioners to reject the goggles as a way to help an "exemplary" city employee leave the employ of the city with "honor."

When no commissioners seconded that motion, Sapp made another asking the city contact the federal government to switch the contact name on the grant application from Leeper to Police Chief Jim Hurley.

By AMELIA A. HART
amelia.hart@mynassausun.com

A pair of night-vision goggles means Fernandina Beach Fire Chief Danny Leeper is now facing a July 7 deadline to either end his bid for the Nassau County Commission or step down as chief.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel ruled June 20 that Leeper is in violation of the federal Hatch Act because he is listed as a contact person on a 2007 grant application to the Department of Homeland Security for a night-vision kit and because he supervises the applicant, Deputy Chief Jeff Bunch.

The city was awarded the grant in December, but hasn’t yet gotten the goggles.

By KEVIN TURNER
kevin.turner@mynassausun.com

FERNANDINA BEACH — Mayor Bill Leeper announced Tuesday night he won’t run for a second city commission term April 8.

Bill Leeper, 54, a Florida Highway Patrol lieutenant, said the Department of Management Services ruled he would have to resign his job if elected.

The same agency approved his bid for city commission in 2005, he said.

Meanwhile, Leeper’s brother, Danny Leeper, 50, confirmed Wednesday he will tender his resignation in June as Fernandina Beach fire chief to make a bid for the Nassau County Commission.

Long time Nassau County Port Authority member Danny Leeper announced today he will seek the Republican nomination for Nassau County Board of County Commissioners District One in 2008.

“Nassau County is faced with new challenges that will require new ideas and new energy. Public service has been a part of my life and my family’s life for many years. As a father, husband and public servant, I will bring my fiscal conservative views to the problems that challenge families, businesses and taxpayers of Nassau County.” Leeper said. “The need for fiscal sustainability and better management of the county’s budget is an obligation we have to the future generations. I believe I have the principles we need to succeed, and I am ready to lead.”