Ex-Canaveral official faces corruption charges

Ex-Canaveral official faces corruption charges    Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution said Wednesday they have arrested former Port Canaveral Commissioner Ralph Kennedy on corruption charges.

Kennedy

   Kennedy was indicted by a statewide grand jury in Ft. Lauderdale for unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior and conspiracy to commit unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior, after a year-long investigation into complaints of corruption by Kennedy during his term as the elected port commissioner, the agencies said.
   The investigation allegedly revealed Kennedy and others conspired to provide Kennedy with unlawful compensation derived from various port-related projects. Agents determined Kennedy was involved in illegal business transactions involving a local contractor and a business owner within the port.
   As port commissioner, Kennedy had authority over various projects through regulation and voting procedures. They allege Kennedy aided in the negotiation of bids on a hotel project at the port and then positioned himself for a financial kickback for his role in delivering the project to the contractor.
   Kennedy resigned as Port Commissioner on Oct. 26, 2009.