Tragedy has struck the State of Florida as the St. Petersburg Times reported that City Councilman and former former finance chairman for U.S. Sen. Connie Mack was found dead of an apparent suicide, after facing accusations of molesting three girls, including two adopted daughters.
City Council Chairman John Bryan walked into City Hall just after 1 p.m. Friday and handed in his resignation letter.
Less than five hours later, he was slumped over in a golf cart in the garage of his Floral City house, dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. He was 56.
Bryan's suicide came after news spread Friday that authorities were investigating allegations that he had sexually abused three girls, including two of his adopted daughters, ages 12 and 15. Ron Stuart, a spokesman for the Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court, said the third alleged victim was a nanny for Bryan years ago and no longer lives in the area.
For city officials, the allegations were as jarring as they were sickening. Bryan was a hometown business hero, a pillar of the community, a powerful voice on the City Council and a fierce ally of Mayor Rick Baker.
Yes, Rick Baker is the homophobic mayor of St. Petersburg and it looks like one of his allies was not so clean. On one hand, I would extend my condolances to his friends and family, but on the other, I want to wish him a happy trip to Hell. It's only logical that someone who so strongly supports someone like Baker would pop and commit these sick acts. And again, it demonstrated the twisted family values of the Repubican Party. The stories just keep rolling in.