Tamarac City Commissioner Diane Glasser and Alleged Felon Percy Johnson at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC.
By: Sharon Aron Baron
A Tamarac City Commissioner who employs an alleged felon as her aide compromises Democrats’ reputation in Broward County.
Diane Glasser, City Commissioner and Vice Mayor of Tamarac, who also is the National and State Party Committeewoman for the Democratic Party, has routinely kept Percy Johnson, 41, by her side, allegedly as her aide.
The Council of Club President’s, a political organization comprising more than 30 top officials of Democratic Party clubs and caucuses in Broward County, accused Johnson of misusing the organization’s funds by writing at least $2,195 worth of unauthorized checks to himself and a relative.
He was arrested in August on a single count of Grand Theft, a third-degree felony.
“When we took over the books in 2011, we saw discrepancies in the account,” said Bernard Parness, former Council of Club Presidents. “We turned it over to the Fort Lauderdale Police to investigate.”
During the investigation, even after Johnson admitted stealing funds, Glasser and candidates running for office in August had him helping with Club activities and working on their elections.
After Johnson’s arrest, Glasser took Johnson to the Democratic convention in Charlotte, NC, and gave him access to sit in the VIP area with her to see Vice President Joe Biden at Kingspoint.
Ann Zucker, past President of the Council of Club Presidents and President of the Weston Democratic Club, said even though Johnson had resigned, he was still actively involved in the Democratic Clubs.
“In February, the Wynmoor Democratic Club held their elections, and Diane Glasser couldn’t make it, so she sent Percy as her representative where he ran the election and had people signing ballots.” Said Zucker.
With widespread knowledge of Johnson’s theft, the Kingspoint Democratic Club allowed him to run their election, as well as Coral Springs Democratic Club President Chester Just, who allowed Johnson and Glasser to bring in their followers to vote for him. This resulted in what many believed was a sham election, and with the club losing many members.
Johnson also led a forum of candidates at the Tamarac Democratic Club this summer. He worked for the campaigns of Julie Harris for Circuit Court Judge and Robert Mayersohn for School Board. All while Broward Democrats knew about the theft from the council.
The case against Johnson is pending before Broward Circuit Court Judge David A. Haimes.
Thank you to Elgin Jones of the South Florida Times his contribution