FDLE probes Orlando candidate Juan Lynum’s residency

April 10--The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is looking into whether Orlando City Council candidate Juan Lynum actually lives in the west Orlando district he wants to represent.

Even as voters were going to the polls Tuesday, the FDLE was collecting records at City Hall about Lynum's residency status.

"They indicated they were investigating whether there was fraud in his representations of his residency," said City Clerk Alana Brenner.

Lynum, meanwhile, accused opponent Regina Hill of absentee-ballot fraud and a campaign-finance violation, which Orange County prosecutors are reviewing.

Lynum brought in the most votes Tuesday in the race for the District 5 City Council seat but not enough to win the election outright. He and Hill, the second-place candidate, advance to a runoff May 6.

On Monday, an FDLE agent requested records from Brenner's office related to Lynum's candidacy. Brenner turned over the 89 pages of documents Tuesday.

An FDLE spokeswoman would reveal few details about the inquiry, sparked by a complaint the agency received "within the past few weeks."

Lynum, an attorney, said he hasn't been contacted by the FDLE.

"I have no proof that that is going on," he said. "As far as I know, FDLE does not investigate false allegations that would only amount to an ethics complaint."

It's not the first time the question has come up. Mother and daughter Betty and Lawanna Gelzer, both of whom have run unsuccessfully for the same City Council seat in the past, wrote letters of complaint to the city in February.

The City Charter requires candidates to have lived in the district for at least a year prior to qualifying for office.

Lynum claimed residency in the house in the Rock Lake neighborhood he shares with his mother, incumbent District 5 Commissioner Daisy Lynum. But he also claims a homestead exemption on a house he owns in Sumter County that his father lives in.

Complicating matters further, Lynum's wife and young daughter live in Tampa. He has said they live apart for now because of their jobs. They communicate via Skype during the week, and he stays in Tampa most weekends.

Orlando's charter requires candidates to submit documents proving their residency, and Lynum provided enough to satisfy those requirements. Records provided to the City Clerk -- and now to the FDLE -- include Lynum's voter registration since 1993; drivers license issued in 2011; vehicle registration; an auto- and health-insurance policy; and utility bills dating to 2012, all in his name.

FDLE spokeswoman Chantal Hauser said the agency will decide whether to open a full investigation by early next week.

Lynum accused his opponent of campaign violations.

"There have been complaints to [State Attorney] Jeff Ashton's office, explaining to him the criminal activities Regina Hill has been involved in, from absentee-ballot fraud to illegal campaign finance," he said. "I would not be surprised if Regina Hill were arrested."

Hill denied Lynum's allegations: "I don't know what Juan Lynum is talking about. I've run a clean campaign."

Last month, Hill's campaign reported a $541 loan from the campaign of Derrick Wallace, who is running for Orange County Commission.

According to Hill's report, the Wallace campaign paid for one of Hill's political mailers, which Lynum maintains is illegal. An attorney for the Florida Division of Elections is researching the question but had not determined the legality of the loan by late Wednesday.

Lynum also accused Hill's campaign of violating absentee-ballot rules by completing ballots for voters, providing stamps for voters' ballots and identifying themselves to some voters as representatives of President Barack Obama's campaign.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Richard Wallsh said the prosecutor is reviewing the complaints.

"I can confirm the State Attorney spoke with Commissioner Daisy Lynum," Wallsh wrote in an email. "I can also confirm the State Attorney received complaints from various people aimed at both candidates. At this stage, we have not determined whether any of the complaints merit an investigation."

[email protected], 407-420-5417 or Twitter @MarkSchlueb

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