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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-pmasilotti27oct27,0,4178745,print.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Palm Beach County Chairman Masilotti resigns as feds investigate
With three weeks left, post may not be filled
By Josh Hafenbrack
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
October 27, 2006
The colorful and often volatile political career of Tony Masilotti comes to a halt today when the embattled Palm Beach County commission chairman resigns under pressure from a federal investigation into a potential misuse of power and secret land deals.
County Administrator Bob Weisman said Thursday as soon as he gets Masilotti's resignation letter he will forward it to Gov. Jeb Bush, who has the power to appoint a replacement. But with only three weeks left in Masilotti's term, Bush may not appoint anyone, Weisman said.
The mercurial Masilotti's 14-year rise rise to political power, which began as Royal Palm Beach mayor, culminates in scandal. The FBI investigation into Masilotti focuses on a government land deal in southern Martin County, in which Masilotti and his ex-wife, Susan, pocketed roughly $1.3 million. The profit was shielded through a secret trust, but it came to light in the Masilottis' divorce papers in January.
Federal investigators have been looking into the case since last spring, and are now taking grand jury testimony.
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