Plante v. Smathers, 54851

• Decision Date: 21 June 1979
• Docket Number: No. 54851,54851
• Citation: 372 So.2d 933
• Parties: Kenneth A. PLANTE, Appellant, v. Bruce A. SMATHERS, etc., et al., Appellees.
• Court: Florida Supreme Court

Page 933

372 So.2d 933

Kenneth A. PLANTE, Appellant, v. Bruce A. SMATHERS, etc., et al., Appellees.

No. 54851.

Supreme Court of Florida.

June 21, 1979.

Tobias Simon, Miami, Charles L. Carlton, Lakeland, and Richard C. McFarlain of McFarlain, Bobo & Sternstein, Tallahassee, for appellant.

Albert J. Hadeed, Southern Legal Counsel, Inc., Gainesville, and Robert J. Vossler, Gen. Counsel, Dept. of State, Tallahassee, for appellees.

Jim Smith, Atty. Gen., and David K. Miller, Asst. Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, for intervenor-appellees.

ALDERMAN, Justice.

This is a direct appeal from a final judgment of the Circuit Court of Leon County, construing article II, section 8, Florida Constitution. ¹ The issue before us is whether this constitutional provision requires full and public financial disclosure as a condition precedent to a candidate qualifying for an elective constitutional office when the candidate qualifies after July 1 of the election year. This case, as it relates to the 1978 election, has become moot; however, we elect to retain jurisdiction and to resolve the constitutional issue because it is a matter of great importance and of general public interest and will probably recur in the next general election. See Sadowski v. Shevin, 345 So.2d 330 (Fla.1977). We construe article II, section 8, to require a candidate to make full and public financial disclosure even though he or she may not qualify prior to July 1 of the election year.

The following factual background is pertinent. Senator Kenneth Plante inquired of the Division of Elections whether a candidate for the state senate, qualifying on or after July 1 of the election year, has the legal obligation to make financial disclosure under article II, section 8, Florida Constitution, or chapter 112, Florida Statutes (1977). He was advised by letter from Mary Singleton, director of the division, that a candidate for public office is required to file a statement of financial disclosure pursuant to chapter 112, Florida Statutes (1977), at the time of qualifying as a candidate; however, nonincumbent candidates for elective constitutional office who do not become candidates before July 1 of an election year are not required to file the full and public financial disclosure contemplated by article II, section 8(a) and (h) Florida Constitution, until the July 1 following qualification as a candidate.

Common Cause, Manning Dauer, and Stephen Pajcic filed with the circuit court a petition for writ of mandamus or, in the alternative, a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief, seeking to compel the secretary of state to refuse to certify any candidate for elected constitutional office without having received from the candidate full and public financial disclosure as defined by article II, section 8(h). They further requested that the court declare Singleton's opinion null and void to the extent that it conflicts with article II, section 8(a) and (h). The circuit court entered an alternative writ directing Smathers to refuse to certify such candidates or to show cause. The circuit court was then advised that, due to Smathers' resignation, Jesse J. McCrary had been appointed secretary of state and that it was his intent to refuse to certify any candidate for elected constitutional office without having first received from such candidate the full and public financial disclosure required by article II, section 8.

The circuit court thereafter entered a peremptory writ of mandamus ordering the secretary of state to decline to accept qualifying papers of any candidate for elective constitutional office when such papers do not include full and public financial disclosure required by article II, section 8(a) and (h). The circuit court found that, although the issue might be moot as to these parties, the public interest would be served by resolving the issues; that sections 8(a) and (h) are self-executing; that the inclusion of the filing deadline of July 1 in 8(h) does not operate to relieve a nonincumbent candidate of the more stringent disclosure requirements of 8(h) merely because he does not become a candidate until after July 1; and that 8(a) and (h) require that a candidate for elective constitutional office file full and public financial disclosure with the secretary of state at the time he or she submits qualifying papers. Plante now appeals this ruling.

In November 1976, the people of Florida adopted article II, section 8, Florida Constitution, commonly referred to as the "Sunshine Amendment." In construing this section, it is our duty to discern and effectuate the intent and objective of the people. In re Advisory Opinion to the Governor, 243 So.2d 573 (Fla.1971); State ex rel. McKay v. Keller,140 Fla. 346, 191 So. 542 (1939). The spirit of the constitution is as obligatory as the written word. Amos v. Matthews, 99 Fla. 1, 126 So. 308 (1930). The objective to be accomplished and the evils to be remedied by the constitutional provision must be constantly kept in view, and the provision must be interpreted to accomplish rather than to defeat them. State ex rel. Dade County v. Dickinson, 230 So.2d 130 (Fla.1970). A constitutional provision is to be construed in such a manner as to make it meaningful. A construction that nullifies a specific clause will not be given unless absolutely required by the context. Gray v. Bryant, 125 So.2d 846 (Fla.1960).

We may glean light for discerning the people's intent from historical precedent, from the present facts, from common sense, and from an examination of the purpose the provision was intended to accomplish and the evils sought to be prevented. In re Advisory Opinion to the Governor, 276 So.2d 25 (Fla.1973). Furthermore, we may look to the explanatory materials available to the people as a predicate for their decision as persuasive of their intent. Williams v. Smith, 360 So.2d 417 (Fla.1978); In re Advisory Opinion to the Governor, 343 So.2d 17 (Fla.1977). Further, an interpretation of a constitutional provision which will lead to an absurd result will not be adopted when the provision is fairly subject to another construction which will accomplish the manifest intent and purpose of the people. City of Miami v. Romfh, 66 Fla. 280, 63 So. 440 (1913).

Clearly the primary purpose for which the Sunshine Amendment was adopted was to impose stricter standards on public officials so as to avoid conflicts of interest. The four major legitimate concerns of the people in advancing this amendment were accurately explained in Plante v. Gonzalez, 575 F.2d 1119 (5th Cir. 1978). These are the public's right to know an official's interest, deterrence of corruption and conflicting interests, creation of public confidence in Florida's public officials, and assistance in detecting and prosecuting officials who violate the law. See also Myers v. Hawkins, 362 So.2d 926 (Fla.1978).

Of utmost importance to our determining the intent of the people in adopting article II, section 8(a) and (h), is their expressed desire to be informed as to the personal finances of those they will be voting to put into office because of their legitimate concern to avoid conflicts of interests and since they feel that, armed with this knowledge, they will be able to discern the interests to which a public official most likely will be responsive. See Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 96 S.Ct. 612, 46 L.Ed.2d 659 (1976). Our form of government is based upon an enlightened choice by an informed electorate, and in Florida the people have expressly declared their desire that this information be made available to them by candidates for elected constitutional office.

We would reach an absurd result totally incongruous with the will of the people if we were to construe article II, section 8, to mean that one who becomes a candidate after July 1 of an election year need not disclose until the following July 1. An unsuccessful candidate would never be required to disclose, and a successful candidate would not be required to disclose until after six months into his office. Such construction would defeat the people's intent to become fully informed as to the candidates for office. The materials available to the voters at the time of their adoption of this constitutional provision reflect that they understood that all candidates would be required to disclose before they could ask the people to trust them with the responsibilities of government.

Plante suggests that it is the schedule to section 8 which makes it self-executing and which imposes the July 1 deadline on candidates for filing of their full and public financial disclosure. An uncritical reading of subsection (h) may lead one to conclude that this is the case. Since such a conclusion would lead to an absurd result, however, we are charged with the responsibility of determining whether there is a more reasonable construction available. We find that there is such a construction which will effectuate the people's intention to be informed prior to the election rather than long after the election has passed. Construing subsection (h) in such a manner as to give the natural significance to the words...