Three Board Members Called Out for Conspiracy in Policy Making

Three board members of the Northeast Florida Regional Airport (UST) Authority, including board chair Reba Ludlow, are facing criminal charges ranging from a misdemeanor for violating public meeting laws to felony witness tampering. If found guilty, all three could be sentenced to up to 60 days in jail.

Chair Reba Ludlow and members Dennis Clarke and Len Tucker are facing criminal charges tied to long-running violations of Florida’s Sunshine Law, which mandates public access to governmental decision-making. In addition to his misdemeanor charge, Tucker also faces a third-degree felony charge for alleged witness tampering. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine… aside from the up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine all three face for violating public meeting laws.

The charges stem from a monthslong investigation by the State Attorney’s Office. Multiple sworn statements from former airport staff allege that Ludlow, Clarke, and Tucker repeatedly held private meetings to influence airport policy. The Sunshine Law requires all meetings between elected board members regarding official business to be held publicly, with notice given and minutes recorded.

Former Interim Executive Director Kevin Harvey and other witnesses told investigators they saw Ludlow and Clarke meeting in private at the airport's administration building, with accounting software displayed on-screen, prompting suspicion that airport finances were being discussed. Ludlow reportedly told one staffer they were “just trading recipes.”

Clarke allegedly dismissed the Sunshine Law as too restrictive and joked about the low penalties associated with breaking it. Witnesses also said that in early 2023, Clarke and Ludlow were warned not to talk privately before a meeting, but ignored the advice. In another incident, current Interim Executive Director Courtney Pittman claimed he was pressured into holding off on releasing a board meeting agenda. The case accuses Tucker of trying to intimidate Pittman to prevent him from testifying during the investigation.

A key tipping point came after a letter from the board’s legal counsel, the Douglas Law Firm, accused Ludlow and Tucker of repeated Sunshine Law violations and announced its withdrawal from representing the Authority. Soon after, Ludlow and Clarke allegedly met privately to strategize how to remove the law firm’s withdrawal from the meeting agenda.

FMI: www.flynf.com