Did Rooney resign to avoid voting on U.S. Sugar deal?

In reference to The Post’s blog about Florida House 83 Republican nominee Patrick Rooney Jr.’s July resignation from the South Florida Water Management District governing board, your story left readers wondering what really motivated the Charlie Crist appointee to leave the board so abruptly just before a critical vote.

Mr. Rooney was appointed to the board in 2007. In June 2008, Gov. Crist announced his plan for the water district to purchase all assets and land from U.S. Sugar Corp., under the guise that doing so would restore the Everglades by creating a more natural water flow from Lake Okeechobee south to the Everglades. Recently, however, some citizens (members of the South Florida Tea Party) have labeled the deal a “U.S. Sugar bailout.” It seems Mr. Rooney wanted to avoid a difficult vote.

While he may have had a legitimate reason for resigning, voters should question his motivation for shirking his responsibility as a board member and to the public. That raises another question. If Mr. Rooney was willing to walk away from this vote, what other votes will he walk away from if elected?

DR. MARK MARCIANO

Palm Beach Gardens