Phil Ammann
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, from North Palm Beach, is one of the state leaders who wrote to the parole board on behalf of the daughter of a West Palm Beach politico who is serving up to life in prison for murder.
A joint investigation by The Palm Beach Post and WPTV-Channel 5 discovered a letter to a New York parole board from Atwater, dated Aug. 21, 2013, written on behalf of Michelle Lennon, adopted daughter of Leonard Fintzy.
Also sending letters to the commission were West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio; City Commissioners Kimberly Mitchell, Shanon Materio and Keith James; and Palm Beach County Commissioner Paulette Burdick. Each was calling for the board to consider releasing Lennon, who has served approximately two decades in prison for the killing of her millionaire husband.
Fintzy, a Riverwalk resident, became a major participant in local politics through his service on the CityWatch political committee, representing the influential community west of Florida’s Turnpike. The affluent and gated community is treasured for its endorsements since the area has a traditionally large voter turnout. Fintzy also sat on the city’s audit committee as well as serving on the mayor’s transition team.
Fintzy had previously criticized James — he faced him in the March election — after James’ campaign asked the city for the letters in December, writes Eliot Kleinberg and And Niels Heimeriks for the Palm Beach Post. Everyone used his or her letterhead, with the exception of James. Mitchell also told the parole board Lennon would have a job waiting at a West Palm Beach diner upon her release.
Ashley Carr, an Atwater spokesperson, said Fintzy contacted Atwater’s office for a letter urging the release of his daughter. Atwater initially declined, Carr told the Post, “as it would be inappropriate to weigh in on such matters without personal knowledge of the crime or its surrounding circumstances.”
Fintzy then make another request to Atwater, “as one parent to another, write a letter of personal reference on behalf of Len and Rita Fintzy,” Carr said. “The CFO agreed to send a personal letter expressing only his knowledge of the loving home Len and Rita could provide.
“As you will note, the letter makes no recommendations that she be released.”
Atwater was Florida Senate president until 2010 representing a district including parts of West Palm Beach. The letter, written on his letterhead, says, “because of the friendship I have developed with Len and Rita over the last several years.”
All the letters from the elected officials were around August 2013, follow similar themes, and a few had the same wording.
