Jacob Ogles
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has already faced criticism for rarely showing up for his job at University of Florida. Now he’s bought a 5,000-square-foot home in Pinellas County more than 150 miles from campus.
Ladapo and his wife, Brianna, purchased a home in South Pasadena, a small community in South Pinellas County, at the end of June for almost $1.7 million. The four-bedroom, four-bath modern home, built just this year, sits in a luxury neighborhood accessible by bridge.
A listing on Realtor.com promoted 360-water views and a luxurious wet bar at a private pool. Photos show modern construction in a posh locale.
“The two large balconies provide an incredible setting to enjoy the stunning water views and unwind with outdoor relaxation and entertainment,” the real estate listing reads.
The mansion may raise eyebrows for the amenities enjoyed by a public servant earning two six-figure salaries on the Florida taxpayer dime.
But the location could prompt even more furor.
Property records do not indicate that Ladapo has filed for a homestead exemption next year, leaving the prospect the three-story mansion could be used only as a second or vacation home. But it surely indicates Ladapo plans to spend more time in Pinellas County, when academic colleagues in Alachua County grumble about a scarcity of appearances there.
DeSantis named Ladapo as Surgeon General in September 2021, a job that earns him $250,000. But as part of bringing Ladapo to work in Florida, he was also hired at the University of Florida with a salary of $262,000 and put on a fast-track for tenure.
University officials recently told POLITICO they had anticipated Ladapo would bring with him $600,000 in grant fund previously directed to his work at UCLA. The money never came.
The UF Faculty Senate set up an ad hoc committee and produced a report questioning the many irregularities about Ladapo’s hiring, including a lack of vetting of his credentials.
“In most cases, promotion and tenure decisions are made only with extensive records that include external review letters of scholarship, teaching evaluations, and other documentation to support the faculty’s decision that the candidate has met the criteria of distinction sufficient to warrant tenure,” the report states. “It is unclear whether appropriate documentation was provided to the unit faculty before they were asked to take a vote on Dr. Ladapo’s tenure.”
Moreover, many faculty complain Ladapo rarely shows up on campus. Professors told POLITICO he only appeared on campus two times his first year on the job.
Buying a home in Pinellas County, 157 miles from the Gainesville campus, doesn’t signal any plans to make the commute more frequently. Indeed, the distance between his new home and the University of Florida is longer than the 149-mile trek from the campus to the Department of Health in Tallahassee.
20 comments
Michael K
December 2, 2023 at 1:02 pm
Just another grifter handsomely paid for being an anti-science, anti-public health sycophant to a failing candidate and campaign. See the problem with DeSantis politicizing public health and education?
Ralph
December 2, 2023 at 5:46 pm
You nailed it, sir. This guy is a total PARASITE. what else would be expected from deeesantis?
rick whitaker
December 2, 2023 at 1:17 pm
ladapo is good for one thing, making desantis look bad. keep it up dude.
Domino
December 2, 2023 at 1:21 pm
The Ladapo’s $1.5M mortgage requires that he and his wife utilize this mansion as their primary residence.
PeterH
December 2, 2023 at 1:31 pm
Let’s keep in mind that DeSantis ensured that Ladapo’s University of Florida rushed through grift appointment is a tenured position! Meaning he collects this salary regardless of whether he shows up for work or doesn’t. Once DeSantis is out of office the next Governor will hopefully clean house….the Florida taxpayers will once again be burdened with the lawsuits to follow.
State sponsored grifting is endemic in Florida!
Insult to Injury
December 2, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Florida taxpayers pay his multiple salaries.
Florida homeowners then get to subsidize his ocean view mansion insurance premiums.
Harriett B Jones
December 2, 2023 at 4:09 pm
They were happy to get rid of him in California!
Susan
December 2, 2023 at 4:49 pm
Ladapo’s former supervisor at UCLA, Dr. Carol Mangione, response to background investigation:
Question: “Would you recommend the applicant for employment as a surgeon general of Florida and confidence in his ability, honesty and integrity to perform related duties?” Answer: “No. In my opinion the people of Florida would be better served by a surgeon general who grounds his policy decisions and recommendations in the best scientific evidence rather than opinions.”
AP
December 2, 2023 at 4:10 pm
Let’s be honest; this is a neighborhood with houses built 50 years ago. He may be one of the few who bought a new house there. No, not even close to an exclusive neighborhood.
rick whitaker
December 2, 2023 at 9:33 pm
are you that rich? of course it’s an exclusive neighborhood, why do you think he chose it. you sound like an elitist snob. my house is 100 years old, and it is in an exclusive neighborhood. the definition of exclusive is, “catering or available only to a few, select people; high-class and expensive.” it sure meets that requirement. for a guy that rarely shows up for work, that’s doing pretty good.
Ned Beatty
December 2, 2023 at 4:34 pm
University of Floriduh is basically DeVry now. Good job, little man DeSantis.
Kathy
December 2, 2023 at 7:04 pm
Has anyone checked to see who really paid for that faux anti science physician’s home. He faked his paper lying about side effects of vaccines better check what lies he put on loan documents to a bank if it wasn’t paid by someone else. He is a tool for the GOP. Another Ben Carson
Margarita Senorita
December 3, 2023 at 6:33 am
BFD.
rick whitaker
December 3, 2023 at 9:25 am
your right, BFD
Michael F Hayes
December 3, 2023 at 5:32 pm
$512,000 a year of our taxpayer money is definitely a BFD. Especially when you don’t have to show up for work. If DeSantis is allowing this underling to get away with this rip off I wonder what he is doing for himself that we don’t know about.
WGD
December 3, 2023 at 11:55 am
I think that anyone who wants the country to be run by unqualified, lying frauds who seek to enrich themselves with taxpayer money will just vote for Trump.
rick whitaker
December 3, 2023 at 3:33 pm
frauds seem to flock together. human vultures flock together.
Mike D
December 3, 2023 at 1:55 pm
At least Ben Carson wrote a book. Does this guy know how to read, I guess he knows how to scam law abiding Floridians
D Stevens
December 3, 2023 at 7:17 pm
I’m 100% disabled combat Vet. I am responsible for taking care of my mother and my 2 year old daughter, as well as myself which is already plenty.. and I can’t get afford ANY home in North Port these days. I can’t “go make more money”, I’m stuck with my disability rating.. and when it was just me that was okay, I didn’t complain.. but my family is paying the price for my sacrifice. My 2 year old has to share a room with her 43 year old father who frequently screams himself awake. I’m struggling to make a good life from nothing and this who they reward, and with more than my entire family would ever need in all our lifetimes. Feels like that’s the opposite of appreciation, a big F YOU from the state of Florida. Hard to teach my kid to put others first when all anyone ever does anymore is for themselves.
My Take
December 10, 2023 at 2:35 am
Laquacko is a sham.
But that is just what DeSSantis wanted.
Wait until you see who will be evaluatng hazardous chemicals and truck tires if Trump gets back in.
Comments are closed.