Source: Elected official pushed for Waverly Media investigation that so far has cost taxpayers $150,000 claiming, 'We need to lance the boil,' while cheating on taxes
Headline Surfer® graphics / DAYTONA BEACH -- Last winter, County Councilman Doug Daniels convinced a majority of his colleagues on the dais to hire his former law partner, Jonathan Kaney, Jr., to investigate Waverly Media because, "We need to lance the boil," that is corruption. To date, the county has expended $150,000 in taxpayer funds on a questionable investigation that is a mere duplication of what is already being done by the State Attorney's Office.
But Daniels and his wife, Angela Cameron Daniels, had a dirty little secret that wasn't addressed until April Fool's Day by the county. And even then, it was kept hush-hush until now when a credible county source contacted Headline Surfer®.
But Daniels and his wife, Angela Cameron Daniels, had a dirty little secret that wasn't addressed until April Fool's Day by the county. And even then, it was kept hush-hush until now when a credible county source contacted Headline Surfer®.
After their marriage in November 2011, she moved from her Daytona Beach home at 279 Boylston Ave., to Doug Daniels' Ormond Beach home at 25 Carriage Creek Way. She changed her driver's license and voter registration to his address with her new married name, but for the next two years -- 2012 and 2013 -- she claimed a "homestead exemption" for her Daytona home under "Angela Cameron" and he claimed homestead exemption for his, too, in Ormond Beach.
But claiming separate homestead exemptions while being married is against the law. In fact, it's a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail, if convicted in a court of law, according to Florida statutes. But the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Headline Surfer® over the weekend that the county "whitewashed it."
"One who lives in a glass house should not be throwing stones," the source said. "Excuse the pun, but the bottom line is he's saying 'We need to lance the boil' that is Waverly' and he and his wife are cheating on their taxes. They didn't just do it for one year, but for two years. He's a lawyer. He knows better. And she makes a lot of money working for the county. These are high profile people."
But claiming separate homestead exemptions while being married is against the law. In fact, it's a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail, if convicted in a court of law, according to Florida statutes. But the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Headline Surfer® over the weekend that the county "whitewashed it."
"One who lives in a glass house should not be throwing stones," the source said. "Excuse the pun, but the bottom line is he's saying 'We need to lance the boil' that is Waverly' and he and his wife are cheating on their taxes. They didn't just do it for one year, but for two years. He's a lawyer. He knows better. And she makes a lot of money working for the county. These are high profile people."
Messages left with Angela Daniels at the Ocean Center and with Daniels' private law firm were not returned.
Angela Daniels makes nearly $94,000 as the assistant director of the Ocean Center. Doug Daniels makes close to $43,000 as an elected official. He also received $25,000 of the $125,000 sweetheart deal he had with the City of Daytona Beach as an advisor on commercial development in the so-called E-Zone -- the heart of the beachside tourism district -- until City Manager Jim Chisholm ended the arrangement earlier this summer.
The source said the only reason Angela and Doug Daniels got caught was because of a routine annual county audit.
"The county runs the addresses of all its employees," the source said. "A red flag came up because a husband and wife had separate homesteaded properties.The y got caught because they are county employees."
The source said the only reason Angela and Doug Daniels got caught was because of a routine annual county audit.
"The county runs the addresses of all its employees," the source said. "A red flag came up because a husband and wife had separate homesteaded properties.The y got caught because they are county employees."
Headline Surfer® graphic / At left is a snapshot copy of the property appraider's ogfice biling history for Angela Cameron Daniels' Daytona Beach residence, which she claimed as "homestead exempt" for two subsequent years after her marriage to Doug Daniels in November 2011.
Headline Surfer® obtained public records from the Volusia County Assessor's Office today showing Angela Daniels paid penalties of $2,714.65, on April 3, after the married couple designated Doug Daniels' residence as the true homestead residence for their marriage.
The notice was printed up April 1.
County spokesman Dave Byron had no comment on the allegation of the county looking the other way, other than to state that he checked with the office of County Attorney Dan Eckert.
Byron wrote to Headline Surfer® this is what he received from Eckert's office: "I verified with Jan Cornelius (property appraiser office) that there are no emails, memos, or correspondence. Mr. Frederick did call and ask for the summary sheet for the properties, which she is providing."
Headline Surfer® contacted the FBI today as well, informing the agency it planned on writing a story on its findings related to the award-winning internet newspaper's ongoing investigative reporting into alleged ongoing corruption by certain elected officials in county and municipal governments.