- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of South Florida and help keep the future of New Times free.
Pompano Beach Mayor Rex Hardin repeatedly broke campaign finance laws during his 2018 run for office, according to a Broward Office of Inspector General (OIG) report released Wednesday.
The OIG findings allege Hardin made multiple improper campaign fund transfers, shady loans, and illegal campaign contributions dating from May 2018, when Hardin withdrew from the commissioner race to run for mayor of Pompano Beach, through February 2019, when he allegedly filed a falsified campaign termination report.
The OIG referred its findings to Florida's Election Commission (FEC) and the Broward State Attorney's Office.
Hardin did not return New Times’ calls for comment Wednesday.
Hardin, 48, is a longtime resident of Pompano Beach and owns Cypress Printing Center, a commercial print shop. He served on the city commission for nine years before he was elected mayor in 2018.
The findings released Wednesday mark the second time Hardin has come under scrutiny for campaign finance violations. An OIG investigation of Hardin's 2014 commission reelection campaign resulted in an FEC fine.
Keep New Times Broward-Palm Beach Free... Since we started New Times Broward-Palm Beach, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering South Florida with no paywalls.