The Florida Elections Commission on Tuesday appealed a judge’s decision finding Martin County Commissioner Susan Valliere and her husband, Jim, guilty of just three out of more than 100 counts of campaign finance violations.

State administrative law judge Robert Meale in July found Susan Valliere guilty of two violations and Jim Valliere of one violation stemming from Susan Valliere’s 2006 primary re-election campaign.

Meale, who ordered the Vallieres to pay a total of $3,000 in fines, found them not guilty of 108 other counts filed by state elections officials, who alleged that the couple had coordinated campaign activities and violated campaign contribution limits.

STUART — The party hearty crowd at local bars is going to have to tone down the sound as a result of stricter new noise rules set to go into effect this weekend.

The Martin County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to ban noise from traveling more than 150 feet beyond an entertainment venue’s property line during the day and evening.

The new rules will ban noise from crossing an entertainment venue’s property line between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. (more…)

STUART — It’s up to Stuart commissioners to decide if they want to negotiate with Martin County commissioners to merge the city and county fire rescue services.

The Martin County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to endorse a merger proposal that would save the typical homeowner in unincorporated sections of the county $25 per year, but would cost the typical homeowner in Stuart $58 more annually. (more…)