Solomon clears ethics complaint over TrueRoll marketing
The Florida Commission on Ethics dropped the case, ruling that a property appraiser’s testimonial quote was a standard professional duty rather than an improper endorsement of private software.
By Aiko Sato ·
Ayesha Solomon, the property appraiser for Alachua County, Florida, had an ethics complaint dismissed this week by the state commission. The allegation centered on the use of her name, photo, and the county seal in promotional materials for TrueRoll, a company that sells property tax workflow software. The commission voted to drop the case on October 23 due to a lack of legal sufficiency.
The complaint was filed by Linda Green of Libertyville, Illinois. Green argued that Solomon allowed a private, for-profit vendor to use her official title and image as marketing assets. The filing claimed this practice violated state statutes that prohibit public officials from using their positions to benefit themselves or others. It also cited rules requiring conflict of interest disclosures and prohibitions against misusing county intellectual property.
TrueRoll features a case study on its website regarding Alachua County. The page includes a photo of Solomon and a quote describing how the office uses the software to identify ineligible exemptions and vet applications. The text states that this approach helps protect taxpayer dollars and ensures fairness in the homestead process. The case study includes links that direct readers to TrueRoll’s sales team.
Commission Chair Jeremy Rodgers addressed the specific actions in the dismissal order. He noted that while Solomon directly provided the quote for the vendor’s website, it was unclear if she authorized the use of her photograph or the county seal. Rodgers suggested the vendor may have found those images independently. He compared the action to a public officer writing a letter of reference, a task he deemed part of normal duties.
Rodgers wrote that Solomon was commenting on a product relevant to her office rather than endorsing an unrelated private product. He stated there was no indication of private compensation or a quid pro quo in exchange for the quote. Regarding the conflict of interest claim, the order stated the complaint failed to show Solomon had a personal employment or contractual relationship with the vendor.
The commission concluded that because the complaint was filed by a resident with no personal knowledge of Solomon’s authorization, the legal basis for an investigation was insufficient. The order formally dismisses the allegations that Solomon weaponized her official title and the county logo for commercial credibility.
The dismissal resolves the specific complaint regarding the Alachua County case study on TrueRoll’s site. Solomon’s office continues to use the software, and the commission has closed its review of her conduct in this instance.
