Charlotte County Airport Authority Commissioner arrested for falsifying election documents by misrepresenting to voters

Commissioner James Walker Herston, the Vice Chair of the Charlotte County Airport Authority, was arrested on a warrant requested by the State Attorney’s Office.

Herston, elected as a board member representing District 5, is accused of falsifying election documents by misrepresenting to voters that he lived in District 5 when he did not. The by-laws of the Charlotte County Airport Authority require that each commissioner must reside in the district from which the candidate seeks election for at least six months immediately before the time of qualification to run for the seat. It is alleged that Herston never lived in District 5.

Following an investigation by the State Attorney’s Office, Herston was charged with one count each of Unauthorized or Unlawful Acts Related to Driver’s License or Identification Card and Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information, both 3rd Degree Felonies. He was also charged with two counts of Perjury, both 1st Degree Misdemeanors.

“Anyone holding a public office must follow the law and maintain public confidence in their role in the community, to do anything less is to erode public trust in the political process. Election rules and State laws are in place to assure the political system is just and fair,” said State Attorney Amira Fox.