Fla. Democratic congressman admits to multiple affairs

ShareThis

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Embattled Democratic Rep. Tim Mahoney admitted to multiple affairs Friday, but is going to let the voters decide whether he should lose his job over a sex scandal involving a former staff worker."I've let the people of my district down," Mahoney admitted. "I think that at the end of the day I will count on the voters. I'm always impressed by how fair people are and I put my future at their discretion. If I caused embarrassment I'm sorry."Mahoney said he paid former staff worker Patricia Allen, 50, of Hobe Sound, with his own money as compensation because he felt responsible for engaging in an affair with her while she was his employee.Mahoney also said he is spending time with his family in an effort to repair his relationships with his wife, Terry, and his daughter, Bailey."There's been multiple relationships over the years and that's why my situation with my family needs to be repaired," Mahoney said. "I mean I've created tremendous heartache and pain and ... I've got to get that resolved ... So that's my big concern."Mahoney sat down for a one-on-one interview with WPTV reporter Tim Malloy on Friday at his Palm Beach Gardens office.Meanwhile, the furor over the scandal showed no sign of abating with some Democrats joining many Republicans in saying Mahoney should resign.Jackie Trancynger, a Democrat and community activist in Martin County, said Mahoney's presence on the ballot could hurt other Democratic candidates at the polls."We have Democrats running in our local races, with a chance to finally win a seat on the commission," Trancynger said. "I fear that Mr. Mahoney's behavior might discourage a strong turnout from the Democrats in the county and from the independents and cross over Republicans that any Democrat needs in order to win in heavily Republican Martin County."State Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, agreed that the Democratic candidates on the Treasure Coast face additional difficulties asking for votes in the wake of the scandal, just as Republican candidates did two years ago in the wake of former Republican Congressman Mark Foley's sex scandal."I think this has the exact effect that the Foley scandal had in that all of us running in 2006, including me, felt a drag from the Foley scandal," Snyder said. "I think the Democrats running for office will feel an equal drag on their campaigns."(George Andreassi and Jim Turner are reporters for Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers in Florida.)