At this morning’s meeting, Escambia County Commission voted 4-1 to not renew County Administrator Bob McLaughlin’s contract. As expected, Marie Young was the sole vote in favor of renewal.
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McLaughlin contract not renewed
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Hey Rick, what does his termiantion package look like?
They said on the news tonight Larry Newsome is in the running. I have had a few encounters with him and must say he would be a great fit! He gets along with at least 4 of the commissioners and he gets along with the sheriff. Not to mention, since he is the current traffic guy for the county, he might actually get the traffic unit to do their job outside of 8-5… Heck, I think he even plays nice with Evers and Miller, theres a large plus!
James,
Where you at the meeting? Then you would understand what I mean about “emotional”! (modulating her voice and literally preaching, trying to shame anyone who differed with her opinion.)
Difficult? Yes! Do you feel for the guy losing his job? Yes. But it needed to be done, in my opinion.
I don’t know many well connected, influential people, but the common people that I know, were behind his removal.
Whether Touart was involved, I don’t know or really care. Anyone who still gives him the time of day politically is just ridiculous.
Joe Bun – well said.
Shame on the BoCC for hiring Bully Bob in the first place. They knew all along that he had problems, as they forked over the money to send him to charm school. Bob’s approaches to people probably worked well in the Army, but not here. As a person, I wish him well.
It took quite a while for the Commissioners to see collectively what most of them had sensed individually for quite some time. Bob McLaughlin is supposed to work for the people and the “elected” Commissioners and not the other way around. To be successfull in a top management position, one that requires significant people skills and concensus building, the person must earn and maintain the trust and respect of the public, employees, and the elected officials. “My way or the highway Bob” never had those kinds of skills and everyone (but a few) knew it. They were just afraid to say it!
It just took a little time and personal experience for the Commission to finally realize that it just could not go on any more. Our elected officials should represent the interest of their constituents, set policy, and lead the county, not just follow Bob!
Now go find the citizens a fully “competent and balanced” Administrator without compromising the selection decision this time around. There are lots of extremely qualified candidates available in this current ecomnomy that would readily embrace this unique opportunity in Escambia County.
Not an emotional issue? How many employees have you had to fire? It’s always an emotional issue and at least someone on the commission needed to say that. As to outside pressure — some outside pressure may be appropriate, but it depends who is voicing those opinions — Touart? Or maybe people who live outside the county — much as residents who didn’t live in the city influenced (with big money — 3 checks of $10,000 each!) the vote about the city’s form of overnment?!
I can’t speak about his performance. I live in the city & so while I pay for county services, I don’t get much for my money. All I do is subsidize what others receive.
I attended the meeting this morning and I applaud the commissioners for finally doing it.
I think they have had evidence for quite some time that it needed to be done and I feel that they gave him enough (too much, imo) time to straighten out the problems with Code Enforcement (files disappearing, *throwing* Special Masters cases, no response or extremely delayed response to citizen complaints,law suits for wrongful arrests for land fill dumping disputes, etc.)and McL’s continuing the Touart defense of Road Inc’s ongoing clay pit until the Commissioners finally MADE him revoke the secretly issued permit. There is so much more!
Administrators should work for the commissioners, not mess up the projects in their district when they don’t give him his way on other issues. Administrators should get rid of bad employees when the information is given to them.
It is never nice to see someone lose his job, but he does have a military retirement and I know he saw the handwriting on the wall.
In my opinion, Comm. Young’s *preaching* this morning was unneeded. It was insulting for her to make it such an emotional issue and to try and villainize the other commissioners for disagreeing. She said that they were being “influenced” by “outside pressure” …HELLO??!! It’s called CONSTITUENTS!
Integrity is certainly not a word that I would easily ascribe to this administrator.
Better than Touart? Really? Is that the best we can do in Pensacola??!! No wonder we are making such progress!
Time to move forward.
From the articles I have read, Bob McLaughlin was saying “No” to the little kingdom of commissioners. What a shame the county commissioners are willing to throw away money to replace someone who has done a far better job than the previous clod. As a soon to be voter in Escambia County, I will vote against the commissioner in my district for these kinds of decisions. Help bring Escambia County, and Pensacola into the 21st Century. Instead of just yelling and fighting, let’s have honest open debates on the problems that face this great area of Florida, and the USA.
Who’s going to want that job given the political limbo that the consolidation study creates?
incredible. bad decision by the commission.