Commissioner Mike Kohler used his commissioner comments at the March 5 Escambia Board of County Commissioners meeting to publicly address his widely reported conflict with State Representative Michelle Salzman—offering both an apology and an explanation of what caused the conflict. Hofberger defended Salzman for funding and supporting “every single public safety request,” without mentioning the South Navy Boulevard project.
- In the end, nothing was resolved. The feud will continue to smolder.
An Apology — With Context
Kohler opened by acknowledging his role in the public spat but made clear he wasn’t offering an unconditional mea culpa.
- “I want to take a moment to apologize for my role in the public conflict between myself and Representative Salzman,” he said. “While it doesn’t excuse my comment, I want to provide the context that motivated me to make the statement.”
South Navy Boulevard Project
Kohler told the board that roughly two weeks before the meeting, several state lawmakers alerted him that Salzman had grown angry after learning the House had funded the South Navy Boulevard Improvement Project in its budget.
- “Multiple legislators confirmed that Salzman is actively working to cut the funding even now,” Kohler said, “and tell me that she wants to cut it because of some personal animosity she has towards me.”
For Kohler, the project is a matter of community honor. “Every veteran being laid to rest at Barrancas travels that road,” he said, “and it’s important to me and our community to honor their sacrifice.”
Kohler said he tried to handle it behind the scenes. “As a public servant, I reached out to her privately and was disappointed by her action. She denied what she was doing and lied about our actions in Tallahassee.”
He said his goal was straightforward: “Hash out our differences so that we could work together towards the benefit of the county.” Instead, he said, Salzman made clear she had no interest in that kind of cooperation, and his patience ran out.
- “I let my frustration get the better of me,” Kohler admitted. “I never interacted with another public servant who lied to my face repeatedly before, especially about a project like this that supports our base and our veterans.”
A Path Forward
Kohler closed with what amounted to an olive branch. “I bear no ill will towards Rep. Salzman and hope she can forgive me for my comment.”
- But he also made clear the project isn’t in jeopardy, with or without her. “While I have been assured by senators and representatives that we do not need her support or like of this project for it to be funded, my hope is that she will stop opposing it in Tallahassee and support what’s best for our county.”
Defending Her Benefactor
Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger did not bring forward a motion to censure, nor did she comment on Kohler’s remarks. She defended Rep. Salzman’s record of support for public safety.
- Background: Salzman heavily campaigned for Hofberger during the 2024 Republican primary.
“Since it’s been brought up, I do want to say a few things about Michelle Salzmann. She has funded and supported every single public safety request we have sent her—all of the new technology, all of the new equipment, and even a million dollars for a new fire training facility,” Hofberger said.
- Addressing Salzman, who wasn’t at the meeting, she continued, “Thank you for putting our first responders first and for your support and providing lifesaving funding for our community.”
Hofberger added, “I do want to drive that home that I appreciate that, and I am thankful for that. And when someone calls 911, they are thankful for those things. Those are items that we could not have funded alone in this county, and I appreciate it.”
Salzman’s Record on Fire Safety
According to the appropriations database on the Florida House website, Salzman has made several requests concerning county fire safety for the 2026-27 budget. However, we do not know if they will be included in the final budget. The list totals $42.6 million—the most the state lawmaker has requested for Escambia County fire safety:
- #3812: $38 million for Escambia County Radio System Upgrade
- #3811: $1.2 million for Fire Station Management Software System
- #3815: $1.8 million to purchase a new hazardous materials response apparatus serving as a regional asset for multiple counties
- #3816: $1.6 million to purchase a new technical rescue response apparatus serving as a regional asset for multiple counties
For the 2025-26 budget, Salzman made no requests for Escambia County public safety. She requested $975,000 for a Pensacola Fire Boat replacement, but Gov. DeSantis vetoed it.
For the 2024-25 budget, Salzman requested nothing for county fire safety, but she did ask for $1.188 million for Law Enforcement Active Shooter Training.
For the 2023-24 budget, Salzman requested $12 million for a Kingsfield Area Fire Station, but it did not get funded. Last spring, the Escambia County Commission passed a plan that included $6.5 million for a station at Hwy 97 and Kingsfield Road.
- She also requested $1 million for a Fire Regional Training Facility, which must be what Hofberger is referencing in her comments above.
You can look at the current proposed budget appropriation requests and those of the past three years—just search “Salzman:”
