Author: Rick Outzen
Touart poll gets record votes
As of 11 am, September 4, 39,477 votes have been cast on the poll concerning the future employment of County Administrator George Touart. What should…
Mason-Dixon poll on gambling
In August, Mason-Dixon conducted a poll on gambling in Florida. Here are a few of the questions and how Florida residents responded: QUESTION: Florida’s tax…
BOCC agenda set
County Administrator George Touart’s contract and possible suspension are set to be discussed on Thursday, September 6 at 5:34 p.m. Read:Â agenda.pdf
Word of the week: Trust
With big Escambia County commission meeting on Thursday, the word of the week will be “trust.” How do the commissioners rebuild public trust in county…
Poker rooms successful everywhere, but not here
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that poker rooms at dog and horse tracks around the state are booming. Why not in Escambia County you ask?…
Higher fees coming
As Escambia County deals with lower property tax revenues, you can expect the county commissioners to raise fees and charges for services whenever possible. This…
Cost of Iraq War
The Washington Post reports that: President Bush plans to ask Congress next month for up to $50 billion in additional funding for the war in…
Jena Six
A friend in Louisiana told about the Jena Six. The story hasn’t gotten much national coverage but may soon. At the beginning of the 2006…
Et tu, Mobytu
News Journal columnist Mark O’Brien adds himself to the list of PNJ columnists and opinion writers asking the County Administrator George Touart to retire/resign (…
Why care about environment
The one local issue few elected officials truly want to tackle is the environment. It’s too expensive, too complicated and just too scary to face….
Life without a paper mill
Last month, there were rumblings that International Paper was ready to shutdown its Cantonment mill if its wastewater disposal plan wasn’t allowed to happen. The…
PNJ Dogan asks Touart to resign
News Journal columnist Reggie Dogan wrote at open letter to County Administrator George Touart asking him to resign. Frankly, we have lost trust in you….
Letter on Roads Inc
Chairman White, Commissioners Young, Valentino, Robinson and Whitehead: I have read the supposed “agreement” that Mr. Touart promised would provide a definitive timeline for the…
Let’s Get Our Money’s Worth
The group – Civic Concern – is pushing for PIP renewal: When the Florida Legislature convenes the special session scheduled to begin September 18, it…
Lead by example
When the head of county government has a employee leasing business and a real estate investment company, what is the example that he is setting…
Appearance beyond reproach
When we raise our kids, we teach them the difference between right and wrong. We tell them that just because you can do something –…
Touart defends himself
In a exclusive phone interview, County Administrator George Touart defended himself against the latest disclosures made by the Pensacola News Journal. He sincerely believes that…
We’re no lawyers
But it does appear County Administrator George Touart has an ethics issue: Here is the law: (7)CONFLICTING EMPLOYMENT OR CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP. (a)No public officer or…
Longer BOCC meetings
The Board of County Commissioners will have to add additional half hour to its meetings for County Administrator to go over all this relationships with…
Back to the Future with George
A week after County Administrator George Touart was verbally reprimanded by the Escambia County commission for side business deals with parties involved in a $1.41…
