News - Rick's Blog

Hiring Fountain makes sense if…

From the perspective of education and work history, Mayor Haywardâ€™s hiring of Tamara Fountain as his Communications Administrator, at a salary above the market, doesnâ€™t…

Gaetz family shows how to correct a misstatement….quickly and with humor

From The News Service of Florida: Everyone knows that Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, likes to tell tales and that some of them might have a…

Podcast: Rep. Jolly talks about his U.S. Senate bid

Congressman David Jolly (R-Clearwater) is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated next year by GOP presidential candidate Marco Rubio. We had him on…

PBR: Olson has his own cover-up

While his co-leader, COO Tamara Fountain, is battling to keep her job, City Administrator Eric Olson has some explaining to do about the Planning Department…

PNJ editorial focuses the resume issue back on Mayor Ashton Hayward

The daily newspaper has a strong editorial coming out tomorrow. It is available online now: “City blind to bigger picture.” The editorial board points out…

Resume-gate: How a snafu became a full blown crisis on the 7th floor of City Hall

On July 24, Mayor Ashton Hayward is interviewed by WEAR TV reporter Amber Southard about his restructuring of his administration and the qualifications of his…

Barry pre-files for second term

Press Release: Today, District 5, Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry announced his candidacy for re-election in November 2016, and filed paperwork with the Supervisor of…

Councilman Bare wants Pensacola City Council to conduct an inquiry into conduct of Planning Board member

Councilman Charles Bare wants the City Council to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of Planning Board member Scott Sallis in his recent vote on…

Fountain releases resume. It is a little sparse on prior experience (Update)

The Chief Operations Officer for the City of Pensacola late last night released her resume to the media. Tamara Fountain lists only one job that…

WEAR TV reporter says she never received email with corrections to Hayward interview

On July 24, Mayor Ashton Hayward was interviewed by WEAR TV reporter Amber Southard about the qualifications of his Chief Operations Officer, Tamara Fountain. In…

Mayor Hayward issues statement on Fountain, he will talk to her next week

In the furor over the qualifications of Tamara Fountain to serve as the Chief Operations Officer for the City of Pensacola, one voice has been…

Fountain cries foul

City Chief Operations Officer Tamara Fountain issued this evening a statement to the Pensacola News Journal accusing reporter Will Isern of printing “allegations and innuendo”…

Mayor Hayward mum on Fountain

The PNJ is reporting that City Chief Operations Officer Tamara Fountain does not have a Masters of Business Administration from UWF and Bachelor’s from Florida…

Salaries more and experience less than previous city administrators and managers

Bill Reynolds was Mayor Ashton Hayward’s first city administrator. He was in charge of all city operations, including all theÂ enterprises. His pay was $130,000. Colleen…

Tallahassee chamber cancels Walton conference over Confederate flag

The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday said it will not hold a long-scheduled conference in Walton County next year due to “the county’s…

Living the good life: COO Fountain has 35 percent pay increase, CA Olson more than doubles in less than two years

It took awhile but Inweekly finally received the personnel folders of the two top city employees: Chief Operations Officer Tamara Fountain and City Administrator Eric…

New Congressional map sets stage for special session

By BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA A new set of congressional districts that could alter the futures of several members of the state’s…

Sallis says city to change ethics policy on board voting, no comment from Olson

by Jeremy Morrison According to a planning board member who triggered ethical questions with his participation and vote on a matter his business partner brought…