RB Buzz: When the new county commission takes office, County Attorney Janet Lander may be placed on the hot seat. At least two commissioners are unhappy with how Lander is so heavily influenced by County Administrator George Touart.
The first indication of a problem was when Lander recommended to the county commission that the county should pay for Touart’s legal fees that were incurred while he was fighting an ethics complaint that he had earlier told the commission was a private matter. Clerk of Court Ernie Lee Magaha later denied the payment. Touart paid the fee himself instead.
The August vote by the Escambia County Commission to develop its own finance department and take certain constitutional powers away from Magaha is now in the courts. Legal experts are saying its a definite win for Magaha.
Then recently Touart was putting considerable pressure on Lander to advise the commissioners that they could abolish the Santa Rosa Island Authority without the state legislature’s approval. At the last minute, Touart and Commission chairman Mike Whitehead had to change their strategy when it became clear the commissioners had no such power.
There is a need for a more independent County Attorney that serves no just the County Administrator – according to insiders in the courthouse. Many believe Lander is a good attorney, but Touart is a difficult person to tell,”No”.
