In the wake of allegations that Commissioner Wilson Robertson tampered with a hire at the county’s equestrian center in October 2011, the Board of County Commissioners passed a policy that created:
- “A recruitment selection blackout period during which ‘No Commissioner or Aide can contact Human Resources or the Selection Committee about the recruitment, hiring process or salary until an offer has been accepted.’”
Motion was made by Commissioner Robertson, seconded by Commissioner Grover Robinson, and carried 4-0, with Commissioner Valentino absent. Read Oct 20 2011 Agenda Add-on.
Blackout Period for Library Services Director
The Recruitment Selection Blackout Period for the Library Services Director position began on Jan. 2, 2026, when Christal Bell-Rivera noticed County Administrator Wes Moreno that she wanted the job. Read Bell-Rivera Letter.
The Period ended after March 5, 2026, when the BCC approved Moreno’s selection of Bell-Rivera as the Library Services Director, thereby allowing the county administrator to offer her the job.
Three, Possibly Four, Violations
The text messages obtained by Inweekly show that Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger’s aide, Melanie Luna, twice violated the blackout period ban by attending the Library Board’s meetings and interviews and having contact with HR Director Nikki Powell.
Powell also violated the policy by visiting Luna and telling the aide that Bradley Vinson “has ZERO managerial experience.”
Hofberger mentioned Vinson having no management experience in her text exchange with Pensacola City Councilmember Jennifer Brahier, which might be seen as a violation on Hofberger’s part. The texts with Brahier are dated March 5, 2026 – the day of the BCC vote.
Hofberger texting Brahier that Luna sat through meetings and interviews, and that Vinson had no management experience:
Luna texting Hofberger that Nikki Powell stopped by the office
Possible Remedies
The promotion of Christal Bell-Rivera could be invalidated, and the job re-advertised. This is what County Administrator Randy Oliver did in 2011.
- Powell and Luna could be reprimanded and put on probation, or their employment could be terminated.
Background
The Wilson Robertson/Forrest Gibbs controversy was a 2011 Escambia County patronage-style hiring scandal centered on an Escambia County Equestrian Center marketing job. Robertson was accused of being too involved in helping Forrest Gibbs get hired.
- The issue was not simply that Gibbs got the job; it was how the process looked. Reporting said Robertson was accused of influencing the hiring and helping Gibbs receive a salary higher ($63K) than the advertised $44,000.
Robertson said he did not influence the selection and that, after Gibbs was chosen, he contacted Assistant County Administrator Larry Newsome and the county attorney only to remind them that the county budget allowed a $60,000 starting salary plus benefits.
Gibbs held the Equestrian Center job for roughly two weeks in October 2011 before County Administrator Randy Oliver removed him, and the county decided to re-advertise the position.
- Dig Deeper: At the time, I made several phone calls to local businesses and non-profit organizations, and I couldn’t find any newly hired marketing coordinators earning $63,000, especially those with no experience. Starting salaries ran in the low and mid-30s. Four to five years of experience might garner a starting salary in the mid-40s.
The state attorney’s office and the Florida Commission on Ethics later determined that Robertson broke no laws.
However, Robertson barely won the GOP primary the following year against a relatively unknown challenger, Jesse Casey, by 32 votes.
- Robertson would get his revenge on County Administrator Randy Oliver, convincing Commissioners Valentino and Kevin White to fire Oliver in October 2022, before Lumon May and Steven Barry were sworn into office.
Hofberger and Luna do now seem to be Escambia County government’s “Mean Girls.” On February 26th someone labeling themselves as “Constitution Over Commies” made a post on NorthEscambia.com taking the Library Board to task for its selection of Bradley Vinson (three days prior) and making a case for Christal Bell-Rivera. “Constitution Over Commies” also wrote, “Leave it to these intellectual titans to select the candidate who came into the interview and immediately removed her shoes!” Who was in the room? Only five county employees were in the room during Vinson’s interview: Acting County Administrator Bowers, Assistant County Administrator Hall, HR Director Powell, a second women from HR Department and Library Director Aide Sheridan. One of these five people seem the most likely suspect to be “Constitution Over Commies” or the person who told that person about the interview. As a reminder, I wouldn’t give much weight to anything said by Powell. At the Library Board’s January 13th meeting Powell never explained why she said Bell-Rivera was “Qualified And Recommended” in spite of meeting none of the “minimum requirements” in the job notice. Powell appeared to mischaracterize the records of three candidates she claimed as “Qualified But Not Recommended.” Powell told the Library Board that she didn’t know what Vinson did, in addition to referring to “her” as a man. An independent review of the entire hiring process is needed to include digging into the conflict inside HR Department described by Powell. My guess is that the staff played it straight and may have object to Powell’s favoritism. Commissioner Kohler should put on an agenda a Motion to Rescind the BCC’s decision to overrule the Library Board’s recommendation to hire Vinson. The action if approved would not give the job to Vinson but would again make Bell-Rivera the “Acting” Director. The BCC can then direct an “independent” review of the hiring process to include the roles played by the county employees listed above in addition to County Administrator Moreno. Some major “house cleaning” is needed. District 4 voters “will” be told about Hofberger’s malfeasance.
Keep up the good work, and keep speaking truth to power, Rick! Escambia County residents have been so accustomed to the blatant corruption/backdoor dealing (coupled with sheer incompetence) of the Commission that it has become the ONLY thing we can expect. Enough is enough. We’re done rolling over.
I wasn’t sure who I was voting for before all this, but I’m with Joe Vinson now!