More notes on Valentino meeting

The meeting with Gene Valentino could have been contentious, but it wasn’t. The meeting with the Commissioner and County Administrator Bob McLaughlin had been scheduled two weeks ago. I went into it wanting to give Commissioner Valentino a fair opportunity to present his economic development plan as fully as he wanted.

We did not talk about the articles in the IN or State Attorney’s probe into his meeting with Sam Hall.

One interesting element was former IN editor, Duwayne Escobedo, was in the meeting. Escobedo works for BPM, who has been working with Comm. Valentino on his plan. BPM, owned by Thomas and Jane Birdwell, does marketing for Mobile County.

Escobedo took notes throughout the meeting and asked questions of the Commissioner that helped him stay on point. While it’s not uncommon for executives to have their marketing or public relations people sit in on a newspaper interview, it is unusual to have someone from an outside agency that’s not under contact with the county be there.

Commissioner Valentino opened with a history of his plan.

“I have worked on this economic development plan for four and half years, even before I was elected,” said Valentino. “I dialed it up to another level in November 2006 when I took office, and have been more aggressive the last three weeks.”

“Why? Public opinion (on economic development) was being based on one proposal out there.” Note: Meaning the Chamber proposal.

“In October 2008, the BOCC began looking at what (economic development) could be versus what it should be. Larry Newsom had a PowerPoint presentation to present to the Committee of the Whole. I was the chairman at the time and saw in audience Mort O’Sullivan, Evon Emerson and other people with the Chamber. Mort was trying to get my attention.”

“We don’t normally take comments from citizens during the Committee meeting. We are there to study and discuss issues.”

“I recognized Mort, being an honorable citizen and chairman of the Chamber, and invited him up (to speak). Basically the Commission went forward with his suggestion to work in “the shade” to study economic development with an Ad Hoc committee.”

“We were advised by the County Attorney not to have participation or Sunshine (laws) would apply.”

“Six to eight weeks ago, the Chamber’s Ad Hoc committee made their presentation at a joint session of the commission and Pensacola City Council.”

“There was clearly an understanding that they would do a review and submit recommendations. The City and County would take it and go forward.”

“I approached Bob (McLaughlin) and Alison (Rogers – County Attorney) with something that I wanted to present. The Blue Ribbon task force was squashed by Grover Robinson (Commissioner-District 4) and two other commissioners.”

“The Chamber plan needed to be assessed in the Sunshine–that never happened.”

Comm. Valentino said that he thought characterizations in the paper that he was being secretive were out of hand and unfair.

“I had to get this out to my fellow commissioners first.” Valentino said that he was working with the County Attorney on a letter to send out to his fellow commissioners. He went on to argue why he has waited to present his plan at the upcoming joint meeting.

“Had I given it to the Chamber first, I would be chastised by fellow commissioners. Had I given to the commissioners first, I would be chastised by the Chamber and the city councilmen for not being totally transparent.”

“Under our egregious Sunshine laws, I felt I had to bring it forward to all at one time.”

THE PLAN

“What I am proposing is distinct, different and distancing itself from the Chamber and from the BOCC. It should not be characterized as ‘Gene’s plan’.”

“We are very excited with the Mort O’Sullivan plan. As I said before, I like 60 percent of it, but things are missing:

1) Governance–Economic development needs to be out from under the Chamber. More of the same is not acceptable. “Pay to Play” will not work any more. We need 100-percent buy-in.
2) Sunshine–Economic Development must be in the Sunshine, although some aspects can be out of the Sunshine.
3) He who makes the gold rules–300,000 people (of Escambia County) should be in charge. The County is in the position to secure dedicated funding sources.

Note: The details of the plan for PEDA are in my earlier post so I won’t reprint them here.

Valentino did insist that he isn’t out to get the Chamber.

“I mean no harm. This is not a witch hunt for anybody.”

Valentino did say that he is prepared if the commission and city council reject his plan.

“It ain’t about Valentino’s plan. It’s about the better good of the community. If others don’t want it, I’m okay.”