The Choral Society of Pensacola is now hiring an Executive Director. The Executive Director acts as a liaison between the organization and the press, sponsors, concert attendees and the general public. The…
Hiring Fountain makes sense if…
From the perspective of education and work history, Mayor Hayward’s hiring of Tamara Fountain as his Communications Administrator, at a salary above the market, doesn’t make sense. But it does if she…
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 North Dakota-sized dollop of exaggeration in them….
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 “Pensacola Speaks” last week. Jolly has Pensacola…
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 and the Planning Board–both of which fall…
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 the issue surrounding the qualifications of Mayor…
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 Chief Operations Officer. He misstates her salary…
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 Elections office. “I have the utmost respect…
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 a matter involving a client of his…
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 she held prior to being hired as…
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 the interview, the mayor said, “She’s very…
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 missing–Mayor Ashton Hayward. The PNJ’s article on…
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” after he and Fountain had arranged an…
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 State University that Mayor Ashton Hayward said…
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 the enterprises. His pay was $130,000. Colleen Castille replaced Reynolds. She, too, was in…
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 failure to remove a Confederate flag from…
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 Olson. Fountain was used in November 2012…
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 U.S. House delegation was released by the…
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 before the board on behalf of a…
Gaetz downed by whooping cough, may give up tweeting
By MARGIE MENZEL THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA State Rep. Matt Gaetz had to cancel his half of a father-son appearance Wednesday due to a case of whooping cough apparently contracted from…