Video: Hot Stove Politics in Escambia and Pensacola

On Jan. 8, I was invited to sit in with attorney Bill Rankin on his television show “Within Reason.” Segment One – Ernie Lee Magaha…

Continue Reading

A Building Named Ernie Lee

The Escambia County downtown complex was renamed yesterday. It is now the Ernie Lee Magaha Governmental Complex. During an afternoon ceremony, a crowd of about…

Continue Reading

Magaha Governmental Complex

Escambia County’s downtown complex will be formally unveiled this week as the Ernie Lee Magaha Governmental Complex. A ceremony will be held Thursday at 3…

Continue Reading

Magaha Governmental Complex?

The Escambia County Commission will  consider waiving policy this week in order to rename the county’s downtown complex in honor of the outgoing clerk of…

Continue Reading

SRIA misuses beautification funds

The Santa Rosa Island Authority has a beautification fund. Has the SRIA used that fund to buy equipment to get the tar balls and oil…

Continue Reading

No more cuts by Magaha

Spoke with Lisa Bernau, Chief Deputy for Escambia County Clerk of Courts/Comptroller Ernie Lee Magaha, about the change in funding for the Clerk that will…

Continue Reading

Cuts may be coming to Clerk offices

Here is a story that we will follow up on today. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill that changes how…

Continue Reading

Magaha addresses staff reductions

Clerk of Courts Ernie Lee Magaha has written a letter to the Chief Judge Kim Skievaski, BOCC Chairman Marie Young, Public Defender James Owens, Sheriff…

Continue Reading

Holley retires, comes back in Jan.

Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley retired this month. There wasn’t any big announcement, no appointment by Gov. Charlie Crist to replace her. She didn’t…

Continue Reading

Magaha has budget shortfall

The lack of real estate sales has impacted the Escambia County Clerk of Courts office, according to NorthEscambia.com Clerk of the Court Ernie Lee Magaha…

Continue Reading

Magaha is open to Morgan move

Just got off the phone with Lisa Bernau, Chief Deputy for Escambia County Clerk of Courts/Comptroller Ernie Lee Magaha, about Sheriff-elect David Morgan’s request to…

Continue Reading

Morgan makes smart move

Sheriff-elect David Morgan has started out his administration with a bold move that is smart politically and fiscally responsible. He wants to move his department’s…

Continue Reading

Local double dippers

The St. Pete Times has reported that a growing number of elected officials are quietly taking advantage of a loophole carved into the state retirement…

Continue Reading

Audit Findings – Significant Potential Liability

From the report by the Escambia Clerk of Courts: We believe the volunteer fire departments are misinterpreting the Firefighter I exemptions granted by the State,…

Continue Reading

What’s happening with other officers

Ernie Lee Magaha, Clerk of Courts, $4,676,281 (up 1.67%) but needs $2,111,446 from County general fund (up 15.9%) because his revenues are projected to be…

Continue Reading

Something’s Burning

Our cover story for April 5 (Burning Down The House) reveals the troubles of the Escambia County volunteer fire departments – nearly 3 out of…

Continue Reading

Lander’s request on County finances

Yesterday I posted a letter from Clerk of Courts Ernie Lee Magaha on the County’s attempt to take control of county finances. Here is the…

Continue Reading

Magaha vs. Commission battle continues

We got this letter from Escambia County Clerk of Courts Ernie Lee Magaha today. You need to read -  Magaha letter 2

Continue Reading

Lessons from failed Whitehead purchase

Clerk of Courts Ernie Lee Magaha proved the value of having an independent accounting department. Had Touart & Whitehead been successful in creating their own…

Continue Reading

Magaha refuses to process Whitehead purchase

Escambia County Clerk of Court Ernie Lee Magaha has sent a letter to County Commissioner Chairman Kevin White refusing to process Commissioner Mike Whitehead’s purchase…

Continue Reading