The Escambia County Commission has decided to take over operations of the Escambia County Jail. The move follows fruitless negotiations with the Escambia County Sheriff, the facility’s current manager, and was spurred…
Tag: Gene Valentino
Brush Strokes and Non-Starters
It’s unclear what course of action the Escambia County Commission will take in response to the recent U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the operations of the Escambia County Jail. The board…
Panama Gene and the Flow Control Victory
Fresh off his economic development trip to Central America, Escambia County Commission Chairman Gene Valentino is jazzed about possible opportunities locally. “Contrary to the pundits, I was not on the beach sunning…
County Jail cited by DOJ as unsafe, needs more staff and better mental health program
The Civil Right Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has concluded its five-year investigation of the Escambia County Jail and its findings are as bad as Sheriff David Morgan tried to…
Stand down, fumbles and Act II this week
Last week was one of those rare weeks when news seemed to come from every direction. We had Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll, the first African-American female to ever hold that position, resign…
Valentino Vents
Escambia County Commission Chairman Gene Valentino learned about the mess over at the chamber of commerce a few days ago. “I’m a little disappointed with the whole thing,†he said this morning….
City on ECAT: ‘No Decisions Have Been Made’
Pensacola City Council members this week spoke out against Mayor Ashton Hayward’s apparent intention—relayed via a public statement from Escambia County Commission Chairman Gene Valentino—to use a recently passed gas tax to…
Valentino challenges City on its pulling gas tax revenues from ECAT
Our reporter Jeremy Morrison is covering the Escambia County Commission agenda workshop. He just texted me that Commissioner Valentino has made a statement against Mayor Ashton Hayward’s intention of using the city’s…
Touart’s Return
George Touart is returning to county government. In a move Escambia County Vice Chairman Gene Valentino described as a way to keep the county “moving forward in a positive way,†the county…
Life After Randy
With Randy Oliver gone, the Escambia County Commission must now decide who will take the reins as County Administrator. “I really can’t tell you for sure,†said Commission Chairman Wilson Robertson recently….
Foreign Delegation Dollars
Recently returned from scouting out business interests in Germany, Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino told the commission this morning to expect visits from foreign delegations checking out the area. The commissioner found…
The Randy Conversation
The parameters of a discussion regarding Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver’s contract remain a mystery. The county commission is scheduled to take up the matter during tomorrow’s work session. “I guess we’ll…
Commissioners Face Gibbs Alone
Three Escambia County Commissioners facing individual lawsuits may be on their own. The lawsuits stem from decisions each commissioner made in an official capacity. “I don’t know how the board plans to…
Commissioner Valentino on Bay Bridge Toll
Earlier this month, the Escambia County Commission passed a resolution opposing a toll on the bay bridge. State transportation officials invited Commission Chairman Wilson Robertson to Tallahassee this week to let him…
Dirty Smurfs
Escambia County officials have no interest in seeing a recycling center on a collection of remediated Superfund sites. They also don’t want to see any little blue men on the properties. In…
Buzz: White and Valentino at it again
We’re hearing that Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White wants to appoint Karen Sindel to the county planning board and fellow commissioner, Gene Valentino, isn’t happy. Sindel was Valentino’s appointee to the board…
Gilmore Deposition for Valentino trial
Tomorrow, Okaloosa County Judge Jim Ward will rule on a motion by Barry Beroset to dismiss the misdemeanor charges for campaign solicitation in a government building against Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino….
Unofficial transcript of Touart-Valentino phone call
On Sunday, the Pensacola News Journal published an article on a taped conversation between former County Administrator George Touart and County Commissioner Gene Valentino. Valentino was making the call with the State…
Problem on Alabama side of Key
Spoke last night with Commissioner Gene Valentino who drove late yesterday an ATV on the beach from Perdido Pass to Eden Condominiums. He said that the Alabama side had “dinner table size”…
Where was BP at 4:30 press conference?
At the Sunday, June 6, 4:30 pm press conference, BP had no representative. I asked Commissioners Gene Valentino and Kevin White, “Shouldn’t BP be a part of this press conference since that…
