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…

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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…

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Oops, Touart forgets three-letter word

The same campaign brain trust that introduced home invasion as a campaign strategy forgot to put the word “for” on the campaign signs for former…

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Transparency Challenge for District 2

The race in the Republican primary for Escambia County District 2 is a dogfight. The top candidates – incumbent Gene Valentino, former County Administrator George…

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Touart spin machine kicks in

Commissioner candidate George Touart has a problem….a huge problem. He is running his campaign on a theme of being the most ethical person to ever…

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Valentino framed…or so it goes

Valentino supporters are alleging that the commissioner’s political opponent, George Touart, is behind the grand jury investigation of Gene Valentino’s campaign fundraising. They point to…

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Buzz: Early polls on county commission races

Over the weekend, I heard about two polls that have been conducted on the Escambia County Commission races. The rumor is former county administrator George…

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Did Valentino solicit campaign contributions from his office?

The Florida Statutes state it is illegal for an elected official to solicit campaign contributions from his government office. PNJ reporter Jamie Page reports on…

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Valentino will run for re-election

Yesterday, Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino filed to run again for his District 2 seat. The incumbent already has two opponents, Robert Kelley and Andy…

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Touart not hired for Orange Beach job

Former Escambia County Administrator George Touart was called best of 70 candidates for the Orange Beach city manager job, but Mayor Pete Blalock says decision…

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Touart Pleads No Contest

WEAR TV 3 reports that former Escambia County administrator George Touart did plead No Contest on his hunting charges in Wisconsin. Channel 3 News has…

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Touart watching his nickels

Today’s PNJ has an article on the former County Administrator George Touart settling his hunting charges in Wisconsin. The story ends with a not too…

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Possible Touart game plan

I’ve been trying to figure out what is the Touart game plan with this last minute move to get on the 12/13 BOCC agenda: 1….

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Atty says Touart still county employee

Former (?) County administrator George Touart’s attorney has sent a letter to Escambia County Commissioner Mike Whitehead that says Touart was never terminated by the…

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Video: BOCC argue over Whitehead stmts

At the October 11 Committee of the Whole, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners discussed the PNJ article and Mike Whitehead’s statements about three commissioners…

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Touart: Fire me. I dare you.

“Former” County Administrator George Touart wants to come back to work. His attorney says that he only offered to retired because County Atty Janet Lander…

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Touart fallout

There are several points still being discussed around town about the Touart debacle: 1 Is County Attorney Janet Lander’s job in jeopardy? She came across…

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Pals keep jobs longer

Barry Evans and George Touart both held the Escambia County Administrator’s position longer than anyone else. Both served under County Commissioner Mike Whitehead. Both retired…

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Move on

This morning the Escambia Board of County Commissioners meets to discuss County Administrator George Touart’s severance package. I have the feeling that some deal was…

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Handcapping BOCC Vote

What would it take to terminate County Administrator George Touart? A Escambia County commissioner could make a motion to amend Gene Valentino’s agenda item to…

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