I have new respect for Escambia County Commissioners Marie Young and Kevin White. They outmaneuvered fellow Commissioner Mike Whitehead and won the day. At the last two meetings, Young and White seemed a little overwhelmed. Both seemed to be upset about County Administrator George Touart, but didn’t really express themselves as well as Whitehead, Gene Valentino and Grover Robinson.
However, yesterday is another story. Young made the unusual motion to replace Whitehead’s motion that would have allowed Touart to be eligible for state retirement. White had to hand the gavel over to Whitehead so that he coud second Young’s motion.
Valentino sat quietly and voted with Young and White. And that was all she wrote. The two least likely commissioners to take on Touart and Whitehead controlled the process.