Confederate Flag on BCC agenda
County Attorney Allison Rogers is bring forth to the Escambia County Commission a discussion of whether it wishes to address a vote of the Board of County Commissioners on February 10, 2000, related to the Confederate Flag.
In 2000, the late Leroy Boyd, president of Movement for Change, asked for the county to discontinue flying the Confederate flag at the Pensacola Civic Center. County Barry Evans initially took down the Confederate flags flying at county buildings, but later said his intention was to replace the flags with newer ones.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans came out in force supporting the Confederate flag. Commissioner Wilson Robertson, who represented District 5 at the time, made the motion that the Board allow the Confederate Battle Flag to remain and encouraged the city of Pensacola to do likewise. It passed unanimously.
For the flag to be discussed again by the BCC, it will take three votes. I doubt Robertson will change his mind. Commissioner Gene Valentino tends to follow Robertson’s lead. The decision to move forward will be in the hands of Steven Barry, Lumon May and Grover Robinson.
Replacing Pike
The Director of Corrections Screening Committee met last week to narrow the list of applicants. The current director, Gordon Pike, retires this week.
Inweekly obtained, through a public record request, the minutes for the meeting that were prepared by County Administrator Jack Brown.
The full screening committee was present, including Chief Deputy Eric Haines-Escambia County Sheriffs Department, Chief Chip Simmons-Pensacola Police Department, Robin Wright-Trail Court Administration 1st Judicial Circuit, and Chief Deputy Richard Johnson-Taylor County Sheriff’s Department / Florida Model Jail Inspector vetted by the Florida Sheriff’s Association.
The committee by consensus screened the applicants in successive rounds until the committee as a whole determined that they were satisfied with those that would be invited for an interview and go through background checks.
ROUND 1: The following 17 applicants were considered during round one:
1) Larry K. Aiken, 2) Rex E. Blackburn 3) Tammie Lee Booker, 4) Marisa M. Green, 5) Everett F. Harrell, 6) John Hilpert 7) Amanda Sue Lewis, 8) Johnathan Drake Miller, 9) Wade L. Mixon, 10) Michael Pavicic, 11) Russell E. Scott, 12) Clifford G. Tebbitt, 13) Michael A. Tidwell, 14) Jon E. Walker, 15) Joseph E. Ward, 16) Brett D. Whitlock, and 17) Jesse Williams.
ROUND 2: The following eight applicants moved forward to round two and were considered: 1) Larry K. Aiken, 2) Tammie Lee Booker, 3) Michael Pavicic, 4) Clifford G. Tebbitt, 5) Michael A. Tidewell, 6) Joesph E. Ward, 7) Brett D. Whitlock, and 8) Jesse Williams.
ROUND 3: Six candidates were selected to move forward to round three for interviews and background checks. The committee will interview the following six candidates: 1) Larry K. Aiken, 2) Tammie Lee Booker, 3) Clifford G. Tebbitt, 4) Michael A. Tidewell, 5) Brett D. Whitlock, and 6) Jesse Williams.
The full committee will interview the six candidates who moved forward into round 3 at 8 a.m., on Monday, Nov.24. Based upon the interview rankings and the background checks the county administrator alone will then commence his individual interviews starting with the highest ranked candidate until he determines at his sole discretion if he has a candidate he wants to offer the position.
Temps will drop again
With temperatures once again dropping below 40 degrees, Pensacola officials have yet to announce what they plan to do with the recommendations from its task force on the homeless.
Homeless advocate Nathan Monk is working out the details for a cold weather shelter for women and families. He hopes to have more details soon. The Waterfront Mission is equipped to handle males.