Mayor Robinson on Rick Outzen's Podcast: Strong County Administrator Idea Won't Work

Mayor Grover Robinson gave an interesting take on the concept of a "Strong" Elected County Administrator on Rick's Podcast yesterday.  It was a very interesting interview and opinion.....revealing a somewhat unexpected position on the topic...

I listened to Real News With Rick Outzen's Podcast late yesterday afternoon and there were some very interesting comments from Mayor Grover Robinson.

After he was done speaking with Rick about several city issues--the topic of the pros and cons of the City Charter's Strong Mayor was discussed in depth.  And then the conversation naturally segued into the current discussions wafting around a few downtown offices about a "Strong County Administrator" type of governance structure.

As a guy who used to be a commissioner and who now wields incredible power as a strong mayor of Pensacola-- his vantage point on this topic is unique.  And I must admit I was somewhat surprised by his comments on this subject.  He said "he didn't think it would work."  Then he elaborated on his rationale for thinking this--discussing some of his current interactions with the city council  and also discussing and describing his time on the BCC and different administrators he worked with.  He also discussed our community's switch in 2020 from an elected to an appointed superintendent.

He then asked a seminal question that we should all ponder.  

"Tell me how that structure [elected county administrator] is better?"

It is a worthwhile interview to hear--for folks on both side of the issue.

I've made my personal opinion known with emphasis.

Now, apparently, the current mayor of Pensacola has as well.

I wonder if John Peacock and the others heard the interview yet?

Listen to the Podcast here.

Is Structural Reform of Escambia County a Solution Looking for a Problem? Yes

Sometimes what some put forth as "solutions" to pressing issues are nothing more that veiled attempts at greater degrees of control......

As I return from a trip abroad to Denmark, Sweden, and England--I see there has been several media pieces on a "star chamber" of sorts consisting of locals that want to discuss, detail, and implement radical and substantial structural changes to Escambia County.  A list of individuals that are meeting to discuss these changes has been published, along with some internal emails from the group.  

Ho hum.

I met with John Peacock earlier this year on this topic.  I told him then, in my office to his face, I was open to look at what he is considering--even willing to discuss it at a workshop with my peers---as we cannot discuss anything outside of these meetings.  My understanding is we will have such a discussion at an upcoming committee of the whole.  

Good.

But my willingness to discuss these ideas does not signal my support of these concepts--and I told Peacock this as well to his face; he left the meeting knowing I do not support an elected executive administrator for the county.

And reading the tea leaves from earlier discussions I have held with my counterparts over my idea to make 4 of 5 districts at large--I see no appetite thus far leading me to believe there is support for an even more radical transformation of the board's makeup the likes of which Peacock's group is proposing.

Wanting to  create efficiencies for taxpayers and save by consolidating some functions in common with other entities?  Yes--that makes sense and I could support such a plan if it was well thought out and was efficient and effective.

Wanting a strong, independently-elected "County Mayor" for our organization?  No, that is a horrible idea.  Absolutely terrible and I do not, will not and cannot support that.  And, again,  I told Peacock this.

It was bad enough ceding all power to ONE king superintendent in the county's school district where I served 10 years...and where on many occassions the duly elected 5-member board's staffing ideas were