Guidelines
I am one member of a five person board. The opinions I express on this forum are mine only, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Escambia County Staff, Administrators, Employees, or anyone else associated with Escambia County Florida. I am interested in establishing this blog as a means of additional transparency to the public, outreach to the community, and information dissemination to all who choose to look. Feedback is welcome, but because public participation is equally encouraged, appropriate language and decorum is mandatory. Although this is not my campaign site for re-election--sometimes campaign related information will be discussed, therefore in an abundance of caution I add the following :
Commissioner Underhill Will Be Requesting a County-Funded Legal Defense
The board has been advised via an email from this Saturday that at an upcoming meeting we will be asked to approve a county-funded legal defense for Commissioner Doug Underhill. He is currently being sued for libel.
Two years ago the board was asked to provide a legal defense for Doug Underhill and at that time the board voted no.
(That issue discussed at length here).
This time around, the circumstances are different. Nevertheless-I'm not convinced that there are three votes on the board to fund this. We will see this week I suppose.
(I've been contacted by numerous citizens who have told me NO WAY to paying legal fees)
10 comments:
Commissioners with all the public response to NOT pay Doug Underhill’s attorney fees...you’d be stupid to do so! The county tax payers are all watching you closely now. IT WAS HIS BIG MOUTH NOT THE COUNTY THAT THIS SITUATION COMES FROM! He should be solely responsible for his defense. Think long and hard about how you handle this WE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY ARE WATCHING! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Thanks for the heads up. I bet it will be an add on to attempt to thwart pubic speakers.
The people have already spoken.
Do not condone his verbal abuse on the citizens of the county, this case is a tip of the ice berg.
Just say no. He has a cult he can beg for money.
So he retained Ed Fleming and requests a delay saying he was acting as a county commissioner--yeah right-- on facebook running his "suck", which at the time was contrary to the county policy.
Commissioner Bergosh, I hope the BOCC considers that this might not be the last lawsuit that he finds himself defending.
His constant lies and dishonest dealings--which have been exposed week in week out, online and in the Sunshine at meetings--along with his brutal abuses of power might very well land him in further legal trouble.
Please, BOCC, remember that the citizens have been putting up an outcry against this man's conduct for well over a year now, and imploring the Board to do something to rein him in. I can't see how, in good conscience, the BOCC can vote to spend the money of the very taxpayers he spits on at any given opportunity.
Don't set a precedent with this suit. Doug Underhill has made his own bed: let him find a way to fund his own way out of it. If he has the money to slurp oysters in New Orleans and drive a Hummer, then he can put his own money where his mouth is. And his mouth has been open in too many places, for far too long, for the taxpayers to sustain.
-Melissa Pino
I have to disagree: the county SHOULD pay his attorney's fees. Had he been in violation of a county media or public communications policy, then it would be different, but the board removed any restrictions on what a public official might say or write publicly.
And besides, if the county doesn't pay them, then he'll simply peddle his influence to moneyed interests that will. Doesn't seem right that my taxes pay his salary but he'll be beholden to real estate developers who will end up paying his legal bills..
Did he ask for this yet?
Is he trying to ask out of the sunshine and not at a public meeting?
He case file shows he asked for a delay, similar to the BOA Beach Access #4 stall tactic conflict of interest deal.
It is ironic he thinks you all are going to pay after he has called you all imbeciles using profanity and such from the same facebook page.
Well there it is in black and white on the Agenda for July 18 as well as having to up the ante for the litigation for EMS. It's a sham when elected officials and hired employee cost the tax payers more than what they are worth. Also hate to see you give in to the yellow shirts --- 9 million down the tubes.
Can't you all do better than that?
sounds like you are messaging you will pay it..waiting for the karma most likely..back scratching.
You might be asking for the same one day!?
Good call 7/18/19 dies for lack of a motion
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