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No Charges To Be Filed In Equestrian Center Hiring
November 17, 2011
The State Attorney’s Office announced this afternoon that no criminal charges will be filed against Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robertson or any other person as a result of a the hiring process at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.
Robertson was accused of becoming overly involved in the hiring of Forest Gibbs as an Equestrian Center manager, possibly influencing the process. There were also allegations made that Robertson was involved in getting Gibbs a salary that was higher than advertised $44,000.
Robertson, Gibbs and about eight other witnesses were interviewed as part of the investigation, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
Robertson said eight of about 60 applicants for the job were selected an interviewed by the selection committee. After the committee selected Gibbs, Robertson said he contacted Assistant County Administrator Larry Newsome and the county attorney “to remind them of the budget the county had created and approved, including the starting salary of $60,000.00 plus benefits per year.”
There was no attempt to to influence the candidate chosen for the position, Robertson said.
Gibbs was removed from his position at the Equestrian Center so that the position could be re-advertised under the watchful eye of County Administrator Randy Oliver.
The commission also approved policies that will prevent any commissioner from being as a job reference for a county job, and prevent commissioner from speaking to the human resource department or selection committee about an applicant until an offer is accepted.
Comments
18 Responses to “No Charges To Be Filed In Equestrian Center Hiring”
They keep raising our taxes and everything else in county but we can pay that kind of salary to a rodeo manager or I suppose that is what that job entails. Robertson moved out of our district to get elected again so maybe the people in that district now will wise up. I for one think we should ‘CLEAN THE HOUSE’ on all politicians that are in office now from the TOP to the bottom and I for one will be exercising that right.
of course he did nothing wrong. buddies keep saying that over over and over.no one in upper escambia says that,we aint seen nothing hes done up here.just like they paved muscogge road and the water still stands in the ditches where snakes and bugs multiply.what happen to doing away with the water.its still a swamp.
The only thing Robertson that was somewhat shady was try to get the person hired more money after the selection process.Go ahead and let potential applicants know the real salary up front, not after the fact. Had the job been advertised at the 60K salary there would have been more more qualified applicants applying. That may have been the intent all along.
There were applicants with Masters and Bachelors degree’s with years of managerial experience who somehow didn’t make it to the final 8 of the selection process. Maybe they turned it down or wasn’t interested when it payed only 44K.
I’m waiting to see who gets this job now and how much it will pay. Wonder if it will be a relative or friend of GIbbs or Robertson?
rich people watch out for rich people.hire a poor old cowboy whos knows horses and not just a buddy.get rid of the rotten apple.the people who wants gibbs in has money to.
you know its a shame that the tax payers dont have a say so in nothing that goes on in the county.it dont take 60,000 to make plans for rodeos.they need to hire a cowboy that knows whats going on with horses.no wonder county employees cant get a raise.there are some that are in forecloser with their homes because the county gives money to the buddy system instead of the employees.sure there are people that think the employees dont work but who does the work when a storm comes through here while yall sit home with your families.i see county workers do alot on the road even though alot of you dont think so.i guess the commissioners think the same thing because they never give the workers any credit.with the price of gas and groceries its no wonder there houses are in forecloser.if there is a skunk in the crowed get rid of it.he dont care cause hes got plenty of money.stratch my back and i scratch yours.
Hope people will not elect that man again he needs to go and pay the county back the money he has wasted for the tax payers…
Their is a reason Escambia co. is the sorriest
and poorest county in the state of Florida.
Same old back room back stabbing politics!
We all know no matter what the ofiice or who the person the folks that are never satisfied will always want to vote them out.
What ProudArmyparent said times two.
Wilson Robertson knew from day one that he had done nothing wrong, that’s why he ask for the investigation from three seperate departments. So give it a rest , folks. Wilson Robertson is a good man who does what he can for the people in this town whether you are in his district or not. Alot of you only know what you have read in the mullet wrapper (PNJ) and we all know they write story’s to sell papers. I want to thank Mr. Robertson for standing his ground and doing what he is supposed to for his district. Election time is coming near….be careful what you ask for……be thankful for Mr. Robertson!! There will come a time in the near future that ya’ll will be complaining about someone else!! Now that there has been no wrong doing done…..Hire Forrest Gibbs back , pay him his back pay , and let him do the job he was hired to do! He is the best man for the job!!!
It a real shame that we don,t have a states attorney. Eddins is a good ole boy that was appointed be golden to carry on with the good ole boy tradition, and he has. Cote eddins and WR out!
I wish you people actually knew who and what you were talking about. You are so free to cut a good man down, and that is just what Wilson Robertson is, he is a good man. I know Wilson Robertson personally. He is a man with high ethical values. He worked hard for everything he has. You people seem to forget he was the Northend County Comissioner for years and he did alot for us and he still fights for the Northend even though he represents another district. Wilson is the most honest man I know. He invested alot of his time in our end of the county, When Wilson was our representive we weren’t the Redheaded Step Child the Southend Comissioners wanted to forget out, you see Wilson wouldn’t let them. You people really ought to know the man before you critize him!
So anyways……………………..Wilson Robertson said early on “When the day arrived that he could not be a reference for a potential county employee…….he would no longer be a county commissoner”.
Or something to that effect.
Then he and the BOCC voted to make it county policy that no one seeking employment with the county could use a commissioner as a job reference.
When does Wilson keeps his promise and resign ?
I wonder if the new position will pay $44,000 per year or $60,000 per year plus benefits (plus vehicle).
Throw the bums out….cyronism lives
Remember this when election time comes again. A new broom sweeps clean!
….and he wants re-election?……..denied!
Surprise—-surprise—surprise. Business as usual. Makes me remember the good old days of county politics— Grady and W.D. are laughing about how things never change in the county.