County Administrator List Cut To 10; Touart Still In The Running

July 9, 2013

The Escambia County Administrator Search Committee cut 32 names off their list Monday, narrowing the list of contenders down to 10.

Interim County Administrator George Touart made the list on a 4-1 vote. The dissenting vote was cast by Joseph Marshall, the search committee member appointed by Commissioner Luman May.

The county will next confirm that each applicant is still interested. The committee, which will meet against on July 15, while then cut the list of applicants to about five to be presented to the Escambia County Commission.

The remaining candidates for Escambia County Commissioner are listed below in alphabetical order along with a brief listing of past experience. Click any of the names to read the candidate’s complete resume.

  1. Lyndon Bonner – Ocala, FL. City manager Bunnell, FL; assistant county administrator, Sumter County; county administrator Okeechobee County; city manager North Miami Beach.
  2. James Chansler – Jacksonville, FL. Utilities director city of Jacksonville and city of Boca Raton; wastewater management director Broward County.
  3. David Fanslau – Rock Hill, NY. County manager Sullivan County; township administrator Winslow, NJ and Logan, NJ.
  4. Kenneth Fields – Boca Raton, FL. Assistant city manager Hollywood, FL; village manager Islamorada, FL; executive administration officer Seminole Tribe of FL.
  5. Kenneth Griffin – Tampa, FL. CEO water/sewer authority and assistant county administrator Hillsborough County; executive officer Pearl River Valley Water Supply District
  6. Patrick Howard – Seneca, SC. County administrator Marion County, Ocala, FL.
  7. Albert Penksa – Gettysburg, PA.County manager Adams County, Gettysburg, PA; controller CFO Cambria County.
  8. Ronald Rabun – Griffin, GA. County administrator Oconee County, SC; county manager Seminole County, FL; county administrator Manatee County, FL; city manager various cities in GA, FL and WA.
  9. Kevin Seawright Jr. – Baltimore, MD. Executive director Baltimore Community College; deputy operating officer city of Baltimore.
  10. George Touart – Pensacola, FL. County administrator with Escambia County, FL; city councilman, Pascagoula, MS; co-owner of two businesses in MS.

Comments

29 Responses to “County Administrator List Cut To 10; Touart Still In The Running”

  1. Duke of Wawbeek on July 11th, 2013 9:25 am

    Even though I am a resident of Alabama I have interest in Escambia County Florida, that are in Commissioner Barry’s district. How did they draw him in and corrupt him so very quickly? You people could have elected another candidate but then hindsight is 20/20.

  2. Duke of Wawbeek on July 11th, 2013 8:18 am

    Bob you make this thing sound as a conspiracy.

  3. Bob on July 10th, 2013 12:37 pm

    Someone help me understand?
    I think George Touart is a crook with our crooked commissioners.
    George Touart fired by county commissioners.
    George Touart gets retirement package approved by commissioners.
    George Touart is hired for temporary position he was fired from.
    Now George Touart is in the final top 10 for the position he’s already in and approved by 4 to 1 by commissioners.
    Someone make me understand what’s wrong with our county. Apparently there’s no shame in being a commissioners in this county.

  4. jeeperman on July 10th, 2013 9:19 am

    Poplardell,
    We reap what we sow. Without charter type government, we the citizens have no tools to remove those elected that “go bad”.
    Nor do we have the power to approve tax increases via a vote of the citizens.
    Property taxes, school taxes, sales taxes are thus all decided by the BOCC and school board. We citizens do not have to be convinced the tax increase is needed, just pay them.
    Because we the citizens/voters are so stupid.

  5. Hopeful on July 10th, 2013 7:56 am

    Here is my prediction:
    Wilson Robertson and Gene Valentino will vote for George because they get what they want from him. The rest of the Commissioners will vote against him.

    Hoping

  6. 429SCJ on July 10th, 2013 7:55 am

    I am disappointed that Commissioner Barry fell in line behind the others. I had expectations for improvement.

    I am of the opinion that in the long run he may find that playing following the leader is not always as promising as perceived at the beginning. I learned that lesson at a very early age.

    Commissioner May I had misread Williams report and now see that Mr Marshall alone cast the dissenting vote. I stand corrected and enlightened, though not illuminated.

  7. poplardell on July 10th, 2013 5:06 am

    @Jeeperman,
    You can move to a place that does have charter government.
    The people here have voted.
    NO!!!

  8. well on July 10th, 2013 5:01 am

    George as Administrator?
    Ronnie Mac as jail administrator?

  9. 429SCJ on July 9th, 2013 11:04 pm

    Joe Marshall and Lumen May are the brains in this rodeo.

  10. you just dont know on July 9th, 2013 11:00 pm

    If the citizens in Escambia County really knew how the Commissioner’s and their “aids” really ran the county. They would all have strokes. It’s way worse than the public knows. Good old boy doesn’t even scratch the surface.

  11. Marshall on July 9th, 2013 10:05 pm

    If you want your entire Commission to here how you feel…then email them and let them know. I have done it before and gotten some rather BS responses from them. But here ya and and it makes it easy. Email all of them, not just your commissioner….Let them know…WE DON’T WANT TOUART!!!

    District 1 – Wilson Robertson
    district1@myescambia.com
    District 2 – Gene M Valentino
    district2@myescambia.com
    District 3 – Lumon May
    district3@myescambia.com
    District 4 – Grover C robinson IV
    district4@myescambia.com
    District 5 – Steven Barry
    district5@myescambia.com

  12. ralphie on July 9th, 2013 9:29 pm

    1. I think George Touart is an excellent choice for the County Administrator. If you are more qualified, throw your hat in the ring…

    Is that you Randy Touart?

    Excellent choice?

    Good old boy.com

  13. molino jim on July 9th, 2013 4:10 pm

    @Robe2X–George has already said that Ronnie Mc will be part of the jail transition team. When BP was paying for oil clean up at the beach guess who were the organizers for the work crews—good old George and Ronnie Mc. They looked good riding around in their white pick ups and pulling in money hand over fist. The main benefit of living in Escambia county is when the world comes to an end we’ll still have several years left. What ever happens —- happens 25 years later here in Escambia County. PS-does anyone recall what happen about Georges son and the county credit card being used in a strip bar?

  14. Randy on July 9th, 2013 3:40 pm

    1. I think George Touart is an excellent choice for the County Administrator. If you are more qualified, throw your hat in the ring….

  15. ralphie on July 9th, 2013 3:24 pm

    Thanks Grooover for voting FOR George…I will return the favor and NOT vote for you…

  16. jeeperman on July 9th, 2013 3:08 pm

    Thank God this county is not a charter type government.
    There would be recall elections every six months.
    No wonder we citizens can not even get a chance to approve (via an election) going to a charter government here in Escambia County.

  17. Kabuki on July 9th, 2013 12:24 pm

    The Escambia County Kubuki dancers otherwise known as the county commissioners are at it again. It galls me that they are brazen and don’t care that thinking citizens understand it’s all a game.

  18. Duke of Wawbeek on July 9th, 2013 9:17 am

    That David Fanslau, could he be related to the late SS Major General Heinz Fanslau?

    I cannot help but notice the sparseness of Jewish Americans serving in Escambia County government.

  19. Rick on July 9th, 2013 9:09 am

    That would perfect, Robe2x! What would W.D. think of all this?

  20. jeeperman on July 9th, 2013 9:02 am

    “Doesn’t Escambia County Florida have any qualified people who want the job? ”

    I can’t imagine anyone that has read up on local politics would ever want the job.

  21. Bob Behnke on July 9th, 2013 8:21 am

    Mr Touart is undeserving of either the temporary or permanent position. If voters really care they should immediately contact their commissioner to express their opinion. In addition, at the next election they should vote against any commissioner who voted for Touart should he be selected. Mr Touart with the help of the commissioners has already scammed the system so that he will receive an annual pension. Your choice voters, set on your hands or become involved.

  22. Allen Willis on July 9th, 2013 8:12 am

    I agree, the process of picking a county administrator is a waste of time and money. The Escambia County Commissioners think the people of this county are really stupid. (And, I guess they must be). Otherwise, they wouldn’t keep getting elected.

  23. Walnut Hill Roy on July 9th, 2013 7:47 am

    Why are we interviewing people from all over the east? Doesn’t Escambia County Florida have any qualified people who want the job?

    I see that there is one person from Baltimore (I must admit that I’m from there and moved out because I couldn’t stand the liberal politics), his position definitely indicates that he is liberal philosophically and politically. What is he going to do in a (or to a) conservative county.

    Come on guys, pick some locals to run.

  24. Robe2x on July 9th, 2013 7:12 am

    There’s a reason why this county and its governing officials are the laughing stock of this state!! Just one more example why Escambia County is 25 years behind the rest of the State. Just cant learn from its mistakes of the past. With his past track record George Touart should be the last person appointed as interim administrator and certainly shouldn’t have made the cut of the final 10. All we need now is to elect Ol Ronnie Mc back as high Sherrief and throw W,D, back in the mix… Just like the Good Old Days!! Business as usual.

  25. Duke of Wawbeek on July 9th, 2013 7:06 am

    Mr Touart reminds me of a character from a fable that my mother told me as a child, about this butler who wandered the world throughout the centuries, waiting for some event to take place. If I recall correctly he had ticked somebody’s son off.

  26. jay on July 9th, 2013 5:58 am

    Anyone ever seen a “Catfish Pond” like the one George built in Cantonment? First one i’ve ever seen above water.

  27. c.w. on July 9th, 2013 4:41 am

    Why is the CC wasting the tax payers money on a phony search? The good ole boy touart has the inside connection. Its all for show!

  28. i-call-BS on July 9th, 2013 1:45 am

    You know that BOCC are going to pick that crook George. They could care less about anyone in the county but themself and how to line their pockets. I Call on all citizens to not vote for the crooks currently in the BOCC out of Office. We need new ones who listen to the people. BTW Gene found any going blondes to mess with lately. Down with the BOCC!!!!!

  29. 429SCJ on July 9th, 2013 1:34 am

    George needs to be over in Mississippi so he can manage his business.

    He is persistent.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News