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Assistant County Administrator Coughlin Resigns; Cites ‘Tribalism’, Failure of Mission
April 22, 2019
Monday, Assistant County Administrator Matt Coughlin submitted his resignation, effective in 90 days.
In his resignation letter, Coughlin thanked former County Administrator Jack Brown, Interim Administrator Amy Lovoy, County Attorney Alison Rogers and department directors before writing “Regrettably, today in Escambia County there is neither the ability or willingness to rise to the occasion and lead together. Rather, those with the capability to help reverse this downward progression have resorted to tribalism. Its effects are pervasive and wide ranging. Unfortunately, along the way, our mission has become a failure and our citizens have become the casualty.”
Coughlin recently assumed the day-t0-day duties of public safety director after the resignation of Mike Weaver. He also oversaw the Public Works, Building Services, Parks and Recreation, Corrections, Waste Services, Developmental Services and Engineering departments. He was hired in 2017 after working as assistant director at the Pensacola International Airport.
In addition to Coughlin and Weaver, Lovoy, Fire Chief Rusty Nail and Human Resources Director Erik Kleinert have all resigned in recent weeks.
Comments
25 Responses to “Assistant County Administrator Coughlin Resigns; Cites ‘Tribalism’, Failure of Mission”
Escambia County BOCC owes the people a valid explanation. This explanation is required of the entire group and not only one of five.
County Commission might should have to Run for office at Large. Poor decisions are usually made by selfishness and special interest. Remove the dividing lines and make Escambia County as great as possible. There will be no better state of economy than now for us to prosper as a Florida County, be recognized for Leadership and endeavors to make the Citizens proud. Prayers are requested.
As long as we have this system of five Boss Hogs, nothing is going to be fixed. We have allowed our commissioners to be making way too much money, and thus thinking they are in charge. No worker can function with FIVE bosses looking over their shoulder. Cities and Counties work when they have elected officials supervising ONE administrator which in turn coordinates with his or her dept. heads. We can fix it if we as voters approve a charter which turns the commission into a policy/advisory board, and lets an administrator supervise and run the day to day operations of the county.
Brainwashed people at the ballot box. City and County Consolidation has worked everywhere it has been done.
Sounds like we need a state investigation into the Escambia County government. Something is wrong when you have this many people resigning,.
Make Pensacola Great Again!
Get rid of all elected members of the BCC.
@ Tom: If you check-out San Francisco or Baltimore or
Chicago and a few hundred others you’ll see how
the Democrats run things when they’re in charge!
Right here sure suits me !
No Bubba, it’s not the rats fleeing the ship.
It’s the Captains.
this all starts out from the voters…they elect in their representatives who in turn appoint in people loyal to them. want this to stop? quit putting in locals and hire professionals outside from this area! i believe this is what one thing diversity is good for…
My, my, my….the rats are fleeing the ship.
It use to be our elders would wonder what would happen when we took over. I guess now we know.
Sounds like we may need a couple of County Wide elected officials, in Leadership, who will be answerable to ALL Residents and not just their District and not the BOCC.
HURRICANE Season is quickly approaching and Escambia County will have NO Public Safety Administrator unless something Changes Quickly.
While this business with the BoCC infighting and resignations of upper level administrators may be entertainment for some we as a county are At Risk.
I am not beholden to any political party, but it appears the republicans mission in this county and local cities has failed. I would think that offers Democrats the chance to put up a new vision for our county if elected. We need to think about a bigger picture and actually see what each party is really offering the citizens.
No wonder century is the way they are just look at there role model (the county)
Again, looks like the good ol’ boy system that has been set in Escambia County for years is finally catching up to bite them in the rectal area. Lets just clean house on the BOCC and start over.
At the rate we are going, Pensacola is going to have to change its name to The City of Century.
Century not the only one got problems hummmm
Who does Coughlin blame? He praised the directors but does not identify those he blames. In his letter of resignation, first sentence, he states his resignation. Anything that follows is generally not read anyway and is meaningless.
Escambia County…..the butt of Florida.
Mr. Coughlin, the last line of your resignation speaks volumes:
“Unfortunately, along our way, our mission has become a failure and our citizens have become the casualty.”
As we read the letters of resignation it appears a single thread story line is becoming more and more clear to We the Citizens who are now We the Casualties.
Escambia County’s “Leadership” (????) is BROKEN.
How do We the Citizens get it fixed?
Hey Matt tell us what you really think….we need to start charging admission for this circus.
@Anne- I was wondering the same! The citizens of this county need to be alarmed and flush the entire bowl! Some how some keep floating back up!
Leaving in numbers. What happens when no one is left?
Why doesn’t the new governor just fire all of them like he’s done with some of our other ELECTED officials? Oh, wait, they’re Republicans.
William, at what point would the Governor enter into this mess with OUR County to try and straighten things out?
There seem to be deep rooted problems that the BoCC themselves cannot, or will not, resolve.
I and others feel very concerned for those who are everyday working hard to do the Right Things for us Citizens.
Help