MANATEE COUNTY – Led by County Commissioner George Kruse, the Manatee County Commission has ended its efforts to potentially terminate County Administrator Cheri Coryea.
On Nov. 19, Kruse joined commissioners Vanessa Baugh and James Satcher in supporting Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge’s motion to put Coryea on notice that her termination would be discussed and voted upon on Wednesday, Jan. 6.
Toward the end of Thursday’s land use meeting, Kruse delivered an unexpected speech that concluded with him making a motion to reconsider that Nov. 19 action.
“I don’t think it’s a secret that I wasn’t a huge fan of it, but at the time I voted for it to allow for dialogue, and for myself to do my proper diligence and get it to a finality,” Kruse said.
“I promised everybody at that meeting that I would talk to everybody. In these last three weeks, I’ve canceled a trip out of town. I’ve talked to five mayors. I’ve talked to literally every single department head. I’ve talked to business leaders, associations and I’ve spent probably four to five hours one-on-one with Cheri going over everything I want in Manatee County, how she envisions Manatee County and if we could work together.
“But I also promised on my campaign that there’s certain things I would do as a commissioner for the citizens of Manatee County. I promised I would work on lowering taxes and fixing our quality of life with some of the reserves we’re sitting on. I promised that we would push for less regulations and more efficiencies in government. And I said that I would work on cleaning up the departments and how we handle hiring, because in some cases it looks like there’s a bit of cronyism in the seniority versus merit. I also wanted to add a sense of private sector conservatism to our county,” Kruse said.
“I didn’t campaign on the promise of firing one person. I campaigned on a promise of improving the lives of 410,000 people in Manatee County, but I did not promise to come in here as an agent of chaos. I promised to come here as an agent of change. In my opinion, the best interest of Manatee County – both for my supporters and the people who didn’t support me – is to get these changes moving quickly and efficiently. I do not inherently believe that delaying these important items 12, 18, 24 months while we rebuild our government makes sense for anyone. It was not a fundamentally sound reason to do so. It would burn half my term and eliminate half my agenda just to get back to a perceived better square one,” Kruse said.
“I’ve taken over and I’ve run businesses in the past. I’ve worked with and molded many people without similar ideologies as me into successful teams. If I felt, after all of my meetings these past three weeks, that would not be the case here, I would whole-heartedly push towards January 6 and terminate our county administrator.
“However, I believe I can achieve the actual results that I promised without this unnecessary disruption. And if 12 months from now the changes I promise you are not made for the benefit of Manatee County, then I will personally be the one to make the next motion for termination. But I’m hopeful that will not be the case,” Kruse said.
“I’m well aware of trading one opposing group for another, and I’m sure my Facebook is already starting to light up, but many of you who supported me and elected me did so because you trusted my judgment and my experience. If I can accomplish our overriding goals with our current administration, then I’ve kept my promise and I made Manatee County a better and more conservative place to live. All I ask is that you trust my judgment. That goes for the citizens of Manatee County and the members of this board. We would be better as a community with the full support, even if begrudgingly given, to allow this board and this administration the opportunity to achieve all that you elected us to do,” Kruse said.
“I’d like to formally make a motion to reconsider the Nov. 19 decision to start the termination process of County Administrator Cheri Coryea,” Kruse said when concluding his speech.
With no hesitation, Commissioner Reggie Bellamy seconded Kruse’s motion.
Commissioner’s comments
“I’m tongue-tied,” Commissioner Carol Whitmore said.
Commissioner Misty Servia then said, “I want to say to the new board: You guys have us on our toes because there is a surprise at every meeting.”
She then said, “Thank you, George. I think your motion today was a responsible one. I think that it was the right thing to do. I think that it was the most business-oriented decision to bring forward. I have been so concerned about what’s going to happen to our county government with the chaos that’s been created, and it was created unnecessarily because things were moving perfectly. I’ve never worked with a such an efficient county administrator.
“I thank you so much for listening and representing the entire county. It was very wise of you. You have helped this county to move forward in a positive direction. And I think what you’ve just done is brought this board together. We have to be together in unity to move forward and get the business of our county done. And for anyone who has a concern about anything our county administrator is doing in terms of management style, I am open to hearing that, and I am open to any changes that are meaningful and well described,” Servia said.
Speaking next, Van Ostenbridge said, “I thank Commissioner Kruse for the diligence he put into this and the seriousness with which everyone has taken this. I did run as an agent of change, but I did not run as an agent of chaos. If we don’t have the votes, we don’t have the votes. You’re going to win some and you’re going to lose some. If the board is not as conservative as I thought it was, then that’s OK. I don’t enjoy the turmoil that it’s created within the county. Whichever way the vote is going to go, I’d like to put the turmoil to an end so that we can move on.”
Baugh said she seconded Van Ostenbridge’s Nov. 19 motion because she believed further discussion about the county administrator was needed.
“Misty, I appreciate your comments, but not everything in this county is run properly. There’s many changes we need to look at and I’m hoping with Cheri maybe we can do it. If not, then I will not be happy,” Baugh said.
“Does that mean make a major change? No, maybe it means that the county administrator is willing to change how things have been done here in the county. We’ll have to see,” she added.
Baugh addressed a rumor regarding the Nov. 10 farewell ceremony for departing commissioners Betsy Benac, Steve Jonsson and Priscilla Trace. The rumor alleged Baugh suggested to ceremony attendee and DeSoto County Economic Development Director Tara Poulton that there might soon be a job opening in the county administration.
“It is a silly rumor and whoever started that really should be ashamed, because it’s not true,” Baugh said.
When contacted Wednesday afternoon, Poulton was asked about Baugh’s alleged comments at the ceremony.
“It was such a casual conversation. She said something to the effect of, ‘You never know, we might have a position open.’ There was no mention of any specific position opening up,” Poulton said.
When asked if she’s had any contact with Baugh since then, Poulton said, “No, none whatsoever. And I have no intention of applying for the county administrator’s position if it opens up.”
During Thursday’s discussion, Satcher addressed speculation that there was a coordinated effort to terminate Coryea – speculation that prompted paralegal Michael Barfield to submit individual public records requests to Satcher, Baugh, Kruse, Van Ostenbridge and Jonsson.
“I pastored a church when I was 25 years old. When I was witness to someone, I’d tell them about the Lord and I’d invite them to church. They’d say I’m not into organized religion, and I’d say well this is the place for you because we ain’t organized around here. I think it’s kind of humorous that people might be accused of planning when I don’t know if anyone knows what’s coming,” Satcher said.
Commissioner Reggie Bellamy praised Kruse for his insight and willingness to listen to everybody.
“As commissioners, we all have that ability to set upon a county administrator our expectations as far as what we want and how we want our county to be ran,” Bellamy said.
He also said he’s concerned about public sparring that’s taken place and the negative impact that’s had on the community.
Servia noted that when she was first elected in 2018, she wanted to conduct a national search for retiring County Administrator Ed Hunzeker.
“I did not support Cheri Coryea. I said we need to make sure we’re getting the best county administrator, instead of just promoting from within. What I have learned since that time is that Cheri Coryea is the best county administrator I’ve ever worked with. I’ve been in county government for 30 years. I have worked in county government for 18 and with county government in the private sector for 13, and I’ve never worked with anyone who is as effective and as hardworking as Cheri Coryea,” Servia said
At the end of the discussion, Kruse said, “I’m making a motion to reconsider the previously approved motion from Nov. 19.”
The commission unanimously approved Kruse’s motion.
Coryea did not attend the land use meeting. When contacted Thursday evening, she politely declined comment on the commission’s decision.
Barfield investigation
When contacted Thursday evening, Barfield was asked what impact the commission’s decision might have on his public records request and his investigation of the records produced.
“I’m going to take 24 hours at least and think about it. My records requests stand and I expect full compliance. I’m not willing to compromise on that,” Barfield said.
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