Commissioner Comander Does The Right Thing

[WCTA]

Through a tip and a public records request the WCTA has learned that Commissioner Comander instructed the Human Resources Department to discontinue the county payment for her family coverage on June 10, 2009.

In a phone call today with Commissioner Comander we asked the question "Why have you not disclosed this action since June 10th"?

Her answer tells a great deal about her integrity.

"I decided to discontinue receiving the benefit because I felt it was the right thing to do. It was a personal decision and to have publicly disclosed my actions would not have been right. Other Commissioners are entitled to make their own determination of the appropriateness of the benefit."

That tells a lot about her character !

Read Her Letter Below.

View attachment 13652

 

[scooterbug44]

I am glad to hear that she did it, but question the timing/motivation and the fact that you got "tipped off" and immediately posted about it. :roll:

IMO integrity doesn't mean you do something for years, then stop because you know the sheet is flying through the air towards the fan.

Kudos to Commissioner Commander for giving up her family's coverage and I hope the other commissioners follow suit ............. and that we never find out that integrity wasn't her sole motivation.

 

[rheffron]

I am glad to hear that she did it, but question the timing/motivation and the fact that you got "tipped off" and immediately posted about it. :roll:

IMO integrity doesn't mean you do something for years, then stop because you know the sheet is flying through the air towards the fan.

Kudos to Commissioner Commander for giving up her family's coverage and I hope the other commissioners follow suit ............. and that we never find out that integrity wasn't her sole motivation.

I hear that.

 

[WCTA]

I am glad to hear that she did it, but question the timing/motivation and the fact that you got "tipped off" and immediately posted about it. :roll:

SB - We are running another series of ads concerning this issue this week. Before committing that ad we followed up on a tip that we received directly to one of our members about two weeks ago. We followed the news cycles looking for some announcement concerning that change and it never appeared, much to our amazement.

Before running the ad we decided to confirm the "tip" by making a public records request. When the PRR was returned we thought it important that we inform the public of her actions and alter our ad. ( we sent a Press release to all media outlets in the area)

We have done both of those things and have done them in an attempt to present the facts and let people make their own determination on the issue. I simply think we are "honest brokers" of the facts.

When you see the ad you should be able to immediately see the changes that took place and hopefully understand why.

Thanks

Bob Hudson

 

[Lane Rees]

The right thing will be when someone on the BCC steps forward and makes a motion on the POLICY of the County -- the policy to have employees only receive individual health coverage period. To not accept it while others are receiving it is only a start. It still doesn't address how this change occurred outside the sunshine.

The BCC should meet and discuss this policy in the open so we have a clear record .. minutes .. on their views.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Nice job, Bob. I like government in the sunshine.

(And Aggie I would technically call it "the sunshine" because it is a matter of public record.)

Kudos to Commissioner Comander for demonstrating herself to be a thoughtful steward of Walton County.

 

[Lane Rees]

Nice job, Bob. I like government in the sunshine.

(And Aggie I would technically call it "the sunshine" because it is a matter of public record.)

Kudos to Commissioner Comander for demonstrating herself to be a thoughtful steward of Walton County.

Allowing certain Walton County Commissioners and select staff to receive family benefits was not made in "The Sunshine", TooFarTampa. Sara not accepting the family health benefit does not stop select BCC and staff to continue to receive this family benefit.

The broader issue remains the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has allowed a change to be made regarding health insurance, with the majority of the BCC receiving the family benefit, and this was not made in public. The BCC has been silent on this health benefit topic allowing the BCC and a very select few to receive family health benefits while the vast number of employees do not. As I wrote, the BCC should meet and discuss this policy in the open so we have a clear record .. minutes .. on their views .. in The Sunshine.

 

[totally]

Allowing certain Walton County Commissioners and select staff to receive family benefits was not made in "The Sunshine", TooFarTampa. Sara not accepting the family health benefit does not stop select BCC and staff to continue to receive this family benefit.

The broader issue remains the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has allowed a change to be made regarding health insurance, with the majority of the BCC receiving the family benefit, and this was not made in public. The BCC has been silent on this health benefit topic allowing the BCC and a very select few to receive family health benefits while the vast number of employees do not. As I wrote, the BCC should meet and discuss this policy in the open so we have a clear record .. minutes .. on their views .. in The Sunshine.

"Vast' is an understatement!

 

[TooFarTampa]

Allowing certain Walton County Commissioners and select staff to receive family benefits was not made in "The Sunshine", TooFarTampa. Sara not accepting the family health benefit does not stop select BCC and staff to continue to receive this family benefit.

The broader issue remains the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has allowed a change to be made regarding health insurance, with the majority of the BCC receiving the family benefit, and this was not made in public. The BCC has been silent on this health benefit topic allowing the BCC and a very select few to receive family health benefits while the vast number of employees do not. As I wrote, the BCC should meet and discuss this policy in the open so we have a clear record .. minutes .. on their views .. in The Sunshine.

I should read up throughly on a subject before putting a foot in my mouth.

Down here our county administrator is under a great deal of fire because she gave 7 to 17 percent raises to her top staffers for this year. Her explanation was that she had to cut staff and those getting raises were doing more work. :roll: (I guess she needs to get out more.) Woe to those who ignore the current economic conditions while making any kind of staffing or benefit decisions!

 

[Busta Hustle]

NWF Daily News just posted Okaloosa's budgets since 2005. Their proposed budget cut for 2010 is $41 million but the budget ($262,800,000) is still $49 million larger than 2005's budget.

Maybe someone can find out how many millions of dollars are in savings accounts for these panhandle counties that have had a billion $$$ revenues over the past 5 years.

and how in the world did they ever deliver services back in the old days of say 2004?