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Politics

Zephyrhills chamber leader fired

By MINDY RUBENSTEIN
Published September 30, 2006

ZEPHYRHILLS - After two years as the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce's executive director, Donna French was fired earlier this week and said board members accused her of dishonesty.

While French, 60, wrote a letter to the editor of the Zephyrhills News denying the allegations, she seems to be defending herself against a silent accuser.

"She was the only one that made that comment," chamber president Patrick Graham said when asked about the allegations of dishonesty. "No one on that board made any statement that she is making in public."

City Manager Steve Spina said French came to see him Thursday.

"Well, they said it to her, according to her," he said. "I don't really have a dog in the fight, but I've known Donna for a long time, and I'd be really surprised if any of those things came to fruition."

Spina suggested something else might be at the root of the situation, including a turnover on the chamber board. "It sounds a little like there was some internal politics," he said. As for Graham's comment, he said, "I have a lot of respect for Patrick, too."

In his assessment of French, Spina said, "I would say that anything that's being bandied about about her would be totally opposite of anything I've known of her. I think she's been wholeheartedly supporting the community.

"I have seen no evidence of misconduct out of Donna."

As for what her plans are now, Spina said, "She's just kind of at a loss for what could have happened. I think she's just trying to absorb the shock of it all."

French could not be reached for comment.

French took on the role as executive director in September 2004 from Cliff McDuffie, who is now mayor. Before heading the chamber, French was with the CARES Senior Center in Zephyrhills, where she did fundraising. Before that, she was in administration with St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa. One of her goals with the chamber was to promote the city as a destination for young families.

McDuffie said he found out Wednesday that she had been let go, but he didn't get any details.

"I still don't have any idea what happened," he said, adding that he knew her when she worked at the CARES center but didn't really have much interaction with her on the chamber.

The official statement from the chamber, Graham said, is that "due to confidentially and out of respect to Donna, we're not really enclosing any information." He did admit, however, that "she was asked by the Board of Directors to leave."

[Last modified September 29, 2006, 23:18:28]