Opinion: The rules apply to Stanton too

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The rules apply to Stanton too

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published April 21, 2007

While he was city manager of Largo, Steve Stanton did things by the book and expected the same from his employees. So it is disappointing to see him now act like the rules don't apply to him. They do.

Stanton was fired by the Largo City Commission March 23, weeks after announcing he planned to become a woman. When the city turned down Stanton's bid to buy his city-owned laptop computer so he could keep it, his attorney said he would return it "with a new hard drive." Unacceptable, the city's attorney responded, because the laptop's hard drive might contain information subject to Florida's open records law.

Stanton did return the laptop, and the St. Petersburg Times has filed a request to see documents stored on the computer. However, an expert the city hired to examine the hard drive says files were deleted before it was returned. The expert also detected evidence that information was transferred from the laptop to Memory Sticks or portable data storage devices, and those devices have not been given to the city.

According to Largo City Attorney Alan Zimmet, Stanton contends that the information he deleted and stored on the Memory Sticks had nothing to do with city business. That isn't Stanton's call to make. The laptop and the information it contained belong to the city, not to Stanton. The city is entitled to examine all of the information and is legally required to retain any material that is a public record. Furthermore, the city regularly informed its staff that city equipment was not to be used for personal business.

Stanton is going through a difficult and confusing time, and his story has won him much sympathy and support. He risks losing that support if he doesn't abide by the rules designed to protect the public's right to government records.

The city should not hesitate to ask a judge to provide the proper encouragement if Stanton doesn't quickly comply.

[Last modified April 20, 2007, 21:10:31]

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by fl	04/23/07 02:51 PM
Gossip Gossip Gossip. Give it a rest SPT. Your turning into a tabloid paper with these stories.

by Thomas	04/22/07 09:44 AM
Stanton has taken the high road by not suing after this clear discrimination occured. Largo is returning the favor with a petty display of mean spirit. Largo should trust that pertinent city data is returned and respect when personal info is removed.

by David	04/22/07 07:35 AM
Believe me when I say this isn't the 1st "rule" Stanton broke. There's been many before this.

by Julie	04/21/07 04:45 PM
This is a matter of sue them before they sue you. They are just looking for a way to discredit him further- so he will never have a chance if he decides to sue for discrmination later on.

by joe	04/21/07 04:31 PM
sound's like spt has a personal problem with stanton.

by JT	04/21/07 02:38 PM
The SPT finally got one right with regards to Stanton.He is one of these rules are for other people elitest. Good to read something on the editorial page every once in a while that I actually agree with.Hell finally froze over it will be a great day!

by Larry	04/21/07 11:42 AM
I followed this story closely while in St Pete this winter and believe he got a raw deal. He does have to play by the same rules as any other city employee. Give it up, Steve.

by Jay	04/21/07 10:51 AM
What a reversal of support! Once the darling of this leftist rag and GLBT militants who raced to his-her-its defense, now Stanton is abandoned by the TIMES who jumps on the bandwagon to investigate his-her-its latest act of dishonesty.

by John	04/21/07 10:44 AM
His true colors are beginning to show. This move is typical Stanton - let his lobby try to spin all they like, but you can only fool so many for so long.

by Jim	04/21/07 06:47 AM
the statement "...going through a difficult and confusing time" should neatly describe the Times general coverage of the Stanton affair. Yikes.

by Gilbert	04/21/07 05:49 AM
I supported him at first, on the merits of the issue. Now, I am not so sure that continued support for him is the prudent thing to do. If it is personal information he has, then, I suggest the appropriate criminal charges be considered.