Choice could be compromise

By DAVID DECAMP, Times Staff Writer
Published October 23, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Barbara Wilhite is chief assistant county attorney for Pasco County. Douglas Wyckoff is city attorney of Valparaiso and special magistrate in Okaloosa County. Tim Hayes is known for work with developers, though he has also represented residents.

Oddsmakers wouldn't know what to do with this contest.

The Pasco County Commission could decide today who becomes the replacement for County Attorney Robert Sumner, who retires Dec. 31. But five hours of interviews left the board at loggerheads last week.

Commissioners Michael Cox and Jack Mariano favored Land O'Lakes attorney Tim Hayes but objected to hiring chief Assistant County Attorney Barbara Wilhite. Commissioners Pat Mulieri and Ted Schrader favored Wilhite, but had qualms about hiring Hayes.

Commission Chairwoman Ann Hildebrand literally and figuratively sat in the middle. She said she could vote to hire any of four of the five candidates, wanting to avoid the perception of disunity that comes with a divided vote.

Tallying each member's two-candidate shortlists, three people became front-runners: Wilhite, Hayes and attorney Douglas Wyckoff of De Funiak Springs in the Panhandle. All had at least three commissioners' support.

Wyckoff became the potential compromise candidate in a decision where board members said there might be none of the consensus Hildebrand seeks.

But there was another clue for readers of tea leaves: Wilhite was the only candidate who came out as the first choice of three members, including Hildebrand. Three is a voting majority.

Barbara Wilhite

Current job: chief assistant Pasco County attorney

Age: 38

Background: County Attorney's Office since 1996. Led creation of 2006 comprehensive plan for growth management. Endorsed by County Attorney Robert Sumner. Stetson University law school class of 1993. Native of Pasco County.

She says: "When I've seen people not doing their best, not doing the job, jobs not getting done at all, or jobs not being done well, I've gotten frustrated at that. And I've expressed my frustrations in nasty e-mails."

Douglas Wyckoff

Current job: runs his own law firm

Age: 48

Background: Practices land use, environmental and government law. City attorney of Valparaiso and special magistrate in Okaloosa County. University of Florida law school class of 1984. In his application, acknowledged a misdemeanor DUI conviction in 2000 in Fort Myers.

He says: "I'm a fairly hands-on manager and I don't trust other lawyers' legal research. ... I don't like lawyers who just take things at face value."

Tim Hayes

Current job: runs his own law firm

Age: 53

Background: Known for work with developers, though he has also represented residents. Lost 1991 bid for county attorney post. Stetson University law school class of 1982. Served on the Pasco Economic Development Council and the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce board.

He says: "How do you deal with that, if ... you felt there are some issues relating to the legality of certain ordinances you all have passed? ... I can tell you ... you're not going to pick up the paper and read, 'County attorney questions the legality of such and such an ordinance.' "

Pasco County attorney front-runners

[Last modified October 22, 2007, 22:05:46]