County attorney field shrinks on split vote

Once dubbed the "developers' candidate," Tim Hayes is no longer in the running.

By DAVID DECAMP, Times Staff Writer
Published October 24, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco County still hasn't decided who's in as its new top attorney, but one person definitely is out.

Land O'Lakes lawyer Tim Hayes, who was labeled as a developers' pick, was rejected by a 3-2 vote by the County Commission on Tuesday. He had been rejected for the same job 16 years ago.

The fractured board also decided to push back its hiring choice two weeks at the request of Commissioner Michael Cox, who was Hayes' strongest advocate.

But it might be delaying the inevitable. The three members voting against Hayes - Ann Hildebrand, Pat Mulieri and Ted Schrader - also said they support hiring Barbara Wilhite, the No. 2 attorney in the 11-person office.

As opposition to Hayes crystallized, Cox said he wanted the delay to allow one-on-one interviews with Wilhite and the two remaining candidates, Jeffrey Steinsnyder of Bradenton and Douglas Wyckoff of Defuniak Springs.

Cox and Commissioner Jack Mariano, Hayes' other backer, each promised to examine remaining candidates with "an open mind."

Schrader? "I don't need a one-on-one," he said.

"I don't," Hildebrand added.

"Yeah, I'm good," Mulieri said.

Even Wyckoff, who said afterward he is still interested in the job, said Wilhite would have been named county attorney if the vote had been Tuesday.

Hayes' candidacy sparked arguing between Cox and other commissioners over what he would do as county attorney. Cox has criticized Wilhite's tough treatment of co-workers and for delays in finishing ordinances related to the county's new comprehensive plan for growth, which she spearheaded.

"I hate to see a divided board," said Hildebrand, who blamed Cox for sending it "down this path."

Mulieri said she was "offended" by Cox's criticism after years of work on the comprehensive plan. Mulieri also said she was worried by Hayes' comments in his interview that he would like some parts of the plan changed.

"I don't want an attorney to come in and start picking it apart," Mulieri said.

Hayes did not attend Tuesday's meeting. But he said in an interview he had picked up signals by Friday that he would not be the choice. His client list has included home builders and developers, though he also has represented civic groups. Retiring County Attorney Robert Sumner, who wants his protg Wilhite hired, recently dubbed Hayes the "developers' candidate," only to apologize later.

Suggestions that Hayes favored developers and would fire Wilhite - which he denied - became too much for some commissioners to push aside.

"That was never the case at all. I think she and I could have worked well together," said Hayes, who added he did not regret applying for the job again.

"I think she brings some experience," Hayes said. "She's got some particular issues she would need to address, but I think she can work through those."

David DeCamp can be reached at ddecamp@sptimes.com or 800 333-7505, ext.6232.

Fast facts

In other business

SINKHOLE MONEY: A sinkhole-ridden project to build a reclaimed water reservoir has more problems, assistant county administrator Bruce Kennedy said. The Land O'Lakes site had racked up $5.6-million in extra costs due to ground collapses. Recently, an embankment collapsed, leading to estimates of $3-million to $9-million in more repairs that prompted the county to seek more research and different solutions, Kennedy said. The project, required by the state to fix violations, was up to $18-million before the most recent collapse. An independent review also has started, and the county has frozen sinkhole grouting.

CROSS BAR RANCH: A 12,500-acre stretch of Central Pasco was added to the county's environmental land acquisition program. The land, purchased in the 1970s and 1980s for a total for $13-million by Pinellas County, was set aside for water well fields. But with regional water wars over, Pinellas is looking to sell and Pasco wants to get state money to help buy the land. The state is expected to decide whether to include it in its acquisition list in December.

REPLICA BALL FIELDS: The board voted 5-0 to request proposals from private companies to build a multipurpose complex with ballfields mimicking famous baseball stadiums. But County Attorney Robert Sumner and Commissioner Ted Schrader warned that there are legal questions as to how public money can be used with private business ventures. The vote took place after the county tourist board couldn't muster a quorum Monday for a similar vote for the second week in a row.

[Last modified October 23, 2007, 21:21:04]