Apologize? Ferlita says no

Brian Blair says there was no violation of the state's Sunshine Law.

By MIKE BRASSFIELD, Times Staff Writer
Published November 10, 2007

TAMPA - Brian Blair wants an apology from Rose Ferlita, but he's not getting one.

The war of words over how a Hillsborough County commissioner got a coveted seat on the Tampa Port Authority continued on Friday - a day after Ferlita's fellow commissioners ousted her from that position and voted to put Blair in it instead.

After Thursday's meeting, Ferlita said it appeared as though other commissioners had planned the move ahead of time, in violation of Florida's open meetings law. Blair and the others denied it.

Ferlita repeated her comments on a local radio show Friday morning.

Friday evening, Blair fired off a letter to Ferlita saying he was disturbed by her remarks.

"For you to imply that there was a violation of the Sunshine Law is outrageous and unethical," he wrote. "It is totally inconsistent to how we do business on this board in that we make every attempt to foster a collegial and respectful atmosphere."

He added, "a formal apology to all board members would be appreciated."

Reached by phone, Ferlita told the Times: "An apology is not in order, and a response to Brian Blair's letter will not be forthcoming."

All this could make the next County Commission meeting, set for Nov. 21, about as "collegial" as a Texas cage match, but that remains to be seen.

Aside from Ferlita, the only commissioner who voted to keep her as the commission's member of the Port Authority was Mark Sharpe. He said Friday evening that he hoped this argument wouldn't be a distraction.

"I'm always hoping this board will find a way to work together," Sharpe said. "I was really disappointed that she was not able to continue on in her position at the port. But I'm hoping that Rose and Brian and everyone will recognize that we have some important things to do, and I want us to start focusing on some of the larger issues."

The tiff began Thursday at the commission's annual reorganization meeting, where it elected a chairman and vice chairman and also put commissioners on various local boards.

The only real debate focused on the Port Authority seat.

Ferlita noted that the port is in her district, and that as vice chairwoman of the Port Authority she had worked on problems involving canals and a proposed gas pipeline.

Blair, who holds a countywide seat on the commission, said a broader perspective made him the better port representative.

Commissioners voted 5-2 for Blair. Afterward, Ferlita said she'd heard that they planned all the major choices in advance.

She said Blair had hoped to become vice chairman, but the others shot down that idea.

"The scuttlebutt was ... they would give him a consolation prize at the port," she said.

The others denied it. Blair said he won the port assignment on merit. Ken Hagan said he supported Blair because he'd been a commissioner longer than Ferlita. Al Higginbotham said he chose Blair only after listening to Thursday's discussion.

Last year, Blair lost the same post to Ferlita 4-3.

In his letter to her on Friday, Blair wrote: "You may recall that I sought this representation last year, and did not receive the votes. It would have been absurd for me to state that a 'fix' was in for that to happen and then accused the board of collusion and malfeasance."

Mike Brassfield can be reached at brassfield@sptimes.com or 813 226-3435.

[Last modified November 10, 2007, 00:40:13]