Worker forced out over political ad

By EDIE GROSS

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 2000

The manager of Weedon Island Preserve resigned under pressure Friday after county officials said he violated a rule prohibiting employees from participating in political campaigns on county time.

Keith Thompson Jr., environmental land manager at Weedon Island, appeared in a television ad for Kim Berfield, a Republican candidate for the state House District 50 seat. Thompson is seen for only a few seconds in the ad, walking with Berfield on a pier at Weedon Island. He does not have a speaking part.

Thompson's appearance in the ad violates county personnel rules that ban employees from participating in political campaigns during work time. The rule mirrors a Florida law that applies to state employees.

Interim County Administrator Gay Lancaster said that Thompson participated in the filming while on duty. He is wearing his county uniform in the ad.

County code calls for the immediate dismissal of any employee who violates the political activity rule.

"He was given an option," said Lancaster. "He chose to resign."

Berfield did not return a phone call Friday.

Thompson, who made $40,700 a year and lives in a county-owned house on Weedon Island, did not return a phone call Friday evening. His resignation letter is short and to the point.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, I find I must resign my position with Pinellas County," it reads.

County officials became aware of the Berfield ad on Wednesday after Tim Ahlstrom, assistant director of the county's environmental management department, spotted it on television. Will Davis, environmental management director, said he then spoke with Berfield and Thompson about the ad.

Davis said Thompson admitted that he willingly participated in the political ad while on duty at Weedon Island.

"We had hoped it was just a general filming of the Friends (of Weedon Island) group, and he was in the background. But it wasn't," Davis said.

The ad covers several topics, but in the scene with Thompson, Berfield is heard telling viewers that she helped raise money for a boardwalk on Weedon Island.

Thompson, 42, had worked at the 1,046-acre Weedon Island Preserve since 1989, when he was a state park ranger. When the county agreed to take over maintenance of Weedon Island in 1993, it hired Thompson to stay there.

Thompson, a Florida native and former Army paratrooper, fiercely protected the preserve, home to mangrove swamps, bird nesting sites and Indian mounds. In 1990, sick of looking at seagrass beds scarred by boat propellers, he persuaded the state to outlaw gas-powered motors on boats near the preserve.

His personnel file is full of letters from park visitors and elected officials, who commend Thompson's efforts to teach others about the need to preserve Weedon Island.

Thompson's resignation is immediate, but he has 30 days to move from his home on the property.

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