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− | + | [[Image:Touart.jpg|thumb|right|180px|George Touart]] | |
− | + | '''George Touart''' is the current [[Escambia County Administrator]], appointed on [[April 4]], [[2002]], by a unanimous [[Escambia County Commission]] vote in which he was selected over four other candidates.<ref>"Touart picked to lead Escambia." ''Pensacola News Journal'', April 5, 2002.</ref> He officially took the position on [[April 22]], replacing interim administrator [[Bob Halfhill]], who had served since the resignation of [[Tom Forrest]] on [[December 3]], [[2001]]. | |
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− | '''George Touart''' | ||
− | + | Born in Pensacola, Touart previously served as administrator in two Mississippi counties, Jackson County (from 1989 to 2001) and Madison County (from December 2001 to April 2002). He was also a City Councilman in Pascagoula, Mississippi, from 1984 to 1989. | |
− | He and his wife [[Barbara Touart|Barbara]] have four children: Christy, Amber, [[Matthew Touart|Matthew]] and Jacob. | + | Touart received a Bachelor of Science degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Troy State University.<ref>[http://www.co.escambia.fl.us/departments/board_of_county_commissioners/CountyAdministratornew.php County bio]</ref> He and his wife [[Barbara Touart|Barbara]] have four children: Christy, Amber, [[Matthew Touart|Matthew]] and Jacob. |
− | + | As County Administrator, Touart earns $155,252 annually. | |
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==Controversies== | ==Controversies== | ||
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After an [[October 7]] raid on her club by the [[Pensacola Police Department]], during which two dancers were arrested for illegal body contact with customers, Sievers accused Touart and McNesby or orchestrating the raid in retaliation against her.<ref>"Lounge owner blasts Touart." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 9, 2004.</ref> Warrants for the raid, part of a sweep by the Department, were granted following "complaints of inappropriate behavior by dancers."<ref>"Two arrested after sting at local clubs." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 8, 2003.</ref> The State Attorney's Office concluded on [[January 13]], [[2004]] that police did not selectively target Sievers' club, but "devoted far greater manpower and financing to the Arety's investigation than to the other five strip clubs following input from the Escambia County Administrator."<ref>"Arety's Angels wasn't unfairly targeted but got most attention, state report says." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 14, 2004.</ref> | After an [[October 7]] raid on her club by the [[Pensacola Police Department]], during which two dancers were arrested for illegal body contact with customers, Sievers accused Touart and McNesby or orchestrating the raid in retaliation against her.<ref>"Lounge owner blasts Touart." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 9, 2004.</ref> Warrants for the raid, part of a sweep by the Department, were granted following "complaints of inappropriate behavior by dancers."<ref>"Two arrested after sting at local clubs." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 8, 2003.</ref> The State Attorney's Office concluded on [[January 13]], [[2004]] that police did not selectively target Sievers' club, but "devoted far greater manpower and financing to the Arety's investigation than to the other five strip clubs following input from the Escambia County Administrator."<ref>"Arety's Angels wasn't unfairly targeted but got most attention, state report says." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 14, 2004.</ref> | ||
− | A grand jury convened on [[June 7]], [[2004]] to investigate the allegations, but declined to indict Touart or McNesby of any criminal wrongdoing.<ref>"[http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/11/State/Officials_not_charged.shtml Officials not charged in inquiry of strip club.]" Associated Press, June 11, 2004. | + | A grand jury convened on [[June 7]], [[2004]] to investigate the allegations, but declined to indict Touart or McNesby of any criminal wrongdoing.<ref>"[http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/11/State/Officials_not_charged.shtml Officials not charged in inquiry of strip club.]" Associated Press, June 11, 2004.</ref> |
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===Illegal hunting trip=== | ===Illegal hunting trip=== | ||
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===Connections to County land deal=== | ===Connections to County land deal=== | ||
+ | {{currentevent}} | ||
On [[August 21]], following inquiries by the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'', [[Escambia County Commission]]er [[Grover Robinson IV]] and [[Escambia County Attorney|County Attorney]] [[Janet Lander]] halted the purchase of a 217-acre property off [[Bauer Road]], which the Board approved 4-0 on [[August 2]]. (Robinson was out of town at the time.) The property, almost 70% wetlands, was purchased for $1.41 million from [[Martine's Corp.]] to be developed by the County as ballparks for the [[Perdido Bay Youth Sports Association]]. | On [[August 21]], following inquiries by the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'', [[Escambia County Commission]]er [[Grover Robinson IV]] and [[Escambia County Attorney|County Attorney]] [[Janet Lander]] halted the purchase of a 217-acre property off [[Bauer Road]], which the Board approved 4-0 on [[August 2]]. (Robinson was out of town at the time.) The property, almost 70% wetlands, was purchased for $1.41 million from [[Martine's Corp.]] to be developed by the County as ballparks for the [[Perdido Bay Youth Sports Association]]. | ||
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Commissioner [[Mike Whitehead]] dismissed Touart's nondisclosure as "just an oversight," but added, "in this post-W.D. era, we just got to have disclosures on this stuff." Commissioner Robinson said, "The worst thing it did is we are trying to build trust with the people and this pushes us back and we've lost trust."<ref name="future"/> | Commissioner [[Mike Whitehead]] dismissed Touart's nondisclosure as "just an oversight," but added, "in this post-W.D. era, we just got to have disclosures on this stuff." Commissioner Robinson said, "The worst thing it did is we are trying to build trust with the people and this pushes us back and we've lost trust."<ref name="future"/> | ||
− | + | ===Other criticism=== | |
− | + | Touart's son [[Matthew Touart|Matthew]], of the Arety's Angels scandal, is currently safety inspector of [[Cantonment]]-based contractor [[Roads, Inc.]],<ref>[http://roadsinc.com/id2.html Roads, Inc. website]</ref> which is regularly awarded contracts by [[Escambia County]] government. Although no charges of favoritism have been raised, the situation could potentially present a conflict of interest for the elder Touart. | |
− | ===Other | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
− | {{reflist | + | {{reflist}} |
{{start box}} | {{start box}} | ||
− | {{succession box | before = [[Bob Halfhill]] | title = [[Escambia County Administrator]] | | + | {{incumbent succession box | before = [[Bob Halfhill]] (interim) | title = [[Escambia County Administrator]] | start = [[April 22]], [[2002]]}} |
{{end box}} | {{end box}} | ||
− | + | [[Category:Escambia County employees|Touart, George]] | |
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− | [[Category:Escambia County employees|Touart, George |