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| subject_name =George Touart | | subject_name =George Touart | ||
| image_name =Touart.jpg | | image_name =Touart.jpg | ||
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| image_caption = | | image_caption = | ||
− | | date_of_birth = | + | | date_of_birth = |
− | | place_of_birth = | + | | place_of_birth = |
− | | date_of_death = | + | | date_of_death = |
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− | | occupation =[[Escambia County | + | | occupation =[[Escambia County Administratorr]]<br/>([[2002]]-[[2007]]) |
| religion = | | religion = | ||
| spouse =Barbara Touart | | spouse =Barbara Touart | ||
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{{for|the early Escambia County resident of the same name|George Touart (19th century)}} | {{for|the early Escambia County resident of the same name|George Touart (19th century)}} | ||
− | '''George Touart''' ( | + | '''George Touart''' (pronounced TOO-ar) is the former [[Escambia County Administrator]]. He was 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]]. Touart presided over the [[soccer complex corruption scandal]] and the resulting removal from office of several [[County Commissioner]]s, as well as the County's reconstruction efforts following [[Hurricane Ivan]]. In [[2007]], a $1.4 million land purchase approved by the County was reconsidered and eventually canceled after undisclosed business relationships between Touart and the property's seller, [[Neal Nash]] of [[Martine's Corp.]], were revealed. As public scrutiny increased, Touart disclosed additional dealings with other entities that do business with [[Escambia County]]. Facing likely suspension and citing an "atmosphere of distrust" that made it "almost impossible to continue as county administrator,"<ref name="resigns">"Touart resigns." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 7, 2007.</ref> Touart announced his resignation before the [[Board of County Commissioners]] on [[September 6]], [[2007]]. |
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==Education and early career== | ==Education and early career== | ||
− | Born in Pensacola, 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. |
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− | + | 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. | |
==Controversies== | ==Controversies== | ||
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===Illegal hunting trip=== | ===Illegal hunting trip=== | ||
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===Connections to County land deal=== | ===Connections to County land deal=== | ||
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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"/> | ||
− | On [[August 23]], [[2007]], the County Commission voted to cancel the land deal. At the same meeting, the Commission also voted to put off until [[September 6]] any decision on reprimanding or penalizing Touart for his lack of disclosure. The ''Pensacola News Journal'' and other media outlets published editorials calling for Touart's retirement.<ref name="retire">"Time for Touart to retire as county administrator". ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 26, 2007</ref> | + | On [[August 23]], [[2007]], the County Commission voted to cancel the land deal. At the same meeting, the Commission also voted to put off until [[September 6]] any decision on reprimanding or penalizing Touart for his lack of disclosure. The ''Pensacola News Journal'' and other media outlets published editorials calling for Touart's retirement.<ref name="retire">"Time for Touart to retire as county administrator". ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 26, 2007</ref> Touart resigned at the [[September 6]] meeting. |
− | === | + | ===Additional connections=== |
After the fallout of the [[Bauer Road]] land deal, some of Touart's other business relationships were criticized for presenting potential conflicts of interest for the county administrator.<ref name="morelinks">"George Touart reveals more business links." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 29, 2007.</ref> | After the fallout of the [[Bauer Road]] land deal, some of Touart's other business relationships were criticized for presenting potential conflicts of interest for the county administrator.<ref name="morelinks">"George Touart reveals more business links." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 29, 2007.</ref> | ||
*Touart is a partner in Mississippi-based employee staffing firm [[Global Employment Services]], which has done work for the Disaster Recover division of [[R. W. Beck Group]], which in turn was awarded millions by Escambia County for debris removal after hurricanes [[Hurricane Ivan|Ivan]] and [[Hurricane Dennis|Dennis]] and was pending approval to cleanup Escambia's coastal waterways. Touart insists that his relationship to the company is not improper, as Global Employment Services (GES) has never done work in Escambia County. He told the ''[[Independent News]]'', "I've checked with the state ethics commission and with ([[Escambia County Attorney]]) [[Janet Lander]]. I don't have an ethics issue because the R. W. Beck contract with county was signed before we (GES) did any work with them and because my company (GES) does not work in Escambia County."<ref>[http://inweekly.net/article.asp?artID=5431 Touart offers up his side]</ref> | *Touart is a partner in Mississippi-based employee staffing firm [[Global Employment Services]], which has done work for the Disaster Recover division of [[R. W. Beck Group]], which in turn was awarded millions by Escambia County for debris removal after hurricanes [[Hurricane Ivan|Ivan]] and [[Hurricane Dennis|Dennis]] and was pending approval to cleanup Escambia's coastal waterways. Touart insists that his relationship to the company is not improper, as Global Employment Services (GES) has never done work in Escambia County. He told the ''[[Independent News]]'', "I've checked with the state ethics commission and with ([[Escambia County Attorney]]) [[Janet Lander]]. I don't have an ethics issue because the R. W. Beck contract with county was signed before we (GES) did any work with them and because my company (GES) does not work in Escambia County."<ref>[http://inweekly.net/article.asp?artID=5431 Touart offers up his side]</ref> | ||
*In [[2005]], Touart and then-[[County Commission]]er [[Bill Dickson]] partnered with Dickson's cousin, CPA [[Barry Dickson]], to purchase an 8% share in a waterfront investment property in Mississippi. Barry Dickson was offered the share by his clients, developers [[Allen Levin]] and [[Cliff Mowe]]. "This was Barry Dickson's deal," Touart said.<ref name="morelinks"/> Touart and Dickson assert there was nothing illegal in the partnership, as the property in question is in Mississippi, not Escambia County, but others have questioned the propriety of such an arrangement. ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' columnist [[Mark O'Brien]] posited, "Imagine if Touart messed up as administrator. A commissioner might have trouble disciplining a guy he was partners with on a development deal."<ref>"By George, the man is the Donald Trump of the Panhandle." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 3, 2007.</ref> | *In [[2005]], Touart and then-[[County Commission]]er [[Bill Dickson]] partnered with Dickson's cousin, CPA [[Barry Dickson]], to purchase an 8% share in a waterfront investment property in Mississippi. Barry Dickson was offered the share by his clients, developers [[Allen Levin]] and [[Cliff Mowe]]. "This was Barry Dickson's deal," Touart said.<ref name="morelinks"/> Touart and Dickson assert there was nothing illegal in the partnership, as the property in question is in Mississippi, not Escambia County, but others have questioned the propriety of such an arrangement. ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' columnist [[Mark O'Brien]] posited, "Imagine if Touart messed up as administrator. A commissioner might have trouble disciplining a guy he was partners with on a development deal."<ref>"By George, the man is the Donald Trump of the Panhandle." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 3, 2007.</ref> | ||
*Touart's son [[Matthew Touart|Matthew]], of the Arety's Angels scandal, is employed by [[Cantonment]]-based contractor [[Roads, Inc.]],<ref>[http://roadsinc.com/id2.html Roads, Inc. website]</ref> which is regularly awarded contracts by [[Escambia County]] government. | *Touart's son [[Matthew Touart|Matthew]], of the Arety's Angels scandal, is employed by [[Cantonment]]-based contractor [[Roads, Inc.]],<ref>[http://roadsinc.com/id2.html Roads, Inc. website]</ref> which is regularly awarded contracts by [[Escambia County]] government. | ||
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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}} | ||
{{Esccogovt}} | {{Esccogovt}} | ||
− | [[Category:Escambia County employees|Touart, George | + | [[Category:Escambia County employees|Touart, George]] |