You Do Not See That Everyday!

I do not even know where to begin. That BOCC meeting yesterday was WILD. I have never seen anything like it before. May never see anything like it again. I did not have the Chamber CEO getting a CCSO escort out of the room and potentially arrested for assault (investigation ongoing) on my bingo card. Nor the back and forth between Commissioners Finegan and Bays about campaign contributions, plane rides to Mar a Lago and so on.... nor the 3 commissioners (Bays, Kinnard, Davis) entirely ignoring the legal advice their attorney provided at the beginning of the meeting that the agenda item regarding Betz Farm was improper... Then 5-0 votes for a data center moratorium. Then Bays firing back at someone in the audience that yelled out for her to resign with "Move".

I think we saw just about everything there is to see.

Here is the video if you wish to watch it.

There will be fingers being pointed in all kinds of directions.

At Finegan for allowing a "Circus" (per the Chamber CEO on Facebook) and a disorderly meeting.

At Bays, Kinnard and Davis for voting to keep all items on the agenda despite their attorney telling them it was improper to kick off the meeting.

At the residents for not showing proper decorum, although many meetings throughout the years have had people clapping between speakers and commissioners not being able to stop it.

At the Chamber CEO for touching someone in the audience with a piece of paper while he walked by them, trigging a "pushing" match of sorts and heated exchange. Not exactly sure what he was thinking with that after being a bit "feisty" at the microphone moments earlier. I was 2 rows behind this and saw it happen, but will reserve full comment as I provided a statement to the CCSO.

For all those hoping to see a video, unless someone got it on a cell phone, do not expect to see one. I am told the room does not have cameras aside from what is used for BOCC meetings, which is what you see on Youtube. It did not show the incident.

An attorney for a developer arguing for more time at the microphone because he had multiple letters showing he represented clients... and the chair shutting him down because he did not have the right letter.

And at myself for bringing things out into the public and bringing awareness to issues that the commissioners then talk about. I suppose you could say I encourage the discussions and some people do not like that.

So, it will be interesting to see how all this plays out.

One observation.

The only person that comes away from this clean is Holly Herndon. She was at this meeting as well and spoke at open to the public regarding the data center, but she was not involved in the drama. While she is a Chamber member, she is certainly not a favorite of the Chamber, specifically the CEO, who is full on a Bays supporter (they share a grandson after-all).

She comes out of this unscathed.

Bays on the other hand... not sure how she comes back from this. This was political suicide. She stuck to her talking points of saving tax payer dollars in regards to the jail contract and all the unknowns and the Betz Farm deal and the potential litigation costs. But other than that... the back and forth with Finegan was ugly.

She defended campaign contributions as if she needs them to run her campaign. Per her financial disclosures, she is a millionaire. Why does she need donations from other millionaires? I get it... why use your own money when you can use someone else's? But why argue about it? And if you feel there is potential for people to view it as problematic, why take those donations?

Then she flipped on Betz Farm and got the contract re-instated, against the advice of the county attorney. Again, citing legal exposure and saving tax payers money... but also voted to terminate the Right Rudder contract despite the threat of litigation (and they sued) and didn't think twice there.

Another shocking moment. A member in the audience at some point yelled out "resign" to her when she was speaking. She fired back with "move". Self inflicted error. I get tensions are high, but just ignore it. No need to tell someone to move if they dont like you or whatever.

Then there is the Josh Wooten connection, which will NOT help after this.

Some will say she did great and exactly what she needed to do, but I disagree... and that is ok. Voters will have their say in a few months.

If Herndon does not ramp up her campaign a bit more aggressively, none of this matters. This swung the door wide open, let's see if Herndon takes advantage.

Finegan comes out a little scarred in my opinion. The Anti-Finegan crowd is already all over social media blasting her for the disorderly meeting and allowing it to get to that point. Her supporters will claim she fought for the people of Citrus County and pushed back against the good ole boy system.

I say it is a little of both. Some who were on the fence, may have jumped off after this. Others might be swayed by the anti-Finegan crowd. Then some will jump on board with her stance against Betz, the Data Center, etc. The back and forth with Wooten and Batsel over the rules will win some and lose some. Many will view her as too combative. Many will question her ability to lead meetings. Others will realize other meetings were run in similar manner under other chairs. It is really a mixed bag.

If you liked her before today, you likely love her now. If you did not like her, you hate her now. I do think it may negatively affect her in the eyes of the undecideds, so something to watch there. I suppose it depends on who you ask, but I feel this hurts her a bit, regardless.

Then you have Stacey Worthington. While she was not there, one would think she was safe and avoided the fallout. However, her chamber connection is going to be questioned due to the Wooten outbursts. She has been trying to distance herself from Wooten a bit, but social media is already making those connections. Guilty by association.

Betz Farm coming back is making people question her role on the PDC and views on development, although she was not involved in Betz. While she pushes back on that and says it will be different at BOCC, some simply do not agree and see her as a rubber stamp on growth. Others will say she has the experience and demeanor to guide meetings so that what we saw today does not happen again.

While not at front of mind, these things will come up as we get closer to the election. We will see how she navigates this going forward, but I do not see yesterday doing any favors for her.

She does not have the direct problem after yesterday like Bays, but I can see the Chamber connection being a problem going forward... more than it has been before.

Phew... what a day yesterday. That does not happen very often, but when it does... man... what a day of chaos.

I feel we will be talking about this for awhile.