Ethics Commission approves settlement terms with Manatee Commissioner Baugh. What to know.
The Florida Commission on Ethics agreed to settlement terms with Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh for her role in organizing a pop-up COVID-19 vaccine site that only served Lakewood Ranch residents.
The settlement comes nearly two years after Baugh's actions drew public protest by members of the community and negative media attention from news outlets nationwide.
"This has been a major experience for me, one that I've learned a lot from," Baugh told the commission on Friday. "It's been a tough experience for Manatee County."
More:Commissioner Vanessa Baugh settles Lakewood Ranch COVID-19 pop-up clinic ethics case
ICYMI:Settlement terms made public in Baugh's Lakewood Ranch vaccine site ethics case
Settlement terms approved
Baugh's settlement terms became public in November but were not official until Friday when approved by the ethics commission in a seven to two vote.
Baugh agreed to pay an $8,000 fine and admitted to violating the code of ethics statutes by using or attempting to use her position as an elected official to deviate from Manatee County's COVID-19 vaccine distribution policy.
Baugh also indicated that she, and not the Manatee County government, would personally pay all legal fees and fines associated with the case.
Related:Former neighbor put on vaccine VIP list after complaining to Manatee commissioner, emails show
What happened in Lakewood Ranch in 2021?
Baugh came under fire in early 2021 for her role in organizing a pop-up vaccine distribution site that only served residents who live in two zip codes that encompass Lakewood Ranch.
The site was organized as a part of a statewide effort to distribute vaccines to residents aged 65 and older at a time when vaccines were in high demand but not widely available.
The decision came under public scrutiny by those who advocated for fair access for underrepresented communities to the vaccine largely because it operated outside the bounds of the county's lottery system.
Baugh is also said to have created a “VIP list” of five residents, including herself, who would be given pre-arranged access to the vaccine. The list included Baugh's name and two neighbors, Lakewood Ranch developer Rex Jensen and his father.
The move sparked public protest in front of Manatee County's administration building from angry residents who chided Baugh, and others involved, with chants like “Hey hey, ho ho, Vanessa Baugh has got to go,” and “Move on, no way, what Baugh did is not OK.”
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ethics settlement with Vanessa Baugh approved. What to know.
