Opinion: Manatee County is the land of Hopes and (bad) dreams
Now, no one actually cried, or walked up to Scott Hopes and hugged him, but the way the Manatee County Commission slobbered all over a man who may be facing criminal charges was perhaps the most embarrassing moment in the history of local government meetings, which is saying something around here.
On Feb. 7, an emergency meeting was called to announce Hopes was leaving the important and lucrative position of Manatee County administrator, a position he held for two years. The entire farewell proceeding lasted 11 minutes, and the guest of honor spoke for a whopping 1:15. They take longer to make a sub at Publix.
Not one commissioner said one word about why Hopes was leaving, not that the tax-paying dolts in the public deserved any explanation as to the sudden departure.
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Instead of an honest assessment of Hopes' rocky tenure, which may have included breaking the law, the commissioners talked about the great job Hopes did leading the county through the Piney Point crisis. About how he helped with Hurricane Ian. About road improvements. And millage rates.
One commissioner called Hopes a "war-time general." Another thanked him for calling after his child was born and announcing the vitals at a meeting. What a legacy!
For the two years he served, Hopes was always around controversy. Where was the mention of that? According to previous Herald-Tribune reporting, corruption findings made within the county's building department occurred, he was criticized by Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Angelina Colonneso and received a raise on the same day the county's CFO resigned because of it.
Further, according to the H-T, commissioners criticized Hopes in January following a media backlash after the hire of Mitchell Teitelbaum as a deputy administrator blew up following a sexual harassment claim filed by a county employee. Teitelbaum declined the position soon afterward. Following Hope's resignation, Robert Reinshuttle, a former deputy administrator who worked under Hopes, claimed in March that he and human resources staff were directed to suppress information. Reinshuttle felt his termination was an act of retaliation for reporting the matter to county commissioners.
The comments at the meeting look much worse this week. That's because the Manatee County Sheriff's Office announced it is recommending charges against Hopes for violations of Florida public records, theft, and notary laws. The case is now in the hands of the State Attorney's Office.
This is why the Manatee County Commission can never be relied upon to tell the entire truth to those they serve, and their judgment on everything should always be brought into question. These are the people in charge of Manatee County, and they have failed miserably.
At the time Hopes walked away, either the commissioners knew something was afoul with Hopes and didn't care, or they didn't know and should have. Either way is unacceptable.
The only thing missing at Hopes' farewell announcement was a slide show with him sitting on a pony for his fourth birthday and a proposal to name the building after him. Just listen to what the commissioners had to say to Hopes as they went around the room.
Kevin Van Ostenbridge: "We said we wanted to change the culture in Manatee County, and we could not have done that without you. I appreciate your friendship through it all and wish you nothing but the best."
(Former commissioner) Vanessa Baugh: "I’m going to call you Scott because that's what I've always called you. You've always been a friend and a lot has been accomplished. I think you have great potential in anything you set your mind to, and it's been an honor working with you."
James Satcher: "You've done a lot of great things (including the phone call after the birth of his child.)"
Jason Bearden: "You took a ship of 2,000 people and directed it where we need it to go."
Michael Rahn: "I appreciate what you've done for the citizens of Manatee County and what you'll continue to do out there in the public sector."
Um, about that public sector thing. That didn't go well for Hopes either. In July, Hopes was hired as chairman and CEO of a private air-service company based in Sarasota called AeroVanti.
The company, according to court documents and media reports, is facing several lawsuits and potential federal investigations. Hopes announced on Facebook he had been let go by the company on Oct. 14. On Oct. 31, according to Manatee County records, he purchased a home for $425,000.
As for the commission meeting "honoring" the hero who saved Manatee County, even George Kruse, consistently the voice of reason among commissioners, missed the mark. He actually spoke of how Hopes helped lower the millage rate instead of mentioning any of Hopes' controversies.
"At the end of the day you were the right person for the job at the time," Kruse said to Hopes. "You are a war-time general. We're no longer, god-willing, in need of a war-time general. I would walk away with my head held high.
"This county as a whole, due to the changes you put together, is in a different place. I think we are all leaving on good terms and we'll all remain friends and we'll all look back at the last two years as a positive change in Manatee County."
The most embarrassing meeting in local government history honoring a man who may now be facing criminal charges was shorter than the average traffic light in Manatee County, and it ended with words from Van Ostenbridge.
"Dr. Hopes, thank you for your service. You are leaving Manatee County better than you found it, sir."
Makes you wonder how bad it was before.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Opinion: Scott Hopes departure was Manatee's most embarrassing moment
