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Board Could Select Attorney On Tuesday

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2007

Updated: 11/04/2007 08:45 pm

DADE CITY - Tuesday finally could be the day Pasco County commissioners pick a successor to retiring County Attorney Robert Sumner.

Three candidates remain in the mix for the county's top legal post, including Chief Assistant County Attorney Barbara Wilhite, who appears to be the front-runner.

Commission Chairwoman Ann Hildebrand and Commissioners Ted Schrader and Pat Mulieri were poised two weeks ago to endorse Wilhite for at least a year's contract.

Commissioner Michael Cox - who favored Land O' Lakes lawyer Tim Hayes - pre-empted the vote, however, making one last pitch for Hayes. But only one other commissioner, Jack Mariano, supported Hayes, who has been put forth as "the developers' candidate," so Cox asked for two more weeks to interview the three finalists again.

Cox planned to meet with each candidate in a "private, one-on-one" interview. The last interview was slated for today. Mariano also planned individual interviews with the remaining candidates. Hildebrand, Schrader and Mulieri said they had enough information to make a decision.

In addition to Wilhite, the finalists are Panhandle lawyer Douglas Wyckoff and Jeffrey Steinsnyder, a former assistant Manatee County attorney now in private practice.

Cox repeatedly has said Wilhite is not the right person for the job, arguing she does not get along with County Administrator John Gallagher and has failed to make critical changes in the legal office. After a two-hour lunch with Wilhite this week, Cox said he felt "more comfortable" with her as a potential county attorney but was not sure she would be his top choice.

Wilhite has declined to comment on the search.

Hildebrand and Schrader have said they would like to choose the next county attorney in a unanimous vote.

Schrader supported Wilhite but said Steinsnyder's experience in local government, strong recommendations and expertise in key Pasco issues such as school concurrency and land use should not be overlooked.

Hildebrand has said she would support Wilhite in the interim position but is concerned Steinsnyder would not be assertive enough.

Also Tuesday, commissioners are slated to discuss regulations for portable toilets, storage containers and garbage bins, which have been "piling up" at construction sites with the downturn in the home-building industry. When construction was continuous in Pasco, portable toilets and containers were moved from site to site.

Commissioners also are to discuss potential fixes for a reclaimed water storage reservoir off Parkway Boulevard in Land O' Lakes. The reservoir is being constructed in an area prone to sinkholes and ground settlement.

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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