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Board Appoints County Attorney

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2007

DADE CITY - Two weeks ago, County Commissioner Pat Mulieri was prepared to appoint Chief Assistant County Attorney Barbara Wilhite as the successor to her retiring boss - and it appeared the commissioner had the needed two votes of support.

Commissioner Michael Cox, who has consistently opposed Wilhite, pre-empted Mulieri, however, holding up his No. 1 choice, Land O' Lakes attorney Tim Hayes, as the best candidate for the job. When his efforts failed, Cox asked for another two weeks to reconsider the remaining three candidates in "private, one-on-one interviews." The board agreed unanimously.

On Tuesday, Mulieri didn't let another chance pass her by. She interrupted Chairwoman Ann Hildebrand - as her colleague had two weeks before - and moved that Wilhite get the contract. Her efforts failed, however, as other commissioners said they hoped to reach a compromise and avoid a divided vote.

In the end, the board voted 5-0 to name Jeffrey Steinsnyder as the next county attorney.

Cox, who initially said Steinsnyder did not have enough litigation experience for the job, said Tuesday the former assistant county attorney in Manatee County, who now is in private practice, made a better second impression.

"I strongly believe we should have a compromise candidate," Cox said. "My first impression of Jeffrey Steinsnyder was wrong. ... It's not that he's not a litigator. He's a consensus builder."
Commissioner Ted Schrader, who supported Steinsnyder as a viable candidate early in the interview process, said he was willing to support him as a viable "alternative" to Wilhite. He lauded Steinsnyder for his extensive government experience in a county with similar demographics to Pasco County. In private practice, Steinsnyder has represented the school district in Manatee on concurrency issues, a topic that tops Pasco's agenda.

Commissioner Jack Mariano, who also supported Hayes and expressed reservations about Wilhite, said he would support Steinsnyder after a second interview last week as well. The rest of the board did not support Hayes because he had been put forth as "the developers' candidate."

Cox and Mariano previously pushed for a fourth candidate, Panhandle lawyer Douglas Wyckoff, but others had concerns about his short tenure at several jobs. Wyckoff, who attended Tuesday's meeting at the historic Pasco County Courthouse, thanked the commissioners for the opportunity to interview.

Mulieri said she was "disappointed" that the board did not give Wilhite more consideration. She noted that many of the complaints about Wilhite have to do more with retiring County Attorney Robert Sumner.

"I know the idea is that we should reach a consensus," Mulieri said. "I think Barbara is extremely competent. I think it sends a message that if you work really hard in Pasco, you don't get ahead. I'm not opposed to Steinsnyder, but I don't know that he was really that strong. Barbara hasn't had a chance to put her own stamp on the county attorney's office."

Hildebrand said she thought it was more important to have consensus.

"While I agree with what you are saying, I want to have a close to united board," she said.

Sumner plans to retire Dec. 31. The board directed Schrader, who is expected to be named chairman of the board in two weeks as part of an annual rotation, to negotiate Steinsnyder's salary.

Wilhite, who left the meeting a few minutes after the vote, said outside she was "very disappointed" in the board's decision. She said she is not sure whether she will stay in her current position.

"I'm taking it one day at a time," she said. "I have no regrets. I've loved working with the county."

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

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