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Union Expects Rebuke Of Sheriff

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By LISA A. DAVIS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 26, 2008

For more than a week, unionized Pasco County deputies have been secretly grading their boss's performance, but the tally so far remains under lock and key.

The local Fraternal Order of Police called for a "vote of no confidence" in Sheriff Bob White. The official in-person polling began June 17 and the absentee voting is expected to continue through at least Friday.

Though a no-confidence vote in itself wouldn't automatically trigger White's removal from office, the hope is that it sends a pointed message to Pasco voters as the Aug. 26 primary approaches.

"It's important for the public to know before the primary election what the deputies think of their leadership," said Paul Noeske, FOP staff representative.

White declined to comment on the vote.

As of Wednesday, about 150 of the nearly 270 eligible deputies had cast their vote, said Lt. Gary Kling, president of FOP Lodge 29 Supervisors Bargaining Unit. He doesn't expect the final tally to be favorable to White.

"Obviously, we'd be surprised if there was confidence in the sheriff," Noeske said Wednesday.

Since the local chapter's inception two years ago, the union and White have butted heads repeatedly.

Atop the list of reasons union leaders called for the vote is that they think White "has been disingenuous in negotiating a contract with unionized deputies." Both sides have yet to agree on an official contract.

The union also thinks the sheriff's disciplinary process isn't fair, and they don't want him to have the final say about one-rank demotions. Instead, they want an outside arbitrator to decide such matters.

The membership also is upset the sheriff recently canceled tuition reimbursement for employees.

Until Saturday, a ballot box was set up and monitored at the order's lodge in Land O' Lakes. Deputies must sign a log, but the vote they cast is a secret.

Deputies who were not able to vote at the lodge can do so either by meeting FOP leaders in person or by verified e-mail balloting, Kling said.

Until all of the votes are cast - FOP leaders hope to get 75 percent of their members - ballots won't be counted.

"I'm the only one who has the key," Kling said.

Once the votes are in and counted, the union board will decide how to proceed.

Noeske, who works with about 18 other law enforcement agencies in Florida, said he was involved in a no-confidence vote involving Naples' police chief, Victor Morales, last year. Morales remains on the job.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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