Tag: BOCC

Doug Underhill: Captain Contrary

Thursday’s vote by the BOCC to require 50% of LET Funds to be used for school security had only one dissent, Captain Contrary, aka Doug “Underling” Underhill. Quelle surprise!

Dougie likes to say he is for “a new way of thinking” in Escambia County, but actions pack a stronger punch. His actions are in support of GOB. He voted the crony line without a legitimate or reasonable rationale. How is protecting our kids not in the best interest of the county?  Captain Contrary believes we should not protect kids but instead,  help the public image of the ECSO.  WTF?

There is no legitimacy to the open cronyism shown in this vote. Those of us who pay attention see the pattern. If Bergosh votes for it, Underhill will vote against it. It doesn’t even matter what the issue is, Underhill has to back his political Godfather, Sir David.  It is blatantly obvious the county’s best interest is lost to the Morgan-Underhill alliance.

I will acknowledge that I have no love for Morgan and Underhill, but it is clear that over the past 5+ years, my message has been consistent–there is soul-sucking corruption in Escambia County and it begins at the ECSO & Sir David.

I have been labeled a “lunatic”,”lone nut” and even a “political terrorist” by the Good Ole Boys (Underhill & Morgan). However, over the past few years, we’ve seen Morgan waste countless dollars putting his face on everything from billboards to movie screens. This money did not deter crime nor did it even improve the safety of neighborhoods.  Morgan’s use of county funds has been invariably self-serving. The community sees this.

I have been told this violation of the public’s  trust is NOT, per se, corruption, but I have to disagree. The political capital Morgan reaps is a real thing.  Frequently, I have been contacted by people about Morgan coming into social functions, unannounced, with LET checks. After he makes an entrance, he turns over a check in exchange for envelopes of campaign contributions openly, in front of a room full of people.  Campaign contributions for LET funds. That, my friends, IS corruption. If Underhill does not see the problem with Morgan’s fiscal buffoonery, then he needs an ethics lesson.

Above all, the consensus is that Underhill somehow profits from the back room politics too.  Morgan became a millionaire on the public’s payroll. I suspect Underhill, a contractor/developer and his property appraiser bulldog of a wife, are manipulating things involving the valuation of real estate perhaps. The real puzzle is the facilitation of the Honorable Sheriff to sell his Crow Rd. properties to PCEnvy Technologies, a tech company owned by Underhill’s buddy, Steve Stillwell. What does a tech company do with slumlord properties??

But Captain Contrary will insist there is nothing there to see. Willie Junior said that too, about a pot of collard greens.

Can Someone Tell the Commissioner How Not to be a Dick?

In this day and age, it is pitiful that acting with civility and common sense is absent by politicians on social media. Those of us raised in the South had a mother with a shoe, paddle, switch or a backhand that prevented us from saying disrespectful things in public. The word “stupid” should never be uttered by an official to his constituency.  It seems obvious why.  People see that and the need to go to that level is a general lack of intelligence that glares through. More importantly, social media is a public forum. It is like having a bullhorn in your neighborhood. People who aren’t even involved become drawn into the public spectacle.

But even as I say this, there is one Escambia politico (GOB) who is probably uttering the barrages of hate-speak as I write this. I screenshot every time I see him denigrate people. My photo library is getting maxed out so I figured it was a good time to post the different things I have found.

I found a PNJ opinion piece that I thought was fascinating. I searched for the post it references.

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Below are 19 different screenshots of occasions where Underhill was flat out rude, a flat out bully or spewing with righteous indignation towards HIS CONSTITUENCY.

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In what world  is it ok that a professional representative have such contempt for people on a broad scale? Now please do not think this is a complete list. This is just what I pulled off my phone. I didn’t search for anything. I am sure there are more examples.

Hopefully the county commission is appalled by this malignant cancer who feigns concern for people he obviously doesn’t think that much of at all.

Maybe his fellow commissioners should get Underhill this:

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Eric Haines: Three Commissioners Voted Funding for FULL ECSO Budget

Over the last couple of weeks, despite the Escambia Citizens Watch rhetoric & short video rants by Sir David, employees (EMPLOYED by ECSO) claim that Chief Deputy Nonsense (Haines) has been heard telling people the “fix” is in. Differing sources have heard Haines touting that they have the necessary 3 votes to approve the budget for the ECSO. This has been since the BOCC voted down the millage increase.

I spoke to Commissioner Jeff Bergosh regarding this. His quote was this:

“We are working to solve the budget issue, and there is not any certain deal or fix of which I am aware that has been reached. We will solve this issue the night of the budget meeting, September 12th or at some point before that at a PUBLIC meeting. I have attempted to meet face to face with Sheriff Morgan and have requested a face to face meeting about the budget four times in writing and I have been told no or the request has been ignored”


BOTTOM LINE: Chief Deputy Nonsense (Haines) is either a blatant liar or he is admitting to corruption that he is personally a party to. The BOCC may want to address this with Chief Deputy Nonsense because the history of corruption in Escambia County may persuade the powers that be to sacrifice this someone over this prior to a scandal. Chief Deputy Nonsense willingly walked up to the alter dragging the county commission with him. While I would say that no better man deserves such an end, I would rather see Sir David walking into a 10×6 cell, but hey, this could be just a start.

Can’t wait to see what happens now.

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

Recently, Commissioner Jeff Bergosh challenged Sheriff Morgan on his spending as Morgan acted out regarding the budget of the county. Morgan’s has misappropriated money from the LET fund to aid to private organizations for the political capital and possible monetary kickback, that smacks of backroom deals. No one seems to care. Not the Governor; not the Attorney General. The big question here is WHY?

So when Commissioner Bergosh was the first to MAN UP and say he wanted to see justification of how this money is spent ie fiscal responsibility, I was able to see the light at the end of the corruption tunnel. Such scrutiny, especially retroactively, would uncover numerous “good ole boy” transactions. However, upon looking at the LET report for August, I see further pillaging of the LET fund since that pronouncement by the commissioner. Assuming this was done as a rebellious act by the child Sheriff, I notified Commissioner Bergosh of the continuation of the mishandling of the money that should be going to better use.  Sadly, I was informed that, it will be September 9th, before anyone takes away Morgan’s checkbook.

I was flabbergasted. Morgan can continue to thumb his nose and spend “as he sees fit” just like Haines asserted he would in a recent social media comment. In effect, Morgan has a thousand dollars to just light a match to, without an ounce of oversight for another few weeks. The board agreed to tackle this issue after the budget is finalized.

To the public, this looks very much like the remedy the State Attorney said should put in place in the summer of 2016. In the FUTURE, someone will look into and redirect the crooked Sheriff.  The lack of immediate action gives credence to the Sheriff’s actions or at the least minimizes the wrong of it by not addressing it for what it really is, misuse of governmental money which is what the BOCC is responsible for. Every dollar, hereafter that is spent by the child Sheriff is done so with the blessing of the BOCC and a huge “screw you” to the citizens.

I get that the BOCC is covered up in issues but money management is huge and so is the doing the greater good for the most people. Ethically, that is the contract of trust with the public that is being broken with every check.  Silence consents. The Board is remaining silent until they can get to it, but at what cost?

This quote speaks to the court system but equally applies to the county leaders.

Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger noted in an address to the American Bar Association in 1970: “A sense of confidence in the courts is essential to maintain the fabric of ordered liberty for a free people and three things could destroy that confidence and do incalculable damage to society: that people come to believe that inefficiency and delay will drain even a just judgment of its value; that people who have long been exploited in the smaller transactions of daily life come to believe that courts cannot vindicate their legal rights from fraud and over-reaching; that people come to believe the law – in the larger sense – cannot fulfill its primary function to protect them and their families in their homes, at their work, and on the public streets.

The First Domino Falls

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To my great shock, the BOCC denied the increased millage which Sir David tried to shove down their throats. The most amazing thing is how verbally they expressed their contempt for the Sheriff’s tactics. Each of them, except for Underling, spoke to the press push that Morgan tried to use to get his way.  Underhill was the lone dissident vote, not surprisingly.

The issue here is not the raises for deputies; the issue is why Morgan hasn’t made it a priority. In April alone, Morgan gave away $35K to Underhill’s pet projects.  Assuming the starting salary of $35K, Morgan could have used the money he gave away to fund the Sheriff’s portion of 2 SRO’s–not to mention $5K to Pensacola Opera, $20K to PACE Center for Girls, $20K for Panhandle Charitable Open. That’s another $45K that could go to 2 1/2 more SRO’s salaries. While no one is saying these charities aren’t worthy (the opera is questionable), Morgan is spending money on all these things INSTEAD OF SRO’S.

The most ironic part is the article I found that Sir David wrote:

The pre-elected Morgan seems much more honorable and reasonable than the drastic contrast of the 3 term sheriff. It is funny when I was talking to people about what was going on in the county, I used the word “corruption” and I was told, “No, I wouldn’t say corruption; it is just the ‘good ole boy system'”.  By not using the word, it was like it was somewhat better than what it is. It is power that corrupts and we see this demonstrated in front of us with this article from several years ago and the issues of today. The budget has always been a point of contention for the Sheriff’s office and BOCC. But the tactics of this Sheriff are sophomoric and not in good faith. Good faith isn’t a concept 3-term Morgan knows at all.

 

The King of the Prevarication & Duke of Cronyism BACK TOGETHER AGAIN

YES, MORGAN & UNDERHILL are teaming up again to fleece the county.

This is not news to most of us, but Morgan has gotten much more bold with his latest campaign to discredit the BOCC for the extra fraction of the budget that he is not getting. The most recent confabulation is that he will have to cut SRO’s out of schools, end funeral escorts and cut courthouse security. This is moronic for many reasons but the best reasons are that a.) SRO’s are funded 50% by the school board. Pulling them out means Morgan will have to make up that 50% of SRO salaries normally paid by the school board. Thus no money is saved, but expended.  b.) court security is paid for entirely by Pam Childers. If that is pulled, Morgan would be on the hook for those officers entire benefits and pay.

The funeral escort situation is there to play on Southern civility which isn’t affected by the school and the courtroom scare. It is truly the only service in dire straits.

This is where UnderLING steps in. Morgan is making such a stink about not negotiating and has started a propaganda campaign, disclosing commissioners email addresses and direct phone lines. His call to action hasn’t turned out the way planned but Underhill is sending out emails to ECSO and the school board that clarifies his want to give in to Morgan’s demands.

This email fails to address the fact that according to Fla Statute, SRO’s can be funded through the controversial LET Fund. Sat Jul 22 2017 13-36-13 GMT-0500

While Morgan and Underhill conspire to keep anyone from looking at Morgan’s budget closely,  I suggest that the people start a real “ask the sheriff” by calling him & emailing him to ask why he is floating these BS scare tactics about schools when it is to his fiscal detriment that they are removed…a bigger money problem.  Or contact your BOCC chairman, UnderLING, and ask why he is trying SO HARD to cover the gap to keep the Sheriff happy.  Who cares what makes Morgan happy?  It won’t fix the problems in the ECSO.

Sheriff Morgan’s contact info: 850-341-7553; SHERIFF@escambiaso.com

Doug Underhill’s contact info: 850-281-1981; digdug15@gmail.com

Why aren’t people more pissed off that Morgan created not-so-safe neighborhood and THEN threatens to pull SRO’s out of schools? Isn’t that adding insult to injury? Aside from the money,  he made the neighborhoods more dangerous by running off deputies left and right.

THIS ISSUE IS ABOUT MORGAN MISMANAGING THE MONEY HE HAS ALREADY….NOT HOW MUCH THE DEPUTIES SHOULD GET PAID. THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF HIS POOR MANAGEMENT. ALSO, MORGAN CANNOT AFFORD TO PULL SRO’S OUT OF SCHOOLS OR THE COURTHOUSE.  PLEASE CALL HIS BLUFF AND TELL HIM WHAT A LIAR HE IS AND TELL UNDERLING THAT HE IS NOT DOING HIS JOB BY GIVING IN TO MORGAN’S MONEY GRAB, SCARE TACTICS OR HARASSMENT OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

NEXT TIME YOU SEE MORGAN THREATEN TO CUT SOMETHING OR JUSTIFY HIS SPENDING, REMEMBER THESE POSTERS.

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Cognitive Dissonance & Fiscal Illiteracy

I know, I know—Big Words.  Cognitive dissonance is confusion resulting from dichotomous & opposing views about one principle.  Sir David is the personification of cognitive dissonance.  His latest publicly embarrassing rant is about deputy pay raises. Morgan fumes to WEAR:

“It’s nonnegotiable,” Sheriff Morgan exclaimed. “We’ll settle this in front of Governor Scott. We’re not going to negotiate this. This is nonsense, I’m done. I have a board of county commissioners unfortunately that appears to believe that they’re smarter than we are…..It’s OK for an officer to catch a bullet from a thug, but county commission won’t give them a pay raise.”

While these statements have a great deal of truth to them, the BOCC is smarter than any and all the admin at the ECSO & the officers that retired in 2009 had more longevity with greater performance based success that reflect in the crime numbers.  They also had higher standards to pass on a day to day basis. According to sources at the academy, as many as 65% don’t pass the full curriculum.  Of that remaining 35%, a high percentage  (what is estimated to be half) of them find their first couple of months in FTO, proves to them  that a place in this agency is not for them. Now that could be because the people being recruited come from PCC (sounds like a punchline but it is, unfortunately, true) or because the standards have been so low to populate approximately 2.5 times the number of classes churning through the academy than any other point in the last 15 years.

To get back to the cognitive dissonance of Morgan’s latest tantrum on the news lies in the fact that while he accuses the BOCC of letting his deputies “take a bullet for a thug” rather than get a raise, he fails to disclose the increase in the budget at the beginning of this year that he BLEW on hiring an “UnderSheriff” to soak up funds to populate 1 job position for 2 of his followers, Chip Simmons & Eric Haines. Two salaries for 1 job that has been parceled out to 2 people. A colossal waste of funds.  Not to mention the money, he gave Andy Hobbs, David Ingram and Amber Southard that makes every raise in the ECSO look like chump change; his fiscal illiteracy provides the cognitive dissonance we see today.  Yet his strategy is to bitch about and shame the BOCC members when he, not them, wasted approximately $200K in these horrible decisions to stack the top of his agency rather than put the money towards the rebuilding of the agency he single-handedly dismantled by forcing out 62 deputies last year.

Now let’s talk about that number, 62. Of those 62 who left the agency last year, at least a third have entered into civil suits for discrimination, civil rights violations and sexual harassment against Morgan personally and professionally. That is a skyrocketing number of suits against any ONE Sheriff. Another meritorious distinction this non LEO sheriff claims.

To simplify this for some of the current admin at the ECSO and the Honorable Sheriff, you can’t bitch about how the BOCC regards your deputies’ pocket book when you already stole from them too. That is cognitive dissonance–berating someone for something they shouldn’t do when you did it as well but don’t think you should be berated or judged. Hypocritical is another term in this case that would apply.  The money in the budget he gave to Chip Simmons, Amber Southard, David Ingram & Andy Hobbs. They got the money that deputies deserved. Morgan mismanaged that money by rewarding his favorites in a grandiose fashion, leaving the rest in the cold.

That brings us to the fiscal illiteracy. The fiscal illiteracy refers to his failing to manage the agency in the way it should be, despite the fact the Honorable Sheriff claims he can. I don’t know, maybe Webster University’s graduate level business classes,  37+ years ago, didn’t prepare Morgan to actually use numbers as high as the Honorable Sheriff has to work with today. Maybe there are too many big numbers for him to understand in one budget. I don’t know.

Let’s look at the over all money issues historically Morgan has had:

*in the military, he allegedly was skimming government money via credit cards, resulting in his early retirement

*the mishandling of the budget regarding the jail that resulted in him losing the oversight of that jail

*the employee that embezzled $150K from the LET fund for years without anyone knowing and his CFO keeping his job even though he facilitated larceny

*the citizens’ complaints on how LET money is spent resulting in an investigation by the State Attorney.

There is a pattern of misappropriation.  It seems very clear to those of us who pay attention.

The conclusion, based on the past history of this Honorable Sheriff leads to the reasonable assessment that, either he is criminally responsible for misappropriation of taxpayer funds as well as mismanaging criminal justice principles and personnel necessary for a LEO agency in the 21st century,

OR

He has been given too much responsibility for his capability.  He cannot seem to handle doing the duties of his post, which is to maintain law and order while sustaining the county’s fiscal well being and safety.

You decide.

I almost forgot to give a shout out to Gerry Champagne for trolling and liking my FB page for Florida Open Gov. Initiative.

CORRECTION:

I mistakenly said that 65% failed the academy. That is incorrect. The cadets go through the academy fine; it is 65% failing out of FTO or discovering this job is not for them.  My Bad.

Underhill Credibility Ranks with Shady Sheriff

This is not news to anyone!

bocc-2Less than 2 weeks later, after knocking Rex Blackburn’s statement publicly:new-doc-34-dochub-clipular

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Underhill sent me this message May 4, 2016, after I posted something to his Facebook page.

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Now let’s talk credibility!

I started this blog and named it “Conjuring Justice” because the meaning of “conjuring” is to bring thing to existence from a place where it doesn’t currently exist; creating something by supernatural means or processes.

Justice doesn’t exist in Escambia County. The only way for it to come into being is by bringing it into creation by supernatural means; supernatural meaning conditions that are not natural in that environment. Justice is not natural in Escambia County; truth is not natural in Escambia County.  They must be conjured into being by people who want to bring the extra-ordinary into being.

Doug Underhill is not of the community. He is a outsider who will fleece the county and leave–just like his idol Sir David.  I think Underhill owes Rex Blackburn a PUBLIC APOLOGY for slandering Rex pre-election. If even ONE vote, changed because of Underhill’s LIE, then he should be asked to step down for lying and abuse of power. Perjury is really the word…not lying. He was trusted to not lie in his position as commissioner. That public trust was violated in one sentence. This shows his ethical standard.

YOU ARE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, MR. UNDERHILL. PULL YOUR BIG BOY PANTIES UP, OWN YOUR LIE AND STOP BEING LIKE MORGAN!underhill-oath