PAGE ONE COMMENTARY

County Mayor Wants to Censure Bad Boy Commish

DIGENNARO PUT CENSURE RESOLUTION ON MEETING AGENDA LAST WEEK AFTER NEUGENT GOT CAUGHT USING COUNTY E-MAIL SYSTEM TO SEND SUGGESTIVE VIDEO. RESOLUTION WAS TABLED FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

As long ago as 1998, during County Commissioner George Neugent’s first election campaign— when we were able to report exclusively that, a few years earlier, he had been arrested on charges of disorderly intoxication and assault on a law enforcement officer— we have suggested to you that Neugent gives a whole new meaning to the term “white trash.”

Once elected, his behavior did improve somewhat. But only somewhat. At least he hasn’t been arrested again. But Neugent seems to be in an almost-constant state of “disgruntlement” because, no matter how the membership of the commission has changed over the years, he continues to be, quite often, in the minority on votes on important issues.

He also seems to have a penchant for causing trouble just to cause trouble. And he doesn’t seem to mind twisting the truth to do it.

A couple of years ago, for example, he opposed the firing of County Attorney Richard Collins. And when he came out on the short end of the vote, he publicly accused three of his fellow commissioners of violating the state Sunshine Law by, he said, conspiring in private to fire Collins.

Based on Neugent’s allegation, the State Attorney’s Office launched an investigation which lasted weeks and probably cost thousands of dollars. And, of course, the story made headlines in the mainstream media here, which damaged the reputations of the accused commissioners.

But when investigators went to Neugent and asked him to reveal the basis for his allegation— you know, like some kind of evidence— he admitted that he didn’t have any. He had just made up the allegation! So the State Attorney closed the investigation. But the other media here still refer to “questions about Sunshine Law violations” when they write about the commissioners that Neugent wrongly smeared.

More recently, Neugent has gotten caught using the county e-mail system to not only urge the defeat of fellow commissioners, but also to respond favorably to an e-mail he received outlining how he might kill a fellow commissioner. In one e-mail, he called other commissioners a “gang of whores.”

In another e-mail, the sender tells Neugent, “For a long time, I have had the same fantasy . . . you bolt gracefully from one of those swivel chairs and slide down the table and grab the throat of the offending commissioner . . . And you pretend to rescue him. When the cops come, the remaining commissioners are speechless and, of course, the tape was cut and shredded— or whatever. And the witnesses, including myself and many members of staff, give our statements . . . it must have been a heart attack or a stroke. George tried to save him, but it all happened so quickly . . .”

Neugent responded to the e-mail: “You got it.” He has also gotten caught using the county e-mail system to forward a video showing multiple women with bared breasts.

Neugent argued that he didn’t send it to anyone he thought would be offended. Heck, we probably wouldn’t have been offended if he had sent it to us here at the newspaper. In fact, he reportedly did send it to some folks at the Keynoter and the Key West Citizen.

But that’s not the point. As County Mayor Mario Di- Gennaro pointed out, that was a misuse of the county e-mail system. “And,” DiGennaro said, “it shows a world-class lack of taste.”

We’ve been telling you that for years.

Last week, DiGennaro decided that he had finally had enough and he placed a Resolution of Censure on the county commission meeting agenda.

As it turned out, the meeting on Wednesday ran long and the resolution was tabled for consideration at a future time. However, the gist of the resolution is that Neugent has acted “in a manner which is not within the acceptable norm of behavior.” If the resolution eventually passes, county staff would be instructed to draft and bring to the board “a policy which could be used by the Board of County Commissioners to invoke remedies and penalties for infractions of county policy by a county commissioner.”

Stay tuned. But it is unclear at this time if DiGennaro will ever bring the resolution up again— since, last Tuesday, two of the commissioners he may have been depending on to provide votes in support of the censure resolution (Sonny McCoy and Dixie Spehar) were defeated in the Republican primary election.

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Comments

[Sal Gutierrez]

One night when I was running for the State 120 District race against David Rice, Neugent called me up about 11:00PM at night snockered. He was so drunk I could barely understand him. I advised him to go home and get some coffee so he could sober up....No doubt the guys a drunk. He is also a big racist, kind of like Imus....

[ElliotB]

Well, if the State's Attorney investigated a Sunshine Violation and didn't find evidence for an indictment, then it must not have occured, right?

There is no corruption in Monroe County, just ask the State's Attorney!

Sorry for you Dennis, that your corrupt has-been was booted out of office, decades later than he should have been.

I hope it will be the end of his blathering, self-important and grandiose column.

[Joe Pulvino]

I think that last Tuesday was one of the greatest days in Monroe County history. Sonny McCoy and the useless Dixie Spehar were finally booted out!!!!!Now maybe something can go forward in the County without the McCoy influence!!!

[Marc Herbener]

George Neugent is dedicated to the folks he represents, he tells it like it is, and he is one of the few elected officials in the Keys with common sense. Dennis, your one-man smear campaign makes me question your motives.