In a complaint to the sheriff, Michael Barfield, a legal adviser and resident of neighboring Sarasota County, said Baugh, who chairs the commission, may have violated three legal provisions, including abusing her public position.
“When Baugh placed individuals and herself on a Covid-19 distribution list of vaccines, she acted in violation of the adopted Vaccine Standby Pool and used her official position to secure a special privilege, benefit or exemption for herself and others. “” which could be an abuse of her government post, Barfield, who is also president of the executive committee of the Florida ACLU board, wrote in the complaint.
The sheriff’s office is investigating the line-by-line complaint, Public Information Officer Randy Warren told CNN.
CNN released on Wednesday at Baugh’s office regarding the investigation and has not heard of it yet.
Baugh said DeSantis requested the vaccination
Baugh, chairman of the board of provincial commissioners and a staunch supporter of Governor Ron DeSantis, said the ‘pop-up’ vaccine management was started by the Republican governor after meeting with Rex Jensen, a real estate developer and CEO of the parent, chatted. company of Lakewood Ranch, the community where the vaccine was organized.
The commissioner said at a meeting last week that it was ‘(her) idea’ to choose the two postcodes in the country whose residents were allowed to be vaccinated during the vaccinations, although she did not explain her reason.
The governor has been criticized for the ‘pop-up’ vaccination sites he has set up around the state. At a news conference on Tuesday, he referred to the criticism as an ‘attack’ on him because he had ‘vaccinated seniors’.
“When we visit these communities where we can, they are so grateful,” DeSantis said.
Baugh apologized last week for arranging the ride, but said she would “do exactly what she did this time” if given the same opportunity.
Manatee County was previously praised by DeSantis for its effectiveness in vaccinating people and introducing one of the first vaccination programs in the United States. Last week, the governor threatened to withhold additional doses from the country after Baugh was criticized. He did not criticize Baugh or her methodology in arranging his vaccine.
Outraged residents call her actions disgraceful
Manatee County residents have robbed Baugh of her actions and some have asked her to resign in an email to the official, obtained by CNN through a public record request.
“My blood has boiled over this elitist vaccine event,” a resident wrote in an February 18 email. ‘We all appreciate the extra vaccines, but to single out two postcodes to make it glow with politics, favoritism, elitism and racism. . That’s the point. “
Baugh responded to at least one of the residents who emailed her.
In one February 17 email, a resident of the country wrote, “Because I live in the wrong zip code, I have to wait for a vaccine. SHAME ON YOU.”
“I’m not ashamed!” Baugh wrote back. “On the contrary, the Manatee registry has been reduced by 3,000 people and Manatee is calling to fill 5,200 spaces for the vaccine … This is a victory for Manatee thanks to the DeSantis government …”
One resident, who said they live in one of the two zip codes Baugh chose for the ride, thanked Baugh by email, saying she did her job.
“I apologize to my constituents and my colleagues for a lapse in the verdict,” she wrote according to WWSB. “These small, biased political calls are nothing but the divisive politics from which our Nation must deviate. I will continue to bring more vaccine to Manatee County and guide us through this pandemic.”
The country’s commission on Tuesday rejected a motion by 4-3 votes asking Baugh to resign as chairman.