Backlash to Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh’s vaccine VIP list and a decision to reserve coronavirus vaccines for her district escalated to formal complaints and a protest demonstration.
Meanwhile, as the Baugh controversy became national news, public health officials continued to drive testing and vaccination in the county, where more than 51,824 full- or part-time residents had received at least a first dose of vaccine as of Feb. 26.
Palmetto attorney Jennifer Hamey filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics Feb. 23 in response to Baugh’s role in coordinating a pop-up clinic for 3,000 COVID-19 vaccinations for two affluent ZIP codes in her East Manatee district.
County commissioners unanimously voted in January to establish a lottery system to fairly distribute vaccines to eligible people via random selection from a pool of registered applicants.
However, a pop-up clinic at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch failed to adhere to the county’s system and narrowed the lottery pool to registrants residing in two ZIP codes: 34202 and 34211.
The county confirmed Feb. 27 that the 311 calls to book the 3,000 pop-up appointments went to people who used those ZIP codes in their registrations.
The clinic was announced in a Feb. 16 county news release, which quoted Baugh as saying, “This unique opportunity was made possible by Gov. DeSantis calling (Schroeder-Manatee Ranch president) Rex Jensen wanting to do a vaccination site near Lakewood Ranch. The governor has been trying to find large areas of neighborhoods to target.”
Baugh also emailed public safety director Jacob Saur a list of five names, including those of four political allies and donors — Robert Keehn, Marie Keehn, Rex Jensen and Lawrence Jenson — as well as her own name to ensure they received the vaccine at the clinic.
Baugh later claimed she backed out and had not received a vaccine.
Hamey’s ethics complaint states that Baugh twice violated Florida Statute 112.313(6) — “Misuse of Public Position” — by narrowing the lottery system to two ZIP codes for the pop-up clinic and by ensuring “herself and four friends” were on a VIP list to receive vaccines.
The complaint states, “(Baugh), by her own admission as stated by her at a county work session on Feb. 18, took full responsibility for choosing the two ZIP code locations and advised she was not directed by the governor to do so.”
It also states that Baugh lives and owns a business in 34202, an area that is predominantly white and has an average median income of more than $100,000.
Hamey’s complaint provided a list of exhibits, including Baugh’s Feb. 15 email to Saur containing the VIP list and a Feb. 18 email from Baugh to Lakewood Ranch resident Stephen Miller in which she wrote, “I did have a lack of judgment.”
“The county commissioners collectively agreed to a lottery system to instill fairness that all of those residents over 65 that signed up would have an equal chance at a vaccine,” the complaint’s conclusion reads. “(Baugh) abused that system. …She unilaterally on her own decided to pick two ZIP codes that she wanted to receive the vaccine to the detriment of all the other county residents.”
The ethics commission, which did not release the complaint, will meet next at noon Friday, March 5, in Tallahassee.
Hamey’s complaint was submitted a day after Sarasota paralegal Michael Barfield filed an independent criminal complaint regarding Baugh’s actions with 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Barfield’s complaint states Baugh’s actions “may” have violated the Misuse of Public Position statute, as well as two other Florida Statutes, Official Misconduct and Misuse of Confidential Information.
Barfield’s complaint alleges Baugh used information that had not yet been made public to “acquire a pecuniary interest or gain a benefit” for herself and others.
Public protest
Baugh’s actions also sparked a public protest, drawing about 50 people Feb. 23 to the sidewalk outside of the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, before a county commission meeting.
Protestors chanted “Hey hey, ho ho! Vanessa Baugh has got to go!” and “We really care! Remove Vanessa Baugh as chair!”
Lakewood Ranch resident Gene Rose held a sign calling for Baugh to be ousted. He told The Islander that he resides in 34202 — one of the ZIP codes that benefitted from the pop-up clinic — but thought the vaccines should have gone elsewhere.
“If the governor wanted to give 3,000 doses to Manatee County, that should have been added into the regular stockpile and distributed in accordance with the county-approved system,” said Rose, who was vaccinated through the lottery system before the clinic opening.
He also said, “Those additional doses should have gone to those people who didn’t have access to the technology to get themselves registered.”
Bradenton resident Patti Knowles held a sign reading, “Hold Baugh accountable” and told The Islander Baugh made a “terrible ethical mistake.”
“There are people who have been waiting patiently on a county-approved waitlist to get the vaccine and she put herself and her political allies at the top of the list,” Knowles said. “That’s just wrong. There are so many other people that are older and more challenged health-wise.”
Bradenton resident Kevan Wright stood near the protest waving a Baugh campaign sign. He said the commissioner “made a mistake,” but calls for her resignation were politically motivated.
Wright said, “This is not what I call an impeachable offense. … Voters pretty decisively decided in November what direction they wanted the county commission to go in, so this is a power grab from the people who lost the election.”
Commissioners on the dais
At the commission meeting, a few of Baugh’s peers attempted to unseat her as chair.
Commissioners cannot remove other commissioners but can vote to change leadership, such as the chairperson.
The vote was 4-3 against Commissioner Reggie Bellamy’s motion to remove Baugh as chair.
Bellamy had first asked Baugh if she would resign as chair, but she refused.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore seconded Bellamy’s motion.
Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge, George Kruse, James Satcher and Baugh herself voted “no.”
Bellamy, Whitmore and Misty Servia voted “yes.”
Whitmore told The Islander Feb. 25 that Baugh’s actions constituted a “significant lapse in judgment.”
“To actually betray the trust of all of us in the county that are waiting to have their names called,” Whitmore said. “She thought of her own district and nothing else. …You’d think after eight years in office, she would know better.”
Whitmore said she hoped the board would revisit the issue and, in the meantime, repairing citizens’ trust is a goal.
“Unfortunately, people don’t trust the government as it is, and then this happens,” Whitmore, of Holmes Beach, said. “I don’t care what party you’re in. This was just a rogue commissioner.”
Baugh did not respond to a Feb. 25 email from The Islander.
Vaccinations continue for seniors in Manatee
As vaccine doses began arriving locally in greater quantities, Manatee County transitioned to a new automated appointment booking system the week ending Feb. 28.
The county was booking 7,650 appointments for seniors March 3-5 at Tom Bennett Park in east Manatee. Vaccine recipients were being randomly selected from the standby pool, according to a news release.
The county also booked 5,100 appointments for March 1-2 for a total 12,750 vaccinations — 2,550 each day — for the week ending March 7.
Also, some 5,100 people were vaccinated at the park the week ending Feb. 28 after appointments were postponed after a storm disrupted vaccine delivery.
More than 51,824 county residents had received at least a first dose of the vaccine as of Feb. 26.
By the numbers
The state has been documenting coronavirus statistics since March 2020.
In Florida there have been:
- 1,898,223 positive cases as of Feb. 26.
- 31,162 deaths as of Feb. 26.
The latest numbers for Manatee County:
- 31,032 positive cases as of Feb. 26 — an increase of 751 from the week prior.
- 1,357 hospitalizations as of Feb. 26 — an increase of 18 from a week prior.
- 586 deaths as of Feb. 26 — an increase of 16 from a week prior.
On the island, there have been:
- 58 cases in Anna Maria as of Feb. 26 — an increase of two from the week prior.
- 86 cases in Bradenton Beach as of Feb. 26 — an increase of eight from the week prior.
- 181 cases in Holmes Beach as of Feb. 26 — an increase of four from the week prior.
Getting tested
Free testing for the novel coronavirus is available at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto. Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. — or until capacity is reached.
Testing also is available at a state drive-thru site at 5400 Bradenton Road, Sarasota. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. — or until capacity is reached.
Getting vaccinated
To register in Manatee County’s vaccination enrollment process, go online to vax.mymanatee.org.
Also, COVID-19 vaccinations are available at select CVS, Publix, Walmart and Winn-Dixie stores.
Registration for vaccinations is open by appointment only to full- or part-time Florida residents ages 65 and older, as supply is available.
Frontline health care workers and educators also are receiving doses through a different pool.
State orders also allow for physicians, hospitals and pharmacies to give vaccines to people deemed “extremely vulnerable” to COVID-19.
Taking precautions
Anna Maria and Holmes Beach have mandates that face masks be worn inside public accommodations, with some exceptions for age, health conditions and while consuming food and beverages.
Bradenton Beach does not have a mandate for face masks.
Holmes Beach’s face mask mandate will be sticking around at least a little while longer.
City commissioners voted 5-0 Feb. 23 to extend the mandate meant to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus until the commission repeals the ordinance.
It had been set to expire Sunday, March 14.
Commission Chair Jim Kihm said the new ordinance did not provide an expiration date and could be repealed at any time.
Manatee County does not have a mandate.
However, a federal mandate requires face masks be worn on public transportation, including the MCAT trolleys and buses operating on Anna Maria Island, as well as the Bradenton Beach tram service and ridership services such as Uber and the Monkey Bus.
— Ryan Paice and Lisa Neff