Pasco picks new top attorney from Bradenton

After a month of acrimony, the Pasco County Commission voted 5-0 to hire a Bradenton attorney today. The moves bypasses chief assistant county attorney Barbara Wilhite, who faced criticism over the sometimes tough treatment of staff members.

Jeffrey Steinsnyder, a lawyer with Kirk Pinkerton in Bradenton, was an assistant Manatee County attorney for 15 years until joining the firm in 2005.

Board members pressed for a consensus choice to avoid perceptions the board was hiring their top counsel in disagreement. Commissioners Michael Cox and Jack Mariano opposed Wilhite.

Steinsnyder, 46, had made only Commissioner Ted Schrader's short list a month ago. But after the board voted 3-2 against Land O'Lakes attorney Tim Hayes on Oct. 23, Steinsnyder's stock surged. While Wilhite once was atop the list for Schrader and members Ann Hildebrand and Pat Mulieri, dissension scuttled her hopes.

"I thought when we met two weeks ago, there were three votes for Barbara," said Commissioner Pat Mulieri, who had pushed for Wilhite.

"That was two weeks ago," Hildebrand said.

The board must still negotiate a contract with Steinsnyder. He would replace retiring County Attorney Robert Sumner, who endorsed Wilhite.

- Times staff writer

Comments

[Larry]

Law enforcement needs to investigate this drastic turn of events. There is NO WAY the votes changed this drastically without violating the sunshine law.

Did these commissioners talk to each other about this vote behind closed doors--that is a violation of the law.
Oh yea, I forgot Sheriff White would not klnow how to do the investigation anyway.

As for Wilhite, she should resign effetive immediatly and tell this comission to pack sand.

When will people figure out that Pasco County Government is run by the stupid leading the stupid.