Three leaving Crist's press shop

UPDATE:  Two others are also leaving the governor's press office. Public information specialist Suzette Roblejo, 24, who fulfills a critical mission handling requests for records, is leaving to take graduate studies at Georgetown. Office manager Rachel Stinson, 23, is resigning to spend some time with family members in Atlanta and plans to resume studies at FSU in January.

Gov. Charlie Crist's communications director, Erin Isaac, will soon get a new full-time assistant. The deputy press secretary, Thomas Philpot, has left to pursue a legal career (he starts as a full-time student in the fall). As No. 3 press person, the 24-year-old Pensacola native dealt with Florida reporters on media calls for information, wrote news releases and provided audio files from public events (photo of Philpot courtesy of the governor's office). 

A little known fact: Philpot was the only member of Crist's press operation retained from Jeb Bush's administration. He was earning $55,000 a year. Read Philpot's resignation letter here.   

Comments

$55,000 at 24! I am twice his age, twice the experience and I make $48,000

Looks like Erin ran another one off

She'll be getting a new assistant AND a new deputy PS...both have either left or are in the process of leaving.

They are lucky Thomas stayed on...he is a classy guy who worked hard and was liked by many. Best of luck!

Erin's Little (Press) Shop of Horrors has more turnover than a Burger King!! She must be a real treat to work for in that those are pretty plum positions for building a future.

Consistently high turnover almost always means consistently poor management at the top. That comes as no surprise to those familiar with Erin's notorious "personnel skills" and the parade of quality people who've left there due to her bullying egomania.

Erin is great at what she does. I am not on the Gov's office staff - so let the haters pick something else to pile on about . . .

When is Sterling leaving - I am sure he has had enough of Erin's crap...

what was she called on these blogs a while back - Garbage Pail Kid...

I will agree she is good at what she does: wreaking havoc on office morale, manipulating reporters, lying to senior-level staff and doing the job of both the RPOF and EOG comm directors. Job well done!

This is only true if you limit it to the press shop.

Little known fact: Philpot was the only member of the Crist shop retained from Jeb Bush's administration.

Not enough great things can be said about Thomas. He deserved every penny and more to stay as long as he did. Most folks didnt even last 6 months.

2:56 - Erin is not great at what she does - she comes across clueless - never is willing to put her name on anything - and is judgemental on issues she knows nothing about and is unwilling to learn about...

Good Luck Thomas! You will be greatly missed in the EOG. Best of luck in law school and in all of your future endeavors.

Good luck Thomas!

Get your facts straight Buzz - there was more than one person who stayed over from the Bush administration. Are you kidding?

2:56

2:56 - you're right, you aren;t in the Gov.'s office therefore you're aloof and distant from Erin's chaos...

If Erin didn't have Charlie, her flaws would be so trnasparent she'd be gone by now.

If Charlie didn;t have Erin, he'd have a energetic, emboldened, well oiled press shop suited to serve the Governor.

Erin is disliked by so many people on the inside and out, she lies, acts like the Governors Girlfriend, instead of his Press person, Nobody, the Press, RPOF or Sr Staff want to work with her, it's a Dam shame Eric can't put her in her proper place, Only person I know is as bad is Arlene. How long till everbody leaves the Gov press Shop and Erin become's Greer's problem?

Erin is ugly on the inside and out.

Clearly Erin does not have access to the blogs right now...otherwise she would be posting away about what a great job she does. If any reporter really tried to dig deep, they would find how corrupt she is and how much the state is actually paying for her to travel on political business.

If you want to see a well oiled press shop that does a great job, just look at the ROPF, Greer put together a good one with Erin and Katie, thats why Erin Issac is always Messing with them I don't work at the RPOF or EOG but its known all over.

Good Luck Thomas! You have nothing but great things ahead!

2:43 - sounds like you have a lot more time to go running.

Erin is the type of person that wears these criticisms as a badge of honor.

In other words, she considers it an incredible accomplishment to have a below average IQ, a detestable personality and a horse face.

She is a liability to EOG...if she had any class she would bow out. But obviously she doesn't, which is why so many people dislike her.

It is one thing to talk about Erin's job performance, but it is quite another to criticize her appearance. That is not fair. No one references any of the male EOG employees' looks.

She is a liability to EOG...if she had any class she would bow out. But obviously she doesn't, which is why so many people dislike her.

[Washington DC]

Way to go, F.B.I.L!!!!

Those comments can be devastating to people. Keep it limited to her professional capabilities (or lack thereof if that's what you believe.)

4:17 - Have at it. But remember, Erin doesn't deserve any respect on any level.

He makes more than what the agencies pay their SENIOR attorneys (with 5 years experience). Oh well, who cares about abused children, abused elderly in nursing homes or about the safety of your food or the competence of your health care provider?

Certainly NOT our gadfly Governor or the spend thrift Rubio and Pruitt ($80,000 per member for summer junkets)!!!!

Remember in November.

Heck, I'd leave too. It'd be hard to continually try to put any sort of positive spin or endorsing words on this pathetic excuse for a governor.

4:17 - What about Lemiux - wanna talk about a f'ed up looking balding young man...

Roy,

Did you take the easy bake oven with you?

Your tarts will be missed!

Philpot is a public servant and a gentleman. Godspeed in law school!

Erin is smart and savvy and you guys just dislike her for it. Get over it. She's doing something right. The governor trusts her and he's at 60% cruising toward re-election.

When Carole Rome gets back, she'll clean up this mess.

[terminator]

wow, that's a lot of combined real life experience!
they all must have been savvy veterans of the press world at the tender age of 23 and 24.
No wonder Chuckles Crist is such a moron. Maybe if he had some veteran news people working for him he wouldn't look like such a dipsh*t to the majority of Floridians!

[terminator]

wow, that's a lot of experience there!
At the tender age of 23 and 24 they must have been seasoned and savvy press spokespeople.
No wonder Chuckles Crist looks like such a moron. maybe if he had some veteran press people working for him he wouldn't come across like such a dipsh*t to the majority of Floridians!

527 - ha-ha-ha.. that was good! i needed a good laugh this afternoon.

523 - re-elect? ha-ha-ha. two good laughs in one afternoon.

Erin is white trash and will always be.

What does Erin's husband think of all this nasty stuff being said about her?

Keep innocent spouses out of politics...

Thomas was a fantastic public servant. Thank you, Thomas.

Oh yes, Thomas is such a "public servant." Obviously, child abuse investigators, foster care workers, nursing home inspectors, parole officers, and agency prosecutors are not nearly as dedicated - after all, they don't make $55,000.

But to write press releases - yes, such dedication, such sacrifice - yep, a real public servant! NOT!!!!

Remember in November.

Erin you are very good at what you do, please don't let these jealous petty people get you down. You have a very difficult job and handle it with great talent.

F you terminator. Erin sucks but you suck more. You are pathetic.

10:08, aka Arlene, the only person Erin has more talent than is you.

My question is, who runs the press shop while Erin is out galavanting around the country, nay the world, with CC? When Vivian was the communications director, she stayed in the office and led her team by example. Erin wouldn't know leadership if it hit her in that gigantic forehead.

PS that's why this blog is still open. Erin is in Europe busy being jealous of Ms. Rome.

You likely vote with the person you just derided for proclaiming Thomas a fantastic public servant. Don't polarize every issue, it keeps you from being effective when it matters, and it makes you look a bit lonely.

Thomas would know better.

This is rapidly becoming a Philpot LOVEfest!!!

[Truth Squad]

Love the T-Pot! Thomas is mature well beyond his years and worked darned hard at his job. Who cares how much he made or that he was not heir apparent to Mother Theresa. T-Pot, you are a great guy and you'll make a great lawyer. Godspeed!

Cagate

God forbid that we should value child abuse investigators, foster care workers, nursing home inspectors, or agency prosecutors anywhere as much as we value the Governor's press shop flunkies. After all they are nearly as dedicated or work nearly as hard or even protect the health and safety of the most vunerable in this state!

Remember in November what "family values" Republicans really have (they only value their own families and couldn't care less about anyone elses')!!!!

10:31 PM:

Who runs the press shop when Erin is gone? That would be Erin's deputy - the most incompetent manager of people this side of eternity. Actually, she and Erin are neck and neck. No wonder they keep losing talent. Those people are smart enough to know they don't have to be treated like crap and can do well for themselves elsewhere, as all of them have done.

PS Who ever heard of a comm director traveling? Isn't that what the press secretary is for? Can you say "control freak" and "opportunist"?

Philpot was great. I'm amazed he's that young.
But if Erin is that bad, just what does she do for Charlie that makes her worth keeping?

Teapot is the best! He'll be the best lawyer of his generation!

So there is Erin, a deputy Erin and then a Press Secretary?

[eric]

Get the jersey back out . . .

...and a deputy press secretary - that's what Thomas was. Plus whatever the other two positions are that people are leaving.

[napalatano]

What's this with lawschool? BTR has been asked to run as VP

maybe erin has the pictures...thats why shes allowed to stay on.

maybe erin has the pictures...thats why shes allowed to stay on.

Everywhere terminator goes, he just can't help but make friends . . . NOT!

[c. poe]

i dont know non too much about all this but have you heard about that obamma?
i dont know where the hell you are but i wanna fix this dam termastad

[Freddie Morris]

Rachel Stinson had to be the most beautiful girl at that office, if not the world. So I don't see myself ever wanting to enter that office knowing that her face isn't there to greet me.

And Philpot was the handsomest. Good luck to him in law school.

[ceo bacardi intl]

55000 buys a whole lot of turtle feed

Agreed 3:32

wow georgetown! congrats Suzie Q 3:32 you obviously never saw Suzette.

[terminator]

10:23
I take it you don't like termie very much!

I got to intern in the press office. Congrats on Georgetown Suzette, I know big things are in your future! Tpot, you will make a fine attorney. Erin, you were a rude woman and I did my best never to talk to you. They need to get Vivian back now she was a million times better!

Thomas good look in law school. You deserve the best. Suzette best wishes at Georgetown. You are a fine young woman with a very bright future (and I agree 5:31). the press office is losing a great team.

I still think it hilarious that this hits while Erin is out of the country and unable to control what is said...

Erin Van Sickle (RPOF) = Wonderful person, hard-worker, talented. Erin Isaac = manipulative, conceited, delusional, horrible.

Suzette - I mean 5:31 - obviously just got home and started commenting. Jealous much?

9:37, I think your a little oblivious to the fact that Suzette is probably the sweetest, best looking, most compitent person in that office. I'd hate to burst your bubble but I think YOU'RE a little jealous.

I'm sorry...I don't know the meaning of the word compitent.

10:01, I apologize about my spelling, (its still early for me) but I personally don't see the point in attacking someone like you did. Suzette is not that conceited or self-centered to post what went up at 5:31 and even if she was, she has good reason to be. Suzette is over qualified for the job she has and over qualified for Georgetown.

Having people so young serving can be very much a double-edged sword.

They lack a historical and detailed process understanding. That is the side of the sword that could really hurt our Governor.

10:32, Age and experience have nothing to do with it, heck we're trying to put Barrack Obama in office...if ANYONE lacks experience it’s him.

Agreed 10:32. Hopefully they have some people with institutional knowledge still around. Reading the posts above, congrats to all the new endeavors the former employees are off to. I don't know Suzzette, but what does it mean to be over qualified for Georgetown? It is a great school but why would you go somewhere if you are overqualified?

10:53, I agree with the fact Georgetown is a great school. Don't get me wrong, I personally would be hard pressed to ensure acceptance there. However she chose the school because it clearly is a great school and its one of the only schools that caters to her major, besides who wouldn’t want to go to school Georgetown and live in/near Washington DC? Especially with her major, it screams opportunity!

I'm sorry, but the best looking person in that office is TPot.

Suzette is awesome and will excel at Georgetown and everywhere after!

I agree - Thomas is adorable - it's his personality in part, too. He is so even keel. Erin would think Even Keel refers to what's for lunch. I did not know she was married. I never would have guessed. Who would put up with her. Thomas, we will miss you. Thank you for never freaking out. Thank you for your calm and your manners. Thank you for seeing that some of us have half a brain or more. Thank you for never treating us the way Erin does.

what does lisa the deputy communications director do?

[EAB]

I don't read the buzz blog like I use to, but heard that Thomas was written up yesterday. Thomas Philpot is a committed hard worker who was under appreciated by his superiors at the EOG. He should have been promoted a long time ago. He has over a decade of PR and communications experience.

He is incredibly bright, hard working, and an Idealist. I look forward to seeing what comes of Thomas's next stage of life. He will be the best attorney of his generation.

He will be a true American Hero.

He is a true American Hero already.

[Pressfan]

I look forward to seeing Philpot return to the EOG some day, as GOVERNOR.