by Janine Davis
It is concerning to see yet another letter fixated on Sarah Brown, filled with skewed narratives and misleading claims. At some point, it becomes clear that personal grievances are driving the discussion, not genuine concern for public service. No one should have to endure years of continued harassment while fulfilling their duties as a public servant.
Transparency and accountability in government are essential to democracy. Open records laws, such as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), exist to ensure that the public has access to information about how decisions are made. However, these laws can also be abused. Across the country, public agencies have seen records requests increasingly used not for legitimate oversight, but as tools of harassment and intimidation.
When one individual submits excessive requests—week after week, year after year—demanding emails, texts, and internal communications, the goal is no longer transparency. It becomes an attempt to overwhelm government employees, disrupt operations, and waste taxpayer resources. Other State legislatures have debated how to address requests that are unduly burdensome, harassing, or “vexatious,” meaning repeated filings of frivolous requests meant only to annoy and drain resources. Unfortunately, lenient open records laws sometimes invite exactly this kind of misuse.
This pattern extends beyond paperwork. Over the years, the same individual has engaged in persistent public attacks, repeatedly filing lawsuits against the county and its employees—each of which has either been dismissed or settled. While a volunteer at the shelter, he ignored shelter veterinary instructions, jeopardized animal welfare, and engaged in intimidating behavior toward county staff. In one instance, he forced his way past an administrative employee to confront Sarah Brown in her office, slamming his fists on the table while yelling. He has also posted private citizens’ addresses online, urging action against them when he disagreed with decisions regarding animal housing.
Yet, despite these actions, Sarah Brown has continued to serve this community with professionalism and has rightfully earned her promotions based on merit. The ongoing efforts to discredit her, along with others who have worked alongside her, are not rooted in a genuine concern for better governance but rather in a personal vendetta that has spanned nearly a decade.
Public discourse should be based on facts, not persistent harassment. It’s time to recognize this pattern for what it is and stop giving a platform to baseless personal attacks masquerading as public concern.
Janine Davis
Former Volunteer Coordinator & Population Manager
Manatee County Animal Welfare
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WTF
I think that every elected official and department heads should have an open email account in where every email is available to the public. If it's public record, make it PUBLIC. If you don't like being under the microscope...get out of the lab.
Sunday, April 6 Report this