Paid Political Operatives

Dawn Kitterman wrote an article informing us of the Manatee County Commissioners' new hires. I object to the commissioners hiring a county employee. If they wish to control the hiring, they should pay the salary. Since it is tax dollars being spent, the Administration, not the elected officials, should do the hiring.

If the commissioners cannot do their job, they should not run for office. They are paid far above the average resident of the county. One of the aids is not even a resident of the county! It looks like this new board needs a boot out, too! They have just voted to give themselves an almost $60,000 pay raise and garnered a new political aide paid by those residents who elected them.

This is corruption at its best. If the board needs someone to filter calls for them, the county can hire a clerk for the board and give that person an office for public contact!

End the waste of our hard-earned tax dollars!

This is a matter that should have required advanced notice to the public and an opportunity to provide input.

Phyllis Booze
Manatee County
District 3 resident