The Florida official who set up a vaccine site for affluent ZIP codes and created a VIP list is under investigation, sheriff's office says
(CNN)A Florida sheriff's office is investigating whether a Manatee County official broke the law when she organized a Covid-19 vaccine drive limited to two of the county's most affluent ZIP codes.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said it has launched the investigation after a citizen watchdog filed a complaint regarding County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh,
who last week admitted she chose the ZIP codes herself and also
selected some people for the vaccination list, so she and others could
access the Covid-19 vaccine.
In
a complaint to the sheriff's office, Michael Barfield, a paralegal
consultant and resident of neighboring Sarasota County, said Baugh, who
chairs the commission, may have violated three statutory provisions,
including misuse of her public position.
"When
Baugh inserted individuals and herself on a Covid-19 vaccine
distribution list she acted contrary to the adopted Vaccine Standby Pool
and used her official position to secure a special privilege, benefit,
or exemption for herself and others," which could constitute misuse of
her government position, Barfield, who also is president of the
executive committee of the Florida ACLU board, wrote in the complaint.
The sheriff's office is examining the complaint line-by-line, Public Information Officer Randy Warren told CNN.
CNN reached out Wednesday to Baugh's office regarding the investigation and has not heard back.
Baugh said DeSantis requested the vaccine drive
Baugh,
chair of the Board of County Commissioners and a staunch supporter of
Gov. Ron DeSantis, said the "pop-up" vaccine drive was initiated by the
Republican governor after he spoke with Rex Jensen, a real estate
developer and CEO of the parent company of Lakewood Ranch, the community
where the vaccine drive was organized.
The
commissioner said in a meeting last week that it was "(her) idea" to
choose the two ZIP codes in the county whose residents were permitted to
get vaccinated at the vaccine drive, though she didn't explain her
rationale.
The
governor has been criticized for the "pop-up" vaccination sites he has
organized around the state. At a news conference Tuesday, he referred to
the criticism as an "attack" on him for "vaccinating seniors."
"When we visit these communities where we were able to do it, they're so, so thankful," DeSantis said.
Baugh
apologized last week for organizing the drive but then said she'd "do
exactly what (she) did this time" if presented with the same
opportunity.
The
so-called VIP list was mentioned in emails from Baugh obtained by CNN
and the Bradenton Herald was the first to report. The few members who
were on the list were qualified to receive the vaccine, but by joining
the list, Baugh guaranteed they'd skip the line, CNN reported last week.
Manatee
County had previously been lauded by DeSantis for its effectiveness at
vaccinating people and standing up one of the first drive-thru
vaccination programs in the US. Last week, the governor threatened to
withhold additional doses from the county after Baugh was criticized. He
has not criticized Baugh or her methodology in organizing his vaccine
drive.
Outraged residents call her actions shameful
Residents
of Manatee County fumed at Baugh for her actions and some called for
her resignation in emails to the official, obtained by CNN through a
public records request.
"My
blood has been boiling over this elitist vaccine event," wrote one
resident, in an email dated February 18. "We all appreciate the extra
vaccines but to single out 2 zip codes to receive it smacks of politics,
favoritism, elitism and racism. That is the issue."
Baugh responded to at least one of the residents who emailed her.
In
one email dated February 17, a county resident wrote, "So, since I live
in the wrong zip code I need to wait on a vaccine. SHAME ON YOU."
"I'm
not ashamed!" Baugh wrote back. "Quite the contrary, the Manatee
registry was reduced by 3000 people and Manatee is busy calling to fill
5200 spaces for the vaccine... This is a win for Manatee thanks to Gov
DeSantis..."
One
resident, who said they lived in one of the two zip codes Baugh
selected for the drive, thanked Baugh in an email and said she "did her
job."
Amid calls for her resignation, Baugh provided a statement on Monday to CNN Sarasota affiliate WWSB.
"I
have apologized to my constituents and my colleagues for a lapse in
judgment," she wrote, according to WWSB. "These petty partisan political
calls are nothing more than the divisive politics our Nation needs to
steer away from. I will continue working to bring more vaccine to
Manatee County and lead us through this pandemic."
The county commission, by a 4-3 vote on Tuesday, rejected a motion asking Baugh to resign as chairman.
No comments