By Sheila Mullane Estrada, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
MADEIRA BEACH — The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office is investigating a possible Sunshine Law violation involving two City Commissioners and two Planning Board members who are now running for the commission and mayor.
Meanwhile, some of those under investigation reportedly want City Manager W.D. Higginbotham Jr. fired in a push to drastically change the way the city is operated.
The current political atmosphere is "terrible," according to Mayor Pat Shontz, and has severely impacted city employee morale.
"We have already lost our planning director. The finance director and human resources directors are thinking about leaving. W.D. knows he is going to get fired. If we lose them all, the city is going to be in a mess," said Shontz, who is not running for re-election.
The Sunshine Law investigation, which began late last summer, was triggered by reports ...