JAX BIZ JOURNAL FBI investigating Manuel, others in St. Johns County

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Friday, June 13, 2008 - 1:33 PM EDT
FBI investigating Manuel, others in St. Johns County
Jacksonville Business Journal

St. Johns County Commission Chair Tom Manuel and others in the county are currently the targets of an investigation by the FBI, officials with the agency said.

Manuel said he has not been contacted by federal agents and said he has no knowledge of an investigation by the FBI. The initial source in regards to the investigation of Manuel was leaked to media by St. Johns County Sheriff Dave Shoar.

"Obviously sheriffs in St. Johns County don't like me," Manuel said. "Why the sheriff chose this moment to do this, I don't know."

Sheriff Shoar was unavailable for comment.

Special Agent Jeff Westcott of the FBI's Jacksonville office confirmed there is an investigation, and that there are others, whom he would not mention, being investigated alongside Manuel.

Manuel claimed the move is a "political hatchet job," and said his attempts to transform the county have drawn much criticism and resentment recently.

"When small counties transform from rural, good-old-boy counties to more urbanized places, that change is very threatening" to residents, Manuel said. "There's no question that my election to the commission has dramatically changed the way St. Johns County does business, and there are people who aren't very happy about that."

In his second year as a Commissioner, Manuel has drawn criticism from residents and officials for moves he's suggested, most recently proposing that the St. Augustine Airport Authority be incorporated with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority to free up money for the county.

"I've been looking at every penny and how the county spends it and where it goes and who gets it," Manuel said. "There are certain contracts that haven't been rebid in over 20 years, and there's up to $5 million the county can save by rebidding contracts. Obviously some people aren't real happy about that."

County Commissioner Ben Rich declined to comment on the investigation, citing a lack of any information on the matter, but said any hint of an investigation of a public official can be devastating to a county.

"Whether it ever results in prosecutions or arrests doesn't really make any difference," Rich said. "The impacts are devastating."

Manuel's term expires in 2010.


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