IN HAEC VERBA: County Comissioner RACHAEL BENNETT, a/k/a "PRISCILLA BENNETT" Chills Free Speech Rights With Post on St. Augustine Record Threatening Morgan Stanley Employee Daniel Abel, Historic City News Owner Michael Gold, Commissioner William McClure and St. Augustine Record Reporter Peter Guinta

Rachael Bennett 03/19/14 - 08:51 am 44
Setting the Record straight

The article contains several errors, and a misrepresentation (sic) of statement (sic). The article incorrectly (sic) states (twice) that Commissioner Morris was told that Michael Gold recruited Dan Abel to run, when in fact Commissioner Morris was very clear that he was told that Commissioner Bill McClure recruited Abel.
Commissioner Morris also said that Michael Gold runs a media service, not a video service (as stated in the article).
It should have been clear to the reporter that my concern was not public access to secured areas, but the fact that the members of the public were neither escorted nor supervised while in that secured area. The edited quote is a misrepresentation of my concern.

It is a shame that Mr. Abel has been caught in this controversy. I know nothing of his character and will not jump to a conclusion. I know that he works for a company that is sensitive to the potentially polemic nature of a political campaign, and would not want his career to suffer. McClure did no one a favor by ignoring protocol and acting irresponsibly.

Let's be clear: Access to the building by the public is encouraged. The proclamations, the art show openings, the 4H and IFAS displays, etc. invite and celebrate the presence of the general public in the building.
Consider, though... There are secured areas for a reason. Nearly every location has them. For instance, the business office and storeroom area in a store are 'secure areas'. In any organization or any situation, access by the public to a secured or otherwise restricted area is controlled for a reason. Common sense should make it clear that purposely allowing unescorted presence by the public in a secured area is contrary to protocol.
My point was that it did not matter who the players were, what mattered and still matters is that members of the public should be escorted (or supervised, in the case of an intern, for example) when in a secured area. Not a politically motivated concept. Not rocket science. Just common sense.

Message to the Record: Please be careful to 1) get facts straight, and 2)make sure that quotes convey the entire idea expressed. It makes a difference.