READ APPLICATIONS HERE:
https://stjohnsclerk.com/minrec/agendas/2025/032525cdSpecial/03-25-25SPC02.pdf
Here is the agenda:
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS District 1 - Christian Whitehurst District 2 - Sarah Arnold District 3 - Clay Murphy, Vice-Chair
District 4 - Krista Joseph, Chair District 5 - Ann Taylor BOARD MEETING AGENDA
County Auditorium
500 San Sebastian View
Joy Andrews, County Administrator
Rich Komando, Interim County Attorney
Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 10:15 AM
Please be sure all cellular devices are turned off for the duration of the County Commission Meeting
SPECIAL MEETING
Call to Order by Chair
Roll Call by the Clerk of the Court
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance
Presenter: Desiree Woroner, Human Resources Director
1. Overview of the County Attorney Recruitment Process. The finalist interviews
mark the final stage of the County Attorney recruitment. On December 3, 2024, the
Board directed Human Resources to conduct an in-house executive search, appointing
a County Attorney Advisory Review Committee (ARC) with Commissioners Ann Taylor,
Clay Murphy, and Human Resources Director, Desiree Woroner. The County Attorney
ARC was tasked with interviewing candidates and recommending at least three for the
Board to consider. After thirty days of advertising, the ARC met on January 23, 2025,
and agreed to extend the job posting for an additional 30 days to strengthen the
candidate pool. Three candidates from the original pool remained under consideration.
After reposting, the ARC was satisfied with the pool and interviewed four candidates
on March 4, 2025, and selected three candidates to advance to the finalist stage.
2. Board to Conduct Interviews. Three finalists will be interviewed by the Board of
County Commissioners in following order:
Richard Komando
Michael Rodriguez
Bradley Bulthuis
A lunch break may be included, at the Bo
60 comments:
May they select the best attorney. What else can be said? I don't think going there and bringing up irrelevant nonsense is gonna help them do that so... hopefully that's not what you're planning to do. Hopefully no libelous claims and absurd accusations will cast a shadow on over what should be a civilized process.
Ed has nothing better to do than put down local heroes. Meanwhile federal government grease balls from New Jersey at VA, FBI, and every other agency you can think of down here looking for anyone to ruin.
Irrelevant nonsense such as Komando is the only applicant who has many other clients including multiple counties and who knows how many clients that he's not disclosing the names of?
Yeah pretty much. He doesn't need your approval to practice law and it's none of your business who he represents. You don't get to dictate who he represents or restrict him from practicing law in any way.
Oh yes I do get to approve of how he practices law since my tax dollars go into his pocket. And it is my business who he represents. It's the business of every SJC resident. Much as he and you believe this county is run by developers who can do whatever they want, it's not.
I didn't say anything about developers, so you can't really accuse me of anything related to development. We're talking about a guy who practices law privately and you're suggesting that you're entitled to information about his private business. Then what happens when you don't find some "incriminating evidence" then you just violated his privacy for nothing. That's not how things work. You got proof and evidence of actual unethical or illegal behavior to warrant such a rights violation?
No "privacy" right for KOMANDO to seek employment as County Attorney. We have a Right to Know. You are wrong again. Who is "Pete" and what is his interest?
Odd that you expect County to hire KOMANDO in permanent job without a background investigation or conflicts check. There was none when County hired him for ""Interim" position. We require more information for entry level workers in lower paid occupations. Privileged RICHARD CHRISTIAN KOMANOD and mystery "Pete" sound like oligarchs, invoking rights that don't exist in defense of the indefensible -- political patronage hiring of the highest legal position in the Nation's fastest growing County, "Pete" sounds like he might have emotional problems with First Amendment protected activity. Wonder why?
Yeah you don't get to pry into people's private business because there's no crime or evidence of unethical behavior. You can inquire about his credentials and qualifications, but that's about it. Anything else and you'll be sued or arrested before that happens.
You're not simply asking for a "conflict check." Whatever information that's already public, there's your conflict check. Look it up yourself. The guy doesn't owe you his life story and all his business records... and you'll not get it either. He has rights just like everyone else and shouldn't have to give them up just to get a job with the county.
So "Pete" threatened me with arrest or lawsuit for asking about KOMANDO's conflicts of interest? On March 19, 2025, KOMANDO's clients, the Slaughter brothers, were sentenced to federal prison for massive tax and workers' compensation fraud. We have a Right to Know. There needs to be an investigation of conflict of interest. "Pete" threatened me with arrest or prosecution for doing my job. Graceless threats by "Pete" rather remind me of the late disgraceful Sheriff DENNIS OWEN TROTTER of Anderson County, Tennessee, one of nine (9) Tennessee Sheriffs incarcerated in federal prisons for drug dealing in the 1980s. TROTTER threatened me with a lawsuit. His co-felons sued me for libel and served me with a $1,000,000 libel lawsuit on the morning of my first law school exam (Torts). Sheriff TROTTER, a bail bond company and three bail bondsmen all pled guilty of federal crimes. I sued the three bail bondsmen, their corporation, and Sheriff TROTTER, who all agreed to out-of-court settlements. Like Sheriff TROTTER's verbal abusive threats to me in 1983, the written threats on this blog today by the perseverating unnamed "Pete" do not intimidate me. My father taught me, as JFK's father taught him, that you have to stand up to people with power, or else they walk all over you.
Who is "Pete?" Is he RICHARD CHRISTIAN KOMANDO, or one of his law partners or associates, or others acting in concert with them? Who else in the world would obsess on my reporting on KOMANDO? They doth protest too much.
Sheriff TROTTER demanded that Anderson County's insurance carrier, the Home Insurance Company, pay for bis legal defense and settlement when I sued him for filing the bogus libel lawsuit against me. The Home Insurance Co. wrote Anderson County that "the business of Anderson County is not bribery." TROTTER did not challenge that determination.
Do "Pete" (who once identified himself as "Pete Komando" in one post) reckon themselves, or KOMANDO, to be about the law?
I threatened you? How can I sue you or arrest you? I can't arrest you. But if you go violating people's rights then there will be consequences. Just common sense. He has private business and you'd have to violate his rights to get the information that you feel entitled to... but you aren't.
You're posting statements, I'm asking questions and for proof and evidence for certain claims. There's nothing more to it than that. And I'm not really getting answers yet you want answers from Komando.
Well now it seems you might be the one making libelous claims an accusations not backed by actual proof or evidence so...how times and dispositions change.
Yeah the law is that people don't have to strip down to their underwear unless they are arrested... which Komamdo hasn't been. He has rights to do business and have confidentiality and privacy.
Who are you, "Pete?" You have the right to remain silent, but we wish that you wouldn't. Sock puppet "Pete" exemplifies the arrogance of the ancien regime in SJC, the people who brought us one-party rule of oligarchs.
TROTTER's stirring up a bogus libel lawsuit helped inform the FBI's investigation of him. Suit was filed in October 1983 and served on December 10, 1983. Trotter was arrested on federal criminal charges on or about May 17, 1983. I took a bus from Memphis to Knoxville and my publisher and I got to see Trotter arrested by the FBI in Anderson County Courthouse.
We learned that in the car going to FBI HQ in Knoxville, Anderson County Sheriff DENNIS OWEN TROTTER asked the three FBI agents, "What's this all about. Who else have you arrested?" TROTTER was twice Tennessee Sheriff of the Year.
Waiting for proof and evidence for claims and perhaps some convincing arguments based in law, sound political thought, and reason. Instead.. ad hominem fallacy, irrelevant diversion, and paranoia. I think we can close this case. Get an attorney if you have a problem with the situation.
Another one of the "Anonymice" without the courage or the self-respect to post here under his own name, "Vietnam Veteran," posted in haec verba, "Ed has nothing better to do than put down local heroes. Meanwhile federal government grease balls from New Jersey at VA, FBI, and every other agency you can think of down here looking for anyone to ruin." "Local heroes?" Who? "Nothing better to do?" Not your determination. "Grease balls from New Jersey?" Sounds like an ethnic slur. "Looking for anyone to ruin?" Sounds bizarre. Who are you, "Pete?" Who are you, "Vietnam Veteran?" What is your interest in KOMANDO?
That has nothing to do with what is being discussed.🤦♂️
Well then get an attorney and sue for who knows what to get all the guy's private information. Good luck. Who knows how you'll get that into court. No laws broken or unethical behavior. No proof and evidence for that.
St. Johns County Commissioner Ann Taylor asked for a list of Interim County Attorney RICHARD CHRISTIAN KOMANDO's clients. KOMANDO stiffed her, unadorned by any ethics opinion or case law citation. Res ipsa loquitur.
Why does "Pete" perseverate? "Why do the heathen rage?" (Psalm 2). Who is "Pete" and why does he obsess on this blog so often and so repeatedly with whining posts about RICHARD CHRISTIAN KOMANDO, Interim St. Johns County Attorney, the "friend" of former Commissioner ROY ALYRE ALAIMO, JR., and the louche lawyer for the Slaughter Brothers?
In the words of George Burns, "Say goodnight, Gracie." (Or in the case of "Pete," we should say "Graceless."). Goodnight, Graceless.
Why do I whine about the guy? You mean you?
Res ipsa loquitur they don't have to hire him if they got a problem they can't overcome without violating the guy's privacy rights. He can just walk because I doubt he needs the money. Then you'll just be ripping on someone else.
Take the bogus claims to the commission meeting. I'm sure they have similar views as I've presented here yet they say nothing because it's pointless.
Why did KOMANDO apply for the job if he could not stand up to scrutiny? "The life that is unexamined is not worth living," as the ancient Greeks Plato, Aristotle and Socrates said it best.
When awarded the sinecure, KOMANDO said he would not apply for the permanent job. Never explained why he changed his mind. "Pete" writes, "Res ipsa loquitur they don't have to hire him if they got a problem they can't overcome without violating the guy's privacy rights. He can just walk because I doubt he needs the money. Then you'll just be ripping on someone else." Poor perseverating "Pete." Does he have any actual clients? What is his purpose in posting here? Cui bono? (Who benefits?)
Scrutiny? You mean absurd insinuations and exaggerated claims? Privacy rights violations and baseless accusations? Why should people be insulted and violated to get a government job?
What is the authority for KOMANDO refusing to disclose a client list? None cited by "Pete" or KOMANDO. No privacy rights for corporate lawyers to work for the government and for corporations. Reminds me of the time, when KOMANDO was still in law school, when one KENNETH WINSTON STARR was simultaneously special prosecutor investigating President Clinton and a lawyer for corporations with KIRKLAND & ELLIS. Conflict of interest. Appearance of impropriety. When I raised the issue in e-mails to KIRKLAND & ELLIS, KENNETH WINSTON STARR resigned his position with a corporate law firm. If KOMANDO "walks," it would be good for the County, and a good career move.
I don't have purpose here anymore.. because I can't get actual proof or evidence for some of your claims and can't get coherent answers to any questions I've asked. Who benefits... the county if they get an attorney. Who doesn't benefit...him if he has to give up his rights to get the job. Hopefully he would walk if they gave him all kinds of rediculous shit.
He shouldn't walk on account of you.. that's for sure. You've made baseless accusations and, so far, bogus claims. "Authority for him refusing" to give up his rights comes from him. If they don't like that he practices law then maybe they shouldn't hire a county attorney that practices law. Great idea. Bring that one up at the meeting.
One current client of Komando's has been made public - by the press. A roofing company is a conflict of interest. Our county inspects roofs. What if Komando has to weigh in on a legal issue with a roof inspection? Conflict. What if our county is writing code for new roofs and the code is submitted to him for legal approval? Conflict. And that's just the client that we know about.
It's not a conflict of interest just because he has defended someone in a certain case before. At some point in one's law career they might prosecute certain cases, then become defense attorneys and defend clients in certain cases. Does he have a financial stake in any company that he has defended for some alleged wrongdoing? Probably not. You might as well just be saying that because he practices law period then perhaps he shouldn't be county attorney. Or you think we need someone who hasn't taken cases in the past. Gonna need proof and evidence for illegal or unethical activity other than "because I say so."
Then what does it mean for an attorney to do a conflict check? I've been told it's to see if a prospective client would have a conflict with an existing client.
A conflict would be him not defending the county properly in some case that he had financial or other interests in. If he were to defend a client in some similar case that didn't have to do with county businesses, then there's really no conflict. Conflicts can be identified as they present themselves, but people can't just demand all of people's private business information just to make sure there's no conflict. That's really like presumption of guilt of some wrongdoing. Questions should be asked if anything obvious comes up after he is hired. I see nothing credible that warrants suspicion... certainly nothing that has been presented on this blog.
Says who? "Pete" refuses to identify himself. His latest ukase is unadorned by any citation to legal authority. "Pete" is a sock puppet and a troll.
KOMANDO refused to answer Commissioner Ann Taylor's request, and mine, for his client list. Now we know he was representing the Slaughter Brothers in a federal criminal prosecution for tax fraud and workers' compensation fraud.
Is "Pete" a lawyer? With what firm? Tell us about your family, "Pete." Why does "Pete" so often emit ukases without authority? Methinks "Pete: doth protest too much. Is "Pete" a campaign contributor to County Commissioners? How about his family?
You troll the commission meetings. I've actually tried to discuss this issue and your responses only seem to prevent getting anywhere. It's rediculous.
Nobody is entitled to his client list. That's why he didn't give it. Doesn't matter what cases he took. He practices law. You want someone who never did that representing the county?
How about you successfully argue your case against the man instead of merely continuing on with suspicious conspiracies... which don't get us anywhere.
Pejorative-laden, perseverating "Pete" is a sock puppet, a heckler, cites no legal authority, and is not a legal authority. "Pete" is like the parasites who clearcut our forests and corrupt our governments with Big Money. Who is "Pete?"
Apparently you expect to post whatever you can simply think of on this blog, and nobody to ever ask questions, and only people who agree with everything you present should comment. That's not realistic. Perhaps you should disable the comments if that's the way you want things to go... for people to simply come here and view accusations. You ought to post some actual proof and evidence for them every once in a while and people wouldn't have to ask.
Who is "Pete?" Quo vobis videtor? (What do y'all reckon?) Angry "snonymice" poster. Refuse to identify themsellf. Defends KOMANDO. :"Cui bono?" Who benefits from such posts? Who is :"Pete?" You tell me.
You're piling on baseless assertions and making more bogus claims when I only asked for proof and evidence for an original bogus claim. By God I hope someone on the commission reads this and takes this behavior into account when you speak publicly about this issue.
On March 11, 2025, "Pete" challenged me that he would attend March 13, 2025 Mosquito Control meeting. He did not do so, after I. pointed out the SJSO provides security for those meetings. SJSO officers have body cameras that would have recorded him, a government record. https://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2025/03/attend-two-anastasia-mosquito-control.html
Post the quote of me saying I'd meet you somewhere..or it didn't happen. I'm not gonna sort through all your bogus claims. I wouldn't meet you at dog show Slavin. You won't even answer questions here or give proof and evidence for your claims that you've made here!
Here is the March 11, 2025 post by "Pete" challenging me to meet him at a March 13, 2025 meeting of the Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County:
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
ATTEND TWO ANASTASIA MOSQUITO CONTROL BOARD OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY MEETINGS THURSDAY, March 13, 2025
Our Anastasia Mosquito Control Board of St. Johns County is an independent special taxing district with power to protect public health from mosquito-borne diseases.
120 EOC Drive
4PM PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE, first meeting
5 PM AMCD BOARD
Posted by Ed Slavin at 6:04 AM
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6 comments:
Pete said...
I'll be there if you'll bring proof and evidence for your claims. Deal?
6:25 AM
Ed Slavin said...
Interesting post from "Pete" who recently called himself "Pete Komando." Perseverating poster "Pete" to Repeat, has refused for several weeks to identify himself, while posting errant nonsense in support of the "spoils system" here. "Pete: approves of former County Commissioners hiring the "friend" of then-Commissioner ROY ALYRE ALAIMO, JR. "Pete" a/k/a "Pete Komando" defends the "spoils system" lawbreaking hiring of RICHARD CHRISTIAN KOMANDO as Interim County Attorney, violating EEOC guidelines on word-of-mouth recruitment, and violating the reasonable expectations of probity. We are grateful that our AMCD of SJC will have a uniformed Sheriff's Deputy there for security on March 13, 2025 at 4 PM at 120 EOC Drive. Thanks to our reform St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick for providing security at AMCD meetings. Note to "Pete": all of our SJC deputies now have body-worn cameras. Footnote: The disgraceful ex-Sheriff of SJC, DAVID SHOAR, in a 2016 debate with former Deputy Debbie Maynard, raucously rejected body cameras and the "false narrative that cops need to be watched.") Look forward to meeting you, "Pete" a/k/a "Pete" Komando
7:44 AM
Pete said...
You'll nitpick unrelated nonsense, fallacy, unrelated topics, monologues about history... anything but give proof and evidence for certain claims and explain you reasoning when asked. I asked you specific questions and all I got was random nonsense so that tells the tale.
8:11 AM
Pete said...
It's not relevant that him being his friend had anything to do with anything... and you're making more bogus claims by telling me that I approve of something because I asked for proof and evidence for some claims you made.
12:40 PM
Ed Slavin said...
I believe that you are unaware of the legal meaning of "relevance." Or have you forgotten it? Where did you study evidence law? You have recently stated it "doesn't matter" who you are. You still refuse to identify yourself. You have even stated it doesn't even matter if you are RICHARD CHRISTIAN KOMANDO. Wonder why? I have requested records from SJC.
8:18 AM
Pete said...
The legal meaning of relevance isn't "someone makes a claim and doesn't provide proof and evidence but we give weight to the claim anyway." That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard. Simply provide actual proof and evidence for your claims or you've been caught making bogus claims. You are the one not being reasonable.
8:45 AM
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Ipse dixit, "Pete" can't fix it. "Pete" never attended March 13, 2025 AMCD meeting. Thanks to Sheriff Robert Hardwick, our SJSO deputies are equipped with body-worn cameras. They provide security for AMCD meeting. "Pete" chickened out upon my point that out. "Be not afraid." It is in the Bible some 106 times. "Why do the heathen rage." (Psalm 2),
Yeah I said I'd be there IF you can provide proof and evidence for your claims of hiring BECAUSE friends and not credentials, which you can't or you would have offered something here. I didn't say I was coming to talk to you at the meeting. You've got comprehension problems.
"I'll be there if you'll bring proof and evidence for your claims. Deal?" You made no deal because you don't have proof and evidence for your bogus accusations. You can't understand what was being communicated to you?
"Pete" wrote, "Post the quote of me saying I'd meet you somewhere..or it didn't happen." "Pete" won't identify himself. "Pete" prevaricates. Say "goodnight," graceless.
Who is "Pete?"
Whelp. Kommando it is..in part thanks to blogs like this one. They said political attacks on the internet had the opposite effect. Good job Slavin.👍 (Still waiting for proof and evidence for your claims.)
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