COUNTY TO PAY FOR SKIDMORE’S DEFENSE

CHARLOTTE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON TUESDAY VOTED 4-1 FOR THE COUNTY TO PAY A TALLAHASSEE ATTORNEY FOR COMMISSIONER ROBERT SKIDMORE’S DEFENSE IN AN ETHICS COMPLAINT CASE.  COMMISSION CHAIRMAN BOB STARR WAS THE LONE DISSENTING VOTE.  THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED IN DECEMBER BY BOCA GRANDE RESIDENT HAROLD WELLS, JR. AND WINDWARD RESIDENT GALE MCGUANE WHICH ALLEGES SKIDMORE HAD A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH THE WIDENING OF PLACIDA ROAD BECAUSE HIS FATHER OWNS A RESTAURANT ON THE NEARLY 3 MILE STRETCH TO BE WIDENED.  SKIDMORE SAID NEITHER HE NOR HIS WIFE HAS ANY FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE COOL BEACH CAFÉ, AND HE IS VERY CONFIDENT HE WILL BE EXONERATED.  HE ALSO SAID HE BELIEVES THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO CREATE STATUTES TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM FILING WHAT HE CALLED FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINTS.  COMMISSIONER TRICIA DUFFY AGREED.  COUNTY ATTORNEY JANETTE KNOWLTON TOLD THE COMMISSION THAT SINCE SHE MIGHT BE CALLED AS A WITNESS SHE COULD NOT DEFEND SKIDMORE.  SHE ALSO SAID THE ATTORNEY WHO IS BEING HIRED, EMMETT MITCHELL OF THE COATES LAW FIRM, CHARGES $250 AN HOUR, WHICH SHE CALLED FAIR.