In a complaint to the sheriff’s office, Michael Barfield, a legal counsel and resident of the neighboring Sarasota district, said Baugh, who chairs the commission, may have violated three legal provisions, including abuse of her public position.
“When Baugh placed individuals and herself on a Covid-19 vaccine distribution list, she acted in violation of the approved Vaccine Standby Pool and used her official position to obtain a special privilege, benefit or exemption for herself and others”, which could amount to abuse of her government position, Barfield, who is also chairman of the Florida ACLU Board’s executive committee, wrote in the complaint.
The sheriff’s office is investigating the complaint line by line, Public Information Officer Randy Warren told CNN.
CNN contacted Baugh’s office on Wednesday about the investigation and has heard nothing.
Baugh said DeSantis had filed for the vaccination push
Baugh, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners and a staunch supporter of Governor Ron DeSantis, said the ‘pop-up’ vaccination push was initiated by the Republican governor after talking to Rex Jensen, a real estate developer and CEO of the parent company. company of Lakewood Ranch, the community where the vaccination campaign was organized.
The commissioner said in a meeting last week that it was “(her) idea” to choose the two county zip codes whose residents could be vaccinated at the vaccination service, although she did not explain her rationale.
The governor has been criticized for “pop-up” vaccination sites he has organized statewide. At a press conference Tuesday, he called the criticism an “attack” on him for “vaccinating seniors.”
“When we visit these communities where we have been able to do it, they are so grateful,” said DeSantis.
Baugh apologized last week for organizing the ride, but then said she would “do exactly what (she) did this time” if given the same opportunity.
Manatee County was previously praised by DeSantis for its effectiveness in vaccinating humans and establishing one of the first drive-thru vaccination programs in the US. Last week, the governor threatened to withhold additional doses from the province after Baugh was criticized. He has not criticized Baugh or her methodology in organizing his vaccination drive.
Furious residents call her actions shameful
Residents of Manatee County were angry with Baugh for her actions, and some called for resignation in emails to the official obtained by CNN through a public request.
“My blood is boiling over this elite vaccination event,” one resident wrote in a Feb. 18 email. “We all appreciate the extra vaccines, but if we pick two zip codes to receive it, it smacks of politics, cronyism, elitism and racism. That’s the problem.”
Baugh responded to at least one of the residents who emailed her.
In an email on Feb. 17, a district resident wrote, “So, since I live in the wrong zip code, I have to wait for a vaccine. SHAME YOU.”
“I’m not ashamed!” Baugh wrote back. “On the contrary, the Manatee registry has been reduced by 3,000 people and Manatee is busy filling 5,200 places for the vaccine … This is a win for Manatee thanks to Gov DeSantis …”
One resident, who said they lived in one of the two zip codes Baugh had chosen for the ride, thanked Baugh in an email saying she had “done her job.”
“I apologized to my constituents and my colleagues for an error in judgment,” she wrote, according to WWSB. “These little partisan political calls are nothing more than the divisive politics our nation must stay away from. I will continue to work to bring more vaccine to Manatee County and guide us through this pandemic.”
The provincial committee on Tuesday rejected a motion by 4-3 votes asking Baugh to step down as chairman.