(ESCAMBIA COUNTY) --- Silence speaks volumes.
That is the case with Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May’s lack of response to several media inquiries about two questions: whether his former assistant received $20k in severance upon leaving, and whether that assistant had to resign after signing a Florida Power & Light petition with his name on it.
Only Lumon knows those answers and refuses to share them with the public.
OpGov.News published a report on July 8 confirming that “A” level employees are awarded an additional $20K in severance upon retirement. It is a policy that was confirmed by Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, who said her former assistant, Melanie Luna, received the amount after leaving in May.
During the voicemail, text and email communications with Commissioner Hofberger, it was noted that May’s former assistant, Audrey Martin Washington, also received $20K upon leaving.
“In addition, it’s the same policy that was followed previously this year when Commissioner May’s aide resigned after she accidentally signed his name to a petition to lower rates from FPL,” Hofberger wrote.
While Hofberger was quick to respond to media inquiries regarding the policy she calls “excessive,” May has not.
(Photo: Email correspondence to Commissioner Lumon May)
OpGov.News reached out to his current assistant, Clarissa, who said May did not receive the emails below. She said that she would inform May of the emails and report, and get back to OpGov.News after she made him aware of the emails and information made public.
That never happened.
Either May feels he is above answering the questions, or he is hiding something. OpGov.News does not judge either way, but wants it on the record that May did not respond to questions the public has a right to know the answers to.
Additionally, OpGov.News reached out to Escambia County Clerk/Comptroller Pam Childers regarding the policy and how many $20K severance packages have been awarded in the last decade.
Childers also has not responded to a request for comment.
(Photo: Email correspondence to Escambia County Comptroller Pam Childers)
As noted, OpGov.News has made the public privy to a silent policy. Without further comment or information, all that can be reported is accomplished for now.
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