County Administrator Hunzeker Faces Questions On Klement Hiring at Tiger Bay Club Luncheon

MANATEE--County Administrator Ed Hunzeker fielded several questions about his hiring of David Klement as County Organizational Development Manager in a joint appearance at the Manatee Tiger Bay Club Luncheon Thursday afternoon. It was Mr. Klement’s first time speaking in public since his controversial hiring last September.

County Administrator Ed Hunzicker at Tiger Bay Club

After Mr. Hunzeker and Mr. Klement made brief remarks on the topic of Manatee County growth, the luncheon was opened for a question and answer session. County Commissioner Carol Whitmore, a member of the Tiger Bay Club, asked Mr. Hunzeker why money was spent on hiring for Mr. Klement’s position when the county has faced budget cuts.

”We need to look out at the next 25 years. The position calls for someone who can condense the data from all the studies that have been done and simplify the way of how we’re going to grow. He (David Klement) has these skills. The cost of this program is miniscule“, said Mr. Hunzeker.

Another county resident, Mike Hamer asked Mr. Hunzicker why he didn’t address the hiring of Mr. Klement during budget hearings and why there wasn’t an open process for the hiring?

”I find people I think can do the job and put them in that job“, Mr. Hunzeker replied. ”Why take the time and spend taxpayers money to go through the recruitment process?“

County Organizational Development Mgr. David Klement

David Klement was the former Bradenton Herald editorial page editor and Director of Public Policy and Leadership at the University of South Florida. In October of 2009, Governor Charlie Crist appointed Mr. Klement to the Public Service Commission, the state panel responsible for regulating the rates, services and safety of privately owned public utilities. But in April, Mr. Klement and another Crist appointee were rejected by the Florida Senate, as the result of political fallout between the Governor and the legislature.

The salary for the county Organizational Development Manager is just over $80,000.