BRADENTON – Text messages between Manatee County Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh and Schroeder-Manatee Ranch CEO Rex Jensen that were part of a public records requestsuggest that Jensen has reservations about a list the state was requesting be kept for the pop-up vaccine site that was set up in Lakewood Ranch by Governor Ron DeSantis and restricted to citizens of just two zip codes in Baugh's district.
The scandal made national news as it was revealed that Baugh had not only violated the county commission's approved policy for vaccine distribution and broke board policy by directing county staff to draw the participants only from the two zip codes but also created a special list for five people that would not have to face any sort of random draw, including herself, Jensen, Jensen's father and two of Baugh's friends.
Despite loud calls from the community for Baugh to resign, she has continued to refuse, while allies on the board voted 4-3 to allow her to maintain her role as chair, despite the transgressions.
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