Columbia County Observer

Clint Pittman, County Landscape & Parks Director, Quits Job to Run For County Commissioner

Mr. Pittman’s resignation to run came after months of the usual Columbia County good ole’ boy backroom dealing and intrigue.

May 9, 2026  11:59 pm | 10 min read
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By Stew Lilker

COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Clint Pittman’s resignation to run for County Commissioner (Dist. 2) came after months of the usual Columbia County good ole’ boy backroom dealing and intrigue.

Background
Trouble following the rules

This began in 2006, when the citizens of Columbia County voted to amend its charter to require County management to make all backup or supporting information “provided to the Board” available to the public over the internet. In Columbia County and elsewhere, this is known as the agenda packet.

In 2020, County residents approved a charter change to add a Code of Ethics. The County Commissioners unanimously approved the Code on January 21, 2021.

One week after the policy was passed, County Attorney Foreman wrote an opinion stating that a County employee who wanted to run for a seat on The 5 – couldn’t – because of the newly approved Code of Ethics.

Now, it gets interesting, and the backroom dealing that Columbia County is infamous for reared its head.

In early January 2026, someone asked County Attorney Joel Foreman to review "The Code of Ethics Options for Amendment or Repeal."

Mr. Foreman was known to have mentioned that he, along with Kevin Kirby (Assist. Co-County Manager) were running the County.

County Attorney Foreman kept the requester's name anonymous. His memorandum was addressed only to the County 5. If one wasn’t an insider or 'hooked up' (like in the mob), one wouldn’t have known about the request. The public was in the dark.

After that, the County’s political grapevine was filled with talk that Co-County Manager Kevin Kirby, a well-known County political operative, was involved in a scheme regarding the candidacy of Clint Pittman running for the District 2 County Commissioner seat held by Mr. Kirby’s nemesis, Commissioner Rocky Ford.

There was also talk that County Attorney Foreman was investigating a way to change the Code of Ethics to make that possible, and that Clint Pittman had retained an attorney. The public was still in the dark.

Commissioner Everett Phillips listens to Todd Kennon, Mr. Pittman's attorney. He was no impressed.

The Code of Ethics states the following:

“No County Employee shall hold office as a member of the Board of County Commissioners…or be a candidate for such position while, at the same time, continuing as a County Employee.”

On March 24, 2026, local attorney Todd Kennon of RKK, P.A., via email correspondence, formally advised Mr. Foreman that he was representing Mr. Pittman. Mr. Kennon asked County Atty Foreman for an ethics opinion regarding the requirement that Mr. Pittman would have to resign his position at the County to run for County Commissioner.

Who can request ethics opinions from the County Attorney?
Not Clint Pittman’s Attorney

County Attorney explains what he considered the finer points of the Pittman resign to run County Ehtics Code rule.

Who can request an ethics opinion from the County Attorney? The short answer: not Clint Pittman’s Attorney, Todd Kennon.

The County ethics code is clear: “When in doubt as to the applicability and interpretation of the Columbia County Code of Ethics, the County Manager or any County Commissioner may request an advisory opinion from the County Attorney's Office…”

Todd Kennon, Clint Pittman’s Attorney, is not a County Commissioner or the County Manager.

It is unknown why Mr. Foreman prepared a legal opinion for Attorney Todd Kennon that he had no authority to write at the taxpayers' expense.

The Meeting: Charter Violation, Amnesia, Funky Law, and Pittman Resigns

As reported earlier, the County 5 met on Thursday morning to address the candidacy of Clint Pittman.

Chairman of The 5, for the second consecutive year, is Commissioner Tim Murphy. Following the rules is not Mr. Murphy’s forte.

Charter violation: Since 2006, the County Charter requires the public to be provided with the same material that The 5 is provided. There was no supporting information for the Pittman event on Thursday morning, other than his letter requesting unpaid leave. The memos prepared by County Atty Foreman and the information of Mr. Pittman’s Atty, etc. were nowhere to be found for public review, even though the Commission had received it.

Commissioner Robby Hollingsworth listens to Mr. Foreman. An extreme Kirby supporter, he made the motion to approve Mr. Pittman's unpaid leave.

The Pittman matter was conveniently scheduled for 9:30 am, when working people could not attend, rather than for The 5's next evening meeting. Chairman Murphy could have changed that – he didn't.

Chairman Murphy, in his capacity as agenda reviewer, can make sure the 2006 Charter’s backup information rule is followed. He doesn’t.

Thursday morning, the County 5 addressed the last item on its agenda, item 19: Leave of Absence Request - Clint Pittman. The only backup was his request.

This segment of the meeting centered on Mr. Pittman’s May 1, 2026, written request for an unpaid leave of absence (exceeding 30 days) under Chapter 24 of the County’s Personnel Policy. Mr. Pittman, Parks & Landscape Director for 26 years, sought leave beginning June 8, 2026, for the purpose of running “for the Office of County Commissioner, District 2.”

Ethics Policy Conflict (Sec. 2-517):

This section prohibits any “County Employee” from being “a candidate” for the Board of County Commissioners while employed.

Mr. Pittman had already begun campaigning in violation of the Ethics Policy.

County Manager David Kraus explains that he doesn't discuss County personnel issues at County Commission meetings.

County Manager David Kraus introduced the item. “You have in your packet a request for a leave of absence from Clint Pittman. Clint Pittman…because it is in excess of 30 days. It can only be approved by the Board of County Commissioners. You've approved similar leaves in the past, but it's really your call.”

Mr. Kraus’ characterization was not entirely correct. After some talk by The 5, some of it unintelligible because the commissioner's use of the microphones is sporadic, it was determined that the only unpaid leave request anyone could think of, with no backup material provided, was from an employee looking to travel around the country visiting relatives.

This was not five years ago.

That request was made on April 2, 2026, two meetings ago. Barely discernible was County 5 member Parnell’s question: “When’s the last time we approved it?”

Amnesia: none of The 5 remembered. They were all at the meeting, and the vote was unanimous.

Next, County 5-member Rocky Ford announced, “Chairman, I'm going to have to recuse myself from this vote. I’m thinking, I might have a conflict here, being he’s asked permission to run for county commissioner in my district.”

Funky law: In Florida law, Commissioner Ford’s reason is not a valid reason for recusal, although if Mr. Ford wanted to recuse himself and did the proper paperwork, the County Attorney could not stop him.

District 1 commissioner Kevin Parnell comtemplates. He is a known Kirby supporter and was expected to approve the violation of the County Code of Ethics.

During the public comment portion regarding the Pittman request, your reporter, who is also a property owner and taxpayer of the County, addressed County Atty Foreman, “I don't know that that's a genuine conflict. Mr. Attorney.”

Mr. Foreman responded, “The current rules espoused by the Ethics Commission, if the person believes there's an appearance of impropriety created by their vote, they are permitted to recuse; they're not required. There are certain circumstances where they're required to. It's a much more lenient position than they used to take.”

A search of “appearance of impropriety” in the ethics opinion database found nothing recent that was related to Mr. Foreman’s explanations.

Your reporter also pointed out the following: “The policy does not say you have to qualify. It says if you're going to run for public office and be a candidate, you can't run and be employed at the same time. The policy is clear.” “I drove past his sign…on the way to this meeting.” “The policy was clear when you guys approved it. If you wanted it to be a qualified candidate, the policy would have said that.”

Finally, your reporter said, “And I would just point this out to you, Mr. Chairman and County Commissioners, if he takes a leave of absence, he's still employed by the County.”

Todd Kennon: Mr. Pittman's "helper"

Chairman Murphy invited Todd Kennon to the microphone. Mr. Kennon didn’t introduce himself, other than to say, “I’m helping Mr. Pittman on this issue; you already have an opinion from Mr. Foreman as to the issue of what is a candidate.”

Attorney Kennon listens to Mr. Pittman resign.

Mr. Kennon did not introduce himself as Mr. Pittman’s attorney. The Foreman opinion that Mr. Kennon referenced was unknown, and as mentioned, was not provided.

Ignoring the facts that Mr. Pittman had campaign signs scattered throughout District 2; had registered as an official candidate with the Supervisor of Elections; and opened up a candidate bank account, Mr. Kennon opined that Mr. Pittman would not be a candidate until June 8, “because that is when you qualify.”

More funky law: Florida law does not support this.

Mr. Kennon argued that Mr. Pittman was “not” an employee of the County when he went on unpaid leave. Mr. Kennon said he found a 1980 case, for which he did not provide a citation, that was decided by the First District Court of Appeal (DCA, which includes Columbia County). He explained it involved a Broward County school teacher. Broward County is in the 4th DCA. Without the case citation, it is impossible to verify Mr. Kennon’s newly discovered opinion, in which a short time later, County Atty Foreman joined.

When Mr. Kennon finished his presentation, Commissioner Ford asked, “Is this a court?”

County Attorney Foreman responded that he thought Mr. Kennon brought up “issues that are subsumed within the question.”

Mr. Foreman told The 5, “It's a political question. It's for the four of y'all to decide, in the best County's interest.”

After all the attorney talk, Asst. Co-County Manager Kirby and Commissioner Hollingsworth exchanged smug glances.

Shortly after that, Commissioner Hollingsworth moved to approve Mr. Pittman’s leave of absence, effective June 8. This would allow Mr. Pittman to work every day at the same time he was a candidate, in clear violation of the County Ethics Ordinance, e.g., the Code of Ethics or policy.

Commissioner Ford wanted to hear County Manager Kraus’ opinion.

Mr. Kraus categorized Mr. Pittman’s situation as a personnel matter and something he does not discuss publicly.

Commissioner Phillips wondered out loud, referring to Mr. Ford’s recusal, “Maybe I should pull my vote on this thing, too.”

Commissioner Phillips has a challenger in this election cycle.

County Atty Foreman told Mr. Phillips he couldn't do. If he filled out the paper work, no one could have stopped him.

There was a little more talk. Mr. Ford said Mr. Pitman could always be hired back after the election.

County Chairman Tim Murphy contmeplates. A Kirby supporter, he was expected to approve Mr. Pittmans unpaid leave. He could have seconded Mr. Hollingsworth's motion. He didn't.

Clint Pittman comes to the microphone, jettisons attorney baloney, and abides by the law

Mr. Pittman introduced himself and said, “For 26 and a half years, I've stood up here at this podium and represented people in Columbia County.”

Mr. Pittman only began being invited to the podium and being asked questions at County 5 meetings earlier this year, after the grapevine reported he was running. However, along with all the other directors, he presents his budget at a budget workshop.

The County's legacy mainstream media, the LCR, wrote: "Pittman said he believed the policy was created years ago." Mr. Pittman never said he believed anything about the policy. His remarks about the policy were adamant and angry.

Mr. Pittman gave his take on the ethics policy that ruled out County employees running for County commissioner: “Let's just put the elephant in the room. This whole rule was written years and years ago for political reasons, to keep good people from running against sitting commissioners. That's why it's there.”

Mr. Pittman explained, “That's why I hired an attorney…I’m trying to do what’s right for Columbia County.”

A minute later, Mr. Pittman put an end to the attorney's baloney that had overcome just about everything. He jettisoned the attorney opinions and abided by the lawfully passed county ethics policy and announced, “I resign from my position as Landscape and Parks Director for Columbia County, effective immediately…I’ll see y’all at the polls.”

Mr. Pittman's surprise resignation could have ended the meeting. But, as the Columbia County 5 has demonstrated time and time again, they just don't know when to stop talking.

Epilogue:

Amnesia 101. Leave it to the County 5. They weighed in on the ethics rule

Commissioner Hollingsworth, without hesitation, stepped right up to the plate: “I just think a rule that was created years ago…a rule that's created by elected officials to keep a certain group of people from running against them unless they quit their job, to me, is inherently wrong.”

Chairman Murphy was next: “I just know that this is something we need to address very, very soon… There comes a time, this, this is the antiquated… I think this is a very, very, I've never heard of it, but it's a serious matter.”

The County Ethics Ordinance, as directed by the County Home Rule Charter, was enacted on January 21, 2021, not decades ago as some would have you believe.

It was put together by County Attorney Joel Foreman (the same Joel Foreman in this article).

County Commissioner Hollingsworth moved for its passage. It passed unanimously. Both Commissioners Ford and Murphy (the same ones in this article) voted in favor.

County Attorney Foreman weighed in. Many times he is more like the sixth member of The 5. He is the only elected county attorney in Florida. He is not a public official or a charter officer. Mr. Foreman is the attorney who cobbled the Ethics Ordinance together by picking and choosing parts from already established codes. Mr. Foreman knew how and particularly when that language became part of the ordinance.

He added, “One thing that I was surprised by is how widespread this is. We're not unusual in this… There are compelling arguments on both sides…There's a reason these rules are very prevalent.”

Commissioner Ford had the last word, “At the end of the day, everybody knows the rules… I’ll be honest with you, I don't know why this rule was ever invoked. I’m not sure when it was invoked. But at the end of the day, it is a rule… So, abide by the rules – a simple thing.”