MANATEE COUNTY (WSNN) – The vaccine VIP list controversy in Lakewood Ranch continues to spark outrage as protesters gather ahead of today’s manatee county meeting.
Crowds of people shout, “Enough is enough!”
This is after last week’s state-wide vaccine pop-up site targets two zip codes in Lakewood Ranch, which Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh represents.
“We need to show our commissioners that we will hold them accountable when they put their donors and their friends and themselves above the people who elected them to serve,” Protest Organizer, Robyne Richardson said.
Baugh admitted to having a role in who got vaccinated.
“It is true that I sent the email to the Public Safety Director because I wanted to make sure that certain people were on the list, I did,” Baugh said last week.
Mary Conway is a 69-year-old Manatee County resident who still hasn’t gotten vaccinated.
“It’s an absolute abuse of power,” Conway said. “This is wrong because people are wealthy, they can get a vaccine? No, no that’s wrong!”
But, Kevin Wright supports Vanessa Baugh.
“To her credit, she very quickly within days, publicly in front of all the other commissioners says, ‘Hey, it was a mistake, it won’t be repeated,'” Wright said.
But for others, this apology wasn’t enough.
“She gave the worst non-apology I’ve ever heard,” Richardson said.
“I just hope that he’ll do it again,” Baugh said last week. “And if he does I can assure you I’ll do exactly what I did this time, I’ll try to get the people in Manatee County in the area that he feels is important vaccinated.”
During Tuesday’s commission meeting, District 2 Commissioner Reggie Bellamy made a motion to resign Baugh from Chair.
“As much as I admire you and your work ethic, and your work for your district, I do believe we need to make sure there are some consequences we need to address from the board perspective,” Bellamy said.
“We’ve lost our credibility and it looks like to me that we’ve violated our Florida statutes,” Carol Whitmore said. “I’m ready to vote, one way or the other. I don’t think it’s going to pass, but if it doesn’t I hope this community raises heck.”
In the end, efforts to oust Baugh failed 3-4. Bellamy, Whitmore and voted to remove her.
“Commissioner Whitmore I appreciate it, but I will not accept the Chair and I will not vote her out as Chair,” George W. Kruse said.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is looking into the actions of commissioner Vanessa Baugh and her involvement in the VIP vaccine list for the Lakewood Ranch site.
