MANATEE COUNTY (SNN TV) – The man Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved to serve under administrator Scott Hopes declined the job after a sexual harassment complaint.
Mitchell Teitelbaum has been with Manatee County schools since 2014. He was hired by Manatee County in late November to serve in a deputy role under Hopes.
The Herald-Tribune reports a female staff member filed a complaint against Teitelbaum for an incident that took place the day the commission approved him.
She alleges Teitelbaum made inappropriate physical contact with her by grabbing her by the waist in front of several witnesses. She says she first reported it in person to one human resources rep December 5th, then the H-R director December 6th, followed by her written complaint December 13th.
He denies the complaint, says his wife was with him at all times, and has asked for an independent investigation to clear his name.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said the alleged incident occurred the day Teitelbaum was unanimously approved. The incident was alleged to have occurred the day he was approved, and the story has been updated to reflect that.
