BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Randy Andrews, who served as director of Bradford County’s zoning office, is no longer at work amid possible ethics charges.
According to a press release following the Florida Commission on Ethics most recent meeting, the ethics commission found probable cause that Andrews “violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting abuse of office for a disproportionate benefit and misused his position when he used his county-issued email to correspond with prospective buyers of a property he owned.”
Bradford County commissioners accepted Andrews’ resignation last week via the consent agenda after two commissioners failed to have the item removed for further discussion.
Commissioner Danny Riddick said he had wanted to discuss the future direction of the office. County Manager Scott Kornegay said had not decided whether to fill the position or go in another direction. The county has consultants with continuing contracts experienced in land use matters. That includes current work preparing the Evaluation and Appraisal Report due on the county’s comprehensive plan and preparing amendments to the land development regulations.
With the finding of probable cause, the complaint became public and a hearing, similar to a trial, will be held before an administrative law judge unless the ethics commission advocate and Andrews reach a stipulated agreement.
One or the other — the judge’s findings or the agreement — will be sent to the ethics commission for final action, including recommended penalties.
