I attended a BOCC meeting last week where a brave Eileen Hart, winner of the 1996 Moral Courage Award, gave her award it back during public comment due to that award's recent name change. Ms. Hart was not loud or rude (although she sure had a right to be) as she explained why she was now returning it.
Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan tried to shut her up by repeating quickly and rudely "thank you Ms. Hart, thank you Ms. Hart," as she plopped the award in front of him. It looked like he threw it down and the Times reported it was indeed thrown away and later retrieved from the trash. The bad press since then has been significant starting with the report that day on TBO. Wayne Garcia also reported on the subject.
Saturday was a grand slam of bad press for the morally challenged on the BOCC…
This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2008.