Former interim Manatee County Administrator Lee Washington filed a whistleblower complaint alleging Sunshine Law violations during an effort to hire Sarasota-Manatee Building Industry Association CEO Jon Mast to a leadership position at the county.

The allegations went uninvestigated.

County commissioners attempted to hire Mast to the interim acting administrator role in place of Washington in April, but the effort fell through after Mast turned down the $195,000 per year offer.

Washington filed the whistleblower complaint on June 15 to Manatee County Attorney Bill Clague, according to public county records obtained by the Florida Center for Government Accountability.

Washington claims on March 1, Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn and former commissioner Vanessa Baugh violated Florida's Sunshine laws at a popular downtown Bradenton restaurant during a conversation with Mast and himself.

"I was advised that the county could benefit from my 'finding a way to bring him onboard' to help the county move forward with the land development code, comprehensive plan, and other duties that the county is trying to get accomplished," Washington wrote in the complaint.

ICYMI:Mast declines interim Manatee County administrator job after $195,000 salary offer

When the position was posted publicly, Washington said Baugh then Rahn requested copies of submitted applications be sent to them. But feeling pressure, Washington explained the position was soon closed, although it was...

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