Letters of Support and Concern:

• Letter of Support 1
• Letter of Support 2
• Letter of Support 3
• Letter of Support 4
• Letter of Support 5
• Letter of Concern 1
• Letter of Concern 2
• Letter of Concern 3
• Letter of Concern 4
• Letter of Concern 5

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Dr. Newsom Seeks County Support
07/21/09 - 03:43 PM
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In his quest for reinstatement, former Health Department Director Dr. Jason Newsom, seeks county support.

Dr. Newsom describes his recent departure from the health department as a forced resignation. He’s reapplied for the job, and today he went before the bay county commission to plead his case.
   
Commissioners listened to every word. Commissioner George Gainer described it as “interesting,” and it was. So interesting, in fact, commissioners gave extended time for people to speak on the subject.

Antagonistic, oppressive, and offensive.

All words used to describe Dr. Newsom. But, Sandy McElrath uses different language.

“He is a passionate, intelligent physician that’s just trying to do his job, the job that he’s paid to do,” said McElrath.

McElrath and one other resident spoke in support of Dr. Newsom at Tuesday’s Bay County Commission meeting. They feel he’s been unfairly punished, and Dr. Newsome agrees. He claims he followed the rules.

“If the county commission is ever upset with anything I do, a simple phone call to me will correct the issue,” said Dr. Newsom.

At the meeting, Commissioners received a petition with 65 signatures of support. But for weeks, they’ve received negative emails. One email in particular calls him a tyrant, and a dictator.   

At the meeting, a former employee expressed the same concern. But, Dr. Newsom’s employment isn’t the commission’s decision.

“We didn’t fire him and we don’t have the power to hire him,” said Commissioner George Gainer.

Still, Dr. Newsom felt it necessary to defend himself.

“I think that I communicated to them clearly that I, as a director of the health department, fully understand where my authority lies and who my bosses are,” said Dr. Newsom.

So as his efforts continue, the job is still vacant. Newsom reapplied for his old job about a month ago, but it’s up to the Florida Department of Health, in Tallahassee, to decide who gets hired.