Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Suncoast Pasco > News

Steinsnyder Named Pasco County Attorney

By Carl Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: November 6, 2007

DADE CITY, Fla. - DADE CITY, Fla. - Jeffrey Steinsnyder will be the next county attorney.

The County Commission Tuesday morning voted 5-0 to hire Steinsnyder as the successor to Robert Sumner as county attorney, bypassing Chief Assistant County Attorney Barbara Wilhite.

Steinsnyder is a former assistant county attorney in Manatee County now in private practice.

The county must still reach agreement on an employment contract with Steinsnyder.

During a second round of interviews with commissioners, Steinsnyder impressed Commissioner Michael Cox. Two weeks ago, Cox's original top choice, Land O' Lakes lawyer Timothy Hayes, was eliminated on a 3-2 vote by commissioners.

Some commissioners thought Hayes was too close to developers and builders, a charge Hayes rejected.

In backing Steinsnyder today, Cox noted the attorney had worked at the Manatee County School District. This should help him deal with the development concurrency issues Pasco County has with the School District here, Cox reasoned.

He also is a board-certified attorney with extra credentials in government law.

Commissioner Jack Mariano believes Steinsnyder will be a "consensus builder."

Commissioner Ted Schrader likened Steinsnyder to former County Attorney J. Ben Harrill, who sought consensus rather than confrontation. Harrill was county attorney from 1984 until 1991.

Commissioner Pat Mulieri chose to once again press the case for hiring Wilhite. Steinsnyder was her third choice among the final three finalists. Douglas Wyckoff, a municipal attorney for various Florida cities who resides in Defuniak Springs, in the Panhandle, was her second choice.

"I think Barbara is extremely competent," Mulieri said about Wilhite. "I think it sends the message we don't give you a chance to get ahead," Mulieri said about passing over Wilhite.

In the end, a "disappointed" Mulieri voted for Steinsnyder.

Read more on the selection of Jeffrey Steinsnyder as Pasco county attorney in the Oct. 10 print edition of The Suncoast News.

Share this: