Employee Accuses Manatee Deputy Administrator Of Harassment: Report

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Manatee County’s newly hired deputy administrator Mitchell Teitelbaum has delayed his acceptance of the position after a county employee filed a sexual harassment complaint against him, according to multiple reports.

In the complaint, the victim alleged that he made inappropriate contact with him, hugging them in a way that made them uncomfortable, according to the Bradenton Herald.

The report said the victim claimed there was “uninvited physical contact of a sexual nature,” and that Teitelbaum allegedly grabbed them around the waist, pulling them close into him,” according to reports.

In a comment to the Herald, Teitelbaum called the report “unsubstantiated and false.”

The incident allegedly took place on Nov. 29, according to the Dec. 13 written complaint, the Bradenton Times reported. The employee first reported it Dec. 5 to the county’s director of human resources.

Teitelbaum’s accuser said that the human resources department didn’t request that they fill out a formal complaint form, but they filled one out anyway, according to reports.

"I am filling out this form as I was not asked to sign a complaint form and want to make [sure] the complaint is documented in writing in addition to my verbal complaints to HR," they wrote.

Teitelbaum was unanimously approved by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners as the new deputy county administrator, working under County Administrator Scott Hopes, in December.