Manatee Commissioner Settles FL Ethics Case For COVID-19 Vaccine Event

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — The day before she was supposed to appear in court to face accusations that she misused her position to host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic only for those living in her wealthy district, Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh settled her charges with the state of Florida.

A motion was filed with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings late Monday afternoon to cancel her final hearing before administrative law Judge Linzie F. Bogan, state records show. The hearing to determine whether Baugh violated the state constitution was scheduled to take place via Zoom on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

The details of her settlement weren’t included in the motion. By canceling the final hearing, jurisdiction will be relinquished to the Florida Commission on Ethics for a final order in the case, the motion said.

18 ethics complaints were filed against Baugh for hosting a February 2021 pop-up vaccination clinic in Lakewood Ranch only for those living in the county’s wealthiest ZIP codes.

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Handpicking these ZIP codes bypassed Manatee County's vaccine lottery system that was in place at the time. Baugh also created a VIP list for the clinic, which included her name, though she ultimately didn't receive the vaccine at that event.

In December 2021, the FCE found “probable cause” to move the months-long investigation to trial.

“Probable cause was found to believe Ms. Baugh violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting the abuse of office to obtain a disproportionate benefit by placing her own name at the top of Manatee County's randomly selected list of recipients to receive a COVID-19 vaccination,” the commission said in a news release. “In addition, probable cause was found to believe Ms. Baugh misused her position or public resources to assign vaccine distribution priority to serve specific individuals and zip codes, contrary to Manatee County's COVID-19 vaccination policy.”

In July, Baugh’s lawyer requested a 60-day continuance of the final hearing so they could have more time for deposing witnesses. Bogan granted the request, and it was rescheduled for Nov. 1.

According to the motion filed by Elizabeth Miller, an advocate for FCE, Baugh and the commission “have reached a settlement in principle. The parties wish to forego a final hearing at the Division of Administrative Hearings in these consolidated cases.”

A criminal complaint was also filed against Baugh in February 2021, alleging that she violated three Florida state statutes regarding misuse of public position, official misconduct and misuse of confidential information.

After a four-month investigation, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office "concluded that none of Baugh's actions rose to the level of a crime,” a news release from the agency said.

Baugh hasn’t responded to Patch’s request for comment about the settlement. When she does, this story will be updated.

She told Patch in a December 2021 email, “I am looking forward to the next stage of this probe to bring truth and perspective to these allegations and clearing my name!”