MANATEE -- State regulators will be there. Representatives of the Manatee County bank whose big move into Pinellas County has been challenged will be there. A taxpayer-funded bailiff will be there.

But the person who asked for a hearing over Community Bank & Co.’s planned purchase of First Community Bank of America decided Thursday he doesn’t want the hearing after all.

Neil Gillespie, operator of a website called yousue.org, requested the hearing on March 25. He claimed in his petition that the Florida Office of Financial Regulation had made numerous errors in its findings of fact regarding Community Bank’s acquisition.

But Gillespie, an Ocala resident, withdrew his petition Thursday just hours before the scheduled 10 a.m. start today in a Manatee County courtroom.

In his 20-page petition to withdraw, Gillespie expanded on claims he had made in his initial 18-page petition for the hearing. Those contentions included accusing one Community Bank executive of “showing signs of dementia” and raising questions about another executive’s previous employer.

Even though Gillespie withdrew his petition, the OFR has no choice but to proceed with the hearing as planned because of the timing of Gillespie’s withdrawal, spokesperson Flora Beal said.

“Since the office already did a public notice and does not have adequate time to issue a cancellation notice, we are obligated to proceed with the hearing should any members of the public wish to attend and make a statement,” Beal said.

Gillespie describes his yousue.org website as “reducing inefficiencies in the legal system.”

Officials with Community Bank declined comment Thursday.