‘Cancel culture?’ Manatee won’t investigate sexual harassment claim as new official leaves
Following the sexual harassment complaint against Mitchell Teitelbaum, Manatee County Government officials voted to reject his employment agreement and denied his request to investigate the accusation.
A county employee filed a written complaint against Teitelbaum less than two weeks after the high-ranking school district official was appointed as the fourth deputy county administrator. The employee alleged that Teitelbaum grabbed their waist in a way that made them feel uncomfortable.
The employee’s identity has not been released, in accordance with Florida’s law on sexual harassment complaints.
When asked about the alleged incident, Teitelbaum denied grabbing the employee’s waist and said there was “no physical contact.” He also described the report as an “unsubstantiated and false complaint on an incident that did not take place.”
For the past nine years, Teitelbaum has served as general counsel for the school district.
Reached for comment, Michael Barber, a spokesperson for the school district, confirmed that Teitelbaum remains on paid administrative leave. Barber declined to comment further on Teitelbaum’s employment status or future with the district.
Teitelbaum, who has faced a previous sexual harassment allegation, also urged the Manatee Board of County Commissioners to investigate the complaint by hiring an independent third-party firm. On Tuesday, board members denied that request.
Teitelbaum in limbo after complaint
“I don’t feel like I have any obligation to anyone who is not employed here at the county,” said Commissioner Vanessa Baugh.
“Right now, we don’t really have a problem because the problem is gone,” she added.
As they began their discussion, County Attorney Bill Clague warned the board to avoid discussing the details of the complaint and how it was handled.
“It’s my job to tell you we need to be really, really careful here,” Clague said. “Any individual involved may lawyer up and then we’re looking at litigation.”
While Teitelbaum was set to assume his position in December, he never began working for the county. As the fourth deputy under County Administrator Scott Hopes, he would have overseen several departments, including MCAT public transit, public records and Human Resources.
In a statement provided to the Bradenton Herald, Teitelbaum called the board’s decision “regrettable” and suggested he would pursue legal action against the county.
“Other remedies will now and are being pursued,” Teitelbaum said. “I look very forward to being fully vindicated and taking all legal recourse possible against those that perpetrated the false complaint against me.”
Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge raised the issue during Tuesday’s meeting. He told his fellow board members that he was uncomfortable with how the complaint was handled and hoped the investigation would determine whether the county’s procedures were properly followed.
“An inquiry is likely to reveal things that are not pretty and we don’t want to see, and if that happens, we need to deal with it,” Van Ostenbridge predicted.
But the majority of the board disagreed with him. Because Teitelbaum never officially became an employee, they said they were not willing to take up an investigation.
“Being that this is not an employee, we have a situation that is resolved,” said Commissioner Amanda Ballard. “I don’t know that it’s prudent to go any further with an outside investigation. I think we’re getting ourselves into a quagmire.”
“I don’t really think it’s necessary to conduct an investigation. I think we intensify our HR department and ensure we go by the book at all times,” said Commissioner Jason Bearden.
Accusations of ‘cancel culture’
Van Ostenbridge argued that he believed the rumors around the complaint and how it affected Teitelbaum’s employment warranted the investigation. He also accused the board of embracing “cancel culture.”
“It is concerning to me to see this board dive into the cancel culture and literally cancel a person while giving them zero due process,” Van Ostenbridge said.
Commissioners quickly rejected that characterization, however.
“I disagree that this is an example of cancel culture or moving forward without due process. He chose not to take the position,” said Ballard, who has a background as an attorney. “If he had chosen to take the position, he would have been afforded the opportunity to have any type of due process. Because he chose to withdraw himself from the process, he’s not entitled to an investigation of the accusation.”
While deputy county administrators are hired by the county administrator, commissioners vote to appoint them to the position. Board members held that vote in November, but Baugh moved Tuesday to rescind Teitelbaum’s appointment, and the board voted unanimously to vacate his position.
Reached for comment Wednesday afternoon, Teitelbaum declined to provide further comment on any future legal action against the county.
This story was originally published January 12, 2023 at 11:57 AM.
