Manatee County School Board Chairman Bob Gause wants $14,000 in legal fees reimbursed
BRADENTON -- Bob Gause is asking fellow Manatee County School Board members to approve reimbursing him more than $14,000 in legal fees racked up defending allegations of bid tampering.
The $14,722 request will come before the board during the Aug. 11 meeting, according to the agenda.
During an Audit Committee meeting in March, staff attorney Mitchell Teitelbaum said he found what appeared to be bid tampering while the Manatee County School District was bidding out projects related to a 2009 bond issue.
Gause, a board member at that time, and former Superintendent Roger Dearing were mentioned in the "whistleblower's report." After giving his report, Teitelbaum said he was referring the issue to the State Attorney's Office to investigate.
On June 8, an attorney from Attorney General Pam Bondi's office said they would not move forward with the claim.
At the last board meeting, an angered Gause said Teitelbaum broke the law when he gave Gause's bank information to FBI officials, who at one point were considering looking into the bid-tampering allegations. Gause also said he'd seek reimbursement and wanted new Superintendent Diana Greene to investigate Teitelbaum's actions.
"That wasn't an accident," Gause said. "That was an all-out assault."
During the meeting, Teitelbaum clarified the information was exempt but not confidential.
"I deny any breaking of the law whatsoever," Teitelbaum said during the meeting. "I cannot give any credence to that statement, sir."
Teitelbaum maintained he had a duty to report potential bid tampering and repeatedly stated turning over Gause's financial information was an inadvertent mistake, the action
was remedied and Gause was notified immediately.
Greene said she did not think investigating Teitelbaum's actions would be a good use of time.
"Mr. Teitelbaum is not independently employed. He had a supervisor. His supervisor is no longer with the district," she said. "His new supervisor will ensure whatever he is asked to do, it will be of the utmost integrity."
The expense was not included in the 2015-16 anticipated budget, according to the agenda item.
Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter @MeghinDelaney.
This story was originally published August 6, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee County School Board Chairman Bob Gause wants $14,000 in legal fees reimbursed ."