NFSC trustees fire Richburg

The trustees of Northwest Florida State College voted this morning to fire college president Dr. Bob Richburg, who is presently under indictment for official misconduct and perjury in conjunction with an ongoing scandal involving former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom (R-Destin), who is also under indictment.

The St. Petersburg Times political blog The Buzz recaps the vote:

The vote was 4 to 3.

“We have to turn this ship another direction,” said trustee Dale Rice, who added he is a friend of Richburg’s. “Really because the controversy, the fighting with the media and the things that are going on are hurting the mission of this college, and it is hurting kids and their future.”

The indictment may have triggered the move, but trustees noted a string of controversies that have riven the community in recent years. “We have had a cloud over our college for a long time,” said Teena Wells. She added: “I felt like my trust was violated the night he said he was hiring Ray Sansom and he didn’t need the board’s approval.”

The trustees also voted to abandon the $6 million constructed of a “multipurpose classroom building” (read: airport hangar for developer Jay Odom, a supporter of Rep. Sansom). Approximately $300,000 has already been spent on planning and design for the facility, and Governor Charlie Crist has asked the college to reimburse the state for that amount; however, the trustees indicated they would ask the governor to reconsider.

Links

• The Buzz: “Trustees vote to fire college president Bob Richburg”
• The Buzz: “College abandons controversial airport project”