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Residents urge county to avoid utility-linked appointments after FPL ties raised
Summary
Speakers at the Escambia County public forum pressed the board to reconsider appointments they say are tied to Florida Power & Light and to prioritize locally rooted representatives; community members said recent alliances with utilities have eroded trust and urged greater transparency in economic development decisions.
Residents at the public forum opened the evening by pressing the Board of County Commissioners to prioritize local representation over appointees with corporate ties.
"This person is representing us and a lot of people feel very uncomfortable because of this new alliance," Franchesca said, referring to a county economic-development appointee who formerly worked with Florida Power & Light. Commenters argued the county should avoid appointing officials they said are connected to large utilities and that perceived conflicts undermine public trust. Several speakers presented campaign-contribution records and a job posting they said show developer interest in data-center power generation, asking the board to disclose relationships and to explain how appointments are vetted.
The chair acknowledged the comments and invited follow-up meetings; a commissioner offered to arrange introductions so concerned residents could meet the appointee and ask questions in person. The forum also included related concerns about utility rate increases, proposed ECUA fee changes and smart‑meter projects raised by other speakers.
