Dixie County Executive Resigns After Conflict With County Commissioners

CROSS CITY, Fla. (WCJB) – The Dixie County executive has resigned after a conflict with the county commissioner after some voted to advertise the position.

After serving in the interim position for about two years, Paul Gainey was named Dixie County Executive at a meeting. At the commission’s last meeting, Gainey submitted his letter of resignation.

A county official said she believes Gainey has made an impact on the community and is unsure how he will be replaced.

“He took charge, it was like no time had passed,” said Barbie Higginbotham, the county court clerk. “We’ve come so far in three and a half years and I feel like letting him go is going to set us back and we don’t want that to happen.”

Gainey’s resignation comes after a Sept. 5 meeting where board members voted to advertise his position. The vote was split, with some commissioners angry with Gainey.

“Well, they don’t elect you Paul, they elect us 5. That’s the problem in a nutshell,” one commissioner said at the September 5 meeting.

After a split vote, commissioners decided not to advertise Gainey’s position.

Higginbotham didn’t like the way he was treated throughout the discussion. She says it was inappropriate and unfair. That’s why she took to social media and defended him.

“I started writing and I was wondering whether I should hit send or not. As soon as I did, I felt a sense of relief. Let’s face it, we need transparency,” Higginbotham said.

During the discussion, Gainey said he followed commission policy and procedures.

“That’s board policy and procedures and I’d be happy to put a committee together so we can get together and look at that, but again, that’s board policy, it’s not the county manager’s policy,” Gainey said.

Commissioner Jamie Storey, who voted to keep Gainey in his post, said he wants Gainey to stay but understands his decision.

I contacted the commissioners who voted to advertise the position, but they did not respond.

Gainey’s last day is September 29th, he tells me it’s time to move on due to differences of opinion.

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