Survivors and supporters both speak at Escambia County public forum after disputed commissioner remarks

A separate strand of testimony at the March 5 Escambia County public forum focused on remarks by County Commissioner Mike Kohler that attendees said referenced a survivor’s assault. Several survivors, victim advocates and community members urged the board to adopt stronger rules of conduct and to hold leadership accountable; other commenters offered character testimony in defense of the commissioner.

Victim advocates and survivors urged formal accountability. Clover Lawson accused a commissioner of "weaponizing" a survivor’s trauma and said the board should adopt clear rules of decorum and recourse for violations: "You need to resign," she told the dais. Grace Roth, a victim advocate with the Gulf Coast sexual-assault program, provided a local hotline and service details and said her program administered 42 kits and handled 77 cases in the most recent quarter, 37 of which were in Escambia County.

Survivors’ voices included Megan Boggs, who described being a survivor and connected the issue to a recent arrest in the Navy; she said apologies without action were insufficient and that survivors across the county need more resources. "If you are unwilling to back your apologies with real action for the survivors everywhere, then sadly I agree with the calls for you to resign," Boggs said.

At the same time, multiple speakers offered character testimonials for Commissioner Kohler. Shannon Kohler, the commissioner’s spouse, and several retired Navy colleagues praised his 30-year service and community work and urged colleagues to consider the context and his record. Scott Bollinger and Anne Bollinger described Kohler’s military and charity work and asked the public to weigh his decades of service.

Why it matters: The exchange brought together survivor advocates and community supporters in the same public forum and raised questions about public officials’ use of social media and the county’s processes for addressing alleged misconduct or insensitive comments. Attendees urged the board to consider policy on online conduct and stronger decorum rules for commissioners.

What’s next: No disciplinary action or formal investigation was announced during the meeting; testimony concluded with calls both for further internal accountability and for due-process protections. The public forum then recessed and the board planned to reconvene at the posted time.