Commission confirms court services director after debate over hiring policy

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners voted 4–1 on Aug. 9 to confirm Thomas Tonkovich as the county’s court services director after a prolonged debate about whether the county manager followed board-approved hiring procedures.

The confirmation followed a legal review requested by the board. Labor attorney Mister Gonzales, who reviewed the hiring process at the board’s request, told commissioners his legal assessment found no basis to conclude the manager’s actions created exposure for discrimination: “I concluded that there wasn't a basis for believing that there would be liability based on discrimination,” he said. That legal finding did not settle the separate question several commissioners raised about adherence to internal recruitment policies.

Commissioner Byron Long, who led the policy critique, framed the issue as one of institutional integrity. “If policies are not followed, what should the remedies be?” he asked the board during the discussion, urging commissioners to decide whether to require corrective steps even while confirming the hire.

Several commissioners said they were satisfied the substance of the hiring outcome would not have changed had the process been different, but nonetheless pressed for a formal remedy because the board’s policies were not followed in timing and consultation. The board approved a motion to confirm the hire and separately authorized the chair to send a written instruction to the manager counseling him about the failure to follow policy.

Evelyn Fox, president of the Alachua County NAACP, addressed the board during public comment, urging adherence to fair hiring procedures and greater diversity in senior hires under the manager’s tenure. The manager responded that he stands by his record and noted he has appointed several minority leaders to senior posts.

The vote to confirm Tonkovich was 4 in favor and 1 opposed (Commissioner Long). The chair’s written instruction will be prepared and transmitted to the county manager as the board’s formal, nonpunitive direction about following hiring policies going forward.

What happens next: Tonkovich will assume the court services director role once the county completes the confirmation paperwork; the board’s instruction to the manager is expected to be circulated within days.