Columbia County parks director resigns amid debate over rules for county employees running for office

A request from parks director Clint Pitman for unpaid leave to run for county office prompted a lengthy ethics and policy debate during the Columbia County commission meeting, and ended with Pitman’s immediate resignation.

Pitman requested that his unpaid leave begin when he formally qualifies as a candidate for the upcoming election. Commissioners and outside counsel discussed the county’s ethics provision that prohibits employees from being candidates, relevant case law, and the difference between filing to run and formal candidate qualification under Florida election law.

Attorney commentary noted appellate precedent in the First District Court of Appeal that an employee on an unpaid leave of absence who performs no work and receives no compensation may no longer be treated as an employee for certain statutory purposes. Other speakers urged strict adherence to the county code as written, emphasizing that the policy barred employees from running while employed.

Before the board completed a vote on the leave request, Pitman addressed the commission and announced: “with pride that I stand here today and I resign from my position as landscape parks director for Columbia County effective immediately.” He said he would turn in county property and pursue his candidacy.

The commission discussed the broader policy afterward: several commissioners called for a near-term review of the ethics rule and its definition of “candidate,” while others urged following existing code language. The matter raised procedural questions about consistency in granting leave and the board said it will consider policy review as part of its ongoing personnel-policy overhaul.