Hoffman declines county administrator role

Two weeks ago, Maj. Kurt Hoffman, of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, agreed to serve as interim Sarasota County administrator.

Today, he is declining that job.

Hoffman was to replace Jim Ley, who resigned May 25 amid a procurement scandal.

Since then, the sheriff’s office and county attorney have been investigating all the legal and ethical issues of such an appointment.

Although the Florida Commission on Ethics OK'd the move, the Florida Retirement System ruled that Hoffman would have to significantly reduce his retirement benefits for the time he served as interim county administrator.

He might then have to reapply to get his law-enforcement benefits reinstated.

Hoffman was going to have to wait to get a final ruling on the possibility of reinstatement, so he is withdrawing himself from consideration to allow the county to fill the position immediately.

“I have always been willing to help out if called upon, but I do not want to further delay the process,” he said.

It’s not known at this time if the County Commission, which is meeting today, has another candidate in mind.

Contact Robin Roy at r[email protected].