SANCA decides to keep Blackketter

After a video appeared two weeks ago showing Paul Blackketter threatening and berating someone, things seemed pretty grim for Blackketter, president of the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center (SANCA).

That organization, which runs Nathan Benderson Park for Sarasota County, heard an apology from Blackketter, several public comments in support of his performance there, and encouragement from some members of the board at their Oct. 7 board of directors' meeting.

Bill Robinson, chairman of SANCA’s board, confirmed that Joanne Fava, who spoke in Blackketter’s defense at the meeting, was present a year ago when the video was recorded. She told her fellow board members that Blackketter was defending a female employee from Mike DePriest, a former employee who she said had exhibited inappropriate behavior toward the unnamed woman.

“Mike was harassing and stalking her for years,” Fava said at the meeting.

She said DePriest baited Blackketter into the confrontation.

Fava referred requests for comment to back to Bill Robinson.

Blackketter told the Sarasota Observer that he accepts “full responsibility” for what is shown in the video and apologizes to everyone at the park. He called his behavior “not acceptable” and promised he would do everything in his power to ensure it didn’t happen again.

“SANCA has a huge year coming up. I feel the board made the right decision and I take what happened very seriously. I want to be a better leader,” Blackketter said. “I feel appreciative and blessed that I can stay on the team and move forward and keep doing all the good things we’ve been doing.”

There are no Sarasota County employees involved, but the county maintains that a third-party investigation is warranted. 

County spokesman Drew Winchester provided a statement that contains the following: "We expect that a thorough and fair investigation will be conducted, and moving forward, we expect that excellent customer service will be provided to our community at the many great events coming to Nathan Benderson Park."

Robinson said the board felt no need to make changes and that Ron Shapo would select an entity to conduct a third-party review, as per Sarasota County’s request.

“We just need to make sure we have all our bases covered,” said Robinson.