Ley's resignation accepted

Jim Ley presided over his last Sarasota County Commission meeting today, during which commissioners accepted his resignation offer.

He was caught up in a procurement-department scandal in which seven county employees were fired or resigned.

The workers were accused of offenses ranging from improperly using county credit cards to allegedly accepting gifts from contractors in exchange for winning lucrative county contracts.

“I take responsibility as the leader of this organization, when things like this happen,” he said.

Ley will receive a severance package of more than $265,000, which is equal to one year of salary and benefits.

Maj. Kurt Hoffman, of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, was chosen as the interim county administrator, while the county conducts a national search for a permanent replacement.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].