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Former Marco councilor withdraws request for city attorney position
Glenn Tucker’s firm no longer vies for position of city attorney
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Marco Island attorney and former city council member Glenn Tucker announced he is withdrawing his firm’s request to be considered as the City of Marco Island's attorney.
Tucker sent an unsolicited letter to City Council earlier this month informing them that his law firm, Rhodes, Tucker & Garretson, could provide legal service to the council at a lower rate than their current attorney, Alan Gabriel.
In a letter to City Council Wednesday, Tucker sited personal attacks against his partner Judge Brenda Garretson as the reason for his withdrawal of that request.
"I’m disappointed in his withdrawal. He had a lot to offer the city," said City Councilor Wayne Waldack. He added that 10 years of experience on City Council and Tucker's community involvement would have been an asset to the city.
Gabriel was researching the viability of the Tucker’s request given that the city charter limits former council members from holding staff positions after their service on City Council. The city charter states: "No former council member shall hold any compensated city position until four years after the expiration of the term for which the council member was elected."
However, Tucker did not cite this possible conflict or controversy as the reason for his withdrawal.
In a letter sent to City Council Wednesday, Tucker wrote: "It has come to my attention that a few vicious, petty individuals, including Douglas Enman, who apparently holds a grudge against me for my votes in favor of STRP (the septic tank replacement project) while I was on council, are attempting to malign and smear Judge Garretson ... "
Enman was the former chairman of Citizens Advocating Responsible Environmental Solutions, Inc. (CARES) which filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Marco Island, its former City Manager Bill Moss and Public Works Director Rony Joel individually for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and their supposed mishandling of asbestos concrete pipe during the Collier Boulevard construction project a couple years ago.
The case was settled outside of court.
"I may have been the first but I wasn't the last to point out four years had to go by before you could be considered for gainful employment with the city. I think to be City Attorney you must have knowledge of the charter and if in 10 years you don't get that than you never will," Enman said.
Enman added that he never "said anything behind anyone's back" or was said anything else to smear Garretson or Tucker.
Tucker said the reason for withdrawal was also due to information posted on a website www.marcoislandblog.blogspot.com and letters he learned were sent to City Council that "defamed the character" of his law partner Garretson, a former Collier County circuit court judge.
The website includes a posting of the Supreme Court Censure and reprimand Garretson received in 1999 for improper conduct at a Denny's restaurant including intoxication and a person in her party stealing a video camera. Garretson, last name Wilson at the time, had knowledge of the theft and returned the camera a couple days later without notifying authorities.
Garretson, also currently a special magistrate with Collier County Code Enforcement, was not available for comment.
"If Judge Garretson had been a private citizen the incident would have gone unnoticed. She is a very good person," Tucker said.
He added "We don't' need to subject ourselves to this. I went through that as City Councilor. I thought we were out of the politics. I thought we could supply city legal service and get away from this vicious, petty talk."
Last month, Council voted 6-1 to discuss whether Rhodes, Tucker and Garretson could even be considered or whether the firm’s representation would violate the city charter. Councilor Chuck Kiester gave the only 'no' vote on the idea of considering the firm.
No determination by Gabriel or his Fort Lauderdale-based firm, Weiss, Serota, Helfman, Pastoriza, Cole & Boniske, P.L. had yet been made as to whether it violated the charter.
Tucker was the longest serving councilman in city history, beginning with the city’s inception in 1997 to March 2007. Term-limits kept him from running last year.
Tucker headed the search committee that recommended Gabriel.
Tucker estimated his firm's rates would save the city money over Gabriel's rate. The $20 per hour rate reduction and minimal travel expenses charged by his on-island firm could save the council between 20 and 40 percent overall, he said.
"This is not important enough to us to go through that kind of low-life attempt to smear our character," Tucker exclaimed.


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I really thought I would never write in these blogs again. But like all good intentions this one too must be dropped. Mr. Tucker, you are a real piece of work. You'r statement that Mr. Enman was "attempting to malign and smear Judge Garretson ... ” is incredible. How is it that a public document by the Florida Courts maligns anyone? Are you implying that the findings and opinion, published and endorsed by the Florida Supreme Court are false or contrived. There is nothing "personal" in Mr. Enman's actions. He simply gave factual documented evidence relating past behvior of a member of your firm to a group of elected officials trying to decide if they want to hire your firm. Unfortunatly for your firm, your partner's behavior was found to be serious enough to document and record in the Court's public records. That behavior was not Mr. Enman's doing. Mr. Enman is only the messenger. You should have known that this information would be made public again. After all, it was your decision to send the letter to the Council asking that your firm be considered for the job, not Mr. Enman. Take responsiblity and be accountable. Judge Garretson may have been rehabilitated by your firm but it was your action that led to the direct further disclosure of her past behavior not Mr. Enman's actions. You not only owe Mr. Enman an apology but also Judge Garretson. It was your action and desire to promote your firm that exposed your partner to further examination.
#1 Posted by Lolala on July 11, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lolala, you are a real piece of work, you should crawl back into the hole where you have been hiding. Your continued outrageous attacks against leaders of our community reeks of ignorance and sour grapes. You and Mr. Enman, who are not leaders in this community,(praise the lord) and all the local CAVE dwellers have done more harm to this community then anyone since we became a city. Give it a rest you and the likes of Enman are a minority, did you not get the message January 29th, YOUR MINORITY GROUP LOST, except it and please go away and take your vile opinions with you.
#2 Posted by Cyber on July 11, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear Councilor Waldack:
Since you are so interested in the FACTS, let me give you a FACT that may surprise you and embarrass me. Until this story was printed and I had a conversation, last night, with Kelly at the newspaper, I did NOT know that Judge Wilson is now the Ms. Garretson who works at Mr. Tuckers’ law firm. Therefore, I could not have had malicious intent, nor intend to malign or smear Ms. Garretson.
However, it delights me to no end that my release of well documented FACTS and attempted circumvention of the city’s charter, by Mr. Tucker, has led to this outcome. I am also encouraged in seeing Mr. Tucker respond, in ignorance, to the FACTS in a typical inflammatory lawyer manner.
In closing let me say, beware of the FACTS because they may come back to haunt you.
#3 Posted by dougenman on July 11, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lets cut threw the crap Tucker.
95% of the islanders that know of you - DO NOT approve of YOU!
#4 Posted by gernblanstone on July 11, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
By his support of Mr. Tucker, Mr. Waldack has demonstrated that:
1. He has no regard for the intent of the charter and no concern about upholding its provisions.
2. He supports a man that has lied to the citizens about having evidence of citizens committing a crime and a woman that as a judge was convicted of observing a crime and not reporting it; lied about the facts in the case to two investigators; and demonstated a complete lack of ethics and integrity.
3. It is understandable that Mr. Waldack would support new city attorneys that share his disdain for the charter and the rule of law and who have demonstrated complete lack of ethics. Who better to overrsee the activities of his council.
4. ln his rush to get his name in the paper by commenting on every issue on Marco Island Mr. Waldack has obviously never heard of the old admonition "If people are think you are stupid it is better to keep your mouth shut instead of proving them right."
#5 Posted by marcoobserver on July 12, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Give Tucker his due. It takes a big man to admit he tried to screw the residents again. We're all proud of you "Tuck"!!!
#6 Posted by hourigan82247 on July 12, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
95% of the island disapproves of him? Are you kidding me? His law firm is one of the longest on the island AND the most respected. You, gernblanstone, need to learn how to spell. It's not "threw", it's "through".
You just proved you're an idiot.
#7 Posted by marcoorig on July 12, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Marcoorig; "longest on the island"?
Do you mean his law firm is longest as far as linear feet? Then I would have to agree with you.
Tuckers law firm certainly is long, at least 50 feet or so.
Idiot.
#8 Posted by gernblanstone on July 13, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps this fellow should consider a new island to live on?
#9 Posted by August8 on July 15, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"If Judge Garretson had been a private citizen the incident would have gone unnoticed. She is a very good person,"
But she was not an private citizen Mr Tucker, she was a judge and should be held to a higher standard because of that.
#10 Posted by marcoislandres on July 15, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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