Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward is “saddened” by the situation that is unfolding as a federal grand jury prepares to review documents related to contracts and other dealings in his administration.

But he maintains that no wrongdoing took place and he and his staff will remain focused on doing the “business of the citizens.”

“I think everyone knows I put my heart and soul into this place and I think two months before an election is very interesting to me,” Hayward said of the timing of the inquiry. “I think anybody that’s ever talked to me about what the city’s doing or whether there was ever any inquiry, that I’ve been completely forthcoming and we’re doing the business of the citizens every single day.”

Hayward said he has not been subpoenaed or spoken with federal investigators and that it would be “irresponsible to speculate” about the matter.

Based on the kind of documentation requested by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Eggers, there may be some overlap in issues raised by former Pensacola City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese.

“We believe it’s the same issues that have come up over the last couple of years that were at the State Attorney’s Office, that our auditors reviewed and the State Attorney reviewed and they came back with no substance,” Hayward said. “The hallmark of my administration has been to be transparent,” Hayward said, citing a visit from the First Amendment Foundation’s Barbara Peterson to conduct training with city staff on public records compliance and a revamped public records request process.

State Attorney’s review

State Attorney Bill Eddins’ office examined numerous issues raised by DeWeese last year related to contracts for road work, landscaping, banking and other services given to political supporters of Hayward’s as well as travel and other expense reimbursements by Hayward and his then Chief of Staff John Asmar.

Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said based on their review, they did not find sufficient facts for criminal charges.

Because Marcille has not been contacted by his federal counterparts, he said he does not know what they may be looking into.

A federal grand jury in Tallahassee will meet on Sept. 3 to review documents related to:

-- The Main Street Rehabilitation Project bid in November 2011. Requested are bid sheets, committee memorandums, City Council reports, city engineering reports, change orders, payment requests and all e-mails concerning the project.

-- Copies of requests for investment bids from Jan. 1, 2010 to Jan. 1, 2013, including but not limited to RFI requests disseminated on or about Nov. 1, 2011 and Feb. 7, 2012, by Pam Childers, (now Escambia Clerk of Court, who at that time worked in the city finance department).

-- Copies of all records pertaining to agreements between the City and Jerry Pate Design dated for  “Main Street Improvements Projects from Baylen to Clubbs” between the city and the firm; one dated March 20, 2012, for “Bayfront Parkway landscape improvements”; a “Landscape Architecture Agreement for Main Street (from Spring to Reus) dated April 4, 2012; a landscape architecture agreement for Main Street from Baylen to Spring, also dated April 4. The subpoena asks for requests for bids, bid sheets, selection of contractor documents, e-mails pertaining to the bids and contractor selection, internal memos about those projects and copies of payments.

-- Copies of all records related o a request for qualifications property insurance issued on or about Feb. 9, 2012.

-- Copies of records of expenses incurred by Hayward or Asmar related to travel expenses and requests for reimbursement.

Most of those items touch on material DeWeese provided Marcille’s office.

Hayward said the records requested by federal officials should be collected by the end of Friday or Monday at the latest. Individual city employees who have been subpoenaed are represented by Tallahassee attorney Thomas Findley.

Contacted this afternoon, Asmar said that during his tenure as chief of staff, “I ran a clean ship and encouraged others to be transparent and be mindful of perceptions. Throughout I found that City personnel were honest, sincere, hardworking employees. As such, I believe that all procurement policies and procedures were followed with regard to the projects in question.”

Question lingers

Hayward said he thinks these questions have lingered because of the nature of politics -- and because of changes brought about by the city’s switch to a strong-mayor form of government after a 2009 voter referendum.

“I think there a lot of poison in politics and I don’t think it’s any different in any town,” Hayward said. “There’s been a lot of change that’s gone on in Pensacola since the new form of government in 2009.

“I think when things are different, it’s challenging for people to accept,” he said. “We’ve always tried to do the right thing at City Hall and change the way we were doing things and I think when people get out of what they’re used to, it makes them uncomfortable.”

Hayward also noted positive changes in the city -- from recent jobs announcements at the Port of Pensacola and beautification efforts to neighborhood improvements up to and including the Community Maritime Park and baseball stadium coming to fruition.

“I just think it’s a great time in Pensacola and I think in politics you have to ride it through. I’m going to hold my head high and anything that’s requested of me, I’ll do whatever I can to be accommodating.

“I think we’ve done a great job in four years and I look forward to another great four years.”

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