Another head-scratching moment

First off, I realize there are other things going on in Citrus County than the political race for sheriff.

And I’ll be getting to those other things real soon.

Just not today.

I loved how today’s blog started. I just didn’t like the rest of it, and at 8 p.m. it was rewrite time.

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I promise not to complain as much as with past late-night rewrites. Here’s what happened:

Truth is that this one didn’t feel right from the start.

I wrote about a bizarre episode Tuesday with Sheriff Mike Prendergast at the County Commission meeting.

The more I wrote, though, the less I liked it.

For one it seemed like I was piling on. Prendergast has been under a hot spotlight the few weeks, and this seemed unnecessary.

I’m also leery, frankly, of getting involved in something with a ton of detail, and this issue Prendergast has with the Lahera family over Andy’s employment status and insurance is mired in several layers of detail.

That’s what the news people are for, to sort that stuff out. I’m no longer in the investigative reporting business. My inner voice tells me to stay away from details that I can easily foul up.

So, rather than break down who’s right or wrong here, simply an observation about Tuesday.

The County Commission had a proclamation to mark the one-year anniversary of Andy’s tragic accident. The proclamation was very sweet and touching. Michelle Lahera, Andy’s wife, thanked the community and then made a few points about her husband’s situation with the sheriff.

Unbeknownst to me, Prendergast and Col. Elena Vitt stood along the back wall during the proclamation. (This Chronicle story has a great Matt Beck photo.) A few minutes later, as TV crews interviewed Michelle in the hallway, Prendergast and Vitt burst from the board meeting room and walked briskly toward the Courthouse exit, never uttering a word.

What the heck? What the serious heck was that all about?

That happened following a proclamation for one of his officers critically injured in the line of duty. 

Can someone explain this to me? I’m just not getting it.

Of course, the TV people ate it up in their interview. Michelle and her son answered variations of, “How’d that make you feel?” with the truth. Hurt. Disappointed. Angry. Confused. Ignored.

Prendergast was interviewed on TV later saying he didn’t know what the fuss was all about. Of course, Andy would be taken care of. Pardon us for being a little wary of that promise.

Maybe Michelle and the sheriff could have a quiet chat about it and jointly announce a resolution. Wouldn’t that be cool?

Difficult to imagine as that seems, I’m not into impossible things these days. For Andy, let’s pray it happens.

— A few people were surprised to see Jesse Rumson at Tuesday’s commission meeting. Rumson, aka “Sedition Panda,” was convicted by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Friday for assaulting a police officer and other charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Rumson is running for County Commission District 5 and has pre-qualified for the ballot. Once Elections Supervisor Maureen “Mo” Baird gets official word of the convictions, Rumson’s name will be removed from the voter roll as he’s a convicted felon. If he’s barred from voting, he's unable to get his name on the ballot.

Complicating matters is Rumson's sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5 — two weeks after the primary. It’s another reason Mo is waiting for something official.

That’s it for today. Here’s to a hopeful Wednesday, friends.

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