STUART — Martin County Commissioner Ed Ciampi said he wants County Administrator Duncan Ballantyne to resign on Tuesday to start a makeover of the county government.

“I asked Duncan for his resignation,” Ciampi said. “I think that we need change in our organization and I feel that change starts at the top. I want to get started right away.”

But Ballantyne’s fate remains uncertain because the four other commissioners said they did not want to immediately commit to keeping or firing him. (more…)

By JASON SCHULTZ

STUART — A high-ranking Martin County official will be suspended for three days without pay for not disclosing that she was having an affair with U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, county officials said Friday.

Engineering Operations Manager Kim Roden will be suspended for violating the county’s standard of conduct for employees by engaging in the relationship with the congressman and keeping it secret, said County Administrator Duncan Ballantyne. The decision was made by a group of senior county staffers on Wednesday after a lengthy county investigation, he said.

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