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…)

TALLAHASSEE - Business and government officials from St. Lucie and Martin counties are spending several days here this week to press their issues with the Treasure Coast’s legislative delegation.

The Treasure Coast Legislative Conference is an annual tradition going back two decades. This year, the three-day trip comes with a certain sense of urgency: Local leaders are facing millions in lost revenue, high rates of unemployment and home foreclosure, and the likelihood of more cuts to come.

Unfortunately, so are the people they’re lobbying.

Martin County Commissioner Ed Ciampi said officials are keeping their interactions with legislators “courteous and light,” but he summed up the situation this way: “Politics is not fun when there’s no money.”
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