19

76

m~KENZIE
LAW FIRM/PA

July 20,2015
Mayor Ashton Hayward
City of Pensacola
222 W. Main Street
Pensacola, FL 32502
Re:

Harassment of.

by Eric Olson, City Administrator

Dear Mayor Hayward:

I represent.
regarding actions taken on your and the city's behalf
by Eric Olson, the city administrator. I am unsure as to whether you are aware
of the illegal, unconstitutional, and ethically reprehensible activities Mr. Olson
has seen fit to engage in on your behalf.
My client has asked that I bring these actions to your attention, so that you can
properly cease and condemn the actions of Eric Olson.
, as you mayor may not be aware, is the President of the
Neighborhood Association. She is also a concerned citizen. As a result, she has
frequent contact with various members of the City'S staff and with elected
officials such as members of City Council. This includes telephone calls, emails,
and public records requests.
Mr. Olson does not like the fact that
; has frequent contact with the
City. Apparently, he also does not like her making public records requests. On
July 2,2015, Mr. Olson, took it upon himself to try and have
fired
from her job with the federal government for her exercise of her First-~~
Amendment rights and her utilization of Florida's Public Records laws.
On that date, Mr. Olson contacted .
, superior and falsely alleged that
was engaged in sending hundreds
emails to city officials while at
work. He made efforts and overtures to persuade the Lieutenant Commander to
fire her.

of

Mr. Olson made blatant and outright lies to the Lieutenant Commander. As a
point of fact,
has only ever sent 5 emails from her work email,
which contain basic requests for information to city employees. Two of the
emails sent were "thank you" emails to city officials.
James F. McKenzie

IJ.

Alistair

905 Eut Hatton Street, Penncola,

[850] 432 2856 I facsimile;

office;

McKenzie
FL 32503

IJack

E. De La Piedra

I www.mckenzielawfirm.com

[850] 202 2012

110011 free;

[80.)] 343 3067

PERSONAL INJURY I WRONGFUL DEATH I INSURANCE CLAIMS I SOCIAL SECURITY I CIVIL RIGHTS

As a result of Mr. Olson's lies

was investigated by her superior. It
is simply unfathomable that a city official holding the second-highest position at
the city would engage in outright lies in an attempt to have someone fired
because that citizen is active with the city government and because she exercises
her legal rights as a citizen.
Mr. Olson's actions have violated the law, including interference with
. exercise of her First Amendment rights and his actions amount to
retaliation against her for exercising her First Amendment rights and the Florida
public records laws.
, does not want to sue the City of Pensacola However, if Mr. Olson's
illegal activities are not stopped by you,
- will be left with no choice
but to pursue legal action. She hopes that this will be unnecessary.
She asks you, Mayor Hayward, to hold your employees accountable for their
actions and asks you to hold them up to the highest standards of moral and
ethical conduct when acting as a representative of the City of Pensacola Mr.
Olson's actions are unbecoming of a City Administrator and call into question
his ethics with regard to administration of the City's business.
My client is hopeful that you will do the right thing.

For the Firm

15-00108

OAM)

-2-