Six-figure public official had plan to double dip

Tampa, Florida -- More shocking information has surfaced about a former public official who is collecting retirement and wants to get his job back.

We have learned the former head of the Hillsborough Planning Commission, Bob Hunter, had worked on a plan for years to get his $145,000 a year job back after he retired.

As we first reported Wednesday, Hunter who retired December 31^st wanted his job back 40 days after leaving. As part of his retirement, Hunter will receive $41,796 every year for the rest of his life and he will get a one-time payout from the Florida Retirement System of more than $200,000.

Some members of the Planning Commission, led by Jackie Wilson, are trying to do an end run and rehire Hunter. Not everyone is in agreement with the plan. Commissioner Ed Giunta says it stinks and he has a problem rehiring Hunter.

Hunter thinks it is a great idea. When I asked him why he would come back after retiring in December, he gave a convoluted answer saying, "There are some things from the standpoint of planning" that he would like to do.

While Hunter's answer might not be clear, it is clear he has been planning this move for almost three years. Through a public records request, we uncovered an e-mail dated March 21 2006.

In the e-mail, the Planning Commission lawyer tells Hunter his plan to get a promise to be rehired before he left, wouldn't work.

The e-mail says, "It appears giving you any kind of commitment to rehire you after the DROP period has significant risk for the agency and you personally."

However, Hunter thinks he is needed. When asked if he is the only guy in the country who could fill his old job, Hunter wouldn't answer. He said it is the Planning Commission's decision about that.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita is one of many Commissioners upset about Hunter's plan.

Ferlita says, "You retire and that is the end of the story." She says what Hunter is doing is very inappropriate.

While Hillsborough Commissioners don't have a vote over whether the Planning Commission rehires Hunter, they do have influence over the Planning Commission, because they provide much of the funding for the agency.

Ferlita says that should weigh into the Planning Commission's decision whether to rehire Hunter or not. However, Ferlita adds Hunter should not get his job back.

We also discovered Hunter's executive assistant, Grace Sanders is double dipping. Sanders in 2005 and received a one-time $130,000 payment from the state. Then a couple of months later, Sanders was rehired at the Planning Commission.

Now in addition to her $75,000 salary, Sanders gets an annual $26,559 retirement check, for a total of $102,083 each year from taxpayers.