A county leader will now have a bigger role in shaping the future of the Southwest Florida community.
The greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce named Commissioner Brian Hamman as the new President and CEO of the organization.
Monday, WINK News spoke to Hamman on how his role as commissioner could impact his role or vice versa.
Hamman said if there was a situation where, for example, Lee County was prepared to lease property or give money to a specific entity he is working for, then he would recuse himself.
A news release said Hamman will “continue to serve as Lee County Commissioner for District Four.” Two important jobs pose one critical question, does this create a conflict of interest?
“The Commission on ethics is actually the agency in Florida, which reviews if elected officials have an ethical problem,” Hamman said. “And the Commission on ethics has ruled actually more than once that there is no conflict of interest in holding this position.”
Hamman and all Lee County Commissioners are allowed to hold other jobs. Hamman said before he accepted the chamber post, he met with the county attorney. “I was concerned just like anybody in the public would be, is there a conflict of interest,” Hamman said.
Hamman said the commission of ethics established checks and balances that he will follow now that he holds both positions.
“The only things that I’m not allowed to vote on are when we would be a situation where we would lease property or give money to this specific entity that I work for, just like anybody else who has an outside job,” Hamman said. “But, as far as voting on things for North Fort Myers, and, and representing my constituents, I plan to work just as hard as I always have and advocate for them just as hard as I always have.”
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Hamman would not recuse himself. Hmman stated he would recuse himself if there was any conflict of interest.