News
Questions Surround Reassignment of Former Undersheriff
Posted: 4:14 PM Jul 10, 2012
Reporter: Jacquie Slater
| Wakulla County Sheriff's Candidate May Be Violating Hatch Act 7-10 6pm |  |  |  |
July 10, 2012
Maurice Langston is running for the open sheriff's seat in Wakulla County. When he filed papers to seek candidacy, he was serving as the undersheriff for the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office. A citizen filed an official complaint with the Office of Special Counsel against him, and suddenly he was reassigned.
When Eyewitness News reporter Jacquie Slater first learned of Langston's change in status, she asked the WCSO to confirm. She was told by Keith Blackmar, the Public Information Officer at WCSO, that Langston was still the undersheriff. Later that afternoon, she received a call saying Langston had indeed been reassigned to Major of Administration.
As undersheriff, Langston would have overseen people and programs in charge of federal funding, something that is prohibited under the Hatch Act. A move to administration may or may not have distanced him from those responsibilities. WCTV learned an internal email had gone out at the WCSO stating Langston would still handle the duties of undersheriff.
Langston supporters say he's getting a bad rap.
"I like Langston. He's a good man. He's been there a long time. He knows the system. And he's been a part of this county for a long time," said Chris Nichols, a Langston supporter.
As of Tuesday morning, Langston's personal Facebook page still said he's second in command at the WCSO. On the agency's website, he's listed as Major Maurice Langston and is in charge of leading the Law Enforcement Division.
Slater asked the WCSO for clarification as to what Langston's exact position is. She cited the official WCSO document reassigning Langston to Major of Administration. She was told by Blackmar that Langston is in Law Enforcement and is second in command. She asked for Langston's exact responsibilities and was told someone would have to get back to her.
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