FLAGLER BEACH, Fla.—Florida, the Sunshine State, has once again rained on Scott Janke’s parade. The poor sap, who had married an adult performer, figured he could still continue in his career as a public official, but instead was forced to withdraw his name from contention for the position of city manager after it was learned that he had been fired last year as mayor of Fort Myers Beach.
Even worse, in terms of Janke’s life and Florida’s sagging reputation as a place of acceptance and tolerance, the couple is separated. They’re not even together! Still, once the Flagler Beach city commissioners learned of Janke’s previous professional troubles, they felt the need to hold a special meeting Thursday evening to assess whether the former mayor, who was the front-runner for the position, could be considered for the job.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that the meeting was “contentious.” The commissioners accepted Janke’s offer to withdraw his name from consideration but rejected a motion to give the job on an interim basis to a local candidate who had no experience as a city manager. The search continues, but who really cares? If these towns feel free to reject capable people because of their marriages, one can only hope that the ultimately successful candidate turns out to be something even more unthinkable, like a liberal.
Of course, the residents of the beachside burg deserve better, and a few of them expressed their indifference to the porn connection to a local TV station.
“I don't think it should make a difference,” said Barbie Abera on CFNews13.com.
“If that's the industry that she works in, then that would be up to him,” added Jimmy Maqson. “He could be married to Linda Lovelace. I wouldn't care if he was a good city manager.”
Unfortunately, those sentiments didn’t prevail, and that’s too bad. Janke, who said he decided to step aside "because of all the commotion that's been arising," seems like a truly decent guy.
