Comments on: West Florida Libraries Board Names Top Choices For New Library System Director

By: Dolly Berthelot

Dolly Berthelot — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:31:38 +0000

Bradley Vinson is an ideal choice to direct our public libraries. She has outstanding well-targeted education and experience for this vital and complex job, and she has the thoughtful temperament and calm demeanor necessary to navigate through difficult times.

By: Lori Gordon

Lori Gordon — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:25:15 +0000

It appears the library BOG has made an excellent and qualified recommendation for Library Services Director who also satisfies the educational and professional qualifications under FS 257.17 governing operating grant eligibility. It would be a shame to over ride this highly qualified candidate for a political appointment who does not meet the minimum qualifications. Support the BOG recommendation.

By: Chassity Bush

Chassity Bush — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 02:01:32 +0000

Great choice! Bradley Vinson is more qualified! Let’s hope Wes Moreno does the right thing!

By: CJ Lewis

CJ Lewis — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:21:55 +0000

Great pick. I attended the in-person interviews of four candidates held on February 23rd in the county building. Bradley Vinson was by far the best candidate followed by Chris Hare and then Michael Jenkins. Vinson was rightly the person selected by the Board of Governance with Hare rightly their backup or alternate. All board members liked Jenkins but he didn’t have enough experience. They all seemed to hope Jenkins would apply for another position here. On February 20th Christal Bell-Rivera did very poorly, even worse than she had done during the phone interviews held on February 2nd. She was almost robotic reading from a script answering pretty simple questions with long-winded sentences with many big words. It all sounded as if her “answers” were prepared using ChatGPT. She also never looked at the board members and kept her eyes glued to the HR Director Nikki Powell as if to plead, “Save me!” The big open mystery obvious to the public and bluntly discussed by the library board was why Bell-Rivera was even allowed to have an interview. The job notice agreed to by both the Board of Governance and county staff had three key “minimum qualifications.” Bell-Rivera didn’t meet any of them. Of the 22 applicants the board discussed seven that county staff had said were “Qualified And Recommended” and five labeled “Qualified And Not Recommended.” At least two candidates placed on the second list might have been on the first list. Bell-Rivera should not have been on either list as she met no qualifications for the job. In fact, she has never actually done any actual “library” work. The board only wanted to interview the two top candidates in-person but County Administrator Wes Moreno threw Bell-Rivera a “lifeline” insisting that she be given an interview too. When it came time on February 23rd for the board to discuss the candidates Bell-Rivera was hesitant to leave the room and had to be told aloud that it was inappropriate for her to remain. Best case once Vinson is in the job Hare will be promoted to serve as Deputy Director, or perhaps sooner. The combination of Vinson and Hare would really “up the game” of the library system.

By: ConstitutionOverMAGAFools

ConstitutionOverMAGAFools — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:34:05 +0000

Glad to see the commonsense choice was made. I feel confident that the BOG has made the correct decision for our community. She definitely reflects proper, educated values for our students.

By: Paula Montgomery

Paula Montgomery — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 04:22:37 +0000

How fortunate Escambia Public Libraries are to have such an excellent field to choose among.

I agree that Bradley will make an excellent director.

By: ConstitutionOverCommies

ConstitutionOverCommies — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:29:35 +0000

Well, this pick shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows how extremely left-wing the West Florida Board of Governance is. Leave it to these intellectual titans to select the candidate who came into the interview and immediately removed her shoes! It’s not surprising that I didn’t expect the BOG to choose someone who is actually currently serving in an interim role and reflects the values of the majority of our country. Christal Bell-Rivera is the obvious, proven choice, but hey, let the fringe make this decision for all of us. Soon, we might see more of the same blocking our streets and attacking police, like their supporters in Minnesota and New York! If this isn’t the future you want for our wonderful home, I encourage you to make your voice heard by calling and texting your County Commission and County Administrator. If not, keep your head down and let the fringe decide for you—just don’t cry foul later when your child is being groomed to become a radical with extreme views by the handpicked sleeper cell employees quietly placed in positions of influence across our great nation.

By: Library user

Library user — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:58:10 +0000

David, indeed, I wish that ECT money was going to the libraries! Congratulations to Bradley on receiving the Board’s recommendation. She would be a very good choice for Director.

By: David Greene

David Greene — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:48:18 +0000

Too bad that more money is being spent on the Children’s Trust than the library system.