Panama City commission files ethics complaints after mayor accused of power misuse, sexual harassment

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – The Panama City Commission voted unanimously for the city to file two complaints in order to have the state’s ethics commission investigate concerns related to Mayor Michael Rohan.

The two motions that passed were related to Rohan’s reportedly unlawful use of his position of power, as well as a sexual harassment allegation against him.

The commission came to the decision after seeking legal advice from Michael Mattimore, a Tallahassee lawyer, who reviewed the situation after being requested by the Panama City Attorney Nevin Zimmerman.

Rohan’s potential violation of his authority and powers were related to a previous issue regarding the re-appropriation of state funds.

According to emails and letters provided by Zimmerman, Rohan brought an illegitimate form to the office of Rep. Phillip Griffitts, R-Panama City Beach, seeking to re-appropriate state funds to a different project than originally intended, without the commission’s approval.

An additional motion was eventually dropped relating to Rohan failing to produce the original form he sought to reappropriate the funds with.

The sexual harassment accusation sprung from Mattimore’s research while he was preparing his legal advice for the commission to consider the next steps on.

According to Mattimore, a female employee of the city said Rohan sexually harassed her while taking pictures during a Fourth of July celebration.

“The female city employee alleged that Mayor Rohan groped her, squeezed her buttocks, while they and others were posing for a picture,” Mattimore said.

He added that another female, who was not an employee of the state, also said she saw Rohan sexually harassing the woman.

Rohan affirmed that he is completely innocent and has done “absolutely nothing wrong.”

“I replaced long-term politicians here in town, part of a ruling deep state,” Rohan said. “And the deep state doesn’t like what I’m doing.”

Commissioner Josh Street asked the mayor if he was denying that he inappropriately touched the female. Rohan responded by saying that he is not answering questions and his lawyers would take care of all further comments.

Rohan added that he has hired attorneys and that the “saga goes on” against him.

Commissioner Jennifer Flint Haligas said she felt “way more concerned” about the issue of sexual harassment than the other concerns of the misuse of power.

“Somebodies got to be responsible,” she said. “I mean this is an employee that is expected to be protected, whether she is right or wrong or whatever, we can’t just walk away from that.”

The commissioners went through a heated exchange on their Nov. 30 meeting where Street was joined by the other members in questioning the mayor for the re-appropriation issue, before the commission decided to seek legal advice.

“You’ve been told time and time again on the same issue, you’ve heard it from every single elected official, as well as their office, our attorney, the senate’s attorney, and yet you still continue to propagate this message that there’s something that can be re-appropriated,” Street said.

“I don’t know what is disconnecting here Mr. Mayor, but this is inappropriate, completely,” he added.

“I disagree 100%,” Rohan responded. “I went down there with some constituents. We did not send that letter anywhere. We sat at this lady’s desk, Ms. Smith is her name, and she showed us what needed to be done.”