Broward commissioner rehires aide, this time after the job is properly advertised

An elected official who began working as a government aide without his job being publicly advertised — and who was forced to quit due to that improper hiring procedure — is back on duty.

County Commissioner Hazelle Rogers has rehired Tamarac Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton to keep working as her county aide, a job that pays $80,000 a year and provides life insurance and pension benefits.

In February, Bolton resigned as Rogers’ aide after the South Florida Sun Sentinel raised questions about how he was hired — and the county realized the job opening wasn’t publicly advertised. He was hired on Jan. 30.

[ RELATED: Tamarac official steps down from job as a county aide after it wasn’t properly advertised ]

State law requires elected officials who are hired to another governmental agency to apply only if the job is publicly advertised.

The job was then listed on the county website. The salary was posted as “depends on qualifications.” When it was publicly advertised, there were 62 applicants, according to David Kahn, the county’s Human Resources director.

Kahn confirmed Tuesday that Bolton was rehired April 10, and he returned to the county building Monday at the same salary.

[ RELATED: ‘Doing the public’s business’? How elected officials hire aides without opening the job to others ]

A County Commission aide does multiple tasks such as handling social media, writing newsletters, taking constituents’ phone calls and emails, and working with county staff to get voters’ issues resolved.

In addition to being a county aide and Tamarac’s vice mayor, Bolton is also a church pastor and, according to his resume, runs Forecast Holdings, a consultant firm.

All nine of the county’s commissioners hire their own staff for full-time pay and county benefits without a formal process or a chance for the public to compete for the jobs. Bolton was an exception because he is an elected official.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @LisaHuriash