COMMISSIONERS RACE TO TAKE DRUG TESTS

BARTOW -- Polk County Commissioner Jack Myers on Wednesday became the first
commissioner to follow through on his vow to take a drug test, winning the
race to the clinic door by a day over fellow Commissioners Don Gifford and
Randy Wilkinson.

Myers has already received the results of his test -- which were negative
- -- from an Auburndale clinic.

Wilkinson stopped by the county's employee wellness clinic Thursday
morning, followed by Gifford at 2 p.m.

Their results are not yet ready.

Commissioner Bruce Parker has told his assistant to set up an appointment
for his test in the near future.

And Commission Chairman Neil Combee said he would try to set up a test for
today.

"Dadgum-mit," he said with a laugh after hearing about Myers' test. "I
wanted to be first."

It was Gifford who set off the spate of dueling drug tests earlier this
week by declaring that if employees have to take "intrusive" tests, so
should commissioners.

With reporters and television cameras looking on, it didn't take the other
commissioners long to say they'd also take tests.

Myers paid for his own test, which he took at a private clinic. The county
will pay for the $22 tests given at its clinic, as it does for all other
employees, said Administrative Services Director Jim Freeman.

But the solidarity stops there.

Where employees face sanctions after a positive drug test, commissioners
would face, well, nothing.

"We're just going to hand (the results) back to them," Freeman said.
"(County administration) has no authority over them like we do over line
employees. They're elected by the people. They're not accountable to usa.
They're accountable to the voters who elected them."

But those people will never know unless commissioners choose to release the
results of their tests, which are confidential.

All have vowed to follow Myers' lead and release the results to the media.

"It won't be an issue," said Gifford.

"I think this is a good thing," he added. "It sends a message to the
employees that if we make rules, we're willing to abide by them."

The county requires drug tests for all new employees as a condition for
hiring. Employees in certain safety-sensitive positions are subject to
random testing.

And employees can be tested after an accident.