Never Expected to Use the Word "Transgendered" in a Post . . .

but according to this account in today's St. Petersburg Times, former Largo City Manager and self-proclaimed transgendered person Steve Stanton (now apparently known as Susan Stanton according to this report) is in hot water with the City of Largo for allegedly deleting public records from a City-owned laptop computer. Apparently, a forensic examination of the laptop indicated that files had been deleted, and Stanton was also known to have used portable memory devices or "memory sticks" with his laptop and has refused to turn those devices over to the City. Stanton denies that he deleted any public records.

Sordid details of the story notwithstanding, it does illustrate a couple of good points. First, personal records are not public records, even if they are made or received on a city-owned computer. Conversely, records that are made or received in connection with official agency business are public records, irrespective of who owns the computer on which they are stored. It's pretty much that simple.