With concerns about cyberattacks and leaked text messages in mind, Escambia County is set to hire a new chief information officer to oversee information technology services.
The county administrator is recommending the board approve the hire of Jean-Pierre “John” Erar, a senior budget analyst for Escambia County and former IT director for the United States District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to fill the position.
The board of county commissioners is expected to vote on the recommendation at the regular board meeting on Thursday.
If approved, Erar would start Feb. 24. According to the county, the position comes with an annual salary of $144,000 and a car allowance of $400 a month.
The county says Erar joined Escambia County in October 2022 as a senior budget analyst in the Office of Management and that he has more than 15 years of experience managing information technology operations, strategic digital leadership, project management, cybersecurity and technology automation in the public sector.
During his tenure as IT director and administrative services manager for the United States District Court in Minneapolis, the county says he oversaw IT project services for the Federal Court and Probation Office as well as financial reporting, budgeting, contract negotiation, among other programs and projects to improve processes and staff efficiency.
Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno says, if approved, Erar will focus on ensuring the county is doing all that it can to protect itself against cyberattacks.
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The city of Pensacola has been struck twice by ransomware cyberattacks in recent years.
Hackers also breached the First Judicial Circuit’s administrative system in 2023 and gained access to employee tax forms and last year, Ascension Sacred Heart faced disruptions after a cyberattack.
“We’ve invested quite a bit in cybersecurity, but you’ve got to stay on the cutting edge,” Moreno said. “There’s always somebody trying to get in. Mr. Erar comes to us with a wealth of background, a lot of digital initiatives, and a lot of experience in cybersecurity.”
Escambia County’s two previous IT directors, Bart Siders and Russell Clarke, both resigned. Clarke was the most recent to leave about six months ago.
Siders was working as Escambia County’s IT Director in 2022 when former Escambia Commissioner Jeff Bergosh asked the department to back up information on his personal cell phone. Text messages from his phone were later leaked to the public.
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Last year, an investigation by the State Attorney’s Office determined Siders had given Bergosh’s text messages to a political rival, Jonathan Owens, after Owens made a verbal public records request for them.
Moreno said those privacy concerns have been discussed with Erar and other employees. He says the IT department is not to handle anyone’s personal devices.
“I do expect you to be loyal to me and the organization and to the board,” Moreno said of his expectations of the director and the IT department. “You don’t touch anybody’s personal phone. Don’t touch anybody’s personal tablet or computer. If they have an issue with their personal phone, they need to go to Verizon or T-Mobile or wherever it is they got the phone.”
The board’s regular meeting starts at 9 a.m. on Thursda and will be held at 221 Palafox Place.
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