Gainesville officials are under fire for not once, but twice, for the way they hired an assistant to Mayor Craig Lowe.

     That assistant was his campaign manager.

      and he's now a full time "Mayoral Aide" with paid time off, health insurance, and investment plan-- all benefits he did not receive when he was initially hired.

     TV 20'S Duke Carter reports this news has angered some residents.

     
     After Craig lowe was elected mayor in 2010, his campaign manager, Garrett Garner, was offered a temporary position without benefits as a mayoral aide.

     Then last November he was offered a pay raise-- and benefits.
 
     Neither time was the position publicly advertised  and that's not sitting well with some residents.

      "how can you put somebody in place without letting the people know?"

    Rufus Goree is one of many residents who accuses city officials of being deceptive to the public.

       "its all trickery don't nobody do nothing honestly."

 He's not the only one who feels that way.

       " the failed policy of the mayor not doing that is very troubling."

  Dejeon Cain is distraught after learning the position garrett garner was given without anyone else having an opportunity to apply.

" that type of behavior can not be tolerated with tax payers money."

  Officials in the city equal opportunity employment office directed us to human resources.

  But this email from the city says the h-r representative is not available for comment.

whether it was permanent or temporary we had to advertise for the position."

       Former city employee and Executive Director of the Duval Heights Front Porch Florida Incorporated is concerned that no one else was given an equal chance for the job.

 "I would hope that all folks could be given a position or at least part of the playing field for the position."

       And residents say…

"it was a done deal anyway from the beginning."

       Both Cain and Hamilton hope that if the city has done something wrong or illegal they'll rectify the problem.
     
        We contacted the Mayor's office and no one would comment.