Utah Transit Authority general manager John Pingree, who opponents plan to fire Monday, has been dropped from consideration to head the transit authority in Orlando, Fla.

A search committee for Orlando's Lynx transit system removed Pingree from its list before voting 4-1 to recommend northern Virginia transit executive Leo Auger for the $147,000-a-year Florida job.The decision comes a week after the committee visited Salt Lake City and the communities of the other candidates. The Utah visit came April 30 - the day after the UTA board's call for a special meeting to discuss Pingree's firing.

Pingree, whose salary is about $133,000 a year, faces a no-confidence vote Monday by UTA's board of directors.

Pingree problems in Utah had no bearing on the Orlando board's decision, said Mary Jane Arrington, Lynx board member and head of the Osceola County Commission.

"We were simply afraid he would not come (if offered the position), and that we would lose our other two candidates during the time it would take (Pingree) to reach his decision," she said. "I greatly admire him and believe he is a great asset. I can't believe Salt Lake City would give him up."

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Pingree was out of town Wednesday and unavailable for comment.

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