It's hurting the community to hurl 'vicious accusations' against mayor and City Hall

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

by: Brad West

I have been thinking a great deal on the late John Lewis’ call-to-action especially when it comes to this local election season: “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” In the 16 years I have lived here, I don’t recall an atmosphere and climate in this community as ugly and just downright mean as today.

Campaigning is competitive. But this year, it’s been more so about vicious accusations not only lobbed at candidates but also at a local company (Coastal Cloud) and our city manager.

We have candidates saying the city is “not business friendly” while waging a campaign of attacking a local company that has provided over 70 high-paying jobs, is positioned to add even more, and adds a huge amount to the local economy. So is it the city who is “not business friendly” or is it our community right now?

Do you honestly think other businesses are not seeing that and holding off coming here?

How is Mayor Milissa Holland corrupt and a criminal for a minor email mistake? She recused herself from all official business related to this development.

We call it corrupt for City Manager Matt Morton and Mayor Holland to go to a national conference and present the innovative efforts by our city? That positive exposure of our city as innovative to companies around the country helps attract business here.

Our new city manager of 16 months uprooted his life and moved thousands of miles, has dealt with turnover that is normal with change, has led staff and us through hurricanes and an unprecedented public health emergency, and turned down an annual pay increase even though his performance review warranted it. Then we have candidates who accuse him of corruption with no evidence?

One of those candidates, Michael Schottey, is the one to whom this same city manager showed kindness by allowing him to resign and rather than being subjected to the embarrassment of being terminated because of his behavior, as investigations show, was extremely poor and unprofessional. Is that how we welcome and appreciate those going above and beyond, serving our community?

And why do we do this? Apparently because former disgruntled employees who found their comfort zones disrupted want to cause as much disruption as possible? The calls for Jim Landon to be replaced were loud and clear across this community, and this council and mayor got it done. It was obvious how deep the problems were afterwards with the fallout of staff feeling uncomfortable.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal has written several stories with accusations that don't seem to be fully supported. Did you notice that two other actual local news outlets (the Palm Coast Observer and FlaglerLive) have been reporting in a more balanced way, not trying to turn everything into a conspiracy?

Ethics complaint? That is the oldest political move in the book locally. Anyone can lodge an ethics complaint for any reason and use that submission to say, “There’s an ethics complaint and 'investigation'.” These complaints always escalate during this time and take many months to be reviewed. It’s basically presuming guilt until proven innocent. We should applaud that? And at the same time we don’t find those individuals carrying out these seedy things corrupt and having questionable integrity?

Current members and candidates for our council aren’t “politicians"; they are our neighbors. The council positions come with far less power than most think and pay around $9,000/year, with the mayor position paying around $12,000/year. And yet they have stepped up to want to serve in what is oftentimes a thankless position.

Should candidates question each other's decisions and actions? Absolutely! But falsely accusing a competitor, or anyone, of corruption and being a criminal is way over the line. That type of vile behavior should be rejected. And it speaks volumes of the character and integrity of the ones flinging those accusations around. Imagine if that was you or your family member. No wonder more good candidates don't step up.

So I am saying something. I am sure there will be ridicule. I do not claim to be perfect, but I can not stand by staying silent watching this junk.

Is this what we want to be as a community? I hope some are motivated to stand up and speak out against that which is wrong and stand up for our community against this ugliness.

Brad West is a resident of Palm Coast.