- April 25, 2024
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Dear Editor:
This is an election season unlike any I have ever witnessed or been a part of. Several candidates have been focused solely on negativity and false claims. It is ugly. It does not reflect the character of Flagler County and Palm Coast I know and love, and I refuse to participate in the debauchery of which the only aim is to demean us all.
For the last few weeks, two recurring questions I am asked are, “Why am I not answering these false accusations?” and “Why am I not more visibly campaigning?”
First, the accusations. They are simply that: accusations. It has been established that I am not under investigation by the Ethics Commission, FDLE, the State Attorney’s Office or any federal agency.
(See "Editor's Note 2" below.)
Anyone can file complaints. The repeated recycling of the same claims does not make them true. It does, however, show the ferocity by which these claims are designed to be hurtful and damaging to me and our city. There appears to be no limit to their mudslinging tactics.
At a time when economic development is so crucial, I am being attacked for doing the job I was elected to do. I have and will continue to do that job fearlessly and without apology. There are no back-room deals, and there is no corruption. We have cleaned house at City Hall to ensure our city is focused solely on serving our residents.
Second, in regard to why I have not been campaigning. I have chosen to do my job as mayor rather than participate in political events. Our community needs extremely serious and focused leadership by a serious and experienced mayor. I have been spending tremendous amounts of time navigating our city through the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most intense fire danger seasons on record and what could be a record-setting hurricane season. I am focusing on issues such as public heath, businesses assistance, CARES grants and working with partners to provide utility payment and housing assistance.
Campaigns are supposed to be about ideas. Campaigns are a time to evaluate the performance of the ideas of each candidate.
Fact: I have dramatically increased the transparency and efficiency of City Hall.
Fact: I have delivered a government focused on our citizens.
Fact: I have not and will not accept anything less than excellence from myself, our city manager and our city staff.
Our National Citizen Survey results reflect these facts that trust, transparency, efficiency and public safety have made significant and sometimes double-digit gains. Our quality of life and our quality of amenities have increased. We have some of the best utilities in the state. Because of our investments and partnerships with our Sheriff’s Office, crime is at historic lows in Palm Coast.
I am not going to waste time and energy in political ugliness. It is beneath our community. I will continue to focus energy on delivering jobs through the University of North Florida's MedNEX. I will continue to ignore a nasty political circus sideshow.
As always, I remain available to talk about your ideas to make Palm Coast a great community to live, work and raise a family. We are all privileged and proud to call Palm Coast home.
Milissa Holland
Palm Coast
Editor's Note: Holland is the mayor of Palm Coast and is running for re-election.
Editor's Note 2: The Palm Coast Observer has verified that the Ethics Commission does have an active, open case in response to an ethics complaint filed against Holland, which contradicts her statement that "It has been established that I am not under investigation by the Ethics Commission." She said in an Aug. 3 phone call with the Palm Coast Observer that the interviews being conducted with Palm Coast staff must be part of determining legal sufficiency; but an email with Ethics Commission on Aug. 3 confirmed that legal sufficiency is determined based on the complaint, before subsequent interviews. It is accurate, however, that an investigation is not an indication that the accusations are true.
