By Reggie Connell, Managing Editor
Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore frequently posts updates, news, and community announcements on her official District 2 Facebook page. During the week of June 13–19, she posted 31 items ranging from Father’s Day messages to zoning updates. But comments from constituents—and her response to them—have sparked a broader conversation about government transparency and digital censorship.
The conflict centers on two Apopka-area residents who say Moore deleted their comments and blocked them from the page.
Related: Apopka celebrates renovated West Orange Trail Bridge with community event.
“She claimed Zellwood Station couldn't call 911,” said Chandler Estates resident and former HOA president Robert Tilley. “So I posted official coverage maps from the FCC showing that the area has full 5G. The next thing I knew, the thread was gone. I reposted the same map with a video showing that it had been deleted, and then I was blocked from commenting altogether.”
Moore acknowledged removing some of Tilley's comments.
“I allowed him to have several [comments], but when he was on the 10th and 12th time, those I did hide," she said in an interview with The Apopka Chief. "He was very hostile and very accusatory and very conspiratorial, and so I had to put a stop to it. I have to maintain decorum and a sense of civility on my public page. It's not meant to be a debate club.”
Tilley disputed Moore's description of his comments.
“There was nothing hostile or conspiratorial about what I posted," he said. "It was a government-issued map. She didn't like being proven wrong, so she deleted the comment and shut me out.”
However, in a June 12th post still visible on Moore’s page, Tilley's comment was still visible under an op/ed Moore wrote about the cell tower.
“Among the other falsehoods in this article, our entire community is destroyed by this tower...not just five homes, as Christine Moore, Orange County District 2 Commissioner, knows is false. Most of our community will see this, and 67 residents have sent sworn affidavits to the commissioner, letting them know this. She disregarded them.”
In another comment, Tilley added, “Here's the 100% coverage map from the FCC. Verizon and Sprint show the same. We deserve better than politicians who blatantly lie. An entire community of hardworking people sent sworn affidavits, complaining of visual blight and incompatibility. Her response? This article full of lies, and she calls us sore losers after destroying our home values for a tower that isn't even needed. This is who you will get with a vote for her.”
Another resident, Leroy Bell, also said his comments were removed from Moore’s official page.
According to Bell, Moore took down a post he made about her comments regarding 'The People of South Apopka Group and Leroy Bell'.
"The comment I made was about having representation for health, jobs, better wages, and living conditions for the residents that live within that three-mile radius around the dumps and medical waste," Bell said in a statement to The Apopka Voice after the article's original publication date. "In the last five years, residents have passed away from various cancer clusters, respiratory failure, stillborn births, and low birth weight babies. Not only health problems, but also affordable housing, health studies, clean water, food deserts, wifi, and transportation. When I mentioned these issues, she didn't want to respond; instead, she deleted my comments along with the entire post. But I thought it was a slap in the face to the loved ones that are left behind. Instead of addressing some of these issues, she wanted to talk only about picking up paper. As long as we were talking about paper, she thought she was exciting the people for her, I guess you can say, her base. Also, I told her I wouldn't allow her to use me to excite her base to run for mayor of Apopka."
On a Facebook post about the Apopka CRA, Bell posted:
“Ask Commissioner Christine Moore why she take down Mr Leroy Bell comments."
On a Facebook post about the Orange County Fire Rescue Training Center, Bell posted:
“Ask Commissioner Christine Moore why she took down Mr Leroy Bell's comments.”
And on a post about the Apopka Run Club, he posted:
“Christine Moore, I have proof that you took down my comment, shame on you, that's an epic violation.”
Moore responded to Bell directly.
“You have complained about certain issues. I research them to find a solution, for example, the residents' illegal dumping at Stutzman's Court. Now you blame me for world hunger and every other ill. I understand you don't like me. However, I'm done playing your nasty game. There will be no more responses from me until you change your approach. No elected official deserves this kind of vitriol. Most of us run to help people and make things better. You seem only to be interested in ugliness, and I am choosing to participate no longer, as it is pointless.”
Bell replied, “How rich, now you are the victim.”
“I understand you don't like me", Moore responded. "However, I'm done playing your nasty game. There will be no more responses from me until you change your approach. No elected official deserves this kind of vitriol. Most of us run to help people and make things better.”
Legal scrutiny over social media censorship by government officials has intensified in recent years. In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Lindke v. Freed and Garnier v. O’Connor-Ratcliff that public officials may violate the First Amendment if they delete comments or block individuals from pages used to conduct public business. In Florida, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes requires public officials to preserve digital communications related to public business, including comments on government-affiliated pages.
In Orange County, a social media policy also spells out how a social media page should be moderated.
Orange County Social Media Policy - Unauthorized Content
Orange County reserves the right, at any time and without prior notice, to deny access to Orange County Government official social media page(s) to anyone who violates this policy.
Orange County Government has the right to restrict or remove any comments/content that are deemed in violation of Orange County’s Social Media Policy or applicable law.
Our goal is to provide and maintain a fair and respectful online environment for everyone in our community. Social media pages are managed by the Orange County Digital Communications team and are not monitored 24/7. Social network sites shall be used to promote the County, County services, job opportunities and County events.
Orange County Government welcomes a person’s right to express his/her opinion and encourages posters to keep comments related to content on the page. Orange County's social media page(s) are not designated, nor intended to be a platform for political views. Comments posted by others on Orange County Government’s social media page(s) are not to be considered the opinion of the County nor does the County endorse any third-party comments.
Criteria to edit or remove content:
- Comments not topically related to the particular article being commented upon;
- Topics/issues not within the jurisdictional purview of Orange County may be removed;
- Profane language or content;
- Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation;
- Sexual content, links to sexual content, obscene or pornographic content/comments;
- Solicitations of commerce;
- Conduct or encouragement of illegal activity;
- Content that is hateful or incites violence, threatens or defames a person or organization;
- Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems;
- Content that violates a copyright, trademark or other legal ownership interest of any other party;
- Disparaging personal remarks or acrimony towards another person; or
- Campaign information from a candidate for elected office or information related to a candidate’s personal campaign.
Orange County Government’s social media guidelines can be found at www.ocfl.net/SocialMedia. All content, including any content removed based on violation of these guidelines, are retained and archived, with the time, date and identity of the poster in accordance with Florida Public records retention requirements.
Moore, however, said she believes her actions are within the bounds of the law.
“I am aware of my responsibilities regarding public records and public engagement,” she said. “But I also have a responsibility to manage the tone and integrity of the discussions on my page. There is a line between constructive criticism and repeated personal attacks. I hid the comments and never blocked anyone from the page. I welcome dialogue, but if someone repeatedly posts with an intent to discredit rather than discuss, I will take action to protect the value of the page for everyone else.”
Tilley, meanwhile, said he is considering a formal response. “I want a fair process and accountability,” he said. “If an elected official deletes public input on a government page, people have the right to know—and the right to speak up.”
In a final statement, Moore clarified her position on managing her page:
“If I choose to hide a comment on my Facebook page, it is because it violates standards of respect and tolerance. My Facebook page encourages comments at all times if they are respectful and non-intimidating. Bullying will not be allowed in response to my posts or any other person's post on my Facebook page.”
Related: Supreme Court rules public officials can sometimes be sued for blocking critics on social media.
Editor's Note: A statement from Leroy Bell was added to this article after its original publication date.
