It was 30 days ago when the Recall Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson Committee, also known as Apopka Citizens for Honest Government, took on the task of collecting 1,762 signed petitions from registered Apopka voters in order to move on to the next stage of the recall process. But today, the 30-day deadline ended, and their goal fell short. According to New, he and his team of volunteers collected 1,692 - 70 short of the mark.
New released a statement to The Apopka Voice.
"Recall final update,
"First and foremost, I want to thank the people who are on the committee, Abbey Mckimmie, Ace Woodham, Jodi Bengston, and Kelley Butcher, as well as all the other people who put in so much hard work, Mr. and Mrs. William Mcleod, Jim Meadows, Sylvester Hall, Leroy Bell, and so many people who still are concerned with retaliation as proven by history.
While the fight was uphill from the start, our group and the people who helped did it with respect and by following the law as written. Be proud that we did not violate the intent of the recall statute, we did not use connections in the media to print a rebuttal before the law said it was allowed or longer than the law allowed.
While we fell short of the stated number of petitions needed, we did achieve a remarkable number. In the end, 1692 petitions were signed. The sad part is the people who stopped to tell us they supported the effort but could not sign due to fear of retaliation. It’s sad that in this day, citizens must fear their own local government and retaliation. But please understand this fight is for our city, as we now face two more lawsuits from developers after the last council meeting.
As legal fees escalate and some use unfettered power to ruin this city, we must continue to challenge the dictatorship-style approach of the mayor. Our city charter needs to be corrected and clarified to prevent the kind of questionable actions as were involved in the firing of the attorney. That clarification still needs to be obtained so that all will know the legal intent of the charter.
As well, it’s past time for this city to switch leadership powers from the so-called strong mayor to one where the mayor is just the chair of the council. The city manager operates the city at the direction of the entire council. It’s time to remove that layer of confusion and control.
Again, please remember that the recall statute was written by elected officials that don’t want to lose their plush elected jobs. It, like so many other items, is played by elected officials to their own benefit, not the good of the people. This nation was founded on we the people, not one self-proclaimed strong mayor running amok.
In closing, I thank you all for your support. We got close, we made and will continue to make a difference. Stand Strong, speak out, email the council, call the council, come to a meeting, and speak out.
If we don’t, we are not "we the people", but we the subjugated. I am sorry I failed this city in our efforts to save it from tyranny.
Dennis New, Chairperson Apopka Citizens for Honest Government
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MamaMia
You all don't like the strong mayor form of our government, and want a city manager. Have you been watching the news, or have you all been too absorbed in this recall? Right now, the Mt.Dora mayor is in a battle trying to oust the city manager, and it is nasty. I'm not going to write you a book about it, but read the local news. Things sound so familiar....Mt.Dora, the city so many of you all brag about, and want Apopka to be like. In your statement above you said the people who helped in the recall, did it with respect....wow, if that is respect y'all showed, I sure wouldn't want to see disrespect! You all have zero respect for anyone who doesn't share your agenda to get rid of the mayor, that is un-American.
Friday, May 19 Report this
Meecho68
Watching the Apopka City Council meetings on live stream and truthfully it’s hard to watch. Every week it’s the same people full of hate, and vitriol for the Mayor. Apopka as many other municipalities do, allows its citizens to speak about concerns, and ideas for the City they live in. As a citizen you’re allowed 4 minutes to voice whatever subject you wish. I truly believe that anyone that would tune in to the live stream that doesn’t live in Apopka would be glad they didn’t! These half a dozen or so people (and you know who you are) that take the podium every meeting have made a mockery of what a city council meeting sets out to accomplish. Not only do they repeat the same thing over and over again from one meeting to another, they use foul language, show disrespect, and commit personal attacks on the Mayor. We have even had a City commissioner tell the City attorney to “F@ck off”.
It’s become a total circus! The meetings have gone over 5 hours at times due to the antics of these people that use these meetings it seems to fill a void in their unhappy lives where they must not have anyone that would listen to them if they had a choice. At least at the meeting they are guaranteed of “4 minutes of fame” where there is no choice but for everyone there to have to listen their garbage! It’s become very fatiguing to watch these meetings especially when the cumulative IQ of these usual suspects doesn’t amount to enough to fill the head of an ant!
When a Mayor gets hired, the Police Chief and Fire Chiefs work at the pleasure of the Mayor! Once elected he can take office and immediately relieve them of their duties and install candidates of his choice. Ever since the Mayor relieved the Fire Chief it’s been a constant barrage of attacks on him. We lost a firefighter in a terrible tragic accident, and again it’s the Mayors fault, the blood is on his hands. No one is blaming the people in charge at that hall that day. Two very young and inexperienced fire fighters were assigned a task on a piece of equipment that they were not familiar with. On top of that, while they were handed out this task by whoever was in charge that day they were left unsupervised. Where were all these “experienced” people and what were they doing while these guys were subjected to this task which resulted in tragedy? I haven’t heard one person ask who was in charge? Who assigned them to the task? Who left them unsupervised? The only thing I’ve heard is it’s the Mayors fault.
Austin Duran had a bright future, and what happened could have, and would have been avoided that day if his peers were applying themselves to their jobs! What’s sad is that in my opinion some people, not all, but some are using Austin’s death as a vehicle to satisfy their agenda against Mayor Nelson. I’ve heard at several of the meetings that everyone that worked at the fire department knew that the piece of equipment was a death trap. Case in point, if they knew it was a death trap why did they assign the two young men with no experience, and on top of it not offer any help or supervision? The silly petition failed, and maybe now the City can get back to relevant business and discuss how we can make things better, instead of witnessing a hate fest at every meeting.
Friday, May 19 Report this
wheresthepopcorn
They won’t let this go. They will still go to every meeting. What attorney is going to take on a job after watching these meetings…I will tell you not a very smart one. Who would take a job in which a commissioner cussed out the previous city atty.
Friday, May 19 Report this
MDuran
@meecho68- Since you spoke about this and obviously unclear and misinformed about what happened with my son. Dating back to the day of the incident, June 30th I questioned this. I questioned the very first day WHY my son was told to move a trailer he knew absolutely nothing about. My son was fighting everyday for his life. 15 days of surgeries and not knowing. We stayed with him 24/7. Our fight then was with him, praying he would survive.
I have absolutely brought up in city council meetings to hold the people responsible for my son’s death accountable. Fire chief Wylam and division chief Howe. They are the two individuals that are responsible for training, safety and supervision. They are also responsible for making sure of proper maintenance on equipment also. Has I ask for accountability, your mayor felt fit to approve a perfect performance review to his appointed chief just months after my son died. We fought for changes that lead to my sons death, a sole training chief, a sole safety chief and 18 firefighters to fill a grossly inadequate department. ALL of which the fire chief AND mayor fought back on, yet now brags to local media of having it in place.
85% of the firefighters have no trust in the fire chief. All 4 commissioners agree the fire chief needs outside help. 3 commissioners have no trust he should remain in his current position. Your mayor even agrees and has a communication coach working with Wylam.
I personally have to continually show up to city council meetings because I have asked for accountability and have not yet received that. Unfortunately it is up to the mayor to hold his fire chief accountable and he refuses to do that. He continues to fail, just as the fire chief failed. He continues to minimize the failures in the departments leadership and the death of my son.
You speak of Austin as if you knew him. You don’t. You speak about the department as if you work there. You don’t. You speak of these long meetings as if you are there. You’re not. It isn’t the handful of people speaking at public comment that puts these meetings at 5 hours. We are few and have only 4 minutes each. What makes these meetings long is the obvious poor planning and management, and arguments that last 90 minutes over a turn lane, balconies or noise ordinance and award ceremonies.
So to point out that no one has asked for accountability to the individuals that are responsible for the death of my son, Sean Wylam and John Howe is untrue. To point out ‘blood’ on the mayors hands is valid. His inaction shows his lack of leadership and understanding to hold NO ONE accountable. I don’t show up to city council for ‘fame’ and I am greatly offended that you had the audacity to even speak upon that. I show up because my son is dead. He was a great kid, an awesome firefighter and also did what he was asked to do. He had a promising career and a bright future. I was robbed of my son. He was robbed of his life. Robbed of becoming a husband, a father. I will continue to show up and yes, repeat myself until I get the answers that I want. Accountability!!
Do you think the mayor has done a good job in holding the management team of the fire department accountable?
Saturday, May 20 Report this
MDuran
@popcorn- You’re right. I will not ’let the go’ I will continue to show up and continue to ask for the same thing until the mayor listens. Accountability.
Saturday, May 20 Report this
wheresthepopcorn
@Mduran Don’t ever let it go! No attorney will back away from taking a job because of you or your son. They are not going to set themselves up to be cussed out by a commissioner.
Saturday, May 20 Report this
MamaMia
Dennis, why didn't you thank the Apopka Mole, Mr. Eddie P., in your statement above, thanking those who helped in your recall efforts? He was the guy who flew all the way from Boston to Apopka, to help with your recall against Mayor Nelson, and you did not include him in your thank you above?
Saturday, May 20 Report this
Richard
This recall help expose the mismanagement and ineptitude of Nelson. News stories of him babbling and flip flopping. Now more citizens will pay attention. And your absolutely right. The pressure is not going away. Rodriguez gone, two more to go.
Saturday, May 20 Report this
MamaMia
I have to ask.....does anyone other than Dennis know the exact amount of signatures who signed the recall petitions? Honestly, when you read the different news sources, they all are different. They report different amounts. It is all kind of wacked out news reporting. What gives?
Saturday, May 20 Report this
MelissaW
People who sit idly and make fun of those who are upset with our local government and speak out are the problem. Keep speaking out against the mayor and his cronies, folks.
Saturday, May 20 Report this
MamaMia
What do you all want now, a Capitol type riot and insurrection, because there were not enough signatures on the recall?
Sunday, May 21 Report this
MDuran
@MamaMia- you seem to comment a lot on here and I appreciate reading diverse views. I have asked the question and the answer seems to evade me. So I ask again with the hope of getting a straight answer.
Do you feel that your mayor has handled the death of my son appropriately? Before you answer if you choose to, please keep in mind of a few facts.
We had to literally fight for the changes that have currently taken place. Hiring of a training chief, safety chief and 18 additional firefighters. We had to fight for that because your mayor AND fire chief disagreed that these changes were needed, only now do they both boast of having it done. These are the attributes.that the mayor continues to broadcast to the media that the fire chief is ‘doing a good job’
The mayor along with the city attorney worked together to stop the department’s own safety investigation by counseling the fire chief to stop it. Why ? Why would the city not want all of the facts laid out ?
Why did the mayor cherry pick two experience firefighters resignation letters during a public press conference? Why did he not reference the entire letter? It was because it did not fit his narrative.
After an 85% no confidence vote in the department, why did the mayor ignore it along with the chief. The chief still fails to visit every station and every shift. He only visited a few due to commissioners highlighting that it’s important to do so. Again, nothing coming directly out of the fire chief’s office only him being reactive, rather than proactive.
Why did the mayor approve a PERFECT performance review for the fire chief just months after my sons death? My son was killed due to operational failures in the department. That is fact. So how in the universe does the person that heads that department still get a PERFECT performance review?
There is much more facts and evidence of a failed department and cover up from the city. But I ask you,
Do you think the mayor has done a good job at addressing the AFD issues and failed management?
Do you think that he has done justice by my son? Do you think he has done justice by me and my family’?
Sunday, May 21 Report this
MamaMia
Michael, I stand by what I told you before, that you have the right to fight for your son, Austin, as you see fit, as his father.
Sunday, May 21 Report this
Richard
Of course T-Reid or Mama Mia whatever she calls herself today won’t answer Mr. Duran’s question. Because she knows the answer.
Monday, May 22 Report this
Richard
I think it’s ironic that Debbie Nelson is inquiring about how many petitions were signed. Kinda the same thought most Apopkan’s had election night about the sudden swing by Nelson.
Monday, May 22 Report this
MamaMia
Richard Puddin' Tang, or whatever your name is, you hide behind, while posting, you can't figure out why Debbie Nelson, was interested in the numbers of petition signers, to try to recall her husband, the mayor? Wow, Richard, ironic isn't it? Where's your sign? LOL
Monday, May 22 Report this
MamaMia
Dennis, The Apopka Chief didn't post in their news that Bryan Nelson won the last election by 90 percent of the Apopka voters. That came from the lady's letter to the editor, and what she stated.
Monday, May 22 Report this
MDuran
@Richard- I have asked knowing I would not get a straight answer. I know it’s because the real answer is shameful. Shameful that this is how a city ‘leader’ handles a death at its own hands. There is no way any of these people would have the same view had Austin been their son. I will fight until I get accountability or until I draw my last breath.
Tuesday, May 23 Report this