- August 7, 2026
Two Ormond Beach residents recently received cease and desist letters over allegations of harassment, defamation and the distribution of portions of a book written by the city's mayor.
The cease and desist, submitted by Anthony Sabatini of the Sabatini Law Firm on behalf of Mayor Jason Leslie, states that James Powers and Derrick Weader have participated in "repeated personal attacks, disparaging statements, threats, coordinated publications, and other actions apparently intended to damage Mr. Leslie’s personal and professional reputation and cause him emotional distress."
The letter adds that the law firm was informed that Powers and Weader, the latter of whom is the father of the mayor's nieces, have threatened to publish or share portions of Leslie's book. In May, Leslie published a book about becoming mayor, titled "The People's Mayor: Where it all Began."
Lastly, the cease and desist alleges Powers and Weader have distributed signs and materials referring to the mayor as "Liar Leslie," causing distress to Leslie's immediate family.
Leslie declined to comment.
Weader addressed the cease and desist letter at the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, delivering a letter of his own to the mayor.
"To me, this letter is more than a legal document," Weader said. "It is a bullying tactic. It is intimidating. It is harassing in its tone and intended effect. Rather than responding to legitimate public criticism with transparency and accountability, it attempts to discourage protected speech through the threat of legal action. That should concern everyone."
Weader's cease and desist letter to the mayor was submitted personally. It demands that Leslie "cease and desist from any further conduct that I contend constitutes harassment, bullying, intimidation, retaliation, disclosure of private information, or interference with my constitutional rights because I have exercised my right to speak at Ormond Beach City Commission meetings and otherwise express my views on matters of public concern."
"Public officials are elected to serve the people," Weader said. "They are not entitled to be free from criticism, nor may they use legal threats to discourage citizens from questioning their actions."
Powers told the Observer that he wasn't concerned about the cease-and-desist letter.
"In my opinion, it's a SLAPP suit that isn't going anywhere, but it shows his incompetence as a leader," Powers said. (SLAPP stands for a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.)
Powers, who previously ran against Mike Chitwood for Volusia County sheriff in 2024, said he helped Leslie with his first campaign for mayor and that they had a "blowout" last year after Leslie voted for a tax rate increase. This happened after a mailer was distributed likening the Ormond Beach City Commission, except for Leslie, as pickpockets for pursuing a rate increase.
"I haven't seen him do anything except cause division and chaos," Powers said.
The mailer in 2025 was sent by George Arnold, an Ormond Beach resident, who said Leslie was informed of the mailer ahead of time; Leslie disputed this, and said he had nothing to do with it. Arnold also placed signs around the city during the 2024 election season that read "Persis are Liberals," in opposition to both Susan Persis (who ran against Leslie for mayor that year) and her husband Carl, who was running for Volusia County School Board District 4.
Today, Arnold's oceanfront home features a "Liar Leslie" sign.
Powers called the signs a matter of freedom of speech.
"I'm sure people will see over the next week who's putting them out at City Hall or at the library," Powers said.
