- February 19, 2026
Dear Editor:
Over nine months have passed since our mayor made public the disturbing allegation that a local developer attempted to bribe him. He dropped the bombshell, surprisingly identifying the developer, during City Council meetings in May 2025.
The mayor portrayed the bribe attempt that had occurred months previously, as a “quid pro quo” offer for a developer friendly vote. The encounter was witnessed by his wife, but he claimed neither kept any notes, had no memorialized written account of the encounter and, of course, no recording. He stated he kept the details only “in his mind”, and curiously never reported the crime to law enforcement.
Having a credible story is about having the discipline to ensure that when you accuse someone of a felony, you have the goods to back it up, a position echoed by our local sheriff who believed the mayor’s public disclosures had fatally tainted the whole matter and was a textbook example of what not to do. Regardless, the mayor opted to refer the case, warts and all, to state law enforcement officials. Waiting so long to do so alone speaks to problematic judgement and is just one of a number of his questionable decisions in need of skeptical scrutiny.
The mayor is known for generating conspiracy theories of corruption among city employees, fellow council members and area developers without a lick of proof. And thus far, including a recent city risk assessment audit that found no apparent corruption, evidence remains nonexistent.
The mayor made public the bombshell bribe allegation. He owns it, and we should now expect a statement from him. An update is overdue and it’s incumbent upon the City Council to begin asking questions, push for answers and expect transparency. Was his case declined, deemed not actionable because of its glaring shortcomings, or is it still active after all this time?
However, for the mayor, facing fading credibility, it’s to his advantage to stay silent, keeping the public in the dark, and the mystery alive. But meanwhile, Palm Coast is left wondering if its mayor is simply tilting at windmills. Is he crying wolf, or was there actually wrongdoing?
As his tales of corruption drag on, the mayor finds himself in a paradox. By attempting to look like the "incorruptible hero," his lack of evidence continues to make him look more like just another “firebrand politician” who lit a firestorm without a match.
Bob Gordon
Palm Coast
