Palm Bay council votes to ask governor to suspend councilman after remarks about Indian Americans

The Palm Bay City Council voted 4–1 Tuesday to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis to suspend Councilman Chandler Langevin and directed the city attorney to prepare a formal ethics complaint after a wave of public comment and council debate over Langevin’s social-media remarks about Indian Americans.

Councilman Kevin Johnson made the motion to send a suspension request to the governor under Florida Statutes, and Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe seconded it. The motion passed 4–1, with Langevin voting no. After the vote the council also asked the city attorney to draft an ethics complaint to be filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics via State Senator Debbie Mayfield.

The action followed roughly three hours of public comment in which dozens of residents — including local business owners, doctors and veterans — said Langevin’s posts and statements had created fear, damaged the city’s reputation and jeopardized public safety and economic development. Speakers described Indian American residents as long-standing business and civic contributors and urged immediate action from council.

“Each of you have failed your responsibilities as leaders,” said Lance Fisher, a retired Palm Bay deputy police chief, who told the council it should be focusing on police leadership and internal accountability as well as elected officials’ conduct. “Take responsibility and clean your house instead of expecting others to clean it for you.”

Several Indian American community leaders described the remarks as offensive and dangerous. Prashant Patel, president of the Indian American Business Association of the Space Coast, told the council the comments were “unacceptable and divisive” and said Indian Americans provide critical jobs and tax revenue for the region. Dr. Yoshida Patel Hosking, a pediatric dentist who said her practice treats thousands of local children, said the posts caused fear among patients and staff: “These are people who have earned their citizenship, raise their children here and built their lives here,” she said.

Langevin addressed the council before the vote and said he would not resign. “I’m not resigning. You can vote for the letter tonight — it’s gonna be worthless. I’m gonna be here for another three years, get used to it,” he said, adding that he was open to meetings with Indian community leaders and that he uses social media to provoke discussion on immigration and visa policy.

Deputy Mayor Jaffe, who seconded the motion, said the council is obligated to protect residents and the city’s staff, and described the social-media posts and other actions by Langevin as damaging to morale and public trust. “With a single keystroke, you have destroyed morale among our leadership team and our entire staff,” Jaffe said in his remarks to the council before the vote.

The council’s motion asked the governor to suspend Langevin under Florida Statute 112.51 and directed the city attorney to prepare a complaint under Chapter 112 of the Florida Statutes for submission by a state legislator to the Commission on Ethics. The council did not remove Langevin from office; suspension is a state action that must be initiated by the governor’s office.

City officials said they will share the draft complaint with state lawmakers and that additional actions — including potential further administrative or legal steps — could follow depending on state review and staff recommendations.

The vote capped a meeting that also included a lengthy public-comment period and a separate consent and business agenda. The council emphasized it wanted to move deliberately but said it would press state officials to act quickly.

Speakers on both sides of the issue urged continued dialogue. Councilman Johnson said he hoped for genuine engagement and reconciliation, while others said the council needed to make clearer standards about elected officials’ use of official letterhead and public resources.

The council’s motion recorded on the meeting minutes states: “Direct city attorney to prepare an ethics complaint under Chapter 112, Florida Statutes, and send a request to the governor pursuant to Section 112.51, Florida Statutes, requesting temporary suspension pending investigation.” The vote passed 4–1.