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Resident reads National American Indian Heritage Month proclamation, criticizes mayor’s handling of proclamations
Summary
Charlene Bennett read a proclamation designated for National American Indian Heritage Month and said the local DAR was refused permission to have it read at a commission meeting. Bennett criticized Mayor Jack Hilligoss, saying he manipulates proclamation guidelines to reflect his personal choices.
Charlene Bennett, a member of the public, used the comments-and-petitions period to read a proclamation submitted by the local Daughters of the American Revolution asking the mayor to designate November 2024 as National American Indian Heritage Month. Bennett said the DAR was offered the chance to read the proclamation at its own meeting but had been refused the opportunity to have it read at a commission meeting.
Bennett read language from the proclamation describing the contributions and legacy of American Indians and indigenous peoples and recounted the proclamation’s text: "Now, therefore, I, Jack Hilligoss, by virtue of the authority vested in me as mayor of the city of Lake Wales, do hereby proclaim November 2024 as National American Indian Heritage Month and urge all our citizens to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities."
Bennett then criticized the mayor’s exercise of proclamation authority, saying the mayor had "manipulated our proclamation guidelines to suit his personal choices and his own minority religion" and that such choices should be called out. She framed the proclamation as fitting the city's guidelines and said the refusal to allow the DAR representative to read it at a commission meeting reflected an improper exercise of mayoral discretion.
There was no formal action tied to the comment; the commission moved on to the consent agenda after the remarks.
