Residents, commissioners spar over mayor’s media appearances and proposed speech ordinance

Several residents used the public-comment period to oppose a proposed city ordinance that would require elected officials to obtain authorization before speaking to media and to mandate specific disclosures when they speak on their own behalf.

Doug Pettit told the commission the measure “could be characterized as nothing less” than a censorship ordinance and said he supported the mayor’s media appearances as a show of civic pride. Elena Craft, the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee representative, called the draft measure “speech regulation towing on speech suppression,” quoted the ordinance language that would make unauthorized public statements “malfeasance in office,” and asked commissioners to “kill this proposed ordinance.” Several other residents, including Jeff Boyle and Hunter Wendelstadt, urged the commission to focus on unity and not on process disputes.

Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland, Commissioner Travis Sargent and Commissioner Kristen Deaton each addressed the controversy during commissioner reports. Tolland stressed that the dais is where official policy is debated and that process and accuracy matter; Sargent and other commissioners urged moving past the dispute and returning attention to city projects and constituent service. Mayor Jason Leslie and several public speakers said the mayor’s outreach to promote Ormond Beach should not be curtailed.

No formal ordinance vote or amendment was recorded at the meeting; the discussion occurred primarily in public comments and commissioner remarks. Commissioners said they would continue to communicate about protocol and transparency and to rely on staff for factual accuracy when public information is issued.