Tensions boil over at Orange City Council as residents allege mayor asked child to speak for pay; council member demands accountability
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Summary
Multiple residents read letters alleging Mayor Kelly Marks asked an 11‑year‑old to speak in exchange for payment and that the mayor and others have exhibited unethical conduct; Mayor Marks denied the payment claim and defended her record while Councilwoman Lisa Stafford detailed allegations of Sunshine Law violations and improper influence.
During a prolonged and often emotional public‑comment period, residents and council members raised allegations about Mayor Kelly Marks’ conduct and called for council action to restore public trust.
Candace Baker read a letter from Tranisha Reid that said Reid’s 11‑year‑old son attended the meeting to speak about the skate park after, the letter says, Mayor Marks “asked him to speak on her behalf during the meeting, and promised him $100 in exchange for doing so.” The letter added that “he was never paid” and described changes in the child’s behavior and emotional distress following the incident.
Councilwoman Lisa Stafford used her council‑member remarks to enumerate broader concerns. Stafford accused the majority of dismissing public input and raised a list of allegations that included potential charter and Sunshine Law violations, attempts to terminate the city clerk at the mayor’s request, and undisclosed personal or business relationships that could create conflicts of interest. “This council has failed,” Stafford said in a multi‑minute address that called for greater transparency and accountability.
Mayor Kelly Marks responded at length, denying the payment allegation and the most serious accusations. “I did not invite him,” Marks said of the child and added, “I did not tell him anything to say.” Marks acknowledged she had learned a lesson about allowing a child to speak without a parent present and said she has an attorney because she is being personally attacked. She also provided documentary material about the nonprofit Our 2 Stories/Backpack Buddies, which she said she founded and from which she later resigned as a vice president in 2020.
Council members and the mayor traded sharp remarks throughout the council‑comment portion of the meeting. Several speakers urged moving beyond the dispute and returning to city business; others stressed the need to address allegations through formal processes rather than on the dais.
What the council did not do tonight: there was no formal vote to censure the mayor and no independent investigation announced during the meeting. Council members said they would bring procedural items back for discussion, including revisions to council rules and possible limits on non‑agenda public comment at the council’s second monthly meeting.
Why it matters: The allegations involve the mayor’s conduct, the treatment of a minor, and claims of conflicts and procedural violations that council members say undermine public trust. Those claims may prompt formal ethics or procedural reviews if the council or staff choose to pursue them.
What comes next: Council members agreed to place some procedural items on future agendas (discussion of council rules, rules for public comment and agenda management). No independent fact‑finding or staff investigation was announced during the meeting.
