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Council approves naming City Hall for former mayor in 4–1 vote after public objections
Summary
The council voted 4–1 to name the City Hall building after former Mayor Mike Thomas amid public objections during public comment; the council also unanimously approved naming a water billing building for Gail Wright and adopted other routine resolutions and legislative priorities.
Panama City Beach — The City Council voted to name the City Hall building in honor of former Mayor Mike Thomas after a public comment period that included criticism and calls to reconsider the honor. The motion passed 4–1, with Mayor Tedimemer casting the lone no vote. The council also unanimously approved a separate resolution naming the water billing services building for Gail E. Wright.
Public commenter John Leam urged the council to reject the City Hall naming, citing video footage and a series of incidents he described as evidence of "hypocritical and entitled behavior" by elected officials, and he requested related public records. Leam told the council: "If you can't follow laws, you shouldn't have the ability to pass them." Councilman Casto and others countered that Mike Thomas had been an influential local official who advocated for capital projects including the current city hall and Frank Brown Park.
Council members debated whether to adopt a formal policy for naming public buildings going forward; several members requested staff research and a discussion item for a future meeting. The Gail Wright resolution to name the water‑billing building in her honor was brought forward later and received unanimous support.
What happens next: Staff will proceed with the naming resolutions and was asked to research and return with a municipal naming policy for future decisions.
