Palmetto Bay council censures member Steve Cody, asks for his resignation after social-media post

Palmetto Bay — At a zoning hearing on Sept. 15, Mayor Karen Cunningham and the village council voted 4-1 to adopt a resolution censuring Council member Steve Cody and requesting his resignation after a social-media post that residents said celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The council—s resolution, read into the record as item 4A, condemns remarks tied to a social-media post dated Sept. 10—11, 2025 and asks Cody to step down. Mayor Karen Cunningham explained that council authority is limited — it can pass a public censure or refer citizens to recall procedures — but cannot unilaterally remove an elected official; the mayor and several council members also asked the governor—s office to review whether state law grounds exist for suspension or removal.

The item was added to the top of a scheduled zoning hearing after the mayor distributed the resolution and a motion to place it on the agenda carried. Dozens of residents then addressed the council in a lengthy public-comment period, many urging immediate resignation and describing the post as "vile," "disgraceful" and harmful to the community—s reputation.

"Cody must go," said resident David Singer during the public-comment portion, and later added that "non-action on Steve Cody's behavior will be Mayor Cunningham's legacy." Several speakers read or quoted the offending post during remarks; Elizabeth Schmeckle told the council that the phrase in the post — "Smith and Wesson, hallowed be thy name" — parodied religious language and was unacceptable in tone.

Council discussion focused on the limits of local authority and the options available: voluntary resignation, a censure by resolution, citizen recall under the village charter, or state intervention. Vice Mayor Mark Merider moved that the council also seek a governor-level review under the applicable Florida statutes for possible suspension or removal; that motion and language asking the village to cooperate with any such investigation were adopted as part of the resolution.

When the council took a roll-call vote, Mayor Karen Cunningham, Vice Mayor Mark Merider, Council member Marshia Matson and Council member Patrick Fiori voted in favor; Council member Steve Cody voted no. The motion passed 4-1.

The council—s resolution does not itself force a vacancy. Mayor Cunningham reminded residents of the charter—s recall provisions and the statutory procedures that would govern any state action. Multiple residents at the meeting said they planned to begin a recall petition and cited the charter—s 10%-of-electors threshold required to initiate recall. Several speakers also urged the council and staff to pursue any charter-based or statutory remedies available.

The council and mayor stressed that the action was intended as both a formal rebuke and a step toward accountability while recognizing legal limits. "The First Amendment is not the issue here," Mayor Cunningham said at the meeting; "this is about accountability."

Next steps: the council posted the resolution and agreed to cooperate with any lawful inquiry; residents said they would pursue recall petitioning and other avenues. The resolution also included attachments of the mayor—s and vice mayor—s statements and the text of the contested social-media post for the public record.

Actions recorded: the council approved a resolution censuring Council member Steve Cody and requesting his resignation (vote 4-1). The council also voted to request that the governor—s office review whether statutory grounds exist to suspend or remove Cody from office and to cooperate with any such review.

The council then resumed zoning business and moved on to other first-reading ordinances (parking regulations, fee reductions and procedural plat changes).