Vice Chair seeks legal review after HPCA schedules "Coffee With Candidates" event

Arthur Rhodes, the board's vice chair, pressed the Heritage Pines Community Development District on Sept. 17 after learning an HPCA memo set an Oct. 9 "Coffee With Candidates" event and included candidate bios. Rhodes said the materials and the way the event was scheduled raised "serious problems in the relationship between the HPCA and the CDD" and asked whether HPCA staff were instructed to set up a campaign‑style event rather than a community forum.

Herb Hurley, HPCA general manager, said candidates asked for the event so they "could become known as candidates for the CDD Board" and declined further discussion, saying the matter should be handled by attorneys. Rhodes asked whether staff were warned that the presence of multiple CDD board members at such an event could violate the Florida Sunshine Law. Chuck Adams, the district manager, advised the board that sitting supervisors cannot attend multi‑member candidate gatherings where future board business could be discussed and said he would ask District Counsel to prepare a memorandum.

Rhodes summarized the candidates' stated reasons for running, as recorded at the meeting: he said Mr. Steele described a need for "necessary changes from current direction, priorities and results," Mr. Putman said he wanted to "work together to enhance the community," and Mr. Kleeman said he saw "discord between the CDD and Heritage Pines." On a motion by Rhodes, seconded by Carol Vaughan, the board unanimously directed the district manager to review the implications of outside candidates and asked District Counsel to provide a legal opinion on whether the scheduled event raises Sunshine Law concerns.