Fort Myers city council members got an earful — then they quickly headed for the exits
By Bob Norman
Here are some of the statements delivered by residents last evening to the Fort Myers City Council regarding Mayor Kevin Anderson’s sexual misconduct scandal. Once again, the comments came at the end of the meeting, and once again, Anderson and the council quickly adjourned and left without a word.
No one from City Council has stepped up to protect these young men. It’s possible that they will be traumatized in the years to come. It matters. It matters.
Mayor Anderson, sir, you should step down. You should resign.New leadership is needed.
Right now, your silence is the loudest thing in the city of Fort Myers.
We are the seat of Lee County. Everyone looks to the city for leadership. This threatens our economy. This threatens how we are viewed, not just in Fort Myers, but in Florida, across the state of Florida, across this nation.
This is disgusting. It has criminalized the office of the mayor. No doubt about it. This looks to be more an office of immorality. … Those two young men should be heard, believed, and supported. And the NAACP intends to do just that.
—NAACP President James Muwakil
Are you waiting for this to become a Bill Cosby or Harvey Weinstein court case before you act? You’re public servants, you serve us you serve the children of this community … for the love of God say something.
And if you can’t see there’s a serious problem going on here and that we need answers, then what would it take? Do you trust him enough that you would allow your grandchild or son to stay with him the weekend? Then go ahead and do it. Because I wouldn’t.
—Republican activist Jacqueline Perez
[T]his is the United States of America. It is innocent until proven guilty within a court of law. However, I do not think that an innocent man would quietly resign from numerous board positions. I do not think that an innocent man would not have a seat with the press in order to actually air out the claims of misconduct that have been put against him.
To quote Chris Hansen: ‘You see how this looks, right?’ The people of Fort Myers deserve to know the truth—not just with what happened with Kagan, and Dominic, and Marco, and Payton, but to the other unnamed victims who have come out to Bob Norman and other journalists who wish to seek justice. I once again call for this City Council to reopen the investigation into the incident of November 21st, 2024, and an independent investigation—independent of FMPD and FDLE—and I also call for the resignation of Mayor Anderson.
—Democratic activist Cory Andrews
This is what the victims have indicated that the mayor has said to each of them. Kagan Vann, who appeared drugged, said Kevin Anderson said, ‘I’m going to take you over to that ATM, withdraw $200, and you’re going to let me suck you off.’ Dominic Hendricks said you asked him if he was cut down there, and how big he was. And an unnamed bar back downtown said you offered him money for sex. Marco Mendoza, a bar back at Fancy’s, said you told him that you would really like to suck him off. Peyton Caler, a bartender, said you told him that he probably liked to do girls from behind. He’s big, like rock hard, and then you asked him if he had ever been sucked off by a man.
Is this hard to listen to? It should be. It should be. It should be. It should make you squeamish. It’s disgusting. And evidently, Anderson’s behavior is common knowledge to downtowners. There are others, and there will be more. You can count on that.
These are serious, detailed allegations of sexual misconduct. We have heard accounts, we have seen reports of body cam footage, and we have seen the mayor step down from municipal local community boards, yet you have taken no formal action. The public allegations and evidence describe a clear violation of state law 796.07, which explicitly outlaws the solicitation of sexual activity for hire.
The two young men at the last meeting were clear that these were unwanted gestures. Now, more victims have come forward. This is what the victims have indicated that the mayor has said to each of them:
Kagan Vann, who appeared drugged, said Kevin Anderson said, ‘I’m going to take you over to that ATM, withdraw $200, and you’re going to let me suck you off.’
Dominic Hendricks said you asked him if he was cut down there, and how big he was. And an unnamed bar back downtown said you offered him money for sex.
Marco Mendoza, a bar back at Fancy’s, said you told him that you would really like to suck him off.
Payton Caler, a bartender, said you told him that he probably liked to do girls from behind. He’s big, like rock hard, and then you asked him if he had ever been sucked off by a man.
Is this hard to listen to? It should be. It should be. It should be. It should make you squeamish. It’s disgusting. And evidently, Anderson’s behavior is common knowledge to downtowners. There are others, and there will be more. You can count on that.
Silence from this body communicates permission to the public. The oath you took was to protect citizens of Fort Myers, not to shield any individual from scrutiny. By passing a resolution tonight, you can appeal to the State of Florida and formally request that Governor DeSantis, the FDLE, and the State Attorney launch an independent outside investigation. That’s State Statute 112.51. That is the only path that will potentially provide due process for the victims and for the community of Fort Myers.
So, which one of you is going to make a resolution tonight? Councilwoman Bonk? Councilwoman Watkins? Councilwoman Giraldo? Who’s going to make a motion for an investigation?
—Republican activist Denise Nystrom