It was while a Dunbar High School student was speaking about how she and her classmates don’t feel safe around Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson that Councilman Fred Burson walked off the dais.
Shortly after that, Burson walked out; his colleagues Darla Bonk and Liston Bochette III also got up and left, at which point the city attorney Ronald Dente announced that because only Anderson and council members Terolyn Watson and Teresa Watkins Brown remained, there was no quorum, and the meeting was abruptly adjourned.
Those in attendance said they were shocked by the walkout of the council members while several more members of the public were waiting to speak.
“I think they made it clear they don’t care about their constituents and I think they planned it out beforehand,” said Anderson critic Cory Andrews, who was in attendance. “Why would three council members walk out in short succession of each other when hearing public comment regarding the allegations against Mayor Anderson? Why would they do that?”
That remains unclear. While those in the room said they believed the walkout was a show of support for the mayor, the Lighthouse has received no explanation from the council members involved.
Pt16: Ft. Myers Council members walk out of meeting during public criticism of Mayor Kevin Anderson
By Bob Norman
It was while a Dunbar High School student was speaking about how she and her classmates don’t feel safe around Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson that Councilman Fred Burson walked off the dais.
Shortly after that, Burson walked out; his colleagues Darla Bonk and Liston Bochette III also got up and left, at which point the city attorney Ronald Dente announced that because only Anderson and council members Terolyn Watson and Teresa Watkins Brown remained, there was no quorum, and the meeting was abruptly adjourned.
It was the latest dramatic fallout that has come from a spate of allegations lodged against Anderson by numerous people of sexual misconduct and harassment regarding young men.
Those in attendance said they were shocked by the walkout of the council members while several more members of the public were waiting to speak.
“I think they made it clear they don’t care about their constituents and I think they planned it out beforehand,” said Anderson critic Cory Andrews, who was in attendance. “Why would three council members walk out in short succession of each other when hearing public comment regarding the allegations against Mayor Anderson? Why would they do that?”
That remains unclear. While those in the room said they believed the walkout was a show of support for the mayor, the Lighthouse has received no explanation from the council members involved.
Dominic Hendricks, an 18-year-old who alleges Anderson sexually harassed him at the city’s July 4 celebration, said the Dunbar student, Magdalena Sanchez, specifically pointed out the latest allegation that Anderson sexually propositioned a high school student during his time as a school resource officer in the 1980s.
He said he too felt the walkout was “coordinated” and noted that as the meeting adjourned, Anderson had a “big smile” on his face.
“This was touching the third rail,” he said. “It was as if by clockwork they walked out of the meeting.”