Ethics Charge Filed Against Vice Mayor

Vice Mayor David Sturges is facing an ethics investigation by the Florida Commission on Ethics.

The ethics complaint came to light when the city commission's April 18 agenda was made public this week. One agenda item is a resolution authorizing the city attorney to work with the city’s claims administrator to appear on behalf of and defend Sturges before the commission on ethics over a complaint filed on March 6, 2023. Sturges is asking that the city pay his legal bills.

The complaint itself, and all ethics commission proceedings and records relating to the complaint, are confidential unless Sturges wishes to disclose them.

City Charter Section 31 requires that the prosecution and defense of litigation involving the city be authorized by the city commission. The commission will vote April 18 on the resolution for Sturges' defense and legal fee

City Attorney Tammi Bach has cautioned Sturges in the past on his comments and votes in the debate over the closure of Brett's Waterway Café. Sturges failed to disclose a conflict of interest when the Brett's matter first was discussed and voted on by the city commission in 2020. Sturges has a business partner who also is employed by Brett's.

After Attorney Bach told him that he had a conflict of interest in the Brett's matter, Sturges has since recused himself on Brett's votes.