As we reported earlier this month, former Town of Fort Myers Beach Council member Bill Veach made what he called an “offer” to the Town Council; appoint Tom Brady to former Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt’s seat and he would drop his appeal of John King’s successful recall fight. King called it blackmail. Here’s what the Town Attorney said.
On Tuesday, Town Attorney Nancy Stuperich informed the Council that due to what Veach said, council member King could not vote for Brady for the open seat. She said if King voted for Brady he would benefit financially if Veach followed through and dropped his appeal because there are attorney’s fees involved and the court still may decide that Veach has to cover King’s attorney’s fees if King wins the case. The appeals court has not yet ruled on Veach’s appeal to King’s recall court win.
Brady finds himself in the awkward position of distancing himself from the Veach offer. He told the council Monday, during public comment, that he understood why Veach did what he did but he had no idea the offer was going to be made and never discussed the issue with Veach before he made the offer.
Last year during the recall of King and Karen Wooson, a judge ruled that the petition Veach and former Mayor Ray Murphy used to recall King was fatally flawed because it did not specify who the recallers were claiming King tried to have fired on the town’s staff. In addition to the judge ruling in King’s favor, King has denied all the recall allegations. Over 60% of those who voted in the November recall voted to have King recalled. They also voted to recall Karen Woodson.
Brady came in 2nd place on the recall ballot with Rebecca Link receiving 9 more votes. Link took Woodson’s spot on the council. The same judge who ruled in King’s favor also ruled that Woodson’s recall ballot was valid. Woodson has also denied all the allegations against her. Both Woodson and King have filed defamation lawsuits against Veach and Murphy.
After Atterholt resigned, Brady announced he was interested in the seat. LPA member John McLain also voiced his interest.
King said Veach’s offer to drop the appeal was blackmail and added Veach could drop the appeal at any time.
Fort Myers Beach taxpayers are covering King’s legal fees in the recall court cases because King was an acting Town Council member when the recall accusations came to light. King and Woodson are paying legal fees for the defamation lawsuits out of their own pockets.