Fort White: Town Council Censures Mayor – Petitions Governor DeSantis to Investigate & Consider Suspension
Council votes 3-1 on both measures, citing missed meetings, unsigned checks and blocked access to town financial systems
November 6, 2026 4:41 pm | 5 min read
Out of view (left) Presiding Officer Kathryn Terry,
Councilman Lonnie Harren, Mayor's empty seat,
Councilwoman Monica Merricks, out of view Councilman
Bill Koon.
FORT WHITE, FL — The Fort White Town Council, in back-to-back votes, voted 3-1 Wednesday evening to formally censure Mayor George Jacob Thomas and petition Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to investigate and suspend him from office.
The council accuses the Mayor of widespread neglect of duty. The accusations include misfeasance and malfeasance, alleging that the Mayor has skipped 10 council meetings since June, refused to sign council-approved contracts and checks, and blocked town clerks and designated council members from accessing municipal bank accounts, QuickBooks, and payroll systems.
The votes came at a special meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Mayor Thomas also skipped that meeting, again without notifying the Clerk or offering an excuse.
Why the Censure Matters
The council's account goes beyond a clash over policy.
A censure is a public rebuke. The council's letter to the Governor is a bigger step: it asks the state to step in. The council's account goes beyond a clash over policy. It says the Mayor's actions have slowed the payment of town bills, inhibited the carrying out of council decisions, and hampered the clerk's work, e.g., governmental administration.
The two measures [resolution and letter] differ in effect. The censure resolution says "nothing herein shall be construed to remove Mayor Thomas from office, declare a vacancy, or otherwise alter the powers, duties or responsibilities" of the Mayor's office.
However, by pairing the censure with a direct appeal to Tallahassee under Section 112.51(1) of the Florida Statutes, the Town Council has elevated a local administrative deadlock into a state-level inquiry.
Councilman Lonnie Harrell reads the Censure Resolution
The censure: The Council's Resolution
Presiding Officer Kathryn Terry introduced Resolution R2026-05, which formally censures MayorThomas. Councilman Lonnie Harrell read the full text aloud. He explained that Presiding Officer Terry was "really under the weather." She was.
The resolution "condemns the conduct as inconsistent with the responsibilities and obligations of the Office of Mayor."
The resolution found the following:
• Chronic Absenteeism: Mayor Thomas failed to attend four regular council meetings (June 15, Aug. 17, Sept. 21, and Oct. 19, 2026) and six special meetings or workshops (June 22, July 7, Sept. 17, Sept. 19, Oct. 6, and Oct. 12, 2026), "thereby failing to participate in the deliberation and conduct of official Town business at those meetings."
• Refusal to Execute Contracts: In violation of Section 11(1) of the Town Charter, Mayor Thomas failed or refused to sign contracts duly approved by the governing body, stalling authorized municipal business.
• Withholding Check Signatures: Under Section 46 of the Town Charter, warrants for payment require the signatures of both the mayor and the town clerk. The council alleges Thomas refused to sign checks for authorized financial obligations "with which he personally disagreed, thereby interfering with the timely payment and administration of the Town's financial obligations."
• Blocking Bank Account Signatories: Mayor Thomas failed or refused to authorize adding the current and former town clerks, and council-designated members, as signers on town bank accounts.
• Financial systems: Mayor Thomas failed or refused to give the town clerk access to the town's QuickBooks accounts and payroll system "until directed to do so by the Town Council."
• Administrative Interference: By impeding the town clerk — who serves under the direction and control of the council pursuant to Section 28 of the Town Charter — Mayor Thomas undermined "the orderly and efficient administration of [the] Town."
The resolution "condemns the conduct as inconsistent with the responsibilities and obligations of the Office of Mayor." It also "calls upon" Mr. Thomas and "compels him" to attend meetings, sign financial documents on time, and grant the access banks require.
Councilman Harrell moved to approve the resolution. Councilman Bill Koon seconded it. Presiding Officer Terry asked for discussion. There was none. Ms. Terry called for a voice vote – it passed 3-1. Councilwoman Merricks voted against.
Councilwoman Monica Merricks voted in opposition to both
the Censure Resolution and the Letter to the Governor.
She gave no explanantion.
The letter to the Governor
The letter requests an investigation and "consideration of suspension."
Next on the agenda, which Presiding Officer Terry described as a letter to the governor "for the removal of Mayor George Thomas," was the letter to Governor DeSantis. Interim Town Clerk Glenn Hunter read it aloud. The letter requests an investigation and "consideration of suspension."
The letter invokes the Governor's power to suspend a municipal official (under section 112.51(1), Florida Statutes), for malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence or other listed grounds. It repeats the council's findings. It says Mayor Thomas's conduct "raises substantial concerns."
The council also tried to head off the argument that this is ordinary political friction. It acknowledges that "disagreements between elected officials may arise in the ordinary course of municipal governance." It argues that the conduct described "extends beyond routine disagreements concerning Town policy."
The letter asks the Governor's office to do three things:
1. Review and investigate Mayor Thomas's actions and omissions.
2. Determine whether they amount to neglect of duty, misfeasance or malfeasance.
3. Consider suspending him from office if the investigation finds sufficient grounds.
It closes by saying the council "stands ready to provide relevant information." The letter is dated November 4 and addressed to Governor DeSantis.
A question about legal advice – the only exchange
The only substantive exchange came when Councilwoman Monica Merricks asked who drafted the letter. Mr. Hunter and Town Attorney Leonard Ireland both answered that the attorney did. Mr. Ireland added that he wrote it "at the direction of the Council."
Councilwoman Merricks pressed him. She noted that he had advised the council against this course at an earlier meeting.
Mr. Ireland acknowledged the change. He said he had advised that the governor lacked authority to act, but later found a statute saying otherwise. He mentioned a case that said the governor lacked authority at that earlier point. He said he now believes the governor has authority under the statute cited in the letter. He left the decision to the council: "Whether he does [or] not is up to you [him]."
Without any further discussion, Councilman Harrell moved to approve the letter. Councilman Koon seconded. Presiding Officer Terry announced it passed 3-1, Ms. Merricks against.
Representative elect (Dist. 10) Marshall Rawson
(center-top) made a surprise visit to town hall to view
the proceedings. After being recognized by Councilman
Harrel he told the Council: "I wanted to come hear what
was going on. There was some excitement tonight, so
wanted to come listen... I wanted to see what you are
about."
Epilogue: What happens next
The Fort White Town Council has made its argument. The censure took effect on adoption.
The letter was posted on Thursday via express mail overnight and should now be with the Governor’s Office.
Whether Governor DeSantis investigates or suspends Mayor Thomas is outside the council's control.
Postscript: Mayor Thomas told WUFT about his plan of non-attendance: "The people have to decide, and they did, in this coming election, how, what they want Fort White's future to be. And so my plan was always to just take that step back, see what the residents decided, and then come back, you know, upon when the new members take office." WUFT misreported that the Mayor had missed three meetings. It is eleven.