Deltona mayor says city funds were used only for his attendance at U.S. mayors conference
Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila Jr., whose city-funded trip to Washington, D.C., last month included events surrounding the inauguration of President Donald Trump, has broken his silence, releasing a statement on social media.
Two days after the City Commission voted to formally consider sanctions against him in a quasi-judicial trial to be held Feb. 17, Avila – who wasn't at that meeting – offered his side of the story, through a third-person news release.
"Mayor Avila has been falsely attacked for representing the City of Deltona in Washington, D.C., last week (sic). ... Mayor Avila attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors in D.C. last week (sic), which occurred Jan. 17-19."
The release states Avila met with U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and his staff "regarding the crucial $44 million expenditure that passed the U.S. House last year for the benefit of the City of Deltona, in order to ensure his continued support when it arises this year in the U.S. Senate."
It wasn't immediately clear what $44 million Avila was referencing. The News-Journal has reached out to U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, whose district includes Deltona, as well as Avila and the city, and will update this story if an explanation is offered.
In a News-Journal story published Monday, Commissioner Dori Howington said she learned from the city manager the purpose of Avila's trip was "relationship building."
"I do know (the mayor) can sit down with Sen. Rick Scott here in Florida. He can sit down with (U.S. Rep.) Cory Mills here in Florida," she said at the time. "He does not need to travel to Washington, D.C., during the most expensive time for travel in Washington, D.C."
Avila charges taxpayers nearly $1,700 for D.C. hotel stay
A public-records request to Deltona produced Avila's Hyatt Place hotel bill for $1,687.30, for a stay from Jan. 16 to 20. The records also include a log showing he took a city vehicle from 9:25 p.m. Jan. 15 to 6:56 p.m. Jan. 22, and he submitted two receipts for gas, totaling $63.55.
Avila said in the statement that the hotel expense "covered only the dates of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and not the inauguration ceremony."
However, in his Facebook Reel posted Jan. 17, he said he and his wife were in town for the Presidential Inauguration and that they received two tickets for the event. He also said they had "a couple of inaugural balls to go to."
The conference ended at midday on Jan. 19, while the inauguration was on the 20th.
Avila also said he decided to drive the city vehicle to Washington, rather than fly, "because it was a more cost-effective option compared to a flight, which was upwards of $850 per ticket during that time period. The decision alone saved the City of Deltona nearly $1,000+ in funds."
While some social-media commenters suggested Avila spent city money on clothes and other personal items for himself and his wife, the mayor denied that. He also said that he did not have a city credit card, which City Manager Dale "Doc" Dougherty had also said was untrue.
Avila did not address the City Commission's chief concern, that he had violated a 2014 travel policy requiring any out-of-state travel by a commissioner or mayor to be approved ahead of time by the Commission.
While commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to consider sanctions, including a no-confidence vote, at a hearing, Avila was absent. He was in Tallahassee using the city vehicle to meet with state lawmakers. Facebook posts also showed Avila meeting with former Gov. Jeb Bush, along with Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie and Edgewater Mayor Diezel DePew, among others.
The Deltona commission also voted 4-1 to suspend the mayor's use of the city vehicle and any further travel until the Feb. 17 hearing. Yet Avila says his explanation should make all of that go away.
"With these important facts now public, Mayor Avila is confident that his fellow city commissioners will now rescind the motion for an unnecessary and very costly quasi-judicial hearing regarding the legal authority of he, or any other city leader, to travel to important events on the city's behalf, the statement reads. "This travel authority is essential to communicating Deltona's needs and future requests."
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