The good old boy system of Avon Park was shaken to its core in 1949. That September, five out of six incumbents were voted out of office. Among the newly-elected was young Wiley Sauls, who was just 21.
The story gathered widespread media attention that announced he was the youngest mayor in America. Sauls, a native of Avon Park, graduated from Avon Park High School in 1946 and then went to law school at the University of Florida.
The mayoral election of 1949 was hotly contested, with five candidates throwing their hats in the ring. In addition to Sauls, three other candidates (C. L. Armstrong, J. L. Elder, and Bert Turner) were running against incumbent mayor O. C. Wilkes.
In setting the stage, remember mid-century Central Florida’s racial climate. Avon Park was rather typical of the Jim Crow South, segregated by law, including a strict color line for housing. The white population lived in the northern part of the city, and all voted in Precinct 1. A second precinct served the colored “quarters” of the city’s southern section.
Avon Park’s population was measured at 4,612 in the 1950 Census, with 72% being white. Blacks, long intimidated to stay away from the polls, were starting to have more significance in elections but still proportionally had a turnout of about 40% less than whites.
Although no candidate received a majority vote in the five-way race, the incumbent mayor dominated the others in the white precinct with 397 votes; his closest competitor (Armstrong) only had 242. The young legal scholar, Sauls, was tied for third with 237.
Just when it seemed like Wilkes would be re-elected, the black precinct’s tallies rolled in. The 21-year-old captured a whopping 76% of the black vote (225 of 295), and Wilkes only received 20 from the precinct. Sauls zoomed past Wilkes and into the mayor’s seat 462 to 444.
Fast forward to the 1951 election. O. C. Wilkes was determined to reclaim his mayorship over the youngster. A third candidate, O. K. McClure, would never be a real factor in the race.
That year was especially notable for the black electorate. For the first time, the black precinct was staffed and managed by its citizens. The overseeing inspector, W. J. Robinson, and the precinct’s clerks were all black. They finally had exclusive supervision of their own voting district.
When the white precinct reported its results, Wilkes had a narrow eight-vote lead over Sauls of 522 votes to 514. However, the black turnout came out in force and, once again, left no doubt about their preference. Of the 397 votes from the black precinct, an astounding 92.5% went to Sauls.
Wilkes was not amused. Nor was a significant portion of the white population. For the second election in a row, the black voters had overruled the desires of the white constituency. In addition to the mayor race, two new city councilmen (Mannin Kirkland and J. B. Sparks) were swept into office after trailing in the white precinct thanks to the black vote.
The City Council met on September 15th, four days after the election, and heard Wilkes’ protest. He insisted that there were voter irregularities in the black precinct and that the council should take action to correct the injustice and install him as mayor. After looking at the evidence, the council decided there was insufficient evidence and sustained the popular vote.
Undeterred, Wilkes started lobbying local influencers. He compelled the council to convene a special session on September 25th. Wilkes charged that Precinct 2 had not returned all of its unused (blank) ballots after the election, and therefore that called into question all votes cast there.
This time around (based on Wilke’s highly questionable logic), the council voted 3–1 (one abstained) to throw out the ballots of the entire black precinct. Immediately, O. C. Wilkes began acting as the town’s mayor, and councilmen Kirkland and Sparks were replaced by E. W. Gough and Oscar Wolff.
As you can imagine, the whole city was in disarray, and no one could figure out what was going on or who was in charge. The Wilkes administration began to make changes to the city staff, hiring loyalists and firing those in the Sauls camp. Two police offers were assigned to stand guard at the front of City Hall in a military-esque showing of the coup d’etat. Everyone was confused.
Barnett Bank made its position known; they wanted no part in the drama. They refused to honor the city’s checks until the courts sorted out the mess!
The political melee quickly gained statewide headlines and hit the Associated Press wire. It dragged on for almost three months. While the judicial system continued to side with Sauls and insisted the will of the people be upheld, Wilkes and company would not give up the fight.
Attorney Keith Collyer was hired by duly-elected mayor Wiley Sauls and the other two would-be councilmen, Kirkland and Sparks. Collyer contended this authority to the council would permit them to perpetuate themselves into office on a mere claim of irregularities.
Circuit Court Judge Don Register quickly agreed, stating that the council had no authority to change election results and ordered them to reinstate the rightful winners. He stated the city could not “usurp the judicial function by declaring all ballots cast in polling place number two to be void.”
When the shadow government refused to comply, Judge Register called them to appear on contempt of court charges in a Wauchula courtroom.
“Mr. Pardee (Avon Park city attorney) assured me that you gentlemen will meet tonight and carry out the instructions of the court.,” said Judge Register with a soft-spoken demeanor and a knowing smile, “This court has no desire to adjudge anyone with contempt of court — unless it is necessary.”
Council President Gough and the other councilmen facing charges hastily assured the judge that they would meet that night to reverse their action.
However, refusing to go easily, the appeals continued through October and into November. In addition to the charge that not all unused ballots were returned, Wilkes’ attorney S. C. Pardee, Sr., added that black inspector W. J. Robinson had assisted voters in filling out their ballots.
The election challenge made its way to the Florida Supreme Court, which made its final decision on November 20, 1951. The high court agreed with the ruling of Judge Register and brought a conclusion to the matter.
Kirkland and Sparks were installed as city council members. Wiley Sauls, at age 23, became the youngest re-elected mayor in the country. And municipal governments were put on notice that they did not have the authority to invalidate an election to remain in power.
There you have it! Avon Park was the battleground of an early civil rights victory. One great +1 for democracy, with many more to come in the next two decades!
P.S. — Whatever happened to Sauls? Less than two years into his second term, he resigned from the mayor position and moved out of state.
57 responses to “Avon Park City Council Throws Out All Black Votes in 1951 Election”
Thanks Mr. Jason Byrne for fearlessly giving out true history, in these days when some want to hide the truth of parts of history! “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.” Psalm 11:7 (KJV)
You’re very welcome. We’ve got to face our past or we will repeat the mistakes!
Tell that to Garrett Anderson, Daniel Sauls and Brittany McGuire Jason. There is so much baggage, corruption, unethical behaviors and felony investigations connected to this whole entire family and their associates. My mouth dropped by amount of criminal and civil complaints that have been filed against the whole family that began in 2011 based on multiple hard public records queries.
Can Florida History cover this developing story Jason? You are totally competent to cover this! You grew up here and the public deserves an independent reporting model that is not locally driven by the Highlands News Sun or News Talk 730 am. They are not trustworthy news sources and only report half truths. Exercise the freedom of press and opinion! Love FHB and I am so glad you never fully left Highlands County on social and history issues. The citizens of Avon Park deserve an unbiased point of press regarding the most current string of events! The local media outlets are terrified of factual reporting due to the amount of money that has been paid by the Mayor and his sister’s for positive advertising and story spots relating to their businesses and political campaigns! You can do it Jason!
Lee Osanocee
Excellent update! Wiley was my mother’s first cousin. We didn’t know much about him growing up in Lakeland but my own graduate work in Southern history brought me back home. Our shared family background helps shines light on what he achieved so young in Avon Park. Keep at it!
Brittany McGuire is Garrett Anderson’s sister. Growing up, it was widely known about the whole entire family and their toxic behaviors. Gossiping, rumor spreading, defamation both personally and professionally,political theatre and racist ideologies that centered around African American and Hispanic city residents. Jim Bernard loves the Anderson’s and is a close ally. He is the key to this whole entire investigation. He and his wife have been a devoted financial supporters of Parkview Prep Academy and the Anderson family. They donated to the most recent Panda 5k cause that facilitates monies for the nonprofit charity fund raisers under the guise of their building fund. James Jim Bernard is the key witness to hold the Anderson and McGuire accountable. Bernard is sloppy. His email and text messages will show the amount of collusion that has been occuring for the past 7 years.
Well it’s official. Adrian Gamez, a disgraced fired Sheriff’s deputy has now thrown his hat into the City corruption machine. He is a perfect fit for Avon Park City government. Gamez is probably one of the most dishonest, untrustworthy, and unethical individuals known in the law enforcement circuit. He will love working with Anderson, McGuire and Sauls. Seems Avon Park has a aptitude for degenerates and losers. This choice was spear headed by Mayor Garrett Anderson, Daniel Sauls and Brittany McGuire.
History has repeated itself. Daniel Saul’s, Grandson of Wiley, owns the historical Brickell Building now. He works for the current mayors company Anderson Arms. There’s a photo of our current mayor when he was younger supporting the ousting of immigrants in Avon Park during the Tom Macklin administration. Avon Park is deeply divided both racially and politically. Garrett Anderson has managed to fill his family’s and his closest friends pockets full of money and free real estate. His sister Brittany McGuire is also a council member. Keeping it in the family I guess! Jim Crow laws are still strong in Avon Park!
https://youtu.be/3GbC55AAvyY?si=LOTTOlVIHGxSRPAj
Start watching at the 54:00 minute mark. Berniece appears to be the only fiscally minded citizen on the council. Mayor and Brittanys evangelical preaching skills are hard at work justifying giving the Brickell Building away for free to Daniel Sauls. You may be wondering who underwrote the note for the construction loan? Why it was the Honorable John Shoop, the Mayor of Sebring and president of the First Southern Bank, who by coincidence sits on the Highlands County Economic Board with Garrett Anderson and Leah Sauls, wife of Daniel Sauls who owns the Brickell Building. How deep does the Rabbit hole really go? 🔥🔥Jason 🔥🔥
Dan Sauls didn’t get the Brickell Building for free. According to a title search, he paid $10.00 for it. Just wanted to clarify that he did pay something.
For the betterment of Avon Park? Yeah ok Brittany, Sauls and Garrett whatever you say. These people are pathological liars, shady, racist and con artists. This same woman and her sister has denied every child of color denial into Parkview Prep Academy. There are 2 versions of Avon Park and God help you if you ain’t caucasian. Straight up J on looking out 4 justice.
A little fact Mayor Anderson forgot to mention. His Father James Patrick Anderson (Promise Technologies), Himself, his wife Dr. Katie Laun and her plastic surgeon brother, Dr. Jake Laun of Tampa, Brittany McGuire and Candice Anderson are the developers. They always have been the developers behind the project. Daniel Sauls Real Estate LLC was born via Mayor Anderson as his love & brainchild idea and the family’s. Mark Schrader knew this fact. He also knew that the Mayor and his immediate family inherited a historical building for $1.00.
Garrett Anderson knew that the building was eligible for CRA grants and historical grant funding. He promised those funds as a precursor to fund the project. The trickery behind the out of town private developer was a ruse perpetuated by Mayor Anderson in an attempt to sanitize and disconnect himself and the family from the Brickell building ownership and RFP process. Daniel Sauls is just the facilitator and legal entity to sanitize the conflict of interests the ethics commission would call if he had been transparent about his intent to get the building for $1.00 using his intimate knowledge of city owned projects! Anderson and McGuire both knew they will inherit those CRA and historical grants by default via Daniel Sauls, and would distribute such funds to those who initially invested in the project. The fact that he mislead the ethics commission and the taxpayers are grounds for termination and prosecution under Florida Racketeering laws. This is going to end very badly for anyone who enabled and allowed this to go on for so long! Accountability and Justice for Avon Park taxpayers and residents!
Avon Park has a major Homeless problem. Council member Taylor, Breda Gray and Dr. Bobbi Powell tried to convert 3 homes in the Southside to help mothers and children who continue to struggle with homelessness and financial insecurities. Brittany McGuire and Garrett Anderson used their elected position for revenge because of a NAACP investigation that made inquires about the Anderson and McGuire owned Parkview prep academy that denied many potential enrollees and the lack of students of color. How has Avon Park progressed since 1951? One only has to tie the family names and past injustices to come to sound conclusions. I swear there is a major demonic entity in this town and puppets the city government. Everyone says the love God and are Christians but would God deny children and their mothers a safe place to sleep at night if God was the Mayor? We need someone to expose this wickedness. Avon Park is still one sided and Jim Crow entitlement is stronger than ever.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?id=100069255847808&story_fbid=715918350726687
This post via Sheriff Paul Blackman in February clearly demonstrates the need for a homeless shelter in Avon Park. This family should personally thank Mayor Garrett Anderson and Council Woman Brittany McGuire for killing a motion that Council Woman Taylor knew was extremely necessary, important and needed for Avon Park families who continue to struggle financially. In Jesus name we pray??? Yeah ok Brittany and Garrett. Shame on both of you! Disgusting fake Christians and followers of the word!
Mayor Garrett Anderson brought in his buddy JT from Orlando who owns FAM at the airport. FAM wants 25k a month now. Was 10k. I would love to see an article about Avon Park corruption and how FDLE, FBI and the Attorney General in Tallahassee needs to come in and roast the City Council and Manager under Federal and State RICO statues. I grew up here. I remember the young future mayor photo in the paper and his sister Candice was protesting with him in the picture too when they were teenagers. It was in 2006 about the illegal migrant workers in the city. Please Mr. Bryne, can you do an article on AP and its nepotism and corruption?
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/protesters-show-their-support-for-and-against-a-proposed-news-photo/71512043
Future Mayor in the making. Bred by Tom Macklin and the bigot squad!
A young Council Woman Brittany McGuire is in the photos below. This is a learned behavior bred by generations of hate, intolerance and ignorance. I grew up near the Anderson family and they have always been racist and bigoted. Shameful and does not reflect well on the City as a whole. Wash off your hate with the blood of Jesus Christ.
https://youtu.be/mm4V2GgSrXU?si=wZzlJR__dmDBgA3S
Brittany encouraging her twins to be political at such a young age? This could be perceived by many as a learned behavior. This is backwards generational thinking taught by parents and grandparents. Greg “Bubba” Warner was one of the most prolific racist members of the previous Avon Park Police Department
Those poor children being exposed with Avon Park political garbage at such a young age? What a terrible toxic environment for any child to be subjected too. McGuire should be ashamed for encouraging such crude political teachings on her offspring. Not surprised though!
In 2023, Brittany McGuire and Garrett Anderson throw out generational African American residents out of their neighborhood and block off street access for a 326 unit lakefront development with a starting price of $379,000. Drama starts at 55:20 minute mark. Taylor once again called them out for the homeless shelter scandal. Keep watching, evil ensues. I mean if this isn’t racist, I don’t know what is. Flip flopping Bernard pretends to side with the Colored community but we all know better. It should be noted that James Patrick Anderson, Garrett Anderson and Brittany McGuire (father) opens up with the invocation. More naughty corrupt signs from a higher power.
https://youtu.be/5FEnd4idYPE?si=s2HMFsTk-IXWTeV1
😆 gavel smash Anderson. Gerry…..Gerry…..Is Gerald “Gerry” Buhr the Anderson’s attorney on record? What a joke! Keep fighting Berniece you got this. Everytime you speak and raise awareness you send chills down the spines of the vile corrupted city government.
Yes he is! They are thick as thieves! Fire City Attorney Buhr, Garrett Anderson and Brittany McGuire! He’s another local corrupt Boss Hogg bottom feeder.
He has been in bed with Anderson and McGuire and they all will go to prison together for racketeering crimes! Rumor has it that a lot of hush money has passed through their hands! Taxpayers should demand immediate action on these clowns! Hold them accountable Mark Schrader, AP taxpayers and voters!
Attorney Buhr loves to enable Garrett, Brittany and Jim Barnards bad behaviors and unethical approach to running the city. He loves to make excuses for their corruption by stating the causation and reason is they are political animals. I suggest we just start over and get rid of them. A simple motion to fire Attorney Buhr for incompetence will suffice. The upcoming 2 elections will purge Anderson, Barnard and McGuire out permanently. Those 3 have destroyed the notion and concept of a good government mindset.
$ 1,379,877.28 has been paid via the City of Avon Park to Mayor Garrett Anderson and council member Brittany McGuire immediate family.
Cool & Cobb engineering firm. (Mason is Garrett and Brittanys cousin)
Cobb Roofing
Parkview Prep Academy (Candice & Brittanys nonprofit Private academy)
Faith on Fire (Candice Anderson religious nonprofit)
Promise Technologies (Mayors Father construction company, James Patrick Anderson)
Cobb Paving (Mayors and Brittany Uncle paving company Sherri Cobb Anderson brother)
McGuire Roofing (Brittanys husband Erik McGuire company)
Daniel and Leah Sauls (Mayor Anderson business partner and manager, Oak Island Ammo and Anderson Arms) Sauls got the Brickell Building for free and Mayor Anderson backed the loan and plans to hyper inflate the value for CRA and Historical site grants.
Mr. Byrne, we need an outside independent investigative look at this now! The corruption goes back way before Sauls.
Cobb Roofing was just awarded the latest bid. County building official Eric Longshore rushed down to the meeting via a text and request by Mayor Garrett Anderson to get down here immediately and back the city up on the bid award to his cousin Chase Cobb. Eric Longshore happens to be the husband of Superintendent Brenda Longshore who is running for reelection. How deep does this endless black hole of kickbacks and special interests go? If you want anything approved building code wise, Eric Longshore would be issuing authority. This needs to be rectified on so many levels. This is kickback good ole boy networking at its finest. The State of Florida needs to get involved. It’s so obvious now. Abstention after abstention and once again, it revolves around the common Anderson, McGuire and Cobb names! The joke ultimately is on the taxpayers of Avon Park and Highlands County! What a Joke!
detail/news-photo/brittney-yohe-holds-a-sign-in-support-of-a-proposed-news-photo/71512126
Back in the day, you could give a reporter a fake name and no one would conduct due diligence. That’s Brittany Anderson, AKA Brittany McGuire. AKA Brittany Yohe standing right next to her brother James Garrett Anderson AKA Mayor Garrett Anderson. Again, how has Avon Park progressed since in 1951? Something to think about the next time you head to the ballot box and check a name. The citizens deserve to know who their elected leaders really are and what they represent and stand for. Another black eye for Avon Park and the elected government. How Devastating, Shameful and Humiliating!
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/brittney-yohe-holds-a-sign-in-support-of-a-proposed-news-photo/71512126
Notice the mole on the left side of her facial nose mouth crease. That’s Brittany (Anderson) McGuire 100 percent. Confirmed via Google Facial Recognition Software. 99.78 percent match. AI can take current photos and past photos and match them with extreme accuracy.
My family owns a local Taqueria and their private school refused to do with business with our family owned restaurant and our dining options. Makes sense now why we were treated the way we were. I wonder if they were ever taught how, and who built America? Italians, French and Irish illegal immigrants built AP Main Street buildings in early 1900’s! I graduated from Avon Park High School and cannot begin to tell this forum how many times my classmates called me derogatory racial slurs and foolish hateful names. Avon Park needs a Latino minority representation on its Council now! Latinos are the majority population in Avon Park and never have forgotten the damage the city council has done. The same holds true with the African American residents too.
Only one minority allowed on the council a time. Sutherland is a Latina and she really messed up Anderson for the firing of David Flowers. Mayor has Mark Schrader by a death grip. Schrader has to side and submit with his boss, the Mayor, the Man, the Legend, James “Garrett” Anderson. 6 more years of Anderson and McGuire special interests and garbage.
Brittany and Garrett picketing together in 2006. Fast forward 17 years later and now they are the bosses of Avon Park? Ignorance is bliss. When we moved here in 2008, we heard rumors. Now these rumors have been born into truth. Mayor loves to cruise main street in his new Range Rover with the windows down, cherishing what little hair he has left on his head and his nonexistent integrity and shame. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put everything together. Mr. Jason Bryne, can you please do a story on Avon Park and the Anderson scandals and agendas? You are the perfect journalist to bring this to fruition!
I appreciate the vote of confidence, but not sure that’s my lane. I’m a “journalist” by hobby, not by profession; I have a full-time day job and no longer live in Highlands County. I find that history is an amazing way of informing our present. It adds valuable context to interpret current events. I will fight for issues, like social justice. However, I try to stay clear of modern politics because (clearly, as illustrated here) it’s an ugly ugly business.
Smart choice Jason Bryne. It’s drama on the highest level, back stabbing and special interests. Because after all, American Indians once occupied what is now New York City according to our historical expert and Mayor, Garrett Anderson. Not sure if anyone caught the reference of displacing an indigenous population (hint, hint a preview of things to come) because of development. Brittany knew better than to allow Mr. Chui a free pass without paying the Anderson toll for his multi family duplex resort off Lake Lotela. The other out of town developer has already secured his toll and you gotta pay before you can play!
Brittany and Garrett are after all, Avon Parks certified master planners and development liaison specialists. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 I believe Brittany McGuire and Daniel Sauls are still active on the CRA and CDA boards. Which would be a major conflict of interest if you ask any reasonable level headed individual.
You forgot to mention the engineering plans Mason Cobb will continue to get for these contracts and deals via Cool and Cobb Engineering Firm. McGuire and Anderson live by Quid Pro Quo and behind closed door deals. I liken their modus operandi like the warden from Shashank Redemption.Behind every deal, Brittany and Garrett, along with their Cobb and Anderson family members make out like bandits at the expense of the tax payers!
Emilio Garibaldi for Avon Park Mayor 2024!
Garrett Anderson is in the photo with Brittany too. Evil. Look at the evil smirk on Anderson’s face! Shameful!
Same heavy black eyeliner smeared all over her eyelids and the watch is on her left wrist as always. Some habits never die! Brittany and Candice always walk around with designer purses and wear these weird blouses with see through lattice around the shoulder and sleeve areas. It’s really bizarre behavior. It’s like the Duggar family have gone roge attempting to be semi promiscuous and risky!
Gerald Snell photo bombing with the future mayor Garrett Anderson and Brittany McGuire in o6 Gerald is one of Barnards and Mayors henchmen in the southside. Yall don’t even no the half of it. He a sell out 💯 and a wannabe politician. Mayor was giving out ice during Irma trying to score brownie points in southside for his political campaign. They got the ice from the community center for free 😂 fake azz n**gas
Welcome to Avon Park, City of special interests and corruption. Not sure why everyone is surprised about the Anderson camp and how the ride. They were taught at a very young age to be political and devious. Sherri Cobb Anderson lost it with Garrett and Brittany when her brothers company lost the bid to resurface the airport by 20k. They are extremely toxic and one of the most sick minded group of human beings I have ever encountered in my adult life.
The Anderson’s had a master plan. Garrett Anderson was sent as a mole for his city government participation meant to gain intimate personal knowledge of how city finances worked and alliance building commenced. The Cobb element knew that Carl Cool was the only engineering firm in the county and Mason was sent to get his engineering degree from the University of Florida.
Magically, Mason was employed and was offered partnership with Carl Cool as he saw the intrinsic value of his cousin Garrett Anderson being a newly elected Council member and the vast access of intimate knowledge available. With a stroke of luck, competing outside city bids were out performed by the local guy who was always somehow able to beat the outside bidding competition. Yes, there were contentious scandals that arouse from time to time, but Councilman Garrett Anderson was needed to infiltrate the competing bids as a operative to secure bids for the Cobb and Anderson family contingent and continued contracts. Quid pro quo style.
James “Jim” Bernard, a local transplant who hails from Illinois befriended the Anderson and Cobb camp and was encouraged to help save Avon Park. The perception of his age and wisdom was an added plus to help the young newly commissioned Mayor as an ally. This alliance was formed as Bernard was a born again humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. That dynamic possessed value to the Anderson and Cobb camp who profess devotion with ult right Christian principles and values.
Many council members came and went during the 14 year crusade, but Garrett Anderson stuck it out and won over the hearts and minds as a crusader who would be known as the savior for the City of Charm. Something happened in 2020, Anderson was being flagged and investigated my multiple sub committees under the direction of State Ethics Commissions and State level law enforcement entities. Previous city manager David Flowers started to get comfortable with city dealings and became sloppy with email chains and phone calls. A lone crusader and Council woman, Maria Sutherland began to slowly expose Anderson and Flowers. Sutherland became overzealous, and Anderson and Bernard saw this as another opportunity to discredit her through publication of false defamatory add campaigns. This discredit campaign was executed the same way Sherri (Cobb) Anderson, Garrett Anderson and Brittany (Anderson ) McGuire had executed with previous City manager Julian DeLeon, another Hispanic gentleman who tried his best to rid the City of corruption and special interests.
Brittany McGuire ran for city Government as their was a level of uncertainty with Mayor Garrett Anderson and his over zealous, in your face approach to politics and blow hard ways that would end the intimate bid access and profiteering knowledge. Brittany McGuire was more credible and possessed somewhat less baggage than her brother, Garrett Anderson. McGuire by default, would continue the quest to have all intimate access for incoming out for bid figures as a continued skilled insider in the event that Mayor Garrett Anderson would lose the most recent election.
Avon Park has to change. Four of the Five current Council members are previous friends. Shelly has had her children enrolled in Parkview Prep Academy owned by McGuire and Anderson. Brittany and Garrett are brother and sister. Jim and Garrett are close allies and Jim will always side with Garrett, Brittany and Shelly no matter if he disagrees with the agenda. Poor Berneace Taylor has become the sacrificial Lamb in the Wolfs lair. She has been thrown under the bus all because she wants the City Government to be fair and just for all citizens. This needs an eye now! I really enjoy Jason as a journalist, his courage to expose our wicked past and the injustices our system continues to cause for so many Americans!
https://youtu.be/kmkLGyUCWgQ?si=kld95STFLs-txVnL
Start watching at the 58:50 mark.
Evil it’s free advertising for Parkview Prep Academy Avon Park FL. Mayor, Brittany and Candice Anderson are once again benefiting for their participation on a super crappy city government platform. They are bunch in of Narcissistic selfish beings. Parkview Prep Academy has a naughty checkered past. Just Google it!
Candice Anderson in a condescending tone says it’s kind of expensive to put on the fireworks display as her goofy uncertain nervous laugh conveys. She was nervous that Council member Taylor was going to bring up the circulated documented photo of Candice Anderson abusing and ripping her fingernails into the Prep Academy student boys arm. That was a major scandal and the Mayor begged Sheriff Blackman and the SAO not to arrest Candice Anderson. Let the record show that Parkview Prep Academy is the only private school on the city website. Why aren’t the other private schools listed? Let’s keep it fair Avon Park. Yeah right. This is sick, sick behavior by the City and proves that Taylor is on to something!
Candice Anderson was voted in 2023 as the most organized individual at the Avon Park Commerce awards. This is a rebranding campaign. On a side note, Sheriff’s Admin pushed hard for charges. The old State Attorney was abruptly asked to retire during the Parkview Prep Academy scandal.Tallahassee got involved after a nowrit was declared by 10th judicial offices. Sheriff Blackman is one of the good guys and pushed super hard for charges. The Anderson’s just brushed it off and declared that he’s playing politics. There is very bad blood shared between the opposing parties.
DeLeon inherited a nightmare scenario when he took the city manager position. Anderson and McGuire repeatedly asked for special considerations and favors when Parkview Prep Academy was green lighted for expansion. Anderson was even more demanding for special favors regarding ordnance violations at the behest of the ATF. Everyone plays for team Anderson. If you don’t agree with them, you’re gone! City management is clueless about the racketeering and influence that has dominated our city for the past 100 years. Someone in the city finance department has total access and has been tipping off council members for years about incoming bids and figures. That’s how the Mayors family always wins bids. They portray an image and use whatever means, ideologies, or political stances available. It’s the same tactic the pastor in the church uses by shaming it’s congregation for not contributing to the collection plate. The city attorney definitely plays for team Anderson. It’s one big rotten good ole boy system. Thank you Mr. Byrne for bringing awareness!
Carl Cool was a county administrator for a long time in Highlands County. A lot of missing money disappeared under his watch. Makes perfect sense on the timing with Mason Cobb being offered partnership and Garrett Anderson political career started in Avon Park ironically at the same time. Sherrie Cobb, Anderson’s mother and Mason Cobbs Aunt was advocating for a easy grab for the Cobb family element.The ethics commission passed the torch to the FBI due to Carl Cools monopoly he had going with the library cooperative system in the county back in 2006. Carl Cool knew the Cobb and Anderson contingent was corrupt and viewed Avon Park as a easy target to get contracts using intimate partnerships. Carl Cool knew Avon Park had been corrupt and bragged many times about the how Avon Park operated.
Carl Cool has no credibility ethically or morally. This is fact. Just Google Carl Cool Highlands County Florida. Goes back to 1987-2008. If only we could get a city manager who had the balls to put a dagger into this good old boy system once and for all!
Yep, and Ricky Helms, was one of Carl Cools mignons in the county that was cooking Avon Parks books as the finance director. All of these scandals links back to Garrett Anderson, Jim Barnard, Mason Cobb, Carl Cool and Ricky Helms. Rotten corruption in the highest level! All of them need to be removed and prosecuted!
Brittanys campaign slogan “I want to give back to the City”. It should’ve read, “I want to give back to my family and closest friends”. Because that has occurred on every possible level. Code enforcement director LaBelle has challenged and pleaded with the city attorney and manager to put an end to it. Mum is the answer. Mark Schrader is terrified of going against the Anderson machine on fear of losing his job and position.
And yet Lamar Cobb, (Sherrie Anderson’s brother and mother of Brittany and Garrett) was just awarded the bid to harden the fire station. Lamar Cobbs niece and nephew just happen to be in the know of the grant allocation and dollar amounts awarded to the city. Lamar Cobb just happens to win the bid. Brittany and Garrett just happen to abstain calling conflict. What happened to the third party firm that was managing the bid process? Someone must’ve gotten to them!This has been happening since 2013. Avon Park taxpayers let’s end this immediately. Vote them out and terminate anyone who’s also benefiting from Brittany and Garrett intimate partnerships and nepotism relations.
Hey Bri, Candi and Garrett it’s John Cooter. Y’all got this. Keep Avon Park great! Taylor is a woke socialist and should be voted out immediately!!!
Don’t get it twisted. The Anderson’s pretend to do things out of the goodness of their heart. There is no good in any of their hearts. They worship money, power, vanity and represent the very problem with political unstableness and racial disparities. Tax payer funded Florida School Choice and Step Up grant money pays for everything. They report that the nonprofit pays them $32,000 a year as a salary? But yet they drive 100k cars? Now let’s use common sense and apply it here. No way in gods creation would a bank underwrite a car note for 100k when the applicant makes $32,000 a year. Non profits are a legal means to launder money legally and unconditionally. They should make a provision in the city charter that bans individuals from serving in city government if they or an immediate family member owns and operates a nonprofit and the entity benefits from tax payer funded city funds! End of story!
Pretty disrespectful that Garrett Anderson and Brittany McGuire didn’t bow their heads and just stared at the Spanish speaking pastor during the invocation at the Council meeting. Whenever Garrett Anderson or Brittany McGuire say the invocation those heads are deep down bowed. Actions and mannerisms speak way louder than words. Shame on both of them! Who do they think they are fooling? Hang in there Berniece! They have done exposed themselves for a very long time now and you have to stand up for all AP citizens on exposing the corruption and agendas!
Candice Anderson and Brittany McGuire love the Hispanic demographic. They both love to teach the importance of cheap labor and reiterating the roles that Brown demographics play in our ever changing economy at their private academy. They also teach that the dinosaurs roamed the earth when Jesus was around! A for ABEKA! F for failure!
And the icing on the cake was the ransomware attack on the Avon Park City network that simultaneously attacked the Sheriff’s Office network. Rumor has it that FDLE and SOID were on to something big concerning the Avon Park City Council. Ironically, all the incriminating cyber evidence and public records magically got compromised. Someone who had access planted the ransomware physically into both data frames. This is fact. It’s like the Tootsie Pop commercial, How many licks does it take to get into the center? The world will never know.
😂😂😂😂😂 The world will never know! Highlands County knows, and everyone has accepted that Avon Park is rotten to the core! No hope left for it’s citizen makeup. Everyone needs to accept the rotten hand they have been dealt. Avon Park is a sleazy hub for seedy developers. Our current administration has taken bribe money from the big players who wish to redevelop the Southside and make it more caucasian friendly.
Thanks Jason for the great insight and bringing this forgotten scandal to life. You’re right. History plays a major role on shaping our present. Most believe Avon Park is a cursed city and no more than a means for local entertainment. The amount of political and racial separation + corruption is at an all time high. I pray things get better for AP. The current administration has become the big bully on the playground and it’s going to take 30 years to undo the damage afflicted by those who hold power. Our nation has already witnessed the damages caused by the Donald and conquest to divide and separate.
Try 50 years. I cannot believe the amount of bids awarded to the Anderson, Cobb and McGuire family members. They openly rub it in the face of other council members and tax payers. How anyone can allow and enable this behavior is dumbfounding. I mean think about it. We’re not talking little jobs. We’re talking millions and millions of city taxpayer owned dollars awarded over the past decade. These awardees happen to be either Cobb, Anderson or McGuire names. Coincidence or chance? You decide.
Word in the inner circles is that Mayor reaps a hefty ten percent cut on every bid awarded. It gets washed and lost in 1 of 7 of the nonprofits the immediate family operates and use to evade federal income taxes. These people are dangerous. I mean in your face dangerous. There church ministry model teaches divinity and prosperity under the Kenneth Copeland wealth divinity models. There was a powerhouse investigative journalist a few weeks back sniffing around who was ran out of town by law enforcement while inquiring about Avon Park and the recent Brickell building scandal.
Rumor has it the recently fired city manager had something to do with that. Our local media are terrified of factual unbiased reporting due to Highlands County being red. Governor Ron Desantis has penetrated our rural area and has over stepped his authority by multiple appointments at South Florida State College and the board of directors. The new college president, Fred Hawkins is a career politician and is clueless. I mean clueless on every level when it comes to collegiate academic institutions and how they operate both fiscally and institutionally. What’s even worse, Hawkins was recently spotted at Mayor Garrett Anderson’s new mansion on Lake Verona. They also serve and sleeze together on the Highlands Economic Board. These are scary times for Avon Park citizens and Highlands County. I see a special appointment for Garrett Anderson coming in the near future via Ron Desantis. God save us all and God bless America.
Many lavish vacations have been purchased and paid for by these bid awards and referrals. Lavish ski resorts in Canada, Kearney Island in Ireland and other European cities. McGuire reports that she earns 35k a year in salary via the private prep academy. It pays to be a politician in Avon Park. Donating the bid referral to a nonprofit would benefit both the business and the awardee. Ethics commission needs to focus on the Cobb, Anderson and McGuire business and non profit accounts. That will show the kickbacks via the bids awarded and transference of those funds to the Anderson run nonprofit organizations.
DOJ, FDLE and Treasury will need to get their RICO subject matter experts involved to show the pattern of money exchanges, the percentages of those donations will absolutely reflect the 10 percent tithing in relation to the bid. The 10 percent is always factored in the bid for Garrett and Brittany. Brittany and Garrett forward the grant or money cap amounts to the appropriate family member who will for sure win the bid by being the lowest bidder by default to the current city charter rules. That’s how their family associates always wins the bid, grants or insurance monies that are applied for. Garrett has bragged about this elaborate scheme for years in his inner circles. His ego and bully tactics will be his and Brittany’s demise.
Jim Barnard has been intercepted and has admitted that Garrett has paid for his past 2 campaigns. He is totally under fire in this investigation and is worried sick about all this coming out. Firing Schrader was the grossest betrayal to the Anderson, Cobb and McGuire special interests machine. It proves that Mark Schrader was part of this elaborate get rich quick scheme.
The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Avon Park is 1 in 43. Based on the FBI crime intake center. Avon Park is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Florida, Avon Park has a crime rate that is higher than 73% of the state’s cities and towns of all sizes. So let’s do the math.
11,000 residents divided by the coefficient of 43 = 25.58 % chance of being a victim of a violent crime.
Something for the current elected administration to ponder when they are preaching how Avon Park is a great place to live. Statistically, Miami and Orlando are way safer! Remind me why we keep electing ineffective brothers and sisters and friends? Makes no sense whatsoever! We need new faces on the council now. I can’t take the crime here no more.
Death Star was just dropped on the Park! Darth Schrader is now considering going back to the light side of the force. Attorney Durham was drilling the Mayor last meeting and basically depositioning the Mayor in front of the camera. Mayor was smiling in the video. Not realizing the implications that are coming his and the family’s way. My gut feeling is that they have hard hard evidence that is going to put Garrett Anderson, Jim Barnard and Brittany McGuire away for a long time. Real easy to get these idiots off their council seats while they await jury trial. Need a minimum of 1000 signatures via registered voters to force impeachment to get their sorry behinds out for good. Supervisor of elections will hold a special election to get their seats filled and then the 3 musketeers will go to prison for corruption, extortion, racketeering and abuse of public office for at least 10 years! Problem solved! Bye Bye Garrett Anderson, Brittany McGuire and Jim Barnard. Was it really worth it just to pacify your egos?
Avon Park is done. FDLE, State Attorneys Office of Investigations, FBI and DOJ is officially involved! Thank you Jason! Thank you Berniece! Thank you Mr. Emilio Garabaldi. Thank you Stephen and Kadie Madre. Your fearless desire to make this injustice is applauded. DCF and Sheriff’s office really screwed up and had every opportunity to make this right on a local authority level. They swept multiple crimes and incidents of abuse under the rug. Let’s see who takes the fall for the Parkview Prep Academy student who was battered by Candice Anderson. Whole brunch of crime stoppers tips were also submitted about Mayor Garrett Anderson, his family and associates that began in 2016 and were ignored for so long. Someone is going to be held accountable. You will not hear a peep from our local media or local law enforcement organizations as they are sickened by the Feds spear heading the investigation!