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Some resort to allegedly criminal measures to counter recall efforts

(DeltonaBonaFide.com 5/28/09)

CITIZENS IN PARK SECRETLY RECORDED:  Just released and distributed today was an audio recording of Deltona citizens gathered in a city park engaged in conversation.

Controversy is brewing over the method in which the audio clip was created, as the citizens' conversation was recorded without their knowledge or consent.  According to one of the violated citizens, during their conversation he noticed a strange man who was sitting at a nearby park bench but who was not participating in their discussion.  It is suspected the stranger might have been using a concealed directional microphone to secretly record the political conversation.  The unauthorized audio file was then distributed to the world via YouTube.com, a popular video sharing web site.

Some are saying the unauthorized recording is a criminal act that violates both State and Federal laws.  According to Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press:

"Federal law allows recording of phone calls and other electronic communications with the consent of at least one party to the call. A majority of the states and territories have adopted wiretapping statutes based on the federal law, although most also have extended the law to cover in-person conversations.

 

Twelve states require, under most circumstances, the consent of all parties to a conversation. Those jurisdictions are California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington. Be aware that you will sometimes hear these referred to inaccurately as “two-party consent” laws. If there are more than two people involved in the conversation, all must consent to the taping.

 

Regardless of the state, it is almost always illegal to record a conversation to which you are not a party, do not have consent to tape, and could not naturally overhear.

 

Federal law and most state laws also make it illegal to disclose the contents of an illegally intercepted call or communication."

The allegedly criminal video was posted on the discussion web site DeltonaInfo.org by Michael Kiepert, organizer of Mayor Mulder's private advisory group.

One resident, who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation, said "I'm saddened that politics have sunk so low in Deltona that criminal acts are being resorted to, but that's how some operate - it fits an ongoing pattern."

To respect those citizens whose rights and privacy might have been violated and because the legality of the unauthorized audio recording is uncertain, DeltonaBonaFide.com is refraining from publishing a link to the audio clip or disclosing the contents of the recording, as doing so might be a violation of law as noted above and below:

"Federal law and most state laws also make it

illegal to disclose the contents of an illegally intercepted call or communication."

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Commissioner Treusch attacks Recall Committee for using city park

(DeltonaBonaFide.com 5/21/09)

Treusch, listed as one of the four targets of the group's recall efforts, is accusing the Deltona Recall Committee of unlawfully using a city park, and questions what the group is trying to accomplish.

Recall Committee Chairman Mark Buckley urges concerned citizens to not be fearful of retaliation, and to sign the recall petition.

To read Commissioner Treusch's letter to the Florida Elections Commission, click here

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Vice Mayor Carmolingo:  I don't even know what I voted on!

(DeltonaBonaFide.com 5/21/09)

In what some would call a rare occurrence, Vice Mayor Carmolingo and Commissioner Janet Deyette both voted contrary to Mayor Mulder.  During an April 6 commission meeting, the commission voted to ban private mailboxes on designated main roads, with only Mulder dissenting "for the sake of being objectionable," as he put it.

But what is being talked about is not the commissioners' unusual vote, mailboxes or the odd reasoning behind Mulder's vote - its the admission by Carmolingo that he did not know what he was voting on.  Only after Mulder cast his lone vote against the mailbox ban, did Carmolingo confess that he didn't know what he had voted on.

Earlier this year, Carmolingo voted to use tax dollars to sue some government critics, and one month later voted to undo that vote, saying he had no time to research the issue before voting on it and the city attorney did not advise him it was a bad idea.

A similar scenario played out last year with Commissioner Treusch, who cast his vote against the controversial Cavallaro property, while Mulder voted for it.  Mulder quickly prompted Treusch for clarification, then lengthy discussion ensued to see how Treusch could change his vote.  Treusch eventually was able change his vote, and the city agreed to buy the property.

A local group is working with citizens to recall Carmolingo, Mulder and Treusch, along with Commissioner Janet Deyette, who also admittedly voted without knowing what she voted on.  Like Carmolingo, Treusch and Deyette also voted to use tax dollars as their legal funds, without consulting an attorney as to the constitutionality of their free-speech-chilling vote.  Mayor Mulder also voted for the highly controversial motion, but claimed City Attorney George Trovato twice told him the motion was legal.

To listen to the recording of Carmolingo, click here

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Deltona committee still seeking petitions to oust mayor, 3 commissioners

(Orlando Sentinel 5/15/09)

The committee has until May 31 to collect the required number of petitions for the first stage of the recall campaign. If the first batch of petitions are verified by the elections supervisor, there's a second round of petitions needed before a recall election is scheduled.

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Deltona official claims recall group's effort illegal

(Daytona Beach News-Journal 5/9/09)

Within a week of the kickoff, Commissioner Paul Treusch, one of the commissioners listed in the recall effort, filed two complaints with the Florida Elections Commission against the group. Treusch claims the group failed to list the names of the people it wanted to recall and did not follow a law requiring a recall election date before the recall committee can raise money.

Attempts to reach Treusch were unsuccessful.

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Deltona committee holds petition drive to recall mayor, 3 commissioners

(Orlando Sentinel 5/8/09)

The group will be collecting signatures at Dewey O. Boster Park, 1190 Saxon Blvd., from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10.

Committee vice chairman Donna Handley said the group started collecting petitions May 2 and must have all the petitions signed by May 31.

The committee will need 3,000 residents for Mulder's recall, 950 for Treusch, and 1,100 each for Deyette and Carmolingo. The committee's website is deltonarecall.org.

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Petition Circulating To Recall Deltona Mayor (with video)

(CH13 5/7/09)

DELTONA -- A petition to recall the mayor is on the streets of Volusia County.

Recall group leaders are going door-to-door and pressing forward online to try to recall Deltona Mayor Dennis Mulder.

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Deltona Recall Committee responds to Commissioner Treusch's formal complaint

(DeltonaBonaFide.com 5/6/09)

The Deltona Recall Committee is speaking out against a formal complaint purportedly filed by Commissioner Paul Treusch against them.  Committee Chairman Mark Buckley calls Treusch's charges false and says that the committee expects full exoneration.

Buckley said that in the complaint, reportedly filed with the Florida Elections Commission, Treusch alleges the recall committee was not formed properly and that they committed funding violations.

Buckley says the committee feels that Treusch is incompetent, and that he was malevolent in the filing of his complaint.

Buckley goes on to say that the recall effort is being greeted by large numbers of downloads for the recall signature petitions, which can be downloaded here.

The Deltona recall Committee released a video statement, which can be seen here.

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OFFICIAL RECALL SIGNING BEGINS, 30-DAY CLOCK STARTS TICKING!

(DeltonaBonaFide.com 5/1/09)

Deltona Recall Committee launches official recall petition to recall four city commissioners.  30-day signature clock begins ticking!

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Deltona’s 180 doesn’t silence critics

(West Volusia Beacon 3/5/09)

“Outrageous” and “the ultimate insult” were the ways Richard Hylton described the idea of suing citizens who object to municipal officials or policies.

“This is not the kind of leadership our city needs,” Hylton said.

“If you won’t resign, we’ll have to recall you,” said Mark Buckley, who is spearheading a drive to recall Mulder and the commissioners who voted with him: Vice Mayor Michael Carmolingo, and City Commissioners Janet Deyette and Paul Treusch.

“Enough is enough,” J. Mark Barfield told Mulder. “It’s time for you to go, sir.”

“Mr. Mayor, I think you’ve done a lousy job, and I think it’s time you did resign,” said Mildred White.

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We think: Deltona's better off without Mayor Dennis Mulder's buffoonish behavior

(Orlando Sentinel 3/4/09)

Professional athletes are considered rookies during their first year in a league.

But to the mayor of Deltona, "rookie" has a much longer shelf life for politicians.

Dennis Mulder, who bullied the City Commission last month into letting the city bankroll lawsuits against its own residents, described his epic error in judgment as a "rookie mistake."

This from someone who was elected in 2005. And whose missteps have been so frequent and so consistent that you'd think by now he would have learned something from them.
But not Sideshow Dennis, who...

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Deltona Mayor Won’t Resign Amidst Calls For His Removal

(CH13 3/3/09)

Buckley and his neighbors claimed irresponsible spending of taxpayer's money and bad decisions have gotten out of hand, and that it is time for  Mulder, 30, to leave office.

"Each time they spend money, or they try to stop people from criticizing them, whatever they do seems to be a new blunder that gets more and more people upset," Buckley said.

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Deltonans demand mayor's ouster

(Daytona Beach News-Journal 3/3/09)

Resign or face a recall: That was the ultimatum given to Mayor Dennis Mulder by several residents Monday night.   The residents showed up for Monday's commission meeting carrying signs demanding a recall of Mulder, Vice Mayor Michael Carmolingo and Commissioners Paul Treusch and Janet Deyette.

Mark Buckley, chairman of The Deltona Recall Committee, said Mulder's original motion was "just one more in a long line of incompetence and arrogance."

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Deltona city leaders under fire (with VIDEO)

(WOFL FOX35 3/2/09)

Chairman Mark Buckley filed the paperwork last week as part of his plan to recall Mayor Dennis Mulder along with city commissioners Paul Treusch, Janet Deyette and Michael Carmolingo.

Buckley’s plans for a special election have to do with the way the city leaders have spent money during the past few years. Buckley said the four voted to use taxpayer dollars to pay for possible lawsuits city leaders would file against people who spoke out against them.

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DCAC Supports Mayor’s Pledge to Resign

(DCAC 3/1/09)

The Deltona Citizens Action Committee is alarmed at the ongoing drama and embarrassment Mayor Dennis Mulder attracts to our community with his recent conduct. In the light of his apparent lack of understanding of the First Amendment’s right to personal expression, the DCAC will tonight ask commissioners to completely rescind their Feb. 16 decision to sue citizens and looks to Mayor Mulder to comply with his promise to resign in response.

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Group forms to force Mulder recall

(West Volusia Beacon 3/1/09)

A firestorm in Deltona touched off by Mayor Dennis Mulder not only burned him, but may spark a municipal election a year ahead of schedule.

A group demanding the recall of Mulder and three city commissioners has submitted papers at City Hall to lay the groundwork for a special election.

"We want to recall the mayor and the commissioners in Districts 4, 5 and 6," Mark Buckley said.

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Couple seek to remove Mulder, 3 others

(Orlando Sentinel 3/1/09)

Buckley, a real-estate and stock investor, said Mulder and the commissioners — Paul Treusch, Janet Deyette and Michael Carmolingo — should lose their jobs because they say they've supported measures that are fiscally irresponsible, including Mulder's recent slander and libel motion.

"We can control the local spending by firing people who don't know the value of the tax dollar," he said.

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Deltona mayor comes under fire

(Daytona Beach News-Journal 2/23/09)

Jaime Jessup, the legal advocate group's director of government relations, said the mayor is backtracking on what he initially intended to say and his clarification does not change anything.

"It's like robbing a 7-Eleven store and then coming back 30 minutes later and saying he didn't mean to do it," Jessup said. "He ought to do the right thing and that's to get the commissioners to tank what they've done, to trash the proposal and rescind themselves."

Deltona Recall Committee

DeltonaRecall.org

The official web site of the Deltona Recall Committee

Online recall-specific discussion forum

DeltonaRecall.org...

Free user registration required - you can choose to remain anonymous

Online discussion about anything Deltona

DeltonaInfo.org...

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Recall survey

RecallMulder.com

Click here for days remaining on the recall clock

Click on the photo to download a recall petition for that commissioner

MAYOR

DENNIS MULDER

All districts

Signatures required = 2,774

Avg signatures needed per day = 92

VICE MAYOR

MICHAEL  CARMOLINGO

District 6

Signatures required = 878

Avg signatures needed per day = 29

COMMISSIONER

JANET  DEYETTE

District 5

Signatures required = 980

Avg signatures needed per day = 33

COMMISSIONER

PAUL TREUSCH

District 4

Signatures required = 823

Avg signatures needed per day = 27

MAYOR DENNIS MULDER

VICE MAYOR MICHAEL  CARMOLINGO

COMMISSIONER JANET  DEYETTE

COMMISSIONER PAUL TREUSCH

COMMISSIONERS' HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS

This page is in the process of being updated.  Check back periodically for more information.

MAYOR

DENNIS MULDER

VICE MAYOR

MICHAEL  CARMOLINGO

COMMISSIONER

JANET  DEYETTE

COMMISSIONER

PAUL TREUSCH

-- 2009 --

-- 2009 --

-- 2009 --

-- 2009 --

MAYOR

DENNIS MULDER

VICE MAYOR

MICHAEL  CARMOLINGO

COMMISSIONER

JANET  DEYETTE

COMMISSIONER

PAUL TREUSCH

-- 2008 --

-- 2008 --

-- 2008 --

-- 2008 --

MAYOR

DENNIS MULDER

VICE MAYOR

MICHAEL  CARMOLINGO

COMMISSIONER

JANET  DEYETTE

COMMISSIONER

PAUL TREUSCH

-- 2007 --

-- 2007 --

-- 2007 --

-- 2007 --

News-Journal columnist writes about Mulder missteps

Columnist Pamela Hasterok wrote:

When you think of Deltona's boy-wonder Mayor Dennis Mulder, one word comes to mind.

Controversial.

He earned it.

His second day on the job, Mulder proposed changing the city's silent invocation to a moment of silence, causing an uproar over public prayer.  He violated election laws.  He missed a string of meetings and publicly funded conferences and hinted he might resign.  He bought land to develop that the city claimed belonged to it.  He joined a majority that withheld money for a new convention center, which ultimately sank.

Mulder, 28, caused more controversy in one year than James Brown did in a lifetime.

After surprising resurrection of Partnership Center project, Mulder, Deyette, and Carmolingo vote against it; project officially dies

After the project nearly died in 2006 due to a waffling Deltona commission, tense re-negotiations revitalized the once dead cooperative effort, but it was effectively killed after Mulder and Carmolingo flip-flopped a second time on their support.

After years of meetings and planning, the project that was to bring businesses, concerts, and jobs to the Deltona area officially died, and Deltona was credited for dealing the project its death blow.

The Orlando Sentinel reported:

Mulder was trying to figure out how to afford a similar project in his city, one that wouldn't require sharing space with the college.

He said he will ask commissioners to consider borrowing money for a facility at least as big as the original Partnership Center.

"We could build exactly what we need and it wouldn't be too small and we wouldn't have all the conditions in the world," Mulder said.

Deltona could borrow money, he said, if residents vote in favor of it during a ballot referendum.

The city could save money by teaming up with nearby Orange City, the county and a hotel. It wasn't immediately clear how the city would pay back the debt, however.

Mulder supported friend's government-subsidized

flea market idea

Bob Bello, friend of Mayor Mulder, lobbied the commission for a taxpayer-subsidized flea market, which they agreed to look into.

The News-Journal reported:

David Santiago put his foot down. "There are more important things that need to get done in the city of Deltona, such as really concentrating on ways to bring jobs to the city," he said.

However, Mayor Dennis Mulder said that argument does not fly, because the city's economic development staff is working hard to bring in businesses. Mulder is heading to Winter Park this week to check out that city's high-end Farmers Market, which he says fits his vision of a market the city could create on Deltona Boulevard.

City again under fire for conducting city business out of public view

On numerous occasions, the various public officials involved in the Partnership Center project conducted public business without inviting the public, although the project's partners signed agreements stating that the state's "Sunshine Law and Public Records Act applies to all activities and transactions" and all signed the document vowing to honor the State's sunshine laws.

After the city and its partners in the Partnership Center were exposed for routinely conducting city business without providing notice to the public, and without recording the meetings, Mayor Mulder defended the shady meetings and said the meetings are "brainstorming" sessions for leaders of the partnering agencies -- not necessarily the same people who sit on an operating committee that will guide the facility.

Mulder alleges hacking when resident obtains his AOL emails through public records request; City unable to reproduce same number of records again

A resident made a public records request of the city for some of Mayor Mulder's AOL email, which he regularly uses to conduct city business.  The city produced the records requested by the resident, who paid the city's records fee and got a receipt for the transaction that states 14 pages of emails were produced.

One of the emails obtained, between Mulder and Lonnie Groot and titled USE OF CITY PARK, was posted on a local discussion forum. Mulder later claimed the email was obtained from his AOL account without his authorization by someone who "opened my AOL account and printed it out," Mulder said.

The resident again made the same records request several times, but the City could not produce the same 14 pages as before, sometimes producing more, sometimes producing less, but never again the 14.  Another resident also made the same request but also got mixed results.

Read the emails

More

MAYOR

DENNIS MULDER

VICE MAYOR

MICHAEL  CARMOLINGO

COMMISSIONER

JANET  DEYETTE

-- 2006 --

-- 2006 --

-- 2006 --

Orlando Sentinel Editor called 2006 Deltona's worst year ever

Orlando Sentinel's Mike Lafferty wrote:

Annus Horribilis Deltonus. Deltona Mayor Dennis Mulder was pretty upbeat in his "state of the city" address last month.

Politicians are so funny.

This was Deltona's worst year ever as a city. Space prohibits listing the past 12 months' disasters, but the Partnership Center fiasco is a fitting end.

A keen observer of Deltona reminded me that even Queen Elizabeth II did not sugarcoat a year of royal scandal.

She said: "1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis."

Next to 2006, 2007 in Deltona is bound to be an annus mirabilis -- a wonderful year.

To Dennis Mulder: Chin up. You still have almost three years to make a difference. A positive one, I mean.

Deyette tells county to not be too trusting of Deltona

Commissioner Deyette, while attending a meeting of the Volusia Growth Management Commission (VGMC) as a representative of Deltona, told the VGMC to "not be too trusting of us."

Audio

Mulder voted against the Partnership Center just days before he voted for it, giving directive to City Manager - against the will of the commission - to make one million dollar payment

Flip-flopping Mulder gets blame for killing cooperative effort:  Mulder's flip-flop mess leads to bigger mess of open-government concerns

The on-again off-again West Volusia Partnership Center was expected to bring neighboring communities together and invite businesses, concerts and jobs to the area.  Mayor Mulder and Vice Mayor Carmolingo flip-flopped on the project, which ultimately died due to Deltona's fickle support and due to the partners losing respect for Deltona.

Three days after voting against the project, Mayor Mulder asked City Manager Steve Thompson to release a $1 million dollar payment to fund the project, but Mulder does not have the authority to make a directive to the City Manager.

As only one vote of seven, Mulder can only direct the City Manager as a member of the commission through  a majority vote, but he circumvented that public process and told Thompson to make the payment.

Thompson said he only would make the payment if a majority of city commissioners give him their OK.  So following Mulder's directive to release the payment money, Steve Thompson called the other six commissioners to see if they had objections over him doing so.

State law requires that government business be conducted in view of the public, but Mulder's directive led to the commission conducting public business out of view of the public, to spend one million dollars.

Commissioner Santiago said Mulder called him to discuss the project, but Santiago, aware of the State law prohibiting such a discussion, refused to answer Mulder's questions or discuss the matter with him outside of public view.  Mulder confessed to calling Santiago, but said that he did so only to tell Santiago that the media and Thompson would be calling him.  This chain of events caused public concern over what other city business was being conducted out of the public eye, behind closed doors by Mayor Mulder.

Some of the partners blame Mayor Mulder for killing the project, with DeBary Mayor George Coleman saying "They can't make up their minds on anything." "As far as we are concerned, it [Deltona's indecision] actually killed the project," Coleman said.

Partnering DBCC's President Kent Sharples said "The city of Deltona needs to establish its credibility with the partners."

Carmolingo voted against Partnership Center just days before he voted for it, disregarding his constituents

The on-again off-again West Volusia Partnership Center was expected to bring neighboring communities together and invite businesses, concerts and jobs to the area.  Mayor Mulder and Vice Mayor Carmolingo flip-flopped on the project, which ultimately died due to Deltona's fickle support and due to the partners losing respect for Deltona.

Carmolingo said that although most calls he had received oppose the project, he's ready to see it built. "Let's spend the money and have it done," he said.

DeBary Mayor George Coleman said "They can't make up their minds on anything." "As far as we are concerned, it [Deltona's indecision] actually killed the project," Coleman said.

Partnering DBCC's President Kent Sharples said "The city of Deltona needs to establish its credibility with the partners."

Deyette opposed

Partnership Center

The on-again off-again West Volusia Partnership Center was expected to bring neighboring communities together and invite businesses, concerts and jobs to the area.  Commissioner Deyette opposed the project, which ultimately died due to Deltona's fickle support and due to the partners losing respect for Deltona.

DeBary Mayor George Coleman said "They can't make up their minds on anything." "As far as we are concerned, it [Deltona's indecision] actually killed the project," Coleman said.

Partnering DBCC's President Kent Sharples said "The city of Deltona needs to establish its credibility with the partners."

Mulder shows his maturity

Quoted from the Orlando Sentinel:

Looks like Dennis Mulder isn't turning into such a tough cookie after all. Mulder recently fired off a venomous e-mail blasting his former political rival Doug Horn after reading Horn's comments in an Orlando Sentinel article about how a "clear vision for the future" was "sadly lacking" on the Deltona City Commission.

Mulder, who beat out Horn in the race for mayor more than a year ago, told a reporter recently that the job has been so challenging, he's becoming a "tough cookie."

But Mulder said this in his e-mail to the Sentinel at 7:31 a.m. the day Horn's comments were published in an article about Jamie Jessup -- Horn's political ally -- dropping out of a City Commission race:

"Doug Horn the rejected candidate for Mayor is now determined to destroy Deltona in any way possible. He deserves the sore loser and flatout loser award of the year. A city he was ready to represent but wouldn't have him; Deltona now has a better, more clear and sensible direction than it has ever had. This commission he claims is lacking vision? What a joke. It has vision for the very first time, a vision that is collaborated not dictated and god forbid involves public input and disclosure. Forgive me for being bothered by his constant attack of this commission, minus 1 or so buddies. Mayor Dennis Mulder."

Mulder led commission to

hold retreat out-of-town,

away from the citizens

Mulder spearheaded a $4,500 overnight gathering for the commission's first retreat at what was described as a "hip, luxury" resort in Daytona Beach Shores, all on the tax-payers' dime and over an hour away from the citizens who are footing the bill.

Mulder bought  park land

some claim was owed to city

Commissioners and citizens were in an uproar over a shady land deal of Mulder's.  Mayor Mulder bought a 13-acre lakefront property  for $250,000 that the former Mayor and others claim had been promised to the city for use as a park.

Mulder purchased the property from the Deltona Youth Soccer Club, through a newly created business entity that he formed with a soccer club board member's wife Jayne Vance.  Vance's husband Charlie Vance was a campaign supporter and worker in Mulder's 2005 campaign.  Also party to the controversial land purchase was the Mayor's wife Heather Mulder.

Soccer club board member Charlie Vance has demanded Mulder find a way to reduce the soccer club fees for their use of the City's Dewey Boster Sports Complex.  Since the sweetheart land deal was made between Mulder's company and the soccer club, the Mulder-led commission has voted to reduce or waive the soccer club's fees on numerous occasions.

In 1986, the Deltona Corp. sold the property for $100 to the Deltona Youth Soccer Club so that the club could build soccer fields. The sale deed from 1986 stipulates that the property must be used for a park and that building homes was prohibited.

Saying that residents living near the property had concerns that a park would bring problems and gangs and drugs and traffic and outsiders, Mulder said he plans to build homes on the property, and that he is a "learn-as-you-go developer."  He paid $3,000 to file a request with the city to up-zone the park land to allow up to 6 homes per acre.

Mulder lashed out at

Orlando Sentinel

Mulder issued a press release denouncing how the Orlando sentinel reports the news, and suggested that readers petition the editor.

Mulder hinted at resignation

Residents and critics alike were baffled and surprised by Mulder's suggestion that he might resign due to the illness of a family member.  He would not name the family member or the illness.

Mulder charged tax payers over $2,000 for conferences

he never attended

Deltona paid a total of $6,925.75 to send six commissioners to the 80th annual Florida League of Cities conference in Jacksonville. That amount covered the conference registration, lodging at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel, meals and mileage.

According to a city travel expense form, Mulder charged $1,341.35 to the city's credit card, the highest amount of any commissioner.

Mulder has since said he will reimburse the money to the City.

Mulder later missed a second conference, also prepaid by the taxpayers, that cost nearly $700.  Mulder said he will repay that money, too.

Mulder took law into

his own hands

Two residents wanted to play with their remote controlled boats in a retention pond, which disturbed neighbors, which lead to Sheriff's deputies sending the two men away so the peace could be preserved.  The two men went to Mayor Mulder, who wrote them a permission slip to use their remote controlled vehicles on public property without being subject to the law.

Mulder guilty of 89 counts of election law violations

Florida Elections Commission found Mulder guilty of willfully violating the State's election finance laws in 89 instances during his 2005 campaign.  Mulder pleaded that he was new to politics, had limited resources, and did not read the required Statute 106 (that states what is or is not lawful campaign practices).  The Elections commission fined him lightly, at just over $1,500, but the fine could have been as high as $89,000.

The campaign-finance violations for which Mulder was fined included nearly $5,000 in under-reported cash contributions, the use of a personal credit card to pay for expenditures and sloppy bookkeeping on campaign treasurer's reports:

• 10 counts of accepting cash contributions greater than $100

• 51 counts of authorizing purchases without sufficient funds in the account

• 10 counts of failing to mark a political ad with the proper disclaimer

• 13 counts of failure to report a contribution

Mulder and Deyette raise open government concerns

Mayor Mulder and Commissioner Deyette both spent over two hours together in a van with four city manager candidates touring the city's controversial properties.  Public outrage ensued, accusing the two officials of conducting city business together outside of public view, in violation of the State's open-government laws.

Both officials said they did not discuss city business while touring the city's controversial properties with the city manager candidates  - candidates  that both Mulder and Deyette would later be voting on.

Mulder said he didn't ask Deyette to remove herself from the tour because he didn't think her presence would lead to such a problem.

A couple of candidates told a reporter they talked about economic development and road projects during the tour - both are matters of city business.

Deyette said Mulder rode in the front with the Deltona fire chief while she was in the back, but, with tears welling in her eyes, she said city staff did not tell her that she could not go.

"I'm still new," Deyette said. "I am so open and naive, I guess I just got excited and wanted to enjoy their company.  I'm upset I was so stupid," she said. "I'm so sorry I didn't think it out more."

Deyette and Mulder raise open government concerns

Mayor Mulder and Commissioner Deyette both spent over two hours together in a van with four city manager candidates touring the city's controversial properties.  Public outrage ensued, accusing the two officials of conducting city business together outside of public view, in violation of the State's open-government laws.

Both officials said they did not discuss city business while touring the city's controversial properties with the city manager candidates  - candidates  that both Mulder and Deyette would later be voting on.

Mulder said he didn't ask Deyette to remove herself from the tour because he didn't think her presence would lead to such a problem.

A couple of candidates told a reporter they talked about economic development and road projects during the tour - both are matters of city business.

Deyette said Mulder rode in the front with the Deltona fire chief while she was in the back, but, with tears welling in her eyes, she said city staff did not tell her that she could not go.

"I'm still new," Deyette said. "I am so open and naive, I guess I just got excited and wanted to enjoy their company.  I'm upset I was so stupid," she said. "I'm so sorry I didn't think it out more."

Mulder and Deyette again push for Thornby purchase

Mayor Mulder, promoting the purchase of the Thornby property,  said the purchase of Thornby "wasn't going to cost the city anything," but in 2009 the City agreed to purchase the property for $1.5 million.

Deyette and Mulder again push for Thornby purchase

Mayor Mulder, promoting the purchase of the Thornby property,  said the purchase of Thornby "wasn't going to cost the city anything," but in 2009 the City agreed to purchase the property for $1.5 million.

Mulder's incompetence

results in routinely

destroyed public records

Mayor Mulder's use of his personal AOL email instead city email resulted in four months' worth of public records being destroyed while Mulder was custodian of them.  Mulder used his personal AOL email to conduct city business, but AOL automatically deletes emails older than 27 days. The State of Florida requires public records be maintained for public inspection, but Mulder's poor decision has prevented the public from viewing those public records.  As of late 2008, Mulder continued to use AOL to conduct city business and is suspected of still doing so today.

Read the emails

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Mulder, Carmolingo, and Deyette sought removal of interim City Manager

Mayor Mulder, along with Commissioners Deyette and Carmolingo, and with all three saying that the City Commission overburdened Roland Blossom by unanimously appointing him as interim City Manager, sought to remove Roland Blossom from his role as interim City Manager, but failed to gain enough commission support.  The move was proposed by Mayor Mulder.

Mulder reignites prayer controversy - shuns public

In a surprise move, Mayor Mulder re-introduced the highly controversial prayer issue at the end of a long commission meeting without informing  the public, effectively preventing tax payers from speaking to the commission on the hot issue.

Mulder defends removal of controversial artwork

from City Hall

Mayor Mulder, in cahoots with the ACLU's local chapter president George Griffin, defended the City's highly controversial removal of Lloyd Marcus' paintings from City Hall.  This act of the City drew national focus.  After threat of legal action, the paintings were eventually returned to City Hall.

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Did Mulder commit perjury

under oath (a felony)?

In order to qualify as a Mayoral candidate in 2005, Mulder swore, under oath, that he read the State-required statutes 106.  But in 2006 while being investigated for elections law violations, Mulder swore, again under oath, the he did not read the statute 106.

During the State's investigation of Mulder, he swore under oath that some of his campaign expenditures were made with a campaign check card, but the investigator learned that the bank never issued a check card to Mulder's campaign, and the City never received from Mulder the State required notice that he has a campaign check card.  The mystery expenditures were made to Jayne Vance, wife of Charlie Vance, with whom Mulder later partnered to buy the controversial soccer land from the soccer club of which her husband Charlie Vance was a board member.

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MAYOR

DENNIS MULDER

VICE MAYOR

MICHAEL  CARMOLINGO

COMMISSIONER

JANET  DEYETTE

-- 2005 --

-- 2005 --

-- 2005 --

Mulder, Carmolingo, and Deyette, with commission,

voted Blossom in as interim City Manager

Creating more controversy, the new commission appointed City Attorney Roland Blossom as interim City Manager.  Deltona resident and Lake Helen City Attorney Lonnie Groot challenged the commission's vote as illegally placing an official in dual-roles, and called it "more of the same."  All three commissioners would later work to remove Blossom as interim City Manager and also fire him from his position as City Attorney.

Mulder attacked prayer

At his first commission meeting as Deltona's new Mayor, Mulder lead the commission on removing prayer from the city's commission meetings and replacing it with a moment of silence.

Deyette's Thornby pursuit

is officially launched

On Deyette's urging, the commission voted to begin official negotiations with the Thornby land owner for controversial land purchase.

Mulder elected as Mayor

13.5% of Deltona's registered voters turned out to vote, with 58% of them electing Dennis Mulder as Deltona's second mayor, who claimed the people elected him because

 "...the majority of them said that

they wanted positive change, and

that's what they got."

Mulder called Sheriff

on vocal critic

In the final days before the election, Mulder lodged a bogus "death threat" complaint against vocal critic Jeff Ensminger, but the Sheriff's office determined the complaint was "unfounded" and did not warrant further investigation or charges.

Mulder refused to

sign pledge against

eminent domain abuse

Unlike other candidates, Mulder refused to sign a pledge promising to never use eminent domain to take private property for commercial development.

Mulder again disrespected election process

Volusia County Elections Supervisor Ann McFall admonished an argumentative Dennis Mulder for refusing to remove a campaign tent of his that she said was too large and obtrusive for the early voting polling place.

Mulder wanted unlawful election to be held

During his mayoral campaign and after opponent Richard Rhodes dropped out of the race, Mulder publicly accused City Clerk Faith Miller and Volusia County Elections Supervisor Ann McFall of "disenfranchising voters" for not holding a primary election that would have been unlawful.

Mulder promised many

things to Deltona voters

Campaigning for votes, Mulder vowed to bring change to Deltona, along with:

• Regular public opinion polls

• Accountability in City Hall

• More opportunity for the citizens to vote on important issues

• Brown bag lunches with the Mayor

• 5-6 minutes public speaking time at City commission meetings

• Fixing overcrowded school issue

• Repairing Deltona's roads

• Stopping annexation sprawl

• More low-impact businesses

• More jobs and shopping

• Redevelopment of Providence and Deltona Blvds.

• Proactive leadership

• Keeping residents educated on all issues

• Improve relationship with County

• Improve relationships with neighboring cities

• Deltona will earn a better reputation

• No citizen will be embarrassed to call Deltona home

• Citizens will be listened to on every issue

• More rounded tax base through new businesses

• All City codes will be enforced all the time

• More youth and adult recreation and sports groups

• Deltona Police Department

• Said he will "guilt" other commissioners into voting his way