Russell responds to allegations against treasurer

The new city commissioner told a newspaper he is 'committed to upholding ethical and legal obligations'

May 10, 2024

By Beth Kassab

Craig Russell said Friday that he is “deeply concerned” about allegations against his campaign treasurer, Christopher Hoats, who he called a “good friend and fellow educator.”

Three misdemeanor charges against Hoats became public this week when he was issued a summons to appear on two counts of contributing to the dependency or delinquency of a minor and one count of petit theft related to soliciting minors to “steal campaign signs in exchange for money,” according to court documents reported first by the Voice on Thursday. 

In emailed comments to the Orlando Sentinel, Russell said Hoats “served for a period of time as our campaign treasurer,” though there does not appear to be a public filing with Winter Park’s clerk to show he was ever removed from that role.

Craig Russell

“We do want to make it very clear that we have always been committed to upholding ethical and legal obligations in all our actions. Neither we nor the campaign have been accused of any contrary conduct, nor are we aware of any such conduct,” he said in the statement to the newspaper he signed along with his wife Kate Demory, who served as deputy treasurer.

Russell, who was sworn in last month after winning the April 16 runoff by 34 votes, did not respond to multiple messages from the Voice and canceled a scheduled interview with this reporter on Friday regarding an unrelated topic.

The court documents and a heavily redacted police report provide few details about the evidence or circumstances in the case, which stems from an incident on March 21, two days after the first election in Winter Park and as the runoff between Russell and Jason Johnson was underway.

Hoats, 33, who has worked as a non-faculty coach at Winter Park High School, where Russell is also a teacher and a coach, did not respond to a phone call and email requesting comment. His arraignment is scheduled for June 7.

A Winter Park Police report from the date of the incident describes how a witness called police after she saw a group of kids taking Johnson’s campaign signs from yards as she was driving in Winter Park.

Nancy Elizabeth Cocchiarella, who is named in the court documents, was a volunteer for Johnson’s campaign who called police after she noticed signs, including her own, removed.

She stated she “saw the signs under the arms of [redacted],” and “she let her window down and told [redacted] and [redacted] to just put the signs back, and the juveniles kept riding on their skateboards.”

The report stated that the signs promoted Johnson’s campaign.

Officers eventually caught up with two of the juveniles, who called two other juveniles and asked them to come back to the area of Magnolia Avenue and Sunnyside Drive, according to the report.

At that point the narrative becomes heavily redacted except to describe that all four juveniles were, at one point, at a barbershop in Maitland.

None of the publicly available documents explain how or if the young people know Hoats or any details related to the offer to steal signs described in the court documents.

Hoats signed all of Russell’s campaign finance reports filed with the city clerk through March 15. The final two reports were signed by Demory, Russell’s wife who served as his deputy treasurer.

WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com

Craig Russell's campaign treasurer charged with asking minors to steal political signs

The incident occurred just days into the runoff between Russell and Jason Johnson, according to court records and a heavily redacted police report

May 9, 2024

By Beth Kassab

Christopher Hoats, who served as campaign treasurer for new Commissioner Craig Russell, is facing three misdemeanor charges related to soliciting minors to “steal campaign signs in exchange for money,” according to court documents.

Records say Hoats is charged with two counts of contributing to the dependency or delinquency of a minor and one count of petit theft related to the alleged theft of Jason Johnson’s campaign signs that occured on March 21, two days after the first election in Winter Park and as the runoff between Russell and Johnson was underway.

The court documents and a heavily redacted police report provide few details about the evidence or circumstances in the case.

Hoats, 33, who has worked as a non-faculty coach at Winter Park High School, where Russell is also a teacher and a coach, did not immediately respond to a phone call and email requesting comment. He was issued a summons to appear in the case this week.

Russell, who won the April 16 runoff by 34 votes and took office last month, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ryan Williams, chief assistant state attorney, said he could not provide any details about the charges because the case is still open and active.

Johnson said he was disheartened to learn about the case and would like more questions to be answered.

“I was very disappointed to learn about this when it happened and while there remain lots of unanswered questions about the extent of who was involved, who knew what and when and whether my opponent’s campaign funds were used, I made the conscious decision not to turn this alleged incident into a campaign issue before the runoff election date,” Johnson said on Thursday.

A Winter Park Police report from the date of the incident describes how a witness called police after she saw a group of kids taking Johnson’s campaign signs from yards as she was driving in Winter Park.

Nancy Elizabeth Cocchiarella, who is named in the court documents, was a volunteer for Johnson’s campaign who called police after she noticed signs, including her own, removed.

She stated she “saw the signs under the arms of [redacted],” and “she let her window down and told [redacted] and [redacted] to just put the signs back, and the juveniles kept riding on their skateboards.”

The report stated that the signs promoted Johnson’s campaign.

Officers eventually caught up with two of the juveniles, who called two other juveniles and asked them to come back to the area of Magnolia Avenue and Sunnyside Drive, according to the report.

At that point the narrative becomes heavily redacted except to describe that all four juveniles were, at one point, at a barbershop in Maitland.

None of the publicly available documents explain how or if the young people know Hoats or any details related to the offer to steal signs described in the court documents.

Hoats signed all of Russell’s campaign finance reports filed with the city clerk through March 15. The final two reports were signed by Kathleen Demory, Russell’s wife who served as his deputy treasurer.

WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com 

Orange signs? All about historic preservation in Winter Park

May marks a time for awareness about historic properties and their value to communities like Winter Park

May 7, 2024

By Beth Kassab

Just as those election yard signs are disappearing, Winter Parkers might notice another sign popping up in yards across the city — Orange reminders of May as Historic Preservation Month.

Residents of historic homes are pulling out their signs as a visual reminder of the importance of preserving past architecture and charm to maintain the city’s vibrant character.

Winter Park’s Historic Register lists more than 120 homes and continues to grow each year.

Historic districts in the city include College Quarter, Virginia Heights East, Interlachen Avenue and the downtown area centered on Park Avenue.

Those in need of signs can contact the following: Sally Flynn: flynnlinks@aol.com; Stephen Pategas: spategas@hortusoasis.com or John Skolfield: john@skohomes.com

WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com

Will city expand parking at Library & Events Center?

Discussion expected at Wednesday's meeting as city also considers lease to allow the Alfond Inn to use the old library as a valet lot

May 4, 2024

By Beth Kassab

Finding a parking spot at the Winter Park Library & Events Center is a growing challenge and commissioners this week will consider options to add new spaces while maintaining amenities at MLK Park, which serves as the backdrop to the buildings.

Staff is recommending a plan known as “Option B,” which would add 49 new parking spaces, but require the demolition of a 60-year-old rental space called Lake Hall Island near the corner of Harper Street and New England Avenue on the south side of the park.

It’s possible the facility could be preserved, but that would mean the park would lose its croquet court, which has a small, but loyal following, according to a report by city staff. Moving the croquet court elsewhere would be costly, according to the memorandum.

The cost of the staff recommendation to demolish Lake Hall Island and add additional parking spaces is estimated at about $618,000.

At least three other options exist ranging from just 14 new spaces at about $209,000 to building a new parking garage to add more than 200 new spaces at a cost of $8 million.

Meanwhile, the city is looking to formalize an arrangement that would allow the adjacent Alfond Inn to use the parking lot at the old and now vacant library building as valet spaces.

Commissioners will consider leasing the 69 spaces to Rollins College, which operates the Alfond, for $45 each per month. The total rent would be about $3,000 each month.

WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com

Other Florida cities issues dozens of citations for gas leaf blowers

While Winter Park will put its ordinance banning the devices to a voter referendum, some cities are enforcing rules against the noisemakers

May 4, 2024

By Beth Kassab

Bill Quinsey hears more about leaf blowers than just about anyone else in Florida, where the deafening gas-powered devices turned into a political rallying cry during the latest session of the state Legislature.

Quinsey, the code compliance manager in Naples, oversees a team that has issued 74 citations and 230 written warnings to people using the banned devices in the southwest coastal town of about 20,000 people.

“Leaf blowers are probably our No. 1 complaint [from residents] now that it’s on the books,” Quinsey said. “Some landscapers adopted it pretty quickly and others were struggling and had to get multiple citations.”

The noise, he said, is at the root of the complaints and also what drove the city to pass an ordinance that took effect in 2021 against the gas-powered machines as well as electric versions that exceed 65 decibels.

The city suspended the ordinance for about eight months during cleanup efforts after Hurricane Ian, he said, but began enforcement again about a year ago.

Education, including signs and emails directly to landscape companies, are a big part of the effort.

“We’re up to 300 unique landscapers we’ve contacted,” he said. “As soon as we get everybody on board, we get new people” who move businesses in to Naples.

Naples, in conservative Collier County where Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than two to one, is just one of the Florida cities already enforcing such an ordinance while a state senator turned Winter Park’s version of a ban into the latest poster child against “government overreach.”

The Winter Park City Commission voted last month to let voters decide next year whether its ban — originally passed in 2022 but not yet enforced — will stay on the books.

Naples isn’t alone.

The town of Palm Beach, known as home to the estate of former President Donald Trump, also prohibits gas leaf blowers, along with South Miami, Key Biscayne, Pinecrest and Miami Beach among others.

Since Feb. 1, 2022, Miami Beach, for example, has conducted 675 service calls related to leaf blowers, including complaints and proactive inspections. During that time, the city issued 21 written warnings and 56 violations.

“We’ve seen many benefits since transitioning away from gas-powered leaf blowers, including less noise and no longer needing to utilize gas and oil,” said Melissa Berthier, spokeswoman for the city of about 80,000.

WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com