Recall Petition of Commissioner Ayers May Be Circulating Soon in Callaway

CALLAWAY, FL - Teresa Langston, leader of the citizen group "Callaway Citizens for Change," met on May 5th with about a dozen people at Zaxby's restaurant. The subject of the meeting was the possible removal from office of Kenneth Ayers, Callaway Commissioner, Ward IV. Ayers has been criticized by citizens during his term of office for "bad behavior" at Callaway Commission meetings. Citizens have requested that he step down from the commission to avoid the process of a recall petition.

Brad and Karen Custer, with the Republican Liberty Caucus of Bay County, Florida, were invited to the meeting to support the group's discussion and to help clarify the concerns that led to the decision that Ayers should be removed from office. Their role was vital in the discussion due to the Republican Liberty Caucus being a body known for having a just and conservative viewpoint pertaining to all facets of government.

Commissioner Ayers has been under fire for "conduct unbecoming of a public official in public discourse" and for causing dissension within the Callaway Commissioners and with citizens attending meetings. According to "Callaway Citizens for Change," while at public commission meetings, citizens have been rudely ordered by him to sit down and shut up during the three minutes each is allowed to address the commission. He also vocalized disrespectful comments about another commissioner and his wife, and about the mayor, to the public.

During an interview with Channel 7, Teresa Langston stated, "He has more outbursts than the citizens have outbursts, and he tried to restrict the three minutes at the end of the meetings that actually allow citizens to get up and speak to the commission and the mayor as a whole." His behavior does not sit well with the decorum of the elected body and causes problems.